Where do I start? I originally picked up this book at the bookstore because I wanted a light read. I thought I knew exactly what I was getting when I picked up this book, but I was wrong. I genuinely believe that I wouldn't even like this in middle school, which was when I would eat up stories like this. At the time of choosing the book, I was not aware that it was the second book in the series and that the book was written in the early 2000s by a man (should NEVER make assumptions about a person based on their name alone), and that he started writing when he was in prison. That's amazing for him, but if I knew all of this, I would not have chose this book.

I stopped reading the book because I couldn't take the writing or the characters anymore. There were many times I wanted to put the book down, but I kept sticking it out until I just completely lost interest.

Now, for my in-depth review: 

First and foremost, the beginning of the book was the first time I wanted to put the book down. The author chose to use the N-word (HARD R) and it shocked the hell outta me. It's considered an "urban" book so the word being used isn't a big deal to me, however, I kept reading and a couple of pages later, the author refered to NWA and used the N-word again but with the "A" at the end. So the author didn't have to use the hard "R", but chose to anyways, which confused me and well...I didn't want to be hate-crimed throughout the book.

Then I ABSOLUTELY HATED the characterization of the main characters's (Tonya a.k.a. Tender) friend, Na'aeema. The author kept repeating the fact that she was fat, but still pretty (not as pretty as Tender). It just felt like she was reduced to the fat friend and sidekick. Always being there for Tender and listening to her problems, but Tender never seemed to reciprocate the love. Specifically, there was the part where Tender and Na'aeema were in the club and they both spot Q. Na'aeema immediately notices him and talks about how fine he is and how she wants some of that and instead of Tender being a normal person and just saying that they had a past and he's off limits, Tender makes a big point to say that Na'aeema isn't his type. In fact, she literally said that Q likes his women "slim in the waist and cute in the face". I found that so weird and once again it was another way for the author to once again make her just the "fat friend". This wasn't the part of the book that made me put it down, but it stuck with me as to why I don't like the book.