Aimee

My sons teacher got this book for him and he LOVES it! It's so important for my son to be seen (as a Brown boy) and know there are books out there that represent him. He loves reading all the reviews and we have read several of the recommended books in here. We have been having more vital conversations about race, social justice and the meaning of privilege since this book came into our house. My son is reading more books and has become more interested in reading since his teacher got him this book. Thank you! Please write more books like this!

I had a hard time getting into this book (probably my brain couldn't focus) but once I got about 20% in I was hooked! If you read books with your ears, this audiobook is phenomenal

Really liked the book. Hated the ending!

I wanted so badly to like this book and I didn't finish the entire thing so maybe it gets better. I can't imagine being a “royal” but CMON!! I feel as though he's talked a lot about his privilege and reflected about how fucked up the royal family is in regards to being colonizers, etc. I didn't hear anything like that in this book. Perhaps “the royal fan club” just wanted to hear stories of his life ?!?! I'm not here for it. I've been so impressed with him and Meghan speaking up about the racism she has faced and the mental health struggles and the insidious gaslighting the royal family seems to have perfected. I was disappointed to not hear any of that reflected in this book. It feels disingenuous.

The writing in this book is GOOOOOOD! Maggie Smith is an incredible writer. I had a much more difficult time with the content and how she kept writing things like “dear reader this is not for you.” Not sure why that annoyed me so much. I know divorce is hard. It's devastating, I've been there and I know Smith beautifully put into words the heartache of it. Something about the book just really annoyed me.

The twist at the end was great and I liked the imaginative dragon riding school. The book kept my attention throughout even though The narrator on the audio book was so BAD. I don't think I'll read the rest of the series and here's why:
1) Violets self deprecation was unbearable!!! As I grow older, it's much harder to read about undeveloped characters.
2). I just can't with the sex scenes in these novels. It was the same with Verity. Is this what people want? I'm not a prude, but it's just so awful! It's as if they were scenes taken out of an old Danielle Steele book.
3) I really wanted more robust character development instead of just reading about the worn out plot of a “weak girl who finds her power and saves the day”
4) there was absolutely no mystery whatsoever right from the beginning that violet and xaden were going to end up together

In all, I would recommend this to folx i know like this specific type of genre and lean towards YA.

One of my favorites for the IN-YOUR-FACE way it makes you think about the parallels of the prison industrial complex, racism and slavery. I really appreciated the book was sprinkled with facts about the US prison system. This book is so unsettling (as it should be). A must read in my opinion.

3.5. I finished it and i can't finish books I'm not into but i felt it could have done with about 1/3 less.

3.5. read this in one sitting today and it really had me captivated because I was waiting for the “huge” twist that everyone promised. I was a bit disappointed in the ending and didn't feel the twist was that earth shattering. I'd recommend it to newer readers, or folx who want an easy read.

As a cPTSD survivor myself, I was excited (however, guarded) about this book thinking it would be another cliché of all other trauma memoirs. Don't get me wrong, there is healing for me in almost everyone's trauma journey! Stephanie Foo's book DID NOT disappoint! I'm grateful for her authentic and brave willingness to befriend her cPTSD in a way that allowed me (and hopefully others) to examine my own experiences, behaviors and lifelong patterns. I was diagnosed with cPTSD in 2008 and like Foo stated in her book, there is STILL very little on the subject. I will recommend this book to everyone I know because nobody is immune to either having suffered trauma, working with someone who has suffered trauma or loving someone who has experienced trauma. This book, although not a therapeutic book per se, has been truly therapeutic for me. Thank you, Stephanie Foo ❤️

I love the way he writes so we can think and be curious about our own judgements and previous ways we've been educated (or not educated).

Phenomenal book! I binged this so hard! The heartfelt character development and insane attention to every detail was exactly what my brain needed. It's a must read!

I'd give it 10 stars!! Love it! I wanted to finish it in one read but at the same time didn't want it to end. Absolutely one of my favorites. Had me crying, gave me chills and left me speechless.

Oh yoinks! Well there went my appetite for meat :). IMO this book was more disturbing than “gruesome” although there were definitely gruesome aspects. I would have liked to see more character development and more build up of the back story. But overall I enjoyed the book. Solid 3.5

10 stars!!!! I picked up this physical book last year and couldn't get into it. Then I decided to read it with my ears and OH MY STARS!!! I'm so glad! Love the narration, love the book, love the characters. This book is so heartwarming and inspiring. The only thing I cringed at was the word “master” of the house which is rooted in slavery.

This book should be on everyone's read list. Throughout this book I thought several times how often i hear and read about people (especially in the PNW) complaining about unhoused folx. If every person who had barriers and struggles like Jesse did were able to tell their stories, it would be much more difficult to judge them and treat them less than human. I've worked in social services for 30 years and have worked with so many families/youth with similar struggles to Jesse. This memoir is heartbreaking and redemptive. Thank you, Jesse, for being vulnerable and so eloquently sharing your life.

Re-read this book (with my ears). I didn't like the narrators voice at all. However, the story was very compelling and thought provoking.

I had a hard time getting into this book but the story grabbed me quickly once I realized it was based on true events of Georgia Tan and the Tennessee Children's Home. I initially judged the book thinking it was going to be from the standpoint of a privileged white family (which in some aspects it is), however, the book runs deeper than that. This book has a unique perspective to tell that often isn't told. I give it 4 stars instead of 3 because the book genuinely captured me and it had my crying at the end. I think the character development is great. Many of the words used made me cringe, however I think the author was reflecting on words from the 1930's.

I have started this review so many times, and stopped as many because there aren't words that can do it justice. I listened to the audio version of this book and I am so grateful Kiese Laymon narrated it. I experienced a whole array of emotions and thought processes while listening to Laymon's book. Although I cannot understand what it's like to be a Black Man living in America, there are other things in his book I can relate to. There were parts of his book that were like a punch to my stomach as stark realization of things I was never able to put into words. Moments where I doubled over in astonishment over his ability to articulate things I had experienced as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and using food to cope and there it was, all of a sudden in words. So beautifully said, so brilliantly stated. I think the reason I am in love with this book is because he tells the truth with such painful insight. This book has truly changed me and how I see myself and my world. Thank you Kiese, for being a bold truth teller! I hope everyone reads this book. It's my all time favorite and I cant wait to read it again and again.

I don't typically read romance but alas I finished it. I like the author and give it 3.5. It was compelling and an easy read.

I keep writing and re-writing my review. This book has blown me away. It is so beautifully horrific. Its for sure one of my top 5 favorite books but I won't recommend it to everyone because not everyone can “handle” it. Or maybe I would recommend it with a trigger warning. It's very difficult to read about horrific trauma, even when its fiction. However, Jude's trauma responses, coping mechanisms and thoughts/feelings were very relatable. I think the author did a great job of researching cPTSD for this book. I can't stop thinking about the book and the tragedy of it all.

I wasn't aware of this family before I picked up this book. What these children went through is devastating and no child deserves that. Having said that, the BOOK itself was really lacking in many ways for someone who isn't familiar with the family. Maybe the author felt pressured to get something put out and she was so courageous in sharing her story (don't get me wrong). From an “outsiders” perspective it felt rushed. I hope all the children continue to heal from the abuse they endured.

Listened to the audio version with my 10 year old son. The narrator of this book is absolutely cringey. I had to pause the book more times than I could count to talk to my son to explain that certain comments made in the book were homophobic, sexist (omg so much sexism!!!) and transphobic. I'm giving it one star because we enjoyed learning about the mythology.

I just finished the 3rd book in the trilogy. OMG!! At first I thought the Maddadam book was a little out there but then the genius of Margaret Atwood hit me! This entire trilogy is one of my favorite sets and favorite three books of all time. They are so intense, and the 3rd book had me laughing out loud and pondering life's biggest questions. What an insane ride these books are! A must MUST read!!!

Loved this book. Some of the things she wrote took my breath away. I wanted more. Will definitely be reading more of her books.