2 stars
| I picked up this audiobook from the library to listen to on my way to work. I thought it sounded interesting based on the blurb on the back. However, I found it anything but. Honestly, this book was just boring. I didn’t connect with the main character and frankly, I couldn’t stand her. I was actually kind of surprised to see that it was published in 2018, because the dialogue is super cheesy with a bunch of outdated slang. Does anyone say something is “bananas” unironically anymore? I’m no expert on what is hip in terms of lingo nowadays, but I don’t think Draper is either. Much of the narration was awkward because of the crazy outdated slang and it completely threw me off the story. I really hated the first few discs of this. I was sure that it would be a 1-star kind of book. However, I do feel that as it went on, it got slightly better. I think the topic of race was handled pretty well. Throughout the book, various forms of racism are present, from microaggressions to very obvious prejudice. I think such instances where important to highlight, especially those “well-meaning” compliments about looking “exotic” or getting one’s good looks from one’s white mother. You know, those “compliments” that say more about the person who’s making the statement and their racialized standards of beauty than the person they are supposedly complimenting. So in terms of that, it was pretty good. The whole divorce/expanding family element was not my cup of tea. I will say that I think it might be helpful for children whose parents are divorced/getting divorced to read to see a protagonist go through a similar situation. But for me as an adult, I was quickly irritated with her constantly complaining about having four adults who love/support/care for her instead of two parents that fight constantly. Anyway, by the end, it was just okay. Some good themes and such, but for the most part I found it boring. Goodreads |