e-Audio, 04:21:45
Narrated by: Safia Elhillo
Release Date: February 6, 2024
Published by: Make me a World
Read from: February 4-5, 2024
Stand-alone
Source: PRH App (I received a copy of this audiobook from the Publisher in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Adult/Minor Relationship, Sexual Assault, Toxic Relationship, Emotional Abuse, Sexual violence, Body Shaming, Violence
For Readers Interested In: Novels in Verse, The Poet X, Loose Retellings, Greek Mythology, Hades and Persephone, Contemporary, Poetry, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Sudanese American, Muslim Christian)An unflinching, honest novel in verse about a teenager’s journey into the slam poetry scene and the dangerous new relationship that could threaten all her dreams. From the award-winning poet and author of HOME IS NOT A COUNTRY.Bad girl. No matter how hard Samira tries, she can’t shake her reputation. She’s never gotten the benefit of the doubt—not from her mother or the aunties who watch her like a hawk.Samira is determined to have a perfect summer filled with fun parties, exploring DC, and growing as a poet—until a scandalous rumor has her grounded and unable to leave her house. When Samira turns to a poetry forum for solace, she catches the eye of an older, charismatic poet named Horus. For the first time, Samira feels wanted. But soon she’s keeping a bigger secret than ever before—one that that could prove her reputation and jeopardize her place in her community.In this gripping coming-of-age novel from the critically acclaimed author Safia Elhillo, a young woman searches to find the balance between honoring her family, her artistry, and her authentic self.
*MY THOUGHTS*
I’m always weary of reading novels in verse because I’m not a huge fan of them. I always have to read them a few times to really “get” them if that makes sense. But this time, I just read this twice just because I wanted to read it. It really is that good y’all.
So normally the reason I don’t like novels in verse, is because I read it so fast I read it and don’t comprehend it. I usually get through them and realized I flew threw it and didn’t really take it in like I should have. But this time, I had the narration and I slowed it down a bit to 1.5x’s and it was fine. And then in some places I even was able to read in tandem with an e-ARC and it made the experience even better. Especially since the book was so good. I’m a huge fan of re-tellings and this one was a Greek mythology one and I loved it.
I also liked the narration. It was done by the author, so it was really amazing to listen to. Because it was narrated by her, all the correct insinuations and inflections and everything were so on point. And when I was reading in tandem and I was looking at the line breaks in each poem, I was so enthralled. This is the first novel in verse I read multiple times just because I wanted to.
The plot itself was crazy. I yelled at the main character from the beginning to the end. I had to remind myself this was a teen because I was like “GIRL HOW DO YOU NOT KNOW?” He was a scumbag and I hate that she didn’t know what was happening. However, I do know that it had nothing to do with her. He was the one who knew what he was doing. But he was an asshole because of all the things he was doing, HE KNEW IT WAS WRONG and he still did it anyway. HE NEEDED JAIL TIME. And I really hope “after the book” he gets what’s coming to him. I hated that we don’t get that clear ending when we got to the end of the book. I also was really mad at her mom. I do understand that it was the way of their culture, but I was also so sad for their relationship. They spent so much time fighting each other instead of spending time together.
I liked this book so much I added it to a list for a thing we’re doing at work called Tournament of Books. Which is funny because we have used a book by this author before. Just goes to show you, this author is the truth and if you haven’t read her before, you need to. Like yesterday.
Overall, I give this
