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A review by jenny_librarian
Smash It! by Francina Simone
Did not finish book.
2.0
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
DNF at 30%
I legit thought this would be a cute romance with lots of pinning and loveworn looks and “we’re both to shy to admit we’re in love”. Instead I got a girl so far up her own ass she can’t be bothered to care about literally anyone else and some heavy racist vibes for a book about a Black girl written by a Black woman.
Seriously, it would have been the simplest thing to do a quick research and confirm Moana is in fact POLYNESIAN!!! And the whole “Hawaiian Sunset” thing... urgh. It rubbed me the wrong way, and I’m white. I can’t even imagine how Poly people feel reading that.
There were also a few transphobic comments about “girl parts” – meaning vagina – from Lennox. It wasn’t necessary nor useful in any way to have those exact words uttered, and it’s even more hurtful when it’s said by a queer character. And when the only (from what I’ve seen in other reviews) bisexual character only ever talks about sex, it becomes a harmful stereotype.
Frankly, having this kind of book published today, even if it’s by an author of colour, is irresponsible. You can’t write stereotypes and harmful tropes about other marginalized communities just because your character is part of a marginalized community.
And look, I’ve never read Othello, so maybe the whole miscommunication thing has to do with the retelling, but it’s exhausting and I hate those kinds of stories where everything would be resolved if the characters just TALKED!
It was a huge hit and miss.
DNF at 30%
I legit thought this would be a cute romance with lots of pinning and loveworn looks and “we’re both to shy to admit we’re in love”. Instead I got a girl so far up her own ass she can’t be bothered to care about literally anyone else and some heavy racist vibes for a book about a Black girl written by a Black woman.
Seriously, it would have been the simplest thing to do a quick research and confirm Moana is in fact POLYNESIAN!!! And the whole “Hawaiian Sunset” thing... urgh. It rubbed me the wrong way, and I’m white. I can’t even imagine how Poly people feel reading that.
There were also a few transphobic comments about “girl parts” – meaning vagina – from Lennox. It wasn’t necessary nor useful in any way to have those exact words uttered, and it’s even more hurtful when it’s said by a queer character. And when the only (from what I’ve seen in other reviews) bisexual character only ever talks about sex, it becomes a harmful stereotype.
Frankly, having this kind of book published today, even if it’s by an author of colour, is irresponsible. You can’t write stereotypes and harmful tropes about other marginalized communities just because your character is part of a marginalized community.
And look, I’ve never read Othello, so maybe the whole miscommunication thing has to do with the retelling, but it’s exhausting and I hate those kinds of stories where everything would be resolved if the characters just TALKED!
It was a huge hit and miss.