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noaheaston2's review against another edition
3.0
This book mentioning the horniman museum and brick lane in the same paragraph is so personal to me lol
lauz_w's review against another edition
4.0
Luan Goldie is such a wonderful author I find it exasperating she isn't better known. I bought Homecoming after reading Nightingale Point, one of my favourite books of 2020.
At it's most basic, homecoming is a book about secrets and the difficulty of falling in love as a young adult, but it is also about grief, belonging and understanding a different generation and culture. Luan's writing is so easy to read, almost lyrical at points, and I could see this book being developed wonderfully on screen too (someone please buy it!!).
At it's most basic, homecoming is a book about secrets and the difficulty of falling in love as a young adult, but it is also about grief, belonging and understanding a different generation and culture. Luan's writing is so easy to read, almost lyrical at points, and I could see this book being developed wonderfully on screen too (someone please buy it!!).
mysteriesandhistories's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A re-read for me after a recent trip to Kenya. Great characters and storytelling. On reflection, it would be good to have seen some of the ‘good times’ with Emma. She’s such an awful person it’s hard to see why so many sacrifices are made for her. But human relationships aren’t always logical.
ekarptatham's review against another edition
4.0
Heartfelt book about friendships, relationships, secrets and loss. Like Luan Goldie's style of writing that makes for a nice read
fureverlove's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jose_kg's review against another edition
This was a mystery book that was sent to me. I had hopes that it would be a bit like Half of a Yellow Sun but, at least what I read, was a lot more rooted in the mundanity of the UK, which is fine, it's just not what I was expecting.
I didn't really connect with the characters. On the surface the narrative is told from the perspective of Yvonne and Kiama, but the focus is squarely on Kiama's parents, Lewis and Emma, particularly Emma. 170 pages in I felt I knew a lot more about Lewis and Emma than I did about the "main" characters.
Overall I just didn't really find the story compelling, I might give it another go in the future but for right now I'm done.
I didn't really connect with the characters. On the surface the narrative is told from the perspective of Yvonne and Kiama, but the focus is squarely on Kiama's parents, Lewis and Emma, particularly Emma. 170 pages in I felt I knew a lot more about Lewis and Emma than I did about the "main" characters.
Overall I just didn't really find the story compelling, I might give it another go in the future but for right now I'm done.
paigehamlett1's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
eleanorkt93's review against another edition
4.0
Heartfelt book about friendships, relationships, secrets and loss. Like Luan Goldie's style of writing that makes for a nice read
_katsullivan's review against another edition
4.0
Homecoming involves complex, interesting relationships between people, and how they change over the years and with big life events. Nobody feels perfect, they all have their own flaws and make choices that you question. The story is also structured in a way where you don't get the information right away. You understand that something terrible happened to Emma and Kiama was somehow involved, but you don't fully find out until nearly the end of the story.
The love 'triangle' is also an interesting one, because its not really a triangle. Yvonne has a one night stand with Lewis, who later meets, and has a child with, Emma. Yvonne and Lewis don't get back together until much later, when Kiama is ~7, and they feel the need to keep it from Emma. They are implied to get back together after the end of the book, with Yvonne finally coming to terms with Lewis and understanding that they were not responsible for Emma's death with encouragement from Kiama, who just wants to see his dad happy.
Overall, its interesting and broaches the subject of coming to terms with your past well, but I do think it is slightly long, with some unnecessary detail, but well written and certainly thought-provoking.
The love 'triangle' is also an interesting one, because its not really a triangle. Yvonne has a one night stand with Lewis, who later meets, and has a child with, Emma. Yvonne and Lewis don't get back together until much later, when Kiama is ~7, and they feel the need to keep it from Emma. They are implied to get back together after the end of the book, with Yvonne finally coming to terms with Lewis and understanding that they were not responsible for Emma's death with encouragement from Kiama, who just wants to see his dad happy.
Overall, its interesting and broaches the subject of coming to terms with your past well, but I do think it is slightly long, with some unnecessary detail, but well written and certainly thought-provoking.