I've seen this book around for a while, so I was happy when it was the book club pick for this month. I feel like it drags a little and some characters are more interesting than others. For example, I felt a lot more connected to Desiree and Jude, and their storylines. That doesn't mean I didn't care about Stella and her side of things, it's just that when we got to her POV, I just wasn't as interested. 

This story is quite rich and it explores many different themes, including colorism, passing, classism, identity, domestic violence, racism, and bigotry. So there's a lot to unpack. It's also LGBTQIA+, which I wasn't expecting. Reese's little side story of finding himself and transitioning in a time when it was so taboo and difficult to access was quite compelling, and I like that it was explored through Jude and their relationship. 

Overall, this was a great read.