The writing is a little difficult to follow at times, and the author switches point of view (PoV) several times, but at the same time, I got a much better picture of Jade, her family and her community because of all the PoV changes. I loved that this book was set primarily in Toronto and loved the author's sensitive handling of grief.

Tanya Turton has written a beautiful exploration of grief, identity, and friendship in Jade is a Twisted Green. While this book is not really a “coming of age” story, it is very much a “realizing who I am in my own skin, standing on my own two feet, and living by my own values” book. I appreciated how Turton dealt with the grief of losing a sister, and how Jade came to realize how to live authentically, with her own ideals leading the way.

Many thanks to Dundurn Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 20%

This book felt like it was telling me things rather than showing. The narrative was disjointed with information thrown at you in a seemingly random manner. The multi POV's were confusing as there didn't seem to be a distinct voice between them so they got jumbled quickly.

Really sorry I didn't finish this book as I just didn't get into it, so I can't give much more of a review.

DNF - This should have been a great fit for me but, I found the writing lacked gusto & overall, fell flat in the direction it needed to take. The story as a whole was interesting but floundered & I ultimately found myself avoiding coming back to read this one.

Great coming of age, nicely written and multiple pov narrative. Follows Jade’s healing journey and dealing with grief in Toronto. Really enjoyed it. Nice Black queer representation.

I found this book quite thought provoking. It centred on grief, identity and survival and I thought these were topics that were tackled well by the author. It was a bit of a slow start for me but felt like the pace of the book picked up the further I went in this book.

It’s a multiple POV throughout, which I love. I find it allows me to get to know the characters more deeply which is what happened here. I like that it mostly centres on Jade though. I also enjoyed the switches in the timeline, I felt this added to the depth of the story.

I liked the ending and felt it fitted well with the story. I’m looking forward to reading more of Tanya Turton’s books!

From the beginning I noticed that the author has a captivating way of describing a setting/scene/surroundings and delving deeper into what some may deem as trivial. They breathed life into each and every detail but then that somewhat frayed when we were invited into the main characters life. I lost track of the story more than once and some of the scenes were sporadic to me, not fitting very well. It went back and forth from the past and present so many times that I became confused about where the story was and there were so many people to remember it had my head spinning.

After a while I opted for the audiobook to see if that was any better but it was still lost on me and I know it’s probably just an audiobook thing but the narrator kept switching accents on and off for different characters so I became confused as to whether or not the characters had them and who in fact was speaking, it was rather odd but maybe it was meant and I just didn’t understand.

I found myself forgetting what had just been read out and it felt like what I was hearing didn’t matter to the storyline anyway. Jade as a character confused me at times and the plot felt weak, as though none of it would amount to anything. I feel so bad for saying that but it’s just my opinion. I couldn’t connect with Jade no matter the situation, its a shame seeing as she was the main focus even tho the story did delve into other characters lives too. She seemed very closed in on herself and others only entered the equation when/if they benefitted her. I think the book could have done with a bit of Jade taking others feelings into account and that would have rounded up the story nicely.

I loved Tanya Turton’s way of writing despite this book not being for me which is why I went as far as giving it 2 stars instead of one. I measured it up against The Girls Are Good by Ilaria Bernardini which I gave 1 star and it felt fair.

I approached this book excited about its focus on a queer black woman's journey through loss and becoming. Thanks to an advance copy, I got to read it early. However, the book didn't quite meet my expectations.

While it explores the theme of becoming, I started losing interest after a few chapters. Despite being Jade's story, the abundance of different perspectives felt unnecessary and hindered the plot execution. The potential was there, but it didn't fully translate to the reading experience, causing my enthusiasm for Jade's journey to wane.

Overall, I found the book okay rather than exciting. The narrative style didn't connect with me, which was disappointing given my initial anticipation. Nevertheless, I'm hopeful for Tanya Turton's future works.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

Jade is a Twisted Green was a relatively captivating book, following Jade a black 24 year old woman, after the death of her twin sister. This book was a raw portrait of love, loss, grief and finding one’s identity.

TW/CW’s; Death, Suicide

Jade is a Twisted Green is a captivating tale that explores themes of grief, identity, and the diverse manifestations of love. The story immerses readers in the vibrant world of Little Jamaica, situated in Toronto, through the perspectives of multiple characters and across different time periods.

One notable aspect of the book is the skillful use of dialects, which beautifully showcases the characters' code switching. This portrayal acts as an endearing tribute to those who grew up speaking nonstandard versions of languages. The book embraces and normalizes this linguistic diversity without providing extensive explanations within its pages.

Although there were instances where the narrative felt a bit restrained and relied more on telling rather than showing the characters' emotions, the overarching themes of the story remain its strong pillars. Grief, identity, and love are masterfully interwoven throughout the book, ensuring a compelling and thought-provoking read

CW: Death, Suicide, Sexual Content, Infidelity

This book follows Jade, a 24 year old Black and queer Torontonian, as she navigates her grief after her twin sister's death on top of the post-university existential crisis. There is so much going on, that there is no surprise that Jade is overwhelmed and trying to figure it out.

I don't love Sad/Hot Girl Lit, but I would say that this fits into that genre, and is engaging and an enjoyable read. The writing is a little hard to follow at times, because the narrative perspective shifts without warning or consistency. It's not a life changing read, but it's not terrible either.

Other reviews have noted the uncomfortable intertwining of cheating and polyamory - and that it could have been explored in a more sensitive and understanding way.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

I’m sorry to say that this wasn’t for me and that I DNFed it pretty quickly. I think family dramas just aren’t for me.

"Jade is a Twisted Green" is a beautifully written novel that showcases Turton's mastery of language. The prose is lyrical, with vivid descriptions of the characters and settings that bring the story to life. Turton's writing is both poetic and introspective, inviting the reader to delve deep into the psyche of the protagonist, Jade.

One of the strengths of Turton's writing is her ability to capture the rhythms and cadences of everyday speech, infusing her characters' dialogue with a naturalism that makes them feel like real people. This, combined with her use of metaphor and imagery, creates a rich and immersive reading experience that stays with you long after you've finished the book.

Overall, "Jade is a Twisted Green" is a triumph of prose, showcasing Turton's talent for writing with grace and power. If you're looking for a beautifully crafted novel that explores the complexities of human experience, this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

I love coming-of-age stories and this one was pretty good. Loved the LGBTQIA+ representation and the fact that the FMC is a queer black woman. Jade is a Twisted Green has all the makings for a great book, but this one fell a little flat for me, story-wise. It took me some time to get through this story, though. I wanted to LOVE it but that wasn't the case. The book as a whole could use more structure and a little bit of shaping, especially relating to the characters in the story. This was more of 2.5 star read for me, but bumped up to 3 for reviewing purposes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.

I was so excited to start this one, but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the characters, but I found my mind wandering often while reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review~

Jade is a Twisted Green follows Jade Brown, a woman trying to figure out where she belongs in the world following the mysterious death of her sister. Throughout her journey of healing we are shown her experiences with her lovers and friends. Starting the story as a 24 year old, we see her come into her own as a first-generation Jamaican woman.

This coming of age story was enjoyable and deeply personal. My main complaint is while I normally like a mixed POV in a story, I think I would have preferred this one from only Jade's point of view. I think not knowing who you are is an incredibly terrifying way to feel and having us pulled away from her POV pulled me out of it. I'm not the biggest fan of the polyamory portrayal either. I think there could have been better ways to go about it.

I still think this is a solid read though!

This book gutted me. I was absolutely floored by the story. I hadn't read any of Turton's previous work and incredibly excited to read more. Hearing reviews of friends who I recommended this to, this book has made a lasting impression.