I Am Not Your Baby Mother: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

Product Information

I loved both characters I just wish there was more of a plot, as this book heavily just felt like a short period of Cynthia's life in which she was trying to come to terms with her brothers death, and if anything the book actually left more questions than answers, so the ending really did bother me. but i’d say in a sense i’m also hurt about her brother, despite being involved in all that, and him being well off - no one deserves what he went through. i never thought he’d be involved in such activities, but it’s why Candice put that in there, it could be anyone and happen to anyone. there was so much life ahead of him :( She doesn’t just mean beige “in terms of skin tone but in personality, in performance, in content being rolled out”. When she started her blog in 2016, “there was no other version out there. If you weren’t white and middle-class with this certain set of mummy friends, it just felt like you were sitting on the outskirts looking in.” Cyn herself did go through a lot for such a young person, and she learnt some things along the way. however the connection that was built between her and Isaac was unmatched. it just felt RIGHT. hence when it all went down, my feelings were shattered. it’s upsetting that it had to end that way for them both, but really what was he thinking??? Thomas was simply doing all of that out of spite. it was all just crazy. The plot wasn't believable and felt rushed. A pondering question I have upon finishing this novel... What was the message? What can people gain from reading this?

I was not expecting the beautiful depiction of grief at the centre of this story. This is a story about loss, longing and reconciling the person you thought you knew with the reality. Brathwaite has created this really touching and authentic depiction of grief. It is an all-consuming cloud at times, but it also sometimes melts away for a moment. Cynthia is emotionally vulnerable and open in a way that makes it impossible for you to not fall in love with her. Her process of grief is so detailed and realistic, striking a chord with me. Cuts Both Ways was a really powerful read and its ending – whilst not ambiguous – certainly allows for more of the story to be told and I really home that Candice Braithwaite turns it into a series. If 2020 was the year the world decided it was time for a proper conversation about racism, then 2021 is definitely the year we need to face up to colourism. Colourism is discrimination against dark-skinned people. It comes from within the community as well as without, and is an issue across many races, including mine. Cuts Both Ways is a riveting mixture of contemporary, romance and mystery that completely captures your mind. It was a memoir, but also well researched - with statistics about population, health, names, and racism scattered through.Since the big day a few months ago, outwardly nothing has changed. He still has a certain way he likes the dishwasher to be loaded, and I like to have an hour to myself each night. But inwardly, there has been a shift. I have to be honest and say that this is highlighted by the respect put upon our union by the rest of the world. The other day we went to the bank to do some admin. But I Am Not Your Baby Mother resonates beyond race – and should strike a chord with any mother alienated by stereotypical images of motherhood. When Brathwaite first became a mother, she was more worried about paying the electricity bill than whether her child’s food was organic. “If my child is not crying through hunger, I’m winning. The time to fuss is itself a privilege.”

Candice’s voice is bold but also gentle. She also does a great job in reflecting on her own privileges and biases. This book is a must read. The writing is brilliant and intelligent, and it's clear that Candice Braithwaite is a very talented writer and orator.Through ‘Cuts Both Ways’, Candice has captured the reality of many young people in London and other cities marred by gun and knife crime. I was drawn into a world I could only imagine before reading this story. This is my second time exposing myself to the culture of BPOC through books. The first was Ace of Spades but in Cuts Both Ways, I get to travel deeply in their culture.

The characters had so much potential, especially our main characters, Cynthia and Issac, but they were underdeveloped and rushed. Their interaction and inner thoughts throughout the book were very amateur and cringe-worthy. It was so evident that this book was written by someone much, much older with not much sense of modern youthfulness and their interaction.With the current world events and everyone trying to raise awareness on their social media, Candice says something at the end of her book which is so important and pertinent: She also highlighted the way she was raised to present herself well with how she dressed, to raise expectations. I related to this a lot, it’s what I was taught too.

I really enjoyed this read, it was engaging and had me hooked right from the start. The writing style is perfect for a YA read but also perfect for adults that love reading YA like me. Thank God you’re married!” exclaimed the clerk. Upon seeing our expressions, she added hastily: “I’m sure you’re very much in love, but it just gives me far less paperwork to do!” She laughed, and I couldn’t help but join her. She was, like me, looking at marriage for the practicality it is. A woman after my own heart. Candice captured the story of Cyn’s mum and dad beautifully - at times I was infuriated by Cyn’s dad but he was also grieving. I loved the grace Candice gave both parents and how she handled the cultural differences that have a funny way of playing out when a family is dealing with stronger forces than they are used to. I feel like there are still questions to be answered so would love to see a sequel but I also appreciate and respect the idea that not every story has a happy ending and sometimes we are left without annswers. I would love to see a HEA though 🌚 In celebration of International Women's Day, we asked a diverse range of inspiring high-profile figures, from actresses and poets to activists and politicians, to tell us what one thing they'd like to change for women the world over. Although feminist issues have never taken more precedence, this series proves that there is still work to be done.Brathwaite and her husband, who works in the tool hire industry, now live in a house bought in part thanks to endorsements and sponsorships. But while she is reluctant to see herself as a role model, the responsibility for speaking to mothers on a lower income clearly plays on her mind. “When we tell people to relax their spending at, say, Primark or H&M, we have to be conscious that someone’s ‘fast fashion’ is someone else’s ‘high-end’.” I said ‘I like to think I’m an ally’ because learning about white privilege can be hard to face (not as hard as experiencing racism and micro-aggressions your entire life, but difficult to admit and own up to) and this book challenged me. Candice talks about trying to fit in with the white mummy crowd in the beginning by having the ‘must-have’ buggy despite her finances being really stretched, and as someone who didn’t even dare to consider those options or try to fit in that particular clique I felt a bit resentful of this. However I applaud the author for such an important subject matter, and for exploring all the different ways people can grieve and how a lost loved one can affect a family unit, I just felt like there was so much more space for more. Brathwaite writes particularly well about the perks and pitfalls of building a career from an online presence. She is candid about her work and how it means “essentially marketing myself full-time”. There has been monetary gain, but there have also been negative effects on her mental health, both from dealing with trolls and navigating how much of her life to share. Many thanks to Hachette Children's Group and NetGalley for providing me with a Digital Review Copy.