This book covers some heavy topics. It’s told from a dual POV/timeline. Following Evelyn beginning in the 1980s. A white woman married to a Jamaican man after they move to Canada. It follows how she navigates the world as a white mother to black children. She gets a lot wrong but you can tell it’s from a place of love and fear for her children. While you can relate to the character you also want to yell at her. The other POV is from Kareela starting in 2022. Kareela is Evelyn’s daughter. It follows how she is navigating the world as a mixed race woman in the aftermath of a family tragedy. She’s making some really difficult decisions in a world that makes her feel unwanted.

This book made me feel all of the emotions. It wasn’t an easy read, but it was so so good.

This book was overall really well written and a great look at the differences between generations. Some things change but so many things stay the same and it was interesting to see how different each woman made different choices for themselves and their families.

On paper, this should have been a four-star read for me, but unfortunately I had a hard time connecting with the characters. There were too many POVs and too many timelines, causing issues with pacing. I struggled to get through this one, and not just because of the difficult subject matter. I wish I had connected with the story more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!
PUB DATE: 1/28/2025

We Rip the World Apart tells the story of Kareela and her family and the ripples that continue to affect them years after her brother Antony is killed in an act of police brutality.

In February, I read only black authors in honor of Black History Month. This experience diversified my reading and better educated me. However, it was also very heavy because every book touched on sad and disgraceful problems. Hands down, the heaviest book I read during that month was We Rip the World Apart.
We Rip the World Apart is a novel, but reading the book's description, you could easily mistake it for a memoir, especially if I told you everything that happened in the story, and that is because there are so many things in the book that occur every single day to marginalized people. That is what makes this so weighted as a story. The trigger warnings cover all manners of assault and violence that you can think of happening to people of color.
As we approach the 5th anniversary of George Floyd's murder and look at how our country has become just this year, I am glad that I read this book. It has been living rent-free in my head since finishing it, and I hope it stays that way so that I am regularly reminded that there is no room for complacency regarding racial justice and equality.

Charlene Carr’s "We Rip the World Apart" is a captivating and emotionally powerful novel that grips readers from the first page.

The richly layered narrative is filled with intrigue and suspense, and the story explores the fragility of human connections and the far-reaching consequences of personal choices. Carr’s ability to keep the narrative unpredictable ensures that every twist feels impactful and leaves readers wanting more.

The novel’s strength lies in its well-developed characters, each with unique motivations and complexities. From Kareela, the flawed protagonist, to the supporting characters who shape the story’s emotional core, Carr gives each person a distinct voice. Their authentic interactions make the relationships feel real, creating a compelling dynamic that draws readers in.

What makes "We Rip the World Apart" so enjoyable is its balance of emotional depth and suspense. Carr masterfully builds tension through both external plot twists and the characters' internal struggles. This blend of heart and intrigue makes the novel not only engaging but also deeply relatable, making it a must-read for fans of emotionally charged, thought-provoking fiction.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC!

This is such a tough read. It's an important read. I strongly believe everyone (especially white people) need to read this book. It was so eye opening to me, and -not to be overly dramatic- I felt physically unwell reading parts of this. Carr's writing is so impactful, and the story itself is powerful. (And topical for the today's political climate.)
I found this book to read sort of like a case study on race, how grief changes a family, and a woman's right to choose (those are three major topics in this book). It was so interesting and held my attention all the way through. I needed to know how our main characters were going to end up.
Some reviews say this book was repetitive, and while it might have been, to me it seemed intentional. Over and over again, Black people and people of color are facing the same discriminations, the same violence towards them. We see it in the news all the time. It saddens me. And this story, if everyone could read it, is so so important.
Obviously we had some very unlikable characters in this book. Thomas trying to manipulate girlfriend Kyreela into keeping a baby she's unsure she wants was just so icky. It's a topic I think Carr did a wonderful job navigating. It's such a complex one, and was handled with such care.
Many emotions came about while reading this. If you're looking for a generational story, a story that covers complex issues and topics such as race, grief, abuse, and a woman's right to choose, and a story that makes you think - this will be right up your alley. I'm so glad I read this one.

Book Review: We Rip the World Apart
✍️ Author: Charlene Carr
📚 Genre: Fiction
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.75/5)

Wow! This multi-generational story weaves together themes of identity, race, social injustice, and the universal struggle of belonging. While the narrative focuses on Kareela in the present, it also delves into her heritage, uncovering the past that shaped her.

Charlene Carr’s storytelling is immersive, and her character development is exceptional. Kareela’s journey is powerful and thought-provoking, though at times, the weight of sadness made it a heavy read. Still, this novel is an important and resonant exploration of self-discovery and history’s impact on the present.

Many thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC. My thoughts are my own and freely expressed.

This was a deeply emotional story about a mixed-race family attempting to navigate life in the aftermath of a death of a family member at the hands of police brutality.

This book explores themes of generational trauma, parenting, systemic racism, and self-discovery.

For me, it took a minute to get into the rhythm of the timelines and character changes. However, once it started to become more clear, the story did pick up! It was a heavy, but necessary story. No character was exempt from the impact of colorism and Blackness in a racist world. This is my second book by this author and I look forward to reading more from her.

The overall story was timely and interesting. I am not from Canada, so it was interesting to read a book about racism in a country different from my own.
The story covers several different timelines. All dealing with racism, assimilation, sexism, and loss and grief, for 3 generations of women. The story also explores the complexities of being bi-racial and self-identity and blackness.
It is a multi-generational story (Kareela, Evelyn and Violet) and we watch these women struggle with choices many women face in motherhood, dating and marriage.
The men in their lives face similar struggles of racism, assimilation, and grief. Kingsley, the father, is originally from Jamaica, and he faces many issues Black men face, protecting his son in a racist world and dealing with how people perceive his Blackness.

At times, I think this book tries to do to much and incorporate too many themes, which results in part of the book falling flat. While it covers emotional issues, at times it felt forced.

I do think this book is worth the read. Overall 3.75 STARS

Kareela has a decision to make. She’s pregnant, and she’s not sure she wants this baby. She’s not sure about her relationship with Thomas, and she’s not even sure about herself and where she fits in the world. Half white, half black, she’s never felt as if she belongs anywhere. More and more these days, she feels compelled to speak out against society’s injustices, speak out in honor of her brother who was murdered by police years ago. As she works to figure out just which path she wants to take, she wishes she could turn to her mother but that relationship has been fractured for years. Her mom has her own demons she continues to wrestle with. As Kareela struggles to find her way, more and more of her mother's story comes to light. This is a powerful story that spans several generations of women. Thought provoking and heartbreaking at the same time.

We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr is a powerful, multi-generational story about motherhood, race, and secrets. The novel follows Kareela, a 24-year-old social worker who discovers she's pregnant and struggles with her biracial identity. Her mother, Evelyn, fled to Canada during the politically charged Jamaican exodus in the 1980s, and her grandmother, Violet, offers a link to their Jamaican heritage.
The narrative weaves through different timelines, exploring how past traumas and secrets shape the present. It's a compelling exploration of identity, generational trauma, and the impact of systemic racism.

We Rip the World Apart is a heartbreaking, devastating look at racism, police brutality, systemic oppression, and how they all affect marginalized communities, particularly Black communities and families. My heart ached for these characters and it was a stark reminder of how much work there still is to do. The characters are written beautifully, with realistic nuance and complexities that evoke a range of emotions while reading. It's easy to be angry with certain characters for their behaviors and decisions, but when their reasons and own trauma come to light, empathy takes over. There is so much to discuss with this book and would make an excellent book club pick!

Kareela is a biracial pregnant woman who us unsure of motherhood. She struggles with the murder of her brother & the distant mother she grew up with. Evelyn is the mother who lost a son & was never able to get the justice for his murder. She was afraid of getting close to her daughter in fear of losing her too.This book was heavy & so sad! I felt for Evelyn & I loved reading her chapters.

I just finished We Rip the World Apart by Charlene Carr and here are my musings. I listened to the audiobook and read the e-version.

Imagine being 24 and pregnant and not knowing if you want to bring your child into a world that has taken so much from you. This is Kareela, she doesn’t feel black enough and she doesn’t feel white enough. She feels like she has straddled two worlds but is a part of neither. After her brother was murdered by the police as a child, her family was never the same again. Her Canadian mother never got over the loss and her Jamaican father hit the bottle. Her grandmother was the person who was there for her… Her heart and her family are in shatters and trying to find any path to take a first step on, is the scariest thing she has ever had to do.

This book follows two timelines and POV. We get Kareela in the present and her mother Evelyn in the past.

Firstly, the audiobook was amazing. The narration was top notch.

This book hit me in a way I can’t really articulate. I could never imagine this kind of loss and the feeling of not belonging. Kareela not only doesn’t know who she is in the world but she has the added sadness of feeling like she doesn’t have a family that sees her. Her family fractured the day her brother was killed and she had to grow up fast. Both of her parents may as well have died too considering they basically forgot they had a living child. My heart aches so much. The trouble with me is the whole pregnancy and whether she wants the child purely because the man she is with is white. She allowed his skin color to prejudice her own feelings, well thats how it felt for a good portion of the book but finding out that she didn’t know who she was because she had spent her time bending to make him more comfortable, I had a major lightbulb moment. I understand that it was done for a reason but I felt a little annoyed with her for a majority of the book then I felt really guilty.

This book shows you that your side of what you are feeling based on a situation isn’t always the same as the other person. All 3 women had their own reasons for doing what they did but it had negative effects on others. Honestly I was really drawn into Evelyn’s story and it helped me to understand Kareela more.

This book highlights the fears that POC had then and how those fears are still here today. It’s horrible. I cannot imagine what that must be like to have these kinds of fears on a daily basis. Fear of someone making assumptions over the color of someone else's skin.

This book hit me in a really profound way. It was beautifully written and did a wonderful job of weaving the kind of story that needs to be said loud enough for the people in the back to hear.

4.5 stars
Thank you @netgalley @sourcebooks @recordedbooks for my gifted copies

Charlene Carr's We Rip the World Apart is a sensitive and well-written meditation on motherhood and familial trauma. Carr touches on hot-button issue such as racism, violence, and immigration with a deft hand. This would be a great pick for book club discussions. Despite the heavy subject matter, her characterizations and her prose keep the pages turning. I would recommend this book whole-heartedly.

This book presents so many themes that spark so much thought and . It really makes you sit and ponder your own thoughts and feelings. A really good take on racism in Canada, one complex thoughtful engaging read

Evelyn: who struggles to balance her need for the truth with her need to keep her family safe

Violet: who endeavors to take care of the babies, those born to her and those not

Kareela: who just wants to figure out how to love herself


Powerful storytelling told in the convincing voices of three women of different generations all indelibly marked by violence and loss

I absolutely loved every second of this beautiful book! It was both heavy and wonderful and just what I needed!

Special thanks to the publisher for the review copy of this book!

This book took me longer than I expected to finish because I was so emotional while reading it that I had to keep putting it down. I even considered DNF’ing a few times, the emotions were running too deep.

I’m so glad I stuck with it. This book was both beautiful and ugly, but a story that needs to be to told.

If you love multigenerational stories, this book is for you!

Kareela is a young woman in the midst of finding herself when she discovers she is pregnant. Although in a serious relationship, Kareela isn’t sure she is ready to bring a baby into the world- especially a world where Kareela, a mixed race woman, is currently struggling to find her own place.

As we learn about Kareela in the present, we simultaneously learn about Kareela’s mother, Evelyn and her own past struggles with the complexities of identity and the mystification of motherhood. Interestingly Evelyn, a white woman who married a black man is the near reverse situation of Kareela and her partner. Both woman grapple with race and culture, only through varying perspectives. Also, though told decades apart, each woman’s cultural concerns are unfortunately, still timely and relevant.

With We Rip the World Apart, new to me author Charlene Carr writes a gut wrenching story that sheds light on racial injustices that permeate class culture. It’s also a story that highlights the fragile relationship between parent and child, a bond that shapes one’s identity arguably just as much as race does.