This story starts at a BLM rally, and Kareela has just discovered she is pregnant. She is full of doubts, about keeping the baby, about her role in the BLM movement, about whether her boyfriend is right for her, and about her feelings toward her mother and grandmother. Kareela's story is interspersed with her mother Evelyn's point of view, taking us back to her migration from Canada to Jamaica and back, Kareela's childhood, and the devastating and violent death of Kareela's brother.
It took me a bit to get into this audiobook. It initially felt like there were too many issues going on and not enough letting the characters tell the story. But once it got going, I got to know the two women, and really felt for them.
This is a novel about racism, police violence, men's violence against women, and the devastating intergenerational impacts of coping with trauma and grief. It takes these issues to a personal level, as we see intimately how it impacts this one family. I thought the beginning and ending were a bit choppy, but overall I thought it was very insightful and emotional.
The audiobook narrator portrayed the two women very well.

Charlene Carr is back with another gut punch of a novel. We Rip the World Apart speaks to racism, family, motherhood, grief, trauma and loss. Centered on Kareela, a twenty four year old woman, who finds out she's pregnant and is unsure of what to do about it. The daughter of a Jamaican father and white mother, Kareela hasn't quite found herself so she doesn't think she is ready to bring another life into this world. Told mostly from Kareela's current point of view along with the history of her mother Evelyn. After marrying a black man in Jamaica, Evelyn, Kinglsey and their young son Antony flee the country to her homeland of Canada during the Jamaican exodus of the 1980s, thinking they would be safer. Once they settle into their new life however, Evelyn realizes that black men might not be any safer here as they are constantly viewed as other and looked down upon by many. When Antony is a teenager he gets himself involved in standing up for black rights while Kinglsey tries to assimilate himself as much as he can into the Canadian culture, so as to appear less "other." After Antony is killed by police, the family is rocked and Kingsley's mother Violet moves up from Jamaica to be a source of comfort to the family, especially Kareela, who Evelyn can no longer care for. The three women's stories and lives and many, many heartbreaks are weaved together over the course of the novel that will absolutely rip you apart.

Poignant and moving story, given the fact that it's the reality of a lot of people.
I felt like the pacing was slow yet so much things happened.
The characters go through A LOT and sometimes I had to stop my reading to take a big breath.
A family struggle to move forward with; the grief of a child killed by the police, systemic racism, job discrimination, motherhood, multi-generational trauma, search for belonging as a biracial person...

An important read to let the voices of racialized people be heard, for, and especially, white readers.

thank you netgalley for the copy.

I have previously read this book and loved it, so I was very excited to try out the audiobook!

Evelyn, a white female meets her husband Kingsley in Jamaica. When the political climate became dangerous in the 1980s, the young couple moved to Toronto and raised their young son, Antony. Growing up half black in Toronto in the late 90s/early 2000s was a different kind of dangerous, and Evelyn and Kingsley feared for their son's life anytime he came in contact with the police, whether that be during a peaceful rally, or unfortunately could even happen when driving his car or walking down the street. When their nightmares are realized and Antony is killed by police officers, their family is never the same.

Evelyn's daughter Kareela (Antony's much younger sister) is the other FMC and shares her POV mainly in 2022. She is living with her boyfriend (who is white) and when she finds herself pregnant she is unsure if she wants to both commit to the relationship she is uncertain about and bring a child into the world. As the story unfolds, readers learn that the complexities of being Black or in a mixed-race relationship in Canada, as well as the discrimination they face on a daily basis, and even more so, the dangers that come with that discrimination.

I did find that some of the timelines were a bit difficult to keep track of. Even though the chapter title said "Evelyn 1997" it didn't necessarily mean the whole chapter took place in 1997, sometimes part of the chapter was a reflection on what had taken place when she lived in Jamaica or when she was growing up etc. For the most part it was clear enough, but at times I thought it could have been a tiny bit clearer. Similarly, early in the novel I was confused about location for some of it, but once I realized that Kareela was in Halifax, and Evelyn was in Toronto until around 2010 at which point she moved to a small town in Nova Scotia, then it made more sense. It was probably more me not paying enough attention.

Carr did an excellent job with this one, her story gives readers such a neat perspective, especially in the Canadian context, because there are people out there who think racism doesn't exist in Canada or "isn't as bad as the states".

The narration is great and compliments the excellent writing and storyline. I would definitely recommend the audiobook version as well as the hardcopy. Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher, for giving me the chance to listen to this this fantastic audiobook!

Charlene Carr’s We Rip the World Apart is an emotional and powerful story about race, motherhood, and systemic racism. Through the perspectives of three women across different timelines, it explores grief, trauma, and the fierce love that pushes parents to do anything to protect their kids. The recurring line, “I’d rip the world apart to keep her safe,” hit me hard—it perfectly captures the lengths we’d go to for a better world for those we love. The audiobook, narrated by Tebby Fisher, is fantastic. Her performance brings the characters to life and nails the Canadian and Jamaican accents, making it an amazing way to experience the story.

That said, the book has its struggles. The pacing can feel slow, and it circles the same emotional moments a bit too much. Some parts, like the portrayal of police corruption, felt over-the-top and pulled me out of the story. By the time the big reveals came around, they were told, shown, and told again, which dulled their impact. Still, the themes are important and thought-provoking. If you’re new to Charlene Carr, though, I’d recommend starting with one of her other books to get a better feel for her storytelling style.

I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. I have read Charlene Carr's other books and enjoyed them.

The narrator of this book is excellent. She gets the voices to feel right, both the Canadian accents and the Jamaican ones.

This book attempts to tackle a lot of very big issues. I'll list the ones that come to mind: unplanned pregnancy, race, grief, loss, motherhood, racism, systemic racism, police brutality, Black Lives Matter, abortion, belonging. Unfortunately, it is very slow and repetitious. The book is told through three time periods and three women, but feels like it hits the same moments over and over again.

Another problem is it goes too far. I'm trying to avoid spoilers here, but this might be a bit spoilery. The police shoot and kill Antony. They are exonerated in the investigation. Then they go around threatening people to keep their mouths shut. Systemic racism is what allowed them to be exonerated. There is no need to go around threatening people, that's just corruption. In a system stacked toward the police they believe they have done the right thing, there is no need for this individual level of intimidation. the system is on their side. It just felt like Carr (who is mixed race herself and I'm sure has has experienced racism, systemic and otherwise) had overplayed her hand.

When the final reveal is revealed it is literally told and then shown and then told again and it's just more pain. By then I had pretty much checked out, but it was all a bit much.

If not for the narrator I would have given this book two stars. I suggest starting with Carr's other work.

𐙚 Cultural Heritage & Legacy
𐙚 Social Injustice & Activism
𐙚 Foundations of Identity

I relished every moment of this story. It was raw and deeply moving, pulling you in from the start. Charlene Carr’s We Rip the World Apart is a deep exploration of grief, identity, and the relentless bonds of family. Told through the perspectives of three generations—Kareela, a pregnant biracial woman grappling with uncertainty; Evelyn, her white mother navigating guilt and loss; and Violet, her Jamaican grandmother with a rich but painful past. The story spans decades, unraveling the ripple effects of choices, trauma, and systemic injustice. Carr’s writing is both tender and unflinching. This book immerses you in the raw emotions of a family torn apart by tragedy yet bound by love. The themes of race, motherhood, and resilience are tackled with a profound honesty that lingers long after the final page. The audiobook, narrated by Tebby Fisher, is a standout, with Violet’s Jamaican accent adding a layer of authenticity that brought the characters to life. This is a heartrending and unforgettable novel that challenges and transforms.

Rating: ✰✰✰✰✰/5

Thank you for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. ・❥・

Charlene Carr’s We Rip the World Apart is a masterful and gut-wrenching novel that takes readers on a raw, emotional journey through the deeply intertwined themes of race, motherhood, police brutality, and trauma. This multi-generational, deeply personal story delves into the complexities of biracial relationships and the unique burdens placed on families navigating systemic racism. It is a novel that moved me to anger, brought me to tears, and left me profoundly changed.

At its heart, We Rip the World Apart examines how grief and trauma ripple through a family after tragedy strikes, affecting each member in ways that are both unique and universally heartbreaking. Carr’s storytelling is as intimate as it is unflinchingly honest, exposing the raw nerves of loss and the fierce love that drives parents to do anything to protect their children. The quote, “I’d rip the world apart to keep her safe,” is a poignant refrain that resonated deeply with me, encapsulating the lengths to which we would go to secure a better, safer world for our children. Readers should be aware of potential triggers, including racism and abortion, as Carr does not hold back from confronting these issues in a deeply affecting manner.

The audiobook is narrated by Tebby Fisher. Fisher’s emotive performance brings layers of depth and feeling to the story, elevating its impact. Her ability to convey the raw emotional weight of the characters’ struggles and triumphs is tremendous, making the audiobook version highly recommended for readers who want to immerse themselves fully in the novel’s powerful themes.

Having read and loved “Hold My Girl”, I was excited to read Charlene Carr’s new book, “We Rip the World Apart” and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Kareela is 24 and pregnant with a baby she’s not sure she wants. As a bi-racial woman, she is struggling to understand where she fits into society and she feels let down by her parents, particularly her mother. Her brother was killed in a BLM demonstration and the family’s grief has pushed them further apart.

The story is narrated by Kareela, her mother, Evelyn, and her paternal grandmother, Violet, across several
Timelines from the 1980’s to the present day.

The writing is stunning. The story is emotive, heartbreaking and raw, and demonstrates how decisions made in the moment can have far reaching consequences. There was so much in this book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. The ending was desperately sad.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Tebby Fisher, who did a brilliant job in bringing the characters to life.

5⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Charlene Carr and RB Media for an ARC in return for an honest review.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

PHENOMENAL!!!

My goodness the audiobook was perfect. I loved the authentic Jamaican accent of Violet! It added to the whole experience of truly being pulled into the story with this family.

It’s raw and gut-wrenching that it forces us to confront the deepest parts of ourselves. This book did just that—and more. From the very first page, Carr weaves a powerful, unflinching tale of love, loss, and the relentless pursuit of redemption.

Carr did a great job!!!! I loved it!!!