I hated Mykal just like she hated Desmond. I took a while for me to get on the Mykal train but I’m a fan now. Desmond on the other hand I loved from the very beginning. I get that she worked hard but there’s also this great sense of entitlement. From my point of view she acts as if something is owed to her and I don’t like that. Her character really gave the word envy new meaning. Desmond’s character is level headed I love that. As I read further along in the book I understood why Mykal was the way she was she sought validation and love from her father. However he clearly resented her for not being a boy. He treated her so poorly and he never believed in her dreams and aspirations. This in turn made Mykal envious and bullheaded. Envy fits perfectly for her. She carried out the meaning of the title seamlessly. I feel for her character. One of my favourite supporting character even with his medical problems was Desmond Ellis II. How thirsty Mykal was for Pryce was downright disgusting. That wasn’t ok. I like how Pryce stood his ground though. That’s why I love him so much and I don’t feel sorry for Mykal she needed that reality check she was out of pocket. But at the same time I understood her reasoning for every single thing she did. Hurt people hurt people. And Mykal was definitely in pain. The way her her father treated her from she was a child straight into adulthood lead her down a part where she sought validation from
the men in her life. Desmond being ready and willing to go above and beyond to make his father’s dream come true was so beautiful. He’s admirable. Seeing my good sis Leelah is action gave me so much life. She handled Mykal real good and I was so proud. Leelah gave her dust. I was so conflicted reading the book cause I understand Mykal’s reasoning. I understood everything she did. I felt her pain but she made it so hard to get on board with her character. Desmond is a real black king. He didn’t flinch when he saw her break and he helped rather than brushing it off. Mental health is something that isn’t taken seriously so seeing him being there for her was so refreshing. Their love was so wholesome. I loved how she found herself ended up liking her character in the end and I was very happy when she stood off to her father. That was the icing on the cake. Their relationship didn’t start out the most conventional but it was nothing short of beautiful. Easily five stars. Kudos Brookelyn.