This Place Is Still Beautiful

This Place Is Still Beautiful

XiXi Tian

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Two sisters. A shocking racist incident. The summer that will change both of their lives forever.Despite having had near-identical upbringings, sisters Annalie and Margaret agree on only one thing: that they have nothing in common. Nineteen-year-old Margaret is driven, ambitious, and keenly aware of social justice issues. She couldn't wait to leave their oppressive small-town home and take flight in New York. Meanwhile sweet, popular, seventeen-year-old Annalie couldn't think of anything worse - she loves their town, and feels safe coasting along in its confines.That is, until she arrives home one day to find a gut-punching racial slur painted on their garage door.Outraged, Margaret flies home, expecting to find her family up in arms. Instead, she's amazed to hear they want to forget about it. Their mom is worried about what it might stir up, and Annalie just wants to have a 'normal' summer - which Margaret is determined to ruin, apparently.Back under each other's skins, things between Margaret and Annalie get steadily worse - and not even the distraction of first love (for Annalie), or lost love (for Margaret) can bring them together.Until finally, a crushing secret threatens to tear them apart forever.

Publication Year: 2022


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  • nin95
    Mar 16, 2025
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  • Terhill96
    Apr 27, 2025
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  • vickeikei
    Jun 09, 2025
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    This book made my heart ache, but at the same time, filled the emptiness and hugged the pains away. XiXi Tian writes so gorgeously, capturing all the feelings that I've always wanted to express but couldn't find the words to. The two perspectives of the sisters are vastly different, and you can easily tell that they have distinct voices, and I thought that part was very well done. I think that all of us have both Annalie and Margaret inside of us, and I really reflected on that while reading the book. The story just paints the complexities of racism, family, sisterhood, identity, and choice so well. Just giving it five stars is not enough.

    Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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