Bookmarked. Bella Jay. 2022. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of author.] I’ve heard of honeymoons. Babymoons, even. A divorcemoon, though? This will either be a complete disaster or the greatest thing ever. Either way, Brooklin’s about to find out when she accepts her estranged husband Elgin’s invitation for a final baecation before they divorce. It’s a bit unconventional, but what does she really have to lose? Brooklin, aka Books, and Elgin, aka Juice, have been together more than a decade; long enough to see his unexpected pivot into Hollywood stardom and her own ascent as a host of a popular romance book podcast. It’s no small thing to part ways after so much time and so many changes. To his credit, Juice creates the perfect getaway for the two, with a book-inspired itenery that’s entirely suited to Books’ love of reading and will ensure she doesn’t forget how very good they were together. Throughout their story, Bella Jay brilliantly captures the complex emotional and mental journey it is for them to consider what’s ahead of them. This book was an emotional roller-coaster as it explored Books’ and Juice’s search for clarity about the decision to end their marriage. One moment they…

Waiting on Mr. Sloth. Katy Hudson. 2023. Capstone. 32 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] I don’t often review children’s books anymore, but I can’t turn down anything sloth related. I was in for such a treat with Waiting on Mr. Sloth and am sure the little in your life will love (and relate) to this story. All Sasha wants to do is go swimming with Mr. Sloth. But, being a sloth, he’s so slow and is keeping her from enjoying the only thing she wants to do. It’s not just Mr. Sloth that keeps Sasha from her swim — the two encounter obstacles that exist solely to derail an otherwise fun day in the water. I love this book’s choice of a sloth as Sasha’s foil. He’s nothing if not true to his nature — he’s not rushing anything. Sasha’s frustration, however, leads to a great teachable moment about patience, mindfulness, and just going with the flow. It’s perfectly worded for young readers and is presented in a way that makes the lesson easily digested and understood. As a treat, the book also provides a list of easy and accessible…

All the Things I Meant to Tell You. Tiffany L. Warren. 2021. Dafina. 321 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] It’s not often that a sequel is better than the original, but this is proof of how amazing it is when it happens. I read book #1 for this series of characters, and wasn’t impressed…in fact I downright didn’t care for Twila’s storyline. However, the sequel was done so well that not only did I find appreciation for her journey but I better understood some of her perspective and storyline for book #1. More independently structured, I felt like Ms. Warren flushed the characters out individually, making them better suited as a group as well. I was invested in each of their individual adventures and then intrigued on how they’d all impact one another. There’s so many more spin-offs (and room for a prequel) possible for these characters and their sidekicks, looking forward to how they will continue to grow. 5 stars.

The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle. Rob Kenner. 2021. Atria Books. 446 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.] The Marathon Don’t Stop is the book I’ve most anticipated since it was announced in 2019. Nipsey Hussle’s official debut album, Victory Lap, is deeply personal to me and remains in near-daily rotation three years after its release. His sudden murder in 2019 rocked me with shock and disbelief that was more acute than what I felt as a 13-year-old hearing of Tupac Shakur’s death. This book, then, is a fitting opportunity for fans and newcomers alike to better understand the full trajectory of Nipsey’s life as “the Tupac of his generation.” In this biography, Kenner examines Nipsey’s life from the lens of, unsurprisingly, a marathon. Starting with his childhood in South Central Los Angeles and following his resolute pursuit of success on his own terms, The Marathon Don’t Stop is a retrospective of Nipsey Hussle as a multifaceted man — Ermias Asghedom — not just a Crip turned rapper. Kenner approaches The Marathon Don’t Stop as one would expect of a journalist. It is abundantly clear that…

Confessions in B Flat. Donna Hill. 2020. Sideways Books. 306 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] Confessions in B Flat was a particular treat for me. I am, admittedly, not a huge fan of historical fiction. But the lure of its description was too much for me to walk away. Two young Civil Rights activists from differing ideologies find themselves struggling to figure out if a relationship can withstand their polarized views. Anita and Jason are, in many ways, like oil and water. Despite coming from a “bougie” background, Anita, a part-time waitress and poet, moves to the beat of her own drum and is often compelled by a sense of doing what fulfills her. She finds herself a follower of Malcolm X and is deeply committed to all Harlem has to give. Jason, a Georgia native who comes north to spread the teaching of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is more bound by duty and expectation. He wants to do what is right, even if it comes with a sacrifice. Their initial interactions are fraught with conflict about how they approach the fight for civil rights, but their chemistry is undeniable. Hill masterfully captured the culture wars that…