Hold You Down. Tracy Brown. 2022. St. Martin’s Griffin. 336 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.] Expertly written as always, Brown produces another relatable work. Both her gift and curse, she spanned the characters whole lifetime. I found myself at times thinking surely this book has come to an end, but I was significantly far from the ending. It not often that I say a book could have been a successful part one and two, but Hold You Down could’ve been just that. I would’ve loved more detail to part 1, transitioning into part 2, and would’ve happily acceptable the rest as a sequel. Great characters and character development with an unexpected twist, she never disappoints. 5 stars.

Clap When You Land. Elizabeth Acevedo. 2020. Quill Tree Books. 432 pages. [Source: Public library.] As the daughter of an immigrant and a man whose image in my mind is nothing like what society holds … this book touched me on so many levels. Acevedo amazingly highlights a family and its complexities. She pays homage to a tragedy I’ve never heard of (flight 587 ), expresses understanding, respect and honor to a religion that showcases the strength of our ancestors. She shows the masses and unfamiliar that not everyone is dying to get to this country. Through Camino, she reminds that there is not always the assumed hatred for one’s native country, but a desire for a better opportunity. The love, respect and allegiance for their home remains … and along with their opportunity, they inherit a debt to those left behind. The one that “left” shoulders the burden of providing more opportunities for those that remain. The characters perfectly reflect the emotions each side feels … the difference in perspective. Add in the secrets held within a family, and like this book you have a pot boiling over with history, hidden agendas, lack of understanding and moments that will…

Her Pleasure. Niobia Bryant. 2021. Dafina. 288 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of NetGalley.] In the past I’ve been of the opinion that there’s never too much of well crafted characters, the more of their journey, the better. Book 6 of the mistress series tested this theory. I loved reading about the next phase of Jamie and Graham’s story when I approached the characters as though they were new. However, the continuous references to the past frustrated me because most I simply couldn’t remember this many books later. I was excited that Jessa Bell didn’t have a role in this storyline, and I’m intrigued if Bryant will continue with exploring the minor characters independently. She definitely set this up to be possible with this ending. Overall, her books usually read like a movie in my head, but this one didn’t meet that expectation in some areas. It’d be too wordy or descriptive and I simply failed to conjure the image I believe she wanted. 4 stars but definitely my least favorite in the series to date.

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.

Malcolm and Me. Robin Farmer. 2020. SparkPress. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of Netgalley.] Amazingly executed … Robin Farmer captures that pivotal moment when life and your thought process changes. As a former Catholic school girl and Black woman, I distinctly remember those moments that reminded me I was the minority in the classes. Roberta was unapologetic and insightful but young. And that’s a struggle for many young Black girls — knowing that you must stand for yourself and simultaneously understand that not every moment requires the effort. The Forest family was in turmoil, and I love the subtle content on some many topics that are frequent in the black family – the differences in how mothers (black mothers particularly) treat there sons vs. their daughters,  family being accomplices to infidelity, and even colorism. Mrs. Farmer deserves the five stars I’m giving this book and I’m appreciative of her transparency as it relates to her personal experiences reflected in the book. I’d be interested to see her future works.