My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have very mixed feelings about this novel. At first, I wasn't drawn in as quickly or deeply as I would've liked, but after a few chapters it started to grow on me. There are a LOT of short chapters which made it a speedy read but also at times made it feel a bit erratic. Almost like I was watching a movie rather than reading a novel.

I appreciated the dark humor; there were definitely moments that made me laugh. But the moments of laughter didn't make up for how much I disliked the characters. Later on in the novel, the motivations behind their actions are revealed as we delve deeper into their past, but there was nothing redeeming enough to make me feel sympathetic towards them.

Ayoola was a cold-blooded killer without a conscience, no matter what caused her to be that way. Kerede was an enabler caught between a rock and a hard place and while that's understandable, I couldn't get behind her decisions. Her personality also left much to be desired. She was way too judgemental for my taste, not to mention the hypocrisy of resenting everyone for not seeing Ayoola for who she is while also enabling her.

I wanted to enjoy it fully, in all of its moments of levity and darkness, but maybe my tolerance for the characters and their behaviors was much too low for it to capture me the way it could have. It was no doubt an entertaining read, but I just found it difficult to connect to emotionally.

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The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Well done, Brit Bennett, well done! I'll confess, I wasn't too excited when I first read the premise. At the time I was feeling quite fatigued by just about anything dealing with racism and/or colorism, and I feared that I'd find myself feeling some type of way. For the sake of wanting to participate in book club, however, I gave it a shot.

I am SO glad that I didn't judge the book by its synopsis. Don't get me wrong - I felt tons of emotions while reading this book, and not all of them were pleasant. But Bennett's writing is so beautiful and captivating and honest that I was immediately and continuously enthralled.

I found myself emotionally invested in each character, all of whom were presented with breathtaking levels of depth and complexity. This book is a beautiful and painful portrait of humanity. Bennett handles issues of identity so boldly and candidly, evoking sympathy for the characters even in their most frustrating moments.

I loved the arrangement of the plot, which seamlessly carried us across generations, illustrating just how far and wide the reverberations of trauma can travel. Every moment had a purpose. Never once did I find myself bored or wondering where the plot was going, and by the end, I felt that familiar twinge of longing that characterizes a really amazing novel. Wow. Just, wow.

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Harbor by Rebekah Weatherspoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'd give it a 3.5

Keep in mind that I read this as a stand-alone novel, so I have no clue what transpired in the first two. This is also my first Rebekah Weatherspoon novel so this was also my introduction to her writing style - and I like it. There were moments of humor that I really appreciate in books like these. I was intrigued by the characters, though some more than others. I did feel like they all would've benefited from a bit more depth. I sympathized with them in various moments, but I didn't feel them the way I wanted to. Plot-wise, I could've used a little more. It didn't feel like much really happened.

All that being said, let's be real, that's not why I picked up the book. It was chock full of sexy. Some moments left me wide-eyed and gasping. I mean downright filthy - and I'm here for it, lmao. It's definitely not for the faint of heart or narrow-minded. I appreciate an author who's willing to go there. An author who is unafraid to present characters with sexual complexities and love lives that are unorthodox. This book was an experience, and I'm glad I had it. I'm eager to read more of what Rebekah Weatherspoon has to offer.



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Adulthood Rites by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can see the conflict in their genes-the new intelligence put at the service of ancient hierarchical tendencies.

Damn, she's done it again. I know that when I pick up an Octavia Butler novel, she's going to pull me in and take me on a ride that is strangely foreign yet uncomfortably familiar all at once. A master at submerging the reader in her universe, she skillfully puts on display the best and worst of human behavior. Adulthood Rites, the second installment of the Xenogenesis trilogy, was for me even more impactful than the first. Through the eyes of the protagonist Akin (son of Lilith from Dawn) we are taken through a number of experiences that force him (and us) to face the question: Can the human race be saved? Or is it forever doomed to destroy itself?

As a half human/half Oankali construct, the only male of his kind, Akin serves as a bridge between the human and alien worlds. He quite literally has the weight of humanity on his shoulders, and while he's given every reason to give up on the idea of humanity altogether, he's still somehow able to see enough good to want to save it. I truly loved Akin's character. His empathy, his youthful, almost naïve optimism, and his ability to see the best of humanity while it is at its worst is truly superhuman.

This story is intriguing and gripping in the best of ways. I could feel everything Akin felt - his confusion, his despair, his fear, his longing. I was equally rapt by his expressions of pure love, and tantalized by his joyous moments of discovery. I'm even more attached to Akin's character than I was to his mother in the previous novel, and I'm so eager to see how his story develops in the final installment.

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Me + Somebody's Son: A Heights Story by Christina C. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story was closer to a 3.5 for me. It was very cute - a fun, flirty, quick read about two old college friends reconnecting in a way they'd always wanted to but never could. What this little novella has going for it is that it delivers an abundance of laughter. There were some seriously hilarious moments that really endeared me to the characters. I did feel a bit dissatisfied with the ending though. It felt somewhat abrupt, which kind of makes sense considering the size of the book, but I felt like things ended right as I was becoming really wrapped up in the blossoming romance of the two main characters. I would really love to know more about how their relationship develops. That being said, this was another solid work from Christina C. Jones. If you're looking for a warm-hearted, romantic pick-me-up and some sincere belly laughs, this novella delivers.

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Maybe Next Time by Christina C. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest, I tend to have low expectations for novellas, especially romance novellas. There's often not enough space and time to flesh out a story that is meaningful beyond the romantic or erotic nature of the tale. This was not at all the case here. This story had impact, beyond just the lusty stuff. This was a story of a marriage pushed to its limits by grief, anger, and a serious lack of communication.

I was apprehensive at first. The introduction to Denver's character had me seriously taken aback - like who the hell is this guy and what is his problem? But as the story unfolded, the two main characters, Denver and Kensa, took on depths that I genuinely did not expect. When they finally got down to the root of all of their problems, everything made so much more sense. Anyone who has ever been married or in a serious, long-term committed relationship can understand the overwhelming, sometimes uncontrollable waves of emotion that can arise once the union is tested by the things in life that we have no control over.

This was a rollercoaster ride. Short, but chock full of emotional lows and highs. The pain felt by both characters was palpable, and I found myself choked up once the story hit its climax. But this was also a story about redemption, and how even through life's toughest moments, love can prevail.

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Anonymous Acts by Christina C. Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel is a wild and sexy ride with lots of twists and turns to keep you wanting to come back for more. The plot was quite engaging, though I felt myself having to suspend my disbelief a bit towards the end. I've never come across a character quite as oblivious as Monica, and found it hard to believe that she really didn't see the people around her for who they were at all. By the end I was somewhat exhausted by her perpetual confusion. However, I found Wick's character to be quite intriguing and I'd love to read more of his back story. Overall I really enjoyed the novel. The erotica was tastefully done, and the plot was strong enough to hold its own without it. This is the fifth or so novel that I've read from CCJ, and she never fails to wrap me up in her stories. I always find myself wanting to read more.

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Black No More by George S. Schuyler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Talk about being sick and tired of every. damn. body. I often wondered about the thoughts that must've ran through George Schuyler's mind as he wrote this book. I wondered about the experiences that served as inspiration for this satirical work, and I marveled at how his astute observations regarding race, class, and culture have endured the test of time.

On the surface, this novel is clearly dated. The dialogue between characters contained terms and references that were clearly of their time. But delving further, the novel presents a scathing, cynical and damning critique about the dark crevices of American culture - the racism, religious fundamentalism, political dogmatism, and the really messed up things that people will do for a dollar, no matter with whom or where they identify socially.

The author pulls no punches. He brilliantly employs satire to hold up a mirror to the worst of American society. Heavy on the sarcasm, burningly cynical, borderline crass and at times a bit morbid, this book is not for the soul who is unready for a massive dose of truth. But if you're like those of us who have long found ourselves jaded by the everlasting turmoil of America's darkest sins and who silently detest those who choose to capitalize on them, this book will be a balm for your soul.

The book goes by speedily, and if you can appreciate the humor, you'll enjoy this book tremendously. You will giggle and sigh at the painfully familiar characters, you will laugh at the absurdity of the scenarios, and you will shake your head at the sobering silhouettes of human (and particularly American) nature. You may also find yourself wondering at points: was this book really written in the 1930s? Because in too many ways, too many things have remained the same.

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Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Octavia Butler never fails to leave me wide-eyed and speechless. To say that this story is *out there* is an understatement. At first it felt like I was waiting a while for things to pick up and for something substantial to happen, but once it did, I was completely enthralled. By the end of it I found myself heavily invested in the protagonist, Lilith, and eager to see where her wild ride goes next.

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Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

James Baldwin was a massively phenomenal writer, and this novel is just one of many testaments to this. He so skillfully melds beautiful, vivid imagery with such brutal context - like a sprinkling of sugar for a painfully bitter medicine. Baldwin is renowned for this brutal honesty, particularly when it comes to his analyses of race, class, sexuality and religion. This is exactly what you'll get in this novel.

This novel is intense, which made it difficult to read at points. It is heavy on the religious imagery, and for a no-longer-Christian, it was enough to make my eyes glaze over at points. But a lot of it had to do with the intensity with which it was all delivered. In too many ways, this novel, its characters and their stories, were all too familiar. This is a novel about the unholy lives of the holy. About the futility of running from one's demons, about the desperate seeking of salvation from one's sins, and the way these demons, in spite of prayer, can be passed unabated from one generation to the next.

Baldwin's writing is all at once subtle and straightforward. You won't find heart-thumping plot twists or a whole lot of excitement. What you'll find is pain laid bare. Yet at the same time, there are moments when you'll undoubtedly feel a mass of emotion get caught in your throat, particularly as the novel progresses from the slow simmer of unfolding the characters' background stories to the rolling boil of internal tensions coming to a head. So much is contained in the very little that actually happens.

The ending left me feeling nervous, and I think this is what Baldwin intended. In very many ways he was holding up a mirror to American society. We know these stories, we know these characters, because they are our friends and family, and we also know, in an uneasy way, that their stories don't end well. Baldwin had no intention of wrapping this novel up in a pretty bow. It was meant to leave you feeling raw, pensive, and unsettled. Nevertheless, it is a journey worth taking.

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