Isaac's Song by Daniel Black

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 313 pages
Published: January 2025

I read Isaac's Song by Dr. Daniel Black with one of my virtual book clubs that focuses on selections from the Black and African diaspora. I had heard glowing reviews of the author's companion book, Don't Cry for Me, when it was published three years earlier but had read neither. At just over 300 pages, I decided to join the club in reading this latest work and discussing it later as a group.

This poignant and evocative narrative explores themes of race, identity, heritage and the complexities of familial relationships. The titular character is in a period of conflict having learned of his estranged father's death. Through Isaac's conversations with his therapist and introspection of his upbringing, Black is able to weave a tale that illustrates the struggles and triumphs of the Black experience, specifically in this case, through the lens of a challenging father-son relationship. 

Overall, I found Isaac's Song to stand out for its powerful storytelling and thought-provoking ability. The characters showed phenomenal growth, and the culture backdrop made this fiction work also educational. This was my first (but not last!) read by Dr. Black, and I find his contribution to contemporary literature to be significant. 

Recommendation: I was fully engaged in this story even though much of it was not directly relatable to me, which further proves the author's gift to write a thorough piece of literature that captivates a far-reaching audience. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to reach the companion. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 336 pages
Published: August 2024

I first heard about Second Tide's the Charm by Chandra Blumberg via the Modern Mrs. Darcy virtual book club's annual Summer Reading Guide publication in 2024. A couple of months later, I picked up a copy of the romcom at my local Barnes & Noble bookstore, but I didn't get around to reading it until about a year later. I read this as a sort of buddy read with my long distance reading friend who resides in New York. I consumed my copy while making annotations on the page as she did the same with The Love Simulation by Etta Easton, then we swapped books. (More to come on The Love Simulation later!) Thanks to the bookstagram community for the fun activity! 

My chosen novel follows the fictional lives of Hope Evans and Adrian Hollis-Parker who were both colleagues in the field of shark research and committed romantic partners until life got in the way causing them to call it quits. An opportunity in the summer allows Hope to relocate from Michigan to Florida to get her professional life back on track. When Adrian realizes that Hope will be working with him, tension ensues and the reader is given a front row seat to former lovers turned friends navigating the waters in hopes of finding themselves again. 

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic, and the representation of Black professionals in a S.T.E.M. field was refreshing. I also enjoyed the references to nearby Chicago (one of my favorite cities) when the novel opes and Hope is living up north. Overall, this is your traditional romance-comedy mash-up. It's light, somewhat predictable, and injected with humor. However, there are some heavy topics that are addressed in a relevant and sensitive manner, which I fully appreciated. The plot is captivating and intertwines themes of resilience and self-discovery. The author does a great job of crafting a narrative that explores the complexities of interpersonal relationships, but also writing in such a way that draws the reader into the emotional plot while creating a smooth chain of events. My only criticism of this novel is that some scenes seemed to drag on just a bit too long, often lasting several pages and even an entire chapter. I would have appreciated a little faster paced novel. 

Recommendation: Second Tide's the Charm is a beautifully-written exploration of romantic persistence, proving that love has transformative power. Readers of contemporary fiction are sure to love Blumberg's work. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Rating: 5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 304 pages
Published: September 2024

Often on this blog I have written, Not every book is for everybody. If that statement was applicable to only one book I’ve reviewed on this blog, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell would definitely be that book. What Campbell has done in this dystopian novel is creatively craft a fictional utopia that allows people of color, specifically Black people, to consider ideal beauty, ideal power, ideal wealth, and ideal success without the concept of white being that ideal. The end result is a story that taps into Black consciousness, a love letter of sorts to Black culture.

I’ve seen several reviews that the book is racist. I don’t think that is a fair criticism. I think the book, like any good form of art, makes the audience experience a level of discomfort. If that is not something you enjoy in your entertainment, this book is not for you because not every book is for everybody. The story is also science fiction; emphasis on fiction. No one is wishing any one group of people walk to the nearest body of water never to return. This is simply the fictional plot device the author used to create a vehicle that allows the reader to think deeper and ponder what a literal post-racial America might look like. I didn’t find it hateful. I found it cerebral, thought-provoking; an example of identity. 

The writing is absolutely outstanding. The sentence structure, the use of metaphors, the lyrical prose kept me thoroughly engaged until the satisfying end. I consumed this book in hardback while also listening to the audio (thanks Spotify!). The writing is strong enough to stand on its own, but the narrators on audio acted out a superb performance. While I highly praise this book, it is not perfect. There are some plot holes and ideas that don’t really seem plausible (refer back to the sci-fi part). The concept is lofty, and I think the execution was pretty solid for a debut. 

Recommendation: I truly enjoyed this book, and I appreciated the recommendation from my reading buddy, so much so that I paid to forward to my husband who is listening to the audiobook now. This is a read I’d like to revisit because there’s so much detail to unpack and ponder. I can’t wait to read what Mr. Campbell writes next! 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 416 pages
Published: May 2023

I did! I heard about Kitty Karr where I hear about a lot of my new reads - from Book of the Month. And I heard from author Crystal Smith Paul as she shared some of her inspiration and research behind the historical fiction novel, Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?, in Book of the Month's podcast, Virtual Book Tour.  

The premise of this book is an interesting one. Kitty Karr, a white actress from the old Hollywood era dies in 2017 and leaves much of her multi-million dollar fortune to three wealthy Black women (the St. John's) prompting speculation all around even from her benefactors. The story vacillates between Kitty's upbringing in the segregated south to her prosperous Hollywood career as an adult and Elise St. John's present-day life as a celebrity. Throughout this 400+ page novel, the reader learns how the two time periods and lives of those around them are intertwined. 

I had high hopes for this book as it was also part of Modern Mrs. Darcy's Book Club's Summer Reading Guide. I really wanted to like this book, and after listening to Paul on the podcast, I was really invested in how she came up with this plot. I had hoped that some of the history she included was fact rather than fiction. The additional background gave the story more depth, but overall I was underwhelmed. The book simply fell flat to me. There were too many characters that were introduced but not needed, and the book was too long. I think the author could have benefited from heavier editing. She even noted in the podcast that she could have lived with these characters for a long time, and the reader can certainly tell that, making the plot weaker. The ending felt rushed, like perhaps she was meeting a deadline, and I was left feeling largely unsatisfied. 

Recommendation: I think Ms. Paul has potential, and I would give her writing another try. She had an intriguing overarching idea, I think she just needs a tighter execution. This one just didn't quite do it for me. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 400 pages
Published: November 2022

Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan is a romance novel, but it’s not your typical romance novel. Yes, there are some steamy, blush-worthy scenes (that I didn’t necessarily have to read), but the book is so much more than a couple of romps in the hay. The story is about an affluent Black couple living in an Atlanta suburb who experience devastating loss that tests their relationship as lovers, spouses, and parents. One loss leads to another which fractures their marriage, but just when they think all hope is lost a night of passion makes them both question the major decisions made in the midst of grief. 

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. I enjoyed the characters and the way most of them were presented - as just a normal family trying to live out their dreams. I appreciated the academic success that was attributed to the son. I admired the entrepreneurial spirit of the leading couple. Overall, I felt as though I could relate to these characters. They could be my neighbors or people in my circle. 

Having said that, this is not my favorite read of the year. It took me forever to get through this book. It was the only novel I was able to complete in March because I just couldn’t sit down and knock it out. I do wonder if the author purposefully wrote the book this way to help the reader experience the lengthy feeling and waves of grief or if she could have benefitted from some heavier editing. Additionally, I was a bit disappointed in the physical or “romance” aspect of the book. It seems like the main characters were more concerned about having sex than truly working through their issues with each other. I also didn’t understand the Biblical scripture added in at the last chapter when the none of the characters were presented as religious. It just seemed like a careless, incongruent afterthought. Lastly, I found the relationship between the mother and daughter to be wholly unrealistic. 

The bright spot in this book is the emphasis on mental health and continually seeking professional help until you find the right counselor for you. I think this “character” (mental health) is an important aspect, especially because the main characters are African American and oftentimes seeing a therapist is deemed unnecessary in our community. 

This is the first book in a series featuring the neighborhood, Skyland, that the couple lives in. I am hopeful in future books the author will explore more relationship development between the couple and further character development of some of the secondary characters (e.g., children, girlfriend circle, etc.) 

Recommendation: If I said it once, I’ve said it 100 times; not every book is for everyone. This one was just ‘eh’ for me. I am glad I read it. I am glad I participated in the author talk with my online book club, but I don’t think I’ll be picking up the remaining books in the series. After attending the Zoom-based author talk, I find her quite delightful and wish her the best in her voracious writing career!  

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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By the Book by Jasmine Guillory

Rating: 4 of 5 stars 

Pages: 325 pages
Published: May 2022

A part of the multi-author “Meant to Be Series,” By the Book by Jasmine Guillory is the lane in which she swims best. In a meet-cute fictional tale with hints of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the man character, Isabelle (emphasis on Belle) is working in the publishing industry when she makes an opportunity for herself with an author who is late on his manuscript delivery. Unfortunately, the author, Beau is a incorrigible beast who lives in a mansion (with an expansive library). The bulk of the book focuses on their character development and the conflict of their interaction with one another. 

This was a light, cute, and quick read. I loved the references to the characters from the Disney movie. While the overall book was light and enjoyable with a satisfying ending, I did appreciate Guillory’s efforts to include some deeper conflict and topics making this fairy tale one with substance. 

Recommendation: This was a cute and fun buddy read. If you’re looking for something light and airy to pull you out of a reading slump, the book will definitely fit the bill. I thank the Fort Worth Library for the digital loan. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Read More