Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Pages: 336 pages
Published: June 2025
Published: June 2025
We Don't Talk about Carol is the monthly book club selection of one of my online book clubs, This Browne Girl Reads. This book was not on my radar, so I am thankful to the club for bringing it to my attention, and I look forward to our upcoming discussion about it.
The suspenseful drama is mainly set in Raleigh, North Carolina, and it begins when Sydney Singleton, who is a former journalist, finds a photo of an unknown relative when cleaning out the home of her recently deceased grandmother. Because the girl in the photo so closely resembles Sydney, her curiosity is sparked to learn more. As she uncovers through research and conversations, she learns the girl in the photo is her aunt who mysteriously disappeared in the 1960s in the midst of a string of missing Black girls. The primary plot is focused on Sydney learning more about her aunt and what happened to the other five neighborhood girls who went missing around the same time.
As the title suggests and the prologue describes, some things simply are not addressed in families and they need to be. Families often shy away from talking about the hard things to protect themselves, but these taboo topics can have rippling effects that last for generations. The main character's determination to uncover her forgotten aunt's story reflects on the importance of transparency and vulnerability in families, especially Black families where trauma and systemic injustice have often made it difficult. When I was younger, my Mom used to always say, I can't fix what I don't know. And I think that holds true in this novel and in reality. Healing requires a reckoning with the truth.
Another element that the author addresses is media coverage and missing Black people. As Berry noted in her book, Black Americans make up about 14% of the United States, and they account for 36% of all missing people. Yet they are vastly underserved and rarely covered by the media when compared to their white counterparts. In the novel, Carol's disappearance as well as the other young neighborhood girls are simply classified as runaways without any serious investigation. This societal silence coupled with familial silence perpetuated an injustice in this fictional novel that often mirrors the reality for Black and marginalized communities every day.
I really enjoyed this book. I found it to be both engaging and informational. I was delighted to learn the author is actually the sister of one of my professional acquaintances. So, not only did I get to support a good read, in a small way, I also supported a friend.
Recommendation: If you enjoy a carefully crafted mystery with a satisfying conclusion, I highly recommend We Don't Talk About Carol.
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.
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.
