Reviews

Busy Ain't the Half of It by Chaz Lamar Cruz, Frederick Smith

beblackbeloved's review

4.0

Busy Ain’t The Half of It carries the spirit of E. Lynn Harris. It’s a political, funny, sexy romance showing that you can find love and your voice in your “forties, fifties, sixties, and beyond.” I really loved reading about Elijah and Justin’s lives, they each have very distinct voices that fit their ages and personalities. While Justin is a more mature father of twins and news anchor, which is evident by his commentary on culture and politics, Elijah is a true actor, very dramatic at times (which can be comedic) and puts his craft before anything else. These men are both trying to figure out work-life balance, and what they are truly willing to risk for love.

This story was a very easy read, fast-paced, and contained all of the elements I love in a good Black queer story. The friendships were authentic, and honest, containing real issues that queer men deal with. It was nice to see a non-binary character introduced into the story, and even mention of polyamory. It's great that queer literature is continuing to adapt and evolve, becoming even more representative of the wide spectrum of gender identity and sexuality.

My main critique would be pacing towards the end and character development. I can see what was intended by inserting the pandemic into the story, and how it pushed forward the plot, but the time jump was a bit abrupt. Elijah turned out to be my favorite towards the end (mostly due to Zaire) and I would have really wanted to hear more from his character. It ended a bit too neatly, maybe this story needed a cliffhanger (or a sequel).

It was great to read something new from Frederick Smith, and to experience Chaz Lamar Cruz’s writing for the first time. I definitely would recommend Busy Ain't The Half of It for those looking for a bit of romance, drama, and social commentary.

leannj's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

_readers_alley's review

3.0

Busy ain't the Half of it is a short, simple yet thought provoking novel which revolves around the lives of Elijah, his uncle Justin and their close circle including family and friends. Oscillating between the points of view of Elijah and Justin, the book subtly discusses many important issues of the time, embedded in the smooth narration and offers a thorough understanding of the problems faced by people who choose to follow their dreams rather than accepting the standardized roles.

Both Elijah and Justin who are so talented in their respective fields but are not given the place they deserve throws light on the discriminations based one colour and sexuality which is prevalent even in areas which claims to be progressive as in entertainment and news.

The novel, with a perfect presentation of the busy lives of both the protagonists, is a beautiful mixture of love, happiness and drama.

krin's review

3.0

This was a nice, quick read with lots of diverse representation. Sweet stories with a clear and interesting contrast between the two main characters/narrators and also their connection/relationship. I really liked the way all the friendships and family relationships were portrayed. I love when a book can get people thinking and exposed to social justice themes - this book covered a lot of important issues, sometimes it felt a bit forced into the story though, in a way that would have felt more appropriate in a book of essays or short stories. But the way Elijah and Justin each talks about their concerns in those big moments was really well done. I found the beginning a bit repetitive with more exposition than I prefer, but the pacing, dialogue and flow of the last third of the book was great. Bonus: I loved the the A Different World reference near the end.

I received an Advanced Review Copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

bookishends's review

3.5

I loved the concept and premise behind Busy Ain’t the Half of It. I really enjoy multigenerational stories, and so I appreciated reading one with Black queer characters. It made me want a whole shelf of these kinds of books. 

The characters were both funny and messy as they dealt with trying to make the kind of life they wanted for themselves and exploring what that life should even be. It was so cute watching Uncle Justin get his groove back and put himself out there more. And Justin’s hesitancy of real commitment and further entwining your life with someone felt very realistic. His avoidant tactics were hard at work, but I liked seeing his journey. I also loved seeing the contrasts and similarities between Elijah and Justin’s lives, and their bonding and advice giving moments were so nice to witness. 

The family aspect in this book was so strong, and it portrayed the Black family holiday dynamic so well. Although I don’t know why Elijah thought he should be experimenting with the food on Thanksgiving. I had to side eye him on that one. But I thought that the silent moment before a meal begins was so beautifully described. This book did a good job of making the little things feel profound.

The things that didn’t work for me in this story though were sometimes it felt like the characters were repeating themselves after they had already introduced information. Also the writing would go from formal to casual a lot and vice versa and didn’t always feel natural, so it wasn’t as smooth a read as I would have liked. Also the pandemic storyline at the end felt a little separate from the rest of the story since time passed so fast, and I don’t feel like it contributed much. 

But, I did like the personality of the characters and the heart of the story, so I would still recommend this book as a nice read that touches on so many great topics.

*Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are mine*