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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall: 4
This is the second book I've read from the author. The first book was my first ever 5 star read, so I had high hopes for this book. I was a little worried in the author notes it talks about ancestral land and sort prejudge the book. Boy, was I wrong! This is giving Queen Sugar vibes. All the siblings are going through their own drama and wanting to save face because they think their other siblings life is going amazing. Once they accept facts and finally have a hard discussion, they come together for the common goal. This common goal isn't without loss, but they are their for each other and build a better foundation. Ms. Harris does an amazing job with a plot twist. Just when you think you've seen or heard it all, she drops another bomb on the family. Having a family legacy more than just money, it's about the memories, history, and bonds forged during the dark times.
The one disclaimer, I used the accessibility feature on the Netgalley App to have it read me the book. So it made it confusing at times when it switched from sibling to sibling in the same chapter. If you weren't fully paying attention, you would be lost. If it's made into an audiobook, they'll need to ensure these transitions are made clear.
This is the second book I've read from the author. The first book was my first ever 5 star read, so I had high hopes for this book. I was a little worried in the author notes it talks about ancestral land and sort prejudge the book. Boy, was I wrong! This is giving Queen Sugar vibes. All the siblings are going through their own drama and wanting to save face because they think their other siblings life is going amazing. Once they accept facts and finally have a hard discussion, they come together for the common goal. This common goal isn't without loss, but they are their for each other and build a better foundation. Ms. Harris does an amazing job with a plot twist. Just when you think you've seen or heard it all, she drops another bomb on the family. Having a family legacy more than just money, it's about the memories, history, and bonds forged during the dark times.
The one disclaimer, I used the accessibility feature on the Netgalley App to have it read me the book. So it made it confusing at times when it switched from sibling to sibling in the same chapter. If you weren't fully paying attention, you would be lost. If it's made into an audiobook, they'll need to ensure these transitions are made clear.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Long After We Are Gone follows the four Solomon siblings in the wake of their father's death as they have to return to their North Carolina home to bury their father and save their ancestral land, the Kingdom, from falling into the hands of white developers. As if that wasn't enough, each sibling has a secret of their own and are self-saboutaging their lives in ways both large and small. I love a good family drama, and this one delivered, often in heartbreaking ways. What piqued my curiosity, what made me pick this book up in the first place, and what gives it a point of difference from other family dramas is its focus on Black land ownership, particularly via heir property rights. The racial dynamics of this and they way it makes land ownership more tenuous and vulnerable was new to me and kept me interested when other aspects of this book, it's length and the acceptance of violence and murder without consequence, tested my readerly tolerance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
10/10! I finished this book in 9 hours according to Libby and it is easily one of my top reads of 2024 so far. WOW. It has scandal, family drama & trauma, romance, grief, growth, healing, triumph. This book could easily be a TV show or movie (they should call me for casting though lol). I honestly have no notes and I will absolutely be recommending this to others!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Physical abuse, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes