Reviews

Brooklyn by Tracy Brown

tatyanavogt's review

3.0

Okay, so I read this for a book club and will admit its a little out of my comfort zone as its heavy on family drama and BAD decisions. Brooklyn is a pastors daughter desperate to get out of her current life so she turns to the streets with hustling, burning bridges and making enemies. 

She is an unlikeable character who is desperate to survive at any cost. She's been through some things and can be relatable right before turning around and just.. ughhh.. This was a frustrating read. I loved the complexity of the characters and after I started to actively try to separate myself from the story and caring about certain things, it was fun to see where things went. 

This is also a great book to discuss as so many thoughts and feelings about different things and in our group people had VERY different feelings and perspectives on different aspects of the story. I will admit that if I wasn't reading it for the bookclub there is a 50/50 chance I would have DNF'd as I was pretty upset by somethings BUT I was also pretty interested to see who done it and how it would resolve. 

If you like messy reality TV shows and just drama and bad choice stories this will probably be more enjoyable for you than it was for me. But regardless of me not enjoying the process, I do think it was well done and I did actually "like" the way it ended even if I dont agree with it. 

zikeyag's review

emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

First off, Rest in Power to Tracy Brown. A phenomenal writer and I will cherish her books forever. 

The last page of this novel stated that they believe this was her best yet, but I don’t agree. I liked it, but it didn’t leave me reeling like the others. I guess I’m comparing it to Hold You Down which surpassed White Lines as my favorite by her. I understand that this was supposed to be her first mystery, but it didn’t hit that mark. It was just a tragic tale of a selfish girl. I enjoyed the storyline and the character development was great (per usual).

I wish we could get more from Tracy Brown 🕊️

m2ederson's review

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

ilovenuggets's review

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

son60's review

dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

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

4.5

my emotions where all over the place. Some called Brooklyn selfish. But was she really? Are did her up bringing make her that way 

whit807's review

3.0

This was such a great read, and this was my first book I read of Tracy Brown’s and won’t be the last! I haven’t read an urban fiction book in years and this has definitely brought my love for it back to life! The sinister sneaky and crazy ways of Brooklyn is wild! Reading her story and how she ended up the way she did and why she was so manipulative and guarded, and selfish it really got in my nerves how much of a narcissist she was and self centered. Brooklyn didn’t have to go thru half the things she went thru or end up the way she did. There is so much I wanna say but don’t t wanna spoil it lol…it was a good read and entertaining reminded me of the movie Preachers Kid with LaToya Luckett.

ebonygemini's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

anpittma's review

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Sexual assault

brownbooknerd's review

5.0

Brooklyn…running from her past. Hustling, scheming, and leaving destruction in her wake. I truly believe that she just wanted the love and attention from her mother. Her running away and vowing to never go back home was her way of proving to her mom that she didn’t need her. I just wanted Brooklyn to get her life together but she just couldn’t get it right. I did not expect the ending at all. I highly recommend this read!

angieh3's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.5

Brooklyn was so lost