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A review by arisbookcorner
Confessions in B Flat by Donna Hill
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Now this is a great "political differences" romance novel premise. None of that bipartisan romance nonsense that seems to be a disturbing newish trend. In essence both Anita and Jason believe Black Lives Matter (or in this case the civil rights movement), they just don't believe in the same methods to achieve Black liberation. Unfortunately much of the political execution of this novel fell flat for me. I was frustrated that although both perspectives are given space, we spend far more time with MLK Jr.'s followers/Jason. It's set in 1963 which is the year before Malcolm X splits from the Nation of Islam but as the novel moves through the years this isn't mentioned. I also wanted the author to really go there and have Anita grapple with her feminism and the teachings of the Nation when it came to the treatment of women but that's also not brought up. It was a missed opportunity and made the book feel inauthentic because its depiction of Malcolm X and his teachings was surface level. Jason's character development was also lacking. He makes a seemingly rash decision towards the end that made no sense given his character and his love of MLK and non violent principles. I found this so abrupt and disconcerting that it put me off the entire last half even with the romantic ending. I also did not like the multimedia aspect which included photographs, newspaper headlines and speech excerpts. Usually I do enjoy multimedia inserted into a novel but in historical fiction I think it's unnecessary. Maybe I'm just being cranky because I know what both leaders look like but I found it distracting and unhelpful to moving the story along. There was also a type for Bayard Rustin's name and it made me wonder about the accuracy of other historical details I might have been less familiar with as a few other reviews caught things I had missed.
Where the politics fall short the romance somewhat makes up for it. The lack of strong character development makes it hard to feel fully invested in Jason and Anita's relationship but I still adored their relationship. Their struggles felt authentic as they wondered if they could compromise politically for their sake of their relationship. It's a tough question and one the author probes well. Anita and Jason's romance is sweet and nicely paced, no insta love or enemies to lovers tropes here but it is an "opposites attract" romance in personality as well as beliefs. Instead they start off the way many real-life romances do, as strangers who grow fond of each other but are also more than willing to challenge each other. Their romantic journey is mostly pleasant, low-angst but still believably tumultuous on occasion. Additionally their families are richly drawn and just as lovable. Ironically I felt like the families had more nuance than Jason and Anita themselves.
CONFESSIONS IN B-FLAT is an absorbing historical romance that needed a little more heft. The premise is fantastic but it needed a little more depth when it came to the main characters to be executed well. I was frustrated by much of the ending because of the abrupt change in Jason's character, it didn't jar with anything we'd been told about him or his beliefs. I think this is a good introduction for anyone whose lacking in 1960s/civil rights knowledge but for the more seasoned reader/lover of history none of this will be new or interesting information. In which case I recommend focusing on the sentimental romance as opposed to some of the basic or questionable historical details. Also the cover is stunning! So pretty.
Where the politics fall short the romance somewhat makes up for it. The lack of strong character development makes it hard to feel fully invested in Jason and Anita's relationship but I still adored their relationship. Their struggles felt authentic as they wondered if they could compromise politically for their sake of their relationship. It's a tough question and one the author probes well. Anita and Jason's romance is sweet and nicely paced, no insta love or enemies to lovers tropes here but it is an "opposites attract" romance in personality as well as beliefs. Instead they start off the way many real-life romances do, as strangers who grow fond of each other but are also more than willing to challenge each other. Their romantic journey is mostly pleasant, low-angst but still believably tumultuous on occasion. Additionally their families are richly drawn and just as lovable. Ironically I felt like the families had more nuance than Jason and Anita themselves.
CONFESSIONS IN B-FLAT is an absorbing historical romance that needed a little more heft. The premise is fantastic but it needed a little more depth when it came to the main characters to be executed well. I was frustrated by much of the ending because of the abrupt change in Jason's character, it didn't jar with anything we'd been told about him or his beliefs. I think this is a good introduction for anyone whose lacking in 1960s/civil rights knowledge but for the more seasoned reader/lover of history none of this will be new or interesting information. In which case I recommend focusing on the sentimental romance as opposed to some of the basic or questionable historical details. Also the cover is stunning! So pretty.