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iamcaseyrkelley's reviews
283 reviews
I Lived to Tell the Story: A Memoir of Love, Legacy, and Resilience by Tamika D. Mallory
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I received an early review copy from S&S (via Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review.
Despite not being a huge fan of nonfiction (except for memoirs), I read this author’s debut (STATE OF EMERGENCY, 2021) and it ended up being added to my bookcase holding my all time favorite books. So I went into this one completely blind and expecting to enjoy it just as much especially knowing it was a memoir. Yet nothing could prepare me for how raw this book is.
It is an easy read that flows like some of my favorite novels. It’s a page turner that I started on Saturday evening and finished Sunday afternoon. The author was incredibly transparent about her past and some poor decisions where many of her stature would keep those things buried. It is a story of resilience and a reminder that we are not defined by our past. It is a gentle hug to teenagers that no matter what happens now (good, bad or ugly) they can still become an influential and integral part of history.
I loved how this author held nothing back and was so raw. STATE OF EMERGENCY told the world who Tamika D. Mallory is as an activist. However I LIVED TO TELL THE STORY introduced to the beautifully scarred yet healed woman who is simply, Tamika. I highly recommend reading both books asap.4
Despite not being a huge fan of nonfiction (except for memoirs), I read this author’s debut (STATE OF EMERGENCY, 2021) and it ended up being added to my bookcase holding my all time favorite books. So I went into this one completely blind and expecting to enjoy it just as much especially knowing it was a memoir. Yet nothing could prepare me for how raw this book is.
It is an easy read that flows like some of my favorite novels. It’s a page turner that I started on Saturday evening and finished Sunday afternoon. The author was incredibly transparent about her past and some poor decisions where many of her stature would keep those things buried. It is a story of resilience and a reminder that we are not defined by our past. It is a gentle hug to teenagers that no matter what happens now (good, bad or ugly) they can still become an influential and integral part of history.
I loved how this author held nothing back and was so raw. STATE OF EMERGENCY told the world who Tamika D. Mallory is as an activist. However I LIVED TO TELL THE STORY introduced to the beautifully scarred yet healed woman who is simply, Tamika. I highly recommend reading both books asap.4
August Lane by Regina Black
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you Grand Central for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. I went into this book completely blind so coming off a historic win in country music made this book hit a little different. The way the story is written with a podcast element and the multiple scenes including dual timelines, gives the feel of a really good audiobook. But for someone like me who sees books visually with sound, it is written like the movies we enjoy on a rainy weekend at home complete with a beautifully written lyrics as the soundtrack. The characters were flawed yet extremely lovable. Understanding the root of Luke’s addiction and pain made me champion despite his wrongdoing. I wanted adult August to win for the sake of the wounded teenager. JoJo’s story shocked me but explained everything I needed to know about both of roles as a mother and a daughter. On top of this captivating story, the author’s ability to gently educate readers about some of the history of the stolen art was a pleasant surprise - especially in light of how country music (the industry and the fans) treats Black country musicians. This is the perfect follow up to The Art of Scandal and has cemented Regina Black as an auto-buy author.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Alcohol
North King's Unexpected Inevitability by A.E. Valdez
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
While I love to see Black women being loved and affirmed unapologetically, there is something so beautiful about seeing Black men love each other as brothers and friends. The male relationships were center in this story and we saw every type, father/son, brothers, cousins, uncles/nephews, and friends. Amidst the playful ribbing, there were deep conversations filled with advice and love.
I enjoyed the romance and see Aspen as the kind of person that is I’m everyone’s best friend. And the cameo’s from the Rise & Fall series made me smile. But seeing this kind of companionship and true love among Black men is a rarity in today’s literature. It reminds me so much of my husband and his best friends.
SN: I really hope we get a story about Reign after he is about 25.
I enjoyed the romance and see Aspen as the kind of person that is I’m everyone’s best friend. And the cameo’s from the Rise & Fall series made me smile. But seeing this kind of companionship and true love among Black men is a rarity in today’s literature. It reminds me so much of my husband and his best friends.
SN: I really hope we get a story about Reign after he is about 25.
King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
SPOILER-FREE REVIEW
Book 8 of my 2025 Reading Journey
KING OF ASHES by SA Cosby
Read: 01.10.2025 - 01.10.2025
Format: Digital ARC
I went into this completely blind because this author is an auto-buy. To say this is fast paced is an understatement. At about 10%, I realized I was going to finish it quickly. There is so much packed into this book. The characters are younger than we typically see from Cosby. But if you liked The Wire, you will LOVE this book. After reading this, maybe Omar wasn’t so bad cuz this has the most violent drug dealers ever. We get hidden secrets. A missing mom. We even have a lil BDSM kink (mostly off-page). And when the secrets were revealed, there was nothing that could have prepared me. Like WHAT?! Every book I read by this author is levels better than the previous one. For context, the last two were in my top 3 the respective years they were released and I read between 150 to 300 books/yr. With his writing and story telling, he just continues to raise his own bar. SA Cosby is unequivocally the best crime fiction author of our time.
SN: if you have triggers, you should definitely check the trigger warnings before reading this one.
Book 8 of my 2025 Reading Journey
KING OF ASHES by SA Cosby
Read: 01.10.2025 - 01.10.2025
Format: Digital ARC
I went into this completely blind because this author is an auto-buy. To say this is fast paced is an understatement. At about 10%, I realized I was going to finish it quickly. There is so much packed into this book. The characters are younger than we typically see from Cosby. But if you liked The Wire, you will LOVE this book. After reading this, maybe Omar wasn’t so bad cuz this has the most violent drug dealers ever. We get hidden secrets. A missing mom. We even have a lil BDSM kink (mostly off-page). And when the secrets were revealed, there was nothing that could have prepared me. Like WHAT?! Every book I read by this author is levels better than the previous one. For context, the last two were in my top 3 the respective years they were released and I read between 150 to 300 books/yr. With his writing and story telling, he just continues to raise his own bar. SA Cosby is unequivocally the best crime fiction author of our time.
SN: if you have triggers, you should definitely check the trigger warnings before reading this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicide, Death of parent
An Inconvenient Cop: My Fight to Change Policing in America by Jon Sternfeld, Edwin Raymond
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
A must read for everyone. This really changes the perspective of how we look at policing. While I think there is part of the American population that fully recognizes the problems within police departments, this book illustrates that the issues we face are deeply ingrained into the fabric of the system.
The author starts the book deeply personal as he shares loss and love during his childhood. This approach offers us a look into the man beyond the uniform and gives a deeper understanding into who he is.
One of my favorite things about the book is how well the story telling is. It doesn’t read like fiction with a bunch of heavy text. It felt personable. I alternated between the audiobook (the author narrates) and the physical copy which gave me a more immersive reading experience. I felt like we were sitting on the deck and he was sharing his life experiences but also giving me insight into a world from a different lens. The author helped me understand that it is much deeper than “a few bad apples”. It is truly a system and then individuals that uphold that system with threats and retaliation for anyone that dares challenge it.
I applaud Edwin Raymond’s courage to tell this story. This was so enlightening. At times it is a difficult read. While “we” have always known some of the things in this book, seeing it in black & white and realizing that it is a strategy is simultaneously frightening and validating. As such, some may need to be in the right head space to read a book that confirms all that we knew and lets us know it is worst than we imagined.
The author starts the book deeply personal as he shares loss and love during his childhood. This approach offers us a look into the man beyond the uniform and gives a deeper understanding into who he is.
One of my favorite things about the book is how well the story telling is. It doesn’t read like fiction with a bunch of heavy text. It felt personable. I alternated between the audiobook (the author narrates) and the physical copy which gave me a more immersive reading experience. I felt like we were sitting on the deck and he was sharing his life experiences but also giving me insight into a world from a different lens. The author helped me understand that it is much deeper than “a few bad apples”. It is truly a system and then individuals that uphold that system with threats and retaliation for anyone that dares challenge it.
I applaud Edwin Raymond’s courage to tell this story. This was so enlightening. At times it is a difficult read. While “we” have always known some of the things in this book, seeing it in black & white and realizing that it is a strategy is simultaneously frightening and validating. As such, some may need to be in the right head space to read a book that confirms all that we knew and lets us know it is worst than we imagined.
Pardon My Frenchie by Farrah Rochon
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
5.0
As a dog lover, this book was all the feels for me. It's the perfect enemies to lovers or grumpy/sunshine trope. Ashanti owns a doggy daycare that is a place that treats pups like royalty. It's even in the name and marketing - Barkingham Palace Doggy Daycare. She has Frenchie Duchesa who ends up going viral with her dog bff, Puddin. Imma call him her boyfriend. She is taking care of her teenage sisters (twins) that cause her to put her personal life aside and focus on the twins and the doggy daycare. Thad is the grandson of Puddin's owner and he is tasked with dog sitting while his grandmother recovers at an assisted living facility where she cannot bring Puddin. He is supposed to pull Puddin from the doggy daycare but Ashanti needs to get him to agree to take Puddin on a press tour with Duchesa to capitalize off of the success of their viral videos. She is at a crossroads with her business and needs this opportunity to help her win a small biz competition so she can buy a larger daycare and expand her business.
This story could not be any cuter. It made me dive into Farrah Rochon's backlist. I reread The Boyfriend Project series and followed those three up with The Holmes Brothers (8 books) and the New York Sabers (4 books). I am a fan for life.
This story could not be any cuter. It made me dive into Farrah Rochon's backlist. I reread The Boyfriend Project series and followed those three up with The Holmes Brothers (8 books) and the New York Sabers (4 books). I am a fan for life.
Bitter and Sweet by Rhonda McKnight
emotional
informative
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
I was incredibly nervous about reading this book. I was introduced to this author from her book The Thing About Home. I loved that book so much that it was my number 1 read of 2023 out of 190 books. So this book had some big shoes to fill because TTAH set the bar extremely high. I procrastinated cracking this one open for fear of disappointment. Now that I have finally read it, WTH was I waiting for?
This book was so good and was extremely well-written. I am a huge fan of dual timeline stories especially those that are based in historical facts. I loved the drama of the two estranged sisters as they navigate their relationship. The forced proximity opens up the path for healing and is reminder of the importance of forgiveness. The author explores the role of Black women and the impact of society’s divisions caused by Jim Crow. This is a story of reckoning and redemption illustrated as a multi-generational saga. We learn about the Gullah Geeche culture and the impact on South Carolina history. This is. a beautiful lesson in history, faith, and relationships.
This book has solidified Rhonda McKnight as an auto-buy author for me.
This book was so good and was extremely well-written. I am a huge fan of dual timeline stories especially those that are based in historical facts. I loved the drama of the two estranged sisters as they navigate their relationship. The forced proximity opens up the path for healing and is reminder of the importance of forgiveness. The author explores the role of Black women and the impact of society’s divisions caused by Jim Crow. This is a story of reckoning and redemption illustrated as a multi-generational saga. We learn about the Gullah Geeche culture and the impact on South Carolina history. This is. a beautiful lesson in history, faith, and relationships.
This book has solidified Rhonda McKnight as an auto-buy author for me.
The Ancient Nine by Ian K. Smith
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
fast by Millie Belizaire
5.0
I decided to finally read this after seeing it from all my favorite Black booktokers. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it but it lived up to every last review I saw. Although it is a very heavy read, it is so well written and such a captivating story. I could not stop reading but I also couldn’t stop crying. The way the author connects the readers to the characters feels personal. I wanted Caprice to find peace and protection but more importantly love. This was a 5 star read in the first few chapters when I was already so connected to the characters that I cried uncontrollably. My only complaint is that after waiting far too long to read this story that I can never reread it and experience it for the first time again.
The Godmother by Jane E. James
2.0
I received this book via NetGalley for an honest review. I went into this book blind. I requested it because the cover and title felt like a psych thriller which is my favorite genre. There wasn’t a single likable character in the book. I rarely guess the twist and since I did in this case, I wouldn’t really call it a twist. Without going into too much to avoid spoilers, the way Zoe handled the situation with Joe was beyond ridiculous and lacked logic. I am in the US so I only know about how evidence is collected here. But I can’t imagine that blood tests aren’t a way to collect evidence in the UK. All of these adults being manipulated by teenagers was unbelievable. Between Gabriella, the phone, the CCTV footage, I could not believe how stupid these adults were.
Lastly, the author’s note kept referring to a book called My Secret Son. Was that the original title or is she referring to a different book that she has written.
Lastly, the author’s note kept referring to a book called My Secret Son. Was that the original title or is she referring to a different book that she has written.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage
Minor: Rape