Take a photo of a barcode or cover
notesbynnenna's Reviews (513)
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I love when it feels like you’re reading a book at the right time. I’ve been listening to BECOMING by Michelle Obama in snippets over the last few weeks. When I started THE KINDEST LIE, I loved that it was also set in Chicago, where Michelle grew up. It also opens with Obama’s election in 2008, and reading that scene reminded me of some of my feelings around last year’s election, and of course of how it felt when this country elected its first Black president.
This is a tender and compelling novel about secrets coming to light and how the past comes back to haunt us. It’s also a book about the lies that we tell other people and ourselves. As I was watching this story unfold, some questions came to mind, including: what does it mean to be a child having a child? Why might a mother choose to walk away from her child?
Part of this book takes place in a small town named Ganton, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and where there is also a stark racial divide. Someone might be your long-time neighbor or friend, but when push comes to shove, which side will they choose?
I thought the author did a good job of pulling me into the story right away. All of the characters in this book are flawed and very human, and those are the kinds of characters that I love. This was a strong debut novel and I enjoyed reading this story about race, family, secrets, and motherhood.
I love when it feels like you’re reading a book at the right time. I’ve been listening to BECOMING by Michelle Obama in snippets over the last few weeks. When I started THE KINDEST LIE, I loved that it was also set in Chicago, where Michelle grew up. It also opens with Obama’s election in 2008, and reading that scene reminded me of some of my feelings around last year’s election, and of course of how it felt when this country elected its first Black president.
This is a tender and compelling novel about secrets coming to light and how the past comes back to haunt us. It’s also a book about the lies that we tell other people and ourselves. As I was watching this story unfold, some questions came to mind, including: what does it mean to be a child having a child? Why might a mother choose to walk away from her child?
Part of this book takes place in a small town named Ganton, one of those towns where everyone knows everyone and where there is also a stark racial divide. Someone might be your long-time neighbor or friend, but when push comes to shove, which side will they choose?
I thought the author did a good job of pulling me into the story right away. All of the characters in this book are flawed and very human, and those are the kinds of characters that I love. This was a strong debut novel and I enjoyed reading this story about race, family, secrets, and motherhood.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I’ve been wanting to read a book by Colson Whitehead for a while. I had both THE NICKEL BOYS and THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD staring at me from my TBR shelf, and I decided to pick up this one first. I read this book in one day and once I started I didn’t want to put it down. This book was like a sucker punch, I did not see it coming.
The events that take place at the reform school are sickening. But there’s a matter of factness to the way that this story is told because it’s not surprising that a Black body is being abused by a white person. And the tone also makes sense given that this story is based on a real school.
It’s painful to read about how this school beats the potential out of these Black boys while they are still growing and developing, before they are even fully-formed. As it states in the book, these boys are “denied even the simple pleasure of being ordinary.” It’s a coming-of-age story where the development is stunted. And of course, as expected, the writing was excellent. I’m going to be thinking about this short and powerful read for a while.
I’ve been wanting to read a book by Colson Whitehead for a while. I had both THE NICKEL BOYS and THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD staring at me from my TBR shelf, and I decided to pick up this one first. I read this book in one day and once I started I didn’t want to put it down. This book was like a sucker punch, I did not see it coming.
The events that take place at the reform school are sickening. But there’s a matter of factness to the way that this story is told because it’s not surprising that a Black body is being abused by a white person. And the tone also makes sense given that this story is based on a real school.
It’s painful to read about how this school beats the potential out of these Black boys while they are still growing and developing, before they are even fully-formed. As it states in the book, these boys are “denied even the simple pleasure of being ordinary.” It’s a coming-of-age story where the development is stunted. And of course, as expected, the writing was excellent. I’m going to be thinking about this short and powerful read for a while.
4.5 stars
A Black girl kicking ass and taking names while she battles the undead? Yes, please!
I’ve been so curious about this book since I first heard about it. Now that I’ve finally read it, I thought it was so much fun! I loved June as a character- she was such a badass and I loved how she was both brave and reckless. I also really enjoyed seeing how the relationship between June and Kate evolved.
There really is something special about having a Black girl as the heroine of a fantasy novel that I can’t get over. And we quickly see that June has two enemies to deal with: the hordes of undead people and racists who want to keep Black people “in their place” and return to the good old days before slavery was made illegal.
The author makes it clear that after slavery was legally abolished, it continued in reality, just with a different name and dressed up in different clothing. At one point, one of the characters is describing the supposed “inferiority” of Black people, and it reminded me of reading Stamped from the Beginning when it discussed how scientists of the time claimed that Black people were less developed and used that idea to create a racial hierarchy. There was/is a lot of ugly, racist thinking and those beliefs that didn’t just go away once slavery was made illegal.
This is a longer read, but I flew through the pages because I found the story so engaging. I enjoyed the writing and loved reading this story from June’s perspective with her irreverent tone. In terms of premise and plot, this was such a fun read that gave me lots of adventure while also exploring the violent and racist history of America. And I will definitely be reading the sequel!
A Black girl kicking ass and taking names while she battles the undead? Yes, please!
I’ve been so curious about this book since I first heard about it. Now that I’ve finally read it, I thought it was so much fun! I loved June as a character- she was such a badass and I loved how she was both brave and reckless. I also really enjoyed seeing how the relationship between June and Kate evolved.
There really is something special about having a Black girl as the heroine of a fantasy novel that I can’t get over. And we quickly see that June has two enemies to deal with: the hordes of undead people and racists who want to keep Black people “in their place” and return to the good old days before slavery was made illegal.
The author makes it clear that after slavery was legally abolished, it continued in reality, just with a different name and dressed up in different clothing. At one point, one of the characters is describing the supposed “inferiority” of Black people, and it reminded me of reading Stamped from the Beginning when it discussed how scientists of the time claimed that Black people were less developed and used that idea to create a racial hierarchy. There was/is a lot of ugly, racist thinking and those beliefs that didn’t just go away once slavery was made illegal.
This is a longer read, but I flew through the pages because I found the story so engaging. I enjoyed the writing and loved reading this story from June’s perspective with her irreverent tone. In terms of premise and plot, this was such a fun read that gave me lots of adventure while also exploring the violent and racist history of America. And I will definitely be reading the sequel!
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”
Wow, this book was a revelation. This was my first time reading anything by Zora. I really knew nothing about it- I never had to read it in school or anything like that. I just knew it was a classic and one of those books that I wanted to read at some point.
I think a part of me thought perhaps it would be somewhat dry and difficult and I was prepared to slog my way through it. But instead it was a beautifully written story about a woman finding herself and finding love, and I loved that my presumptions about this book were entirely wrong.
Zora is such an amazing storyteller. Her writing is so vivid and I felt like I was there, immersed in Janie’s world. Janie is a character that is constantly yearning and that felt so human to me. Even when she’s young, she’s not content with the life she has. She wants more- to do more, to experience more, especially when she realizes that her first marriage is not the adventure she dreamed it might be.
So many things struck me about this novel. There’s a moment when Janie is a young child and realizes that she is Black. There’s that loss of innocence when the construct of race rears its ugly head in her life for the first time. I thought about how Janie is lighter-skinned and pretty and how colorism and beauty definitely play a role in the course her life takes. Also, Janie is ambitious in wanting to leave the town where she grew up to explore the wider world, but at the same time we see her yield to the whims and desires of the various men in her life over and over again.
Even though it’s a shorter book, there’s so much to chew on in this novel. It’s truly incredible and compelling storytelling and writing, and now I know why this book has stood the test of time.
Wow, this book was a revelation. This was my first time reading anything by Zora. I really knew nothing about it- I never had to read it in school or anything like that. I just knew it was a classic and one of those books that I wanted to read at some point.
I think a part of me thought perhaps it would be somewhat dry and difficult and I was prepared to slog my way through it. But instead it was a beautifully written story about a woman finding herself and finding love, and I loved that my presumptions about this book were entirely wrong.
Zora is such an amazing storyteller. Her writing is so vivid and I felt like I was there, immersed in Janie’s world. Janie is a character that is constantly yearning and that felt so human to me. Even when she’s young, she’s not content with the life she has. She wants more- to do more, to experience more, especially when she realizes that her first marriage is not the adventure she dreamed it might be.
So many things struck me about this novel. There’s a moment when Janie is a young child and realizes that she is Black. There’s that loss of innocence when the construct of race rears its ugly head in her life for the first time. I thought about how Janie is lighter-skinned and pretty and how colorism and beauty definitely play a role in the course her life takes. Also, Janie is ambitious in wanting to leave the town where she grew up to explore the wider world, but at the same time we see her yield to the whims and desires of the various men in her life over and over again.
Even though it’s a shorter book, there’s so much to chew on in this novel. It’s truly incredible and compelling storytelling and writing, and now I know why this book has stood the test of time.
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I really liked this book! I mean, the first line really grabbed me, when Afi talks about how her husband was not present at their wedding, and I was really curious to see where things would go from there.
I enjoyed getting to read about life in Ghana and I liked following along on Afi’s journey and seeing her character growth over the course of the book. I thought this was a solid debut novel about a young woman coming into her own, figuring out her hopes and dreams, and deciding exactly how she wants to live her life.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
I really liked this book! I mean, the first line really grabbed me, when Afi talks about how her husband was not present at their wedding, and I was really curious to see where things would go from there.
I enjoyed getting to read about life in Ghana and I liked following along on Afi’s journey and seeing her character growth over the course of the book. I thought this was a solid debut novel about a young woman coming into her own, figuring out her hopes and dreams, and deciding exactly how she wants to live her life.
First things first: this book has a lot of buzz and for good reason- I thought it was searingly good. These are characters that will be sticking around in my head for a while, so flawed and nuanced and fascinating.
I kept using the word “nuanced” when I was jotting down thoughts as I was reading because it seems like the most appropriate word. The writing in this book is so good and Peters really delves into the nuances of gender dynamics in a thought-provoking way.
Peters makes so many sharp observations about people and motherhood, femininity and masculinity, sexuality and love, and identity, and so many other things that are part of the human experience. Maybe that’s what was most striking to me- the way that Peters really captures humanity on the page.
To me, this is not a book you breeze through. It made me want to slow down and really focus so that I could absorb the writing and what Peters was saying with her writing. There are certain scenes I’m still thinking about even now that I’ve finished the book, such as a conversation between Reese and Katrina about motherhood and who gets to be a mother, and a passage where Reese thinks that womanhood can be illuminated by violence from men.
I wanted to savor the writing and in terms of craft, I felt like Peters played with words and sentences in a way that was very interesting to read. I surprisingly didn’t note down any quotes, probably because there were so many striking sentences and paragraphs in this book, which sometimes required me to look up words or terms that I wasn’t familiar with. It also showed me a glimpse into a world and a perspective that I don’t know enough about.
This one is worth reading because the writing is that good, the premise is incredibly intriguing, and for the characters that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
I kept using the word “nuanced” when I was jotting down thoughts as I was reading because it seems like the most appropriate word. The writing in this book is so good and Peters really delves into the nuances of gender dynamics in a thought-provoking way.
Peters makes so many sharp observations about people and motherhood, femininity and masculinity, sexuality and love, and identity, and so many other things that are part of the human experience. Maybe that’s what was most striking to me- the way that Peters really captures humanity on the page.
To me, this is not a book you breeze through. It made me want to slow down and really focus so that I could absorb the writing and what Peters was saying with her writing. There are certain scenes I’m still thinking about even now that I’ve finished the book, such as a conversation between Reese and Katrina about motherhood and who gets to be a mother, and a passage where Reese thinks that womanhood can be illuminated by violence from men.
I wanted to savor the writing and in terms of craft, I felt like Peters played with words and sentences in a way that was very interesting to read. I surprisingly didn’t note down any quotes, probably because there were so many striking sentences and paragraphs in this book, which sometimes required me to look up words or terms that I wasn’t familiar with. It also showed me a glimpse into a world and a perspective that I don’t know enough about.
This one is worth reading because the writing is that good, the premise is incredibly intriguing, and for the characters that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
3.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
It took me a little while to settle into this one, but in the end, I thought it was a quiet and sweet debut novel. And while romance is an important part of the story, I would say this is more about a young woman who’s coming into her own and really thinking about what she wants and needs for the first time in her life.
This book explores mental health, parental relationships, and Grace’s experience around being a queer Black woman in STEM, among other things. I liked the diverse cast of characters that we meet throughout the book, and I loved that Grace had her found family for support when she needed it. Also, I could relate to Grace’s struggle with the weight of the expectations placed on her by her father and herself, and her feeling of not knowing exactly what path she wants her life to take.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
It took me a little while to settle into this one, but in the end, I thought it was a quiet and sweet debut novel. And while romance is an important part of the story, I would say this is more about a young woman who’s coming into her own and really thinking about what she wants and needs for the first time in her life.
This book explores mental health, parental relationships, and Grace’s experience around being a queer Black woman in STEM, among other things. I liked the diverse cast of characters that we meet throughout the book, and I loved that Grace had her found family for support when she needed it. Also, I could relate to Grace’s struggle with the weight of the expectations placed on her by her father and herself, and her feeling of not knowing exactly what path she wants her life to take.
4.5 stars
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Finally, my craving for a fun romance read has been satisfied thanks to this delightful book!
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved. Food plays such a huge role in this story, and I really enjoyed reading about all the different dishes that Reena makes. Bread baking is also significant and that felt relatable since I too went through my bread phase during quarantine (and after reading this, now I really want to make bread again).
This book also touches on mental health issues. I couldn’t help but wince a little because Reena’s strategy of ignoring her problems and hoping they’ll go away is something I’ve definitely done (and still do). I could also relate to her feelings of having to navigate around both family and cultural expectations. I loved that Reena’s family was from Tanzania and the way the author highlighted her Indian and East African heritage.
The premise of the cooking show was great and shows like that are right up my alley. In fact, it reminded me of The Big Family Cooking Showdown on Netflix, which is a fun show to watch if you’re into cooking shows. I would 100% watch the show that Reena and Nadim are on.
I loved Reena as a character: she’s smart, independent, and still figuring out what she wants her life to look like and what makes her happy. I feel like she’s someone I would be friends with IRL, and not just because it sounds like she can really cook (although that would be a huge bonus)!
A big part of this book as well is the exploration of family dynamics, with Reena and her parents, and also with Reena’s sister. There’s so many secrets between them and it’s interesting to see how those secrets affect their relationships.
Did I think that the ending was the most realistic? Not necessarily, but who am I to say what’s realistic! And it probably could have been tightened up a little bit in terms of pacing. Also, for those who are wondering, I’d say the steam level for this book was medium to medium-low.
You all know that I love when a book includes recipes, so I was stoked to see a couple included here. Thank you to this book for satisfying my reading craving and for being such an enjoyable read. Now I’m just actually hungry and need to go eat some delicious food asap!
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
Finally, my craving for a fun romance read has been satisfied thanks to this delightful book!
There were so many aspects of this book that I loved. Food plays such a huge role in this story, and I really enjoyed reading about all the different dishes that Reena makes. Bread baking is also significant and that felt relatable since I too went through my bread phase during quarantine (and after reading this, now I really want to make bread again).
This book also touches on mental health issues. I couldn’t help but wince a little because Reena’s strategy of ignoring her problems and hoping they’ll go away is something I’ve definitely done (and still do). I could also relate to her feelings of having to navigate around both family and cultural expectations. I loved that Reena’s family was from Tanzania and the way the author highlighted her Indian and East African heritage.
The premise of the cooking show was great and shows like that are right up my alley. In fact, it reminded me of The Big Family Cooking Showdown on Netflix, which is a fun show to watch if you’re into cooking shows. I would 100% watch the show that Reena and Nadim are on.
I loved Reena as a character: she’s smart, independent, and still figuring out what she wants her life to look like and what makes her happy. I feel like she’s someone I would be friends with IRL, and not just because it sounds like she can really cook (although that would be a huge bonus)!
A big part of this book as well is the exploration of family dynamics, with Reena and her parents, and also with Reena’s sister. There’s so many secrets between them and it’s interesting to see how those secrets affect their relationships.
Did I think that the ending was the most realistic? Not necessarily, but who am I to say what’s realistic! And it probably could have been tightened up a little bit in terms of pacing. Also, for those who are wondering, I’d say the steam level for this book was medium to medium-low.
You all know that I love when a book includes recipes, so I was stoked to see a couple included here. Thank you to this book for satisfying my reading craving and for being such an enjoyable read. Now I’m just actually hungry and need to go eat some delicious food asap!
I am so glad I finally read this one and it was every bit as wonderful as I’d heard it would be. I loved learning more about her: her childhood and her family, meeting Barack, figuring out her career, having children, and what it was like in the White House.
It felt like I was sitting down with a friend each time I’d press play on the audiobook. I’d be like, “Oh, I’m just going to go hang out with my friend Michelle!” There is just something so calming and comforting about her voice. She is just so great, so relatable. Listening to her tell her story reminded me how huge it is that we finally had a Black First Lady, to know that someone who looked like me could hold that title.
For me, as a relative audiobook newbie, it was very long and it took me ages to finish, but I knew I had to do it on audio since she’s the narrator. I really admire her and I thought this was such an inspirational and uplifting read.
///
I finished!! The longest audiobook I have ever listened to (not that I've listened to many) and it was wonderful.
It felt like I was sitting down with a friend each time I’d press play on the audiobook. I’d be like, “Oh, I’m just going to go hang out with my friend Michelle!” There is just something so calming and comforting about her voice. She is just so great, so relatable. Listening to her tell her story reminded me how huge it is that we finally had a Black First Lady, to know that someone who looked like me could hold that title.
For me, as a relative audiobook newbie, it was very long and it took me ages to finish, but I knew I had to do it on audio since she’s the narrator. I really admire her and I thought this was such an inspirational and uplifting read.
///
I finished!! The longest audiobook I have ever listened to (not that I've listened to many) and it was wonderful.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free copy of this book! All opinions are my own.
This was such a fascinating story about race and identity. As the author described what it was like to grow up in a household where her race was never discussed or acknowledged, I was often thinking how very, very difficult that must have been.
I enjoyed the descriptions of her travels as she sought to immerse herself in Black culture in other countries. I also appreciated that she discussed the effects this huge family secret had on her mental health and how she turned to therapy for help during a period. And the stories of other people that she connected with over the years who had somewhat similar experiences to hers blew my mind as well.
I did struggle a little with the writing, mostly because I felt the tone was somewhat disjointed. It seemed to shift between a more formal and perhaps educational tone, and then there were times where the tone felt more casual, like she was talking to a friend. I preferred the more casual tone, but really I would have liked the overall writing style to be a bit more cohesive.
I definitely felt for the author as I was reading her story. Just imagine losing your father and then learning the truth about your identity at the same time! Ooof, it sounds extremely overwhelming and life shattering and I appreciated her willingness to share her experience with us. This was such an interesting book, and I also enjoyed getting a perspective from someone who is Black and British, as I feel like I’m often reading about race from an American perspective.
This was such a fascinating story about race and identity. As the author described what it was like to grow up in a household where her race was never discussed or acknowledged, I was often thinking how very, very difficult that must have been.
I enjoyed the descriptions of her travels as she sought to immerse herself in Black culture in other countries. I also appreciated that she discussed the effects this huge family secret had on her mental health and how she turned to therapy for help during a period. And the stories of other people that she connected with over the years who had somewhat similar experiences to hers blew my mind as well.
I did struggle a little with the writing, mostly because I felt the tone was somewhat disjointed. It seemed to shift between a more formal and perhaps educational tone, and then there were times where the tone felt more casual, like she was talking to a friend. I preferred the more casual tone, but really I would have liked the overall writing style to be a bit more cohesive.
I definitely felt for the author as I was reading her story. Just imagine losing your father and then learning the truth about your identity at the same time! Ooof, it sounds extremely overwhelming and life shattering and I appreciated her willingness to share her experience with us. This was such an interesting book, and I also enjoyed getting a perspective from someone who is Black and British, as I feel like I’m often reading about race from an American perspective.