Clap When You Land. Elizabeth Acevedo. 2020. Quill Tree Books. 432 pages. [Source: Public library.] As the daughter of an immigrant and a man whose image in my mind is nothing like what society holds … this book touched me on so many levels. Acevedo amazingly highlights a family and its complexities. She pays homage to a tragedy I’ve never heard of (flight 587 ), expresses understanding, respect and honor to a religion that showcases the strength of our ancestors. She shows the masses and unfamiliar that not everyone is dying to get to this country. Through Camino, she reminds that there is not always the assumed hatred for one’s native country, but a desire for a better opportunity. The love, respect and allegiance for their home remains … and along with their opportunity, they inherit a debt to those left behind. The one that “left” shoulders the burden of providing more opportunities for those that remain. The characters perfectly reflect the emotions each side feels … the difference in perspective. Add in the secrets held within a family, and like this book you have a pot boiling over with history, hidden agendas, lack of understanding and moments that will…

The Marathon Don’t Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle. Rob Kenner. 2021. Atria Books. 446 pages. [Source: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.] The Marathon Don’t Stop is the book I’ve most anticipated since it was announced in 2019. Nipsey Hussle’s official debut album, Victory Lap, is deeply personal to me and remains in near-daily rotation three years after its release. His sudden murder in 2019 rocked me with shock and disbelief that was more acute than what I felt as a 13-year-old hearing of Tupac Shakur’s death. This book, then, is a fitting opportunity for fans and newcomers alike to better understand the full trajectory of Nipsey’s life as “the Tupac of his generation.” In this biography, Kenner examines Nipsey’s life from the lens of, unsurprisingly, a marathon. Starting with his childhood in South Central Los Angeles and following his resolute pursuit of success on his own terms, The Marathon Don’t Stop is a retrospective of Nipsey Hussle as a multifaceted man — Ermias Asghedom — not just a Crip turned rapper. Kenner approaches The Marathon Don’t Stop as one would expect of a journalist. It is abundantly clear that…

Seasoned. Delaney Diamond. 2020. Garden Avenue Press. 326 pages. [Source: Public Library] Delaney Diamond is back with another summer romance, and I was ready and waiting for it. I was immediately taken with her style with my introduction to her style with Johnson family a few years ago. I was more than overdue to get away with her latest, Seasoned. Seasoned is actually a set of three stories, each following a different woman in a close-knit trio. Each woman is having her own struggles with love. Thrice-divorced Renee is a bit of self-proclaimed HOA enforcer and finds herself locked in a battle of wills with her bothersome — yet handsome — neighbor. Adelaide is unwillingly closer to her ex-husband when they have to figure out how to support their young-adult son. And Jackie still pines to add motherhood to her accomplishments that already include being a successful entrepreneur; will an old flame derail her plans? Renee was initially unlikable for me. Despite her attempts to keep property values high and the neighborhood livable, I thought she was the neighbor from hell. The battle of wills between her and Clive was interesting to see unfold, though. Both were stubborn as hell,…

Living in the Middle. A. Robert Allen. 2019. 247 pages. [Source: ARC provided courtesy of author.] There’s no greater challenge than finding the balance between how you see yourself and how others see you. Living in the Middle effectively conveys the notion of identity being fluid and the impact of external forces. I found the opening chapter to be confusing and difficult to understand prior to the introduction of Jimmy, which made it challenging to get into the book. The historical accuracy of the book throughout is phenomenal, but was presented in a rudimentary manner which makes it better suited for those without extensive knowledge or familiarity with/on the Tulsa Race Riots. Overall, I appreciated this book more for its historical relevance then for its novel components – the romantic relationship between Mercy and Jimmy was irrelevant, as were the Grimes/Glax interactions. I often found the dialogues to be strained and unbelievable. Sadly, the parts I loved most were the parts that were the quickest to read, leaving me hungry for more. The build up to the actual insurgence, the day of, and the immediate aftermath could’ve easily been more than half of the book. Three stars for Living in…

Coveted. Christina C. Jones. 2019. 107 pages. [Source: Kindle Unlimited.] I am so pleased that Christina C. Jones is back with the second installment in the “Eternally Tethered” series, Coveted. With this book, she focuses on younger sister Ancelin and further explorers the ties between her and Nasir that were introduced in 2015’s Haunted. Ancelin is known as a bit of a wild child; her reputation for hedonism is well-known. She, like Khalida in Haunted, is loath to commit to one person for fear of getting hurt or making the wrong choice in partner. However, when a series of odd and forboding coincidences keep occurring in relation to Ancelin, she’s forced to accept Nasir as a bodyguard. As Aram’s right-hand man, Nasir is unquestionably loyal to Ancelin and will guard her life at all costs. The reasons run deeper for him, but Ancelin takes a while to get to a point of truly understanding his motivations. Along the way, though, the two have a deliciously tense chemistry that has Ancelin doing all she can to tempt Nasir. I enjoyed Coveted even more than Haunted, which I was a bit shocked to realize. I’m still not into paranormal, so these two…