This is not the book I expected it to be when I started reading it. I was expecting more focus on “the incident” and the fallout from that, however Reid focuses more on the impacts of the smaller every day acts people commit.

Emira, Black and 25 year old, is the baby sitter to Briar Chamberlin. She asked by Briars parents to take her out one evening while they deal with an emergency. While in a white, wealthy neighbourhood supermarket Emira is accosted by a security guard over why she is at a supermarket at 11pm with a white child. 

This happens fast, and then the story slowly unravels displaying the questionable or toxic behaviour people exhibit when they think they’re doing the best for people who are younger, or different. In this case it is white centrism and saviour complex as well as Black fetishism and tokenism. 

Alix Chamberlin, Briars mother, a social media influencer is beyond bizarre in her behaviours, and her ignorant husband and encouraging friends don’t help. Kelley, Emiras boyfriend has a disturbing fascination with Emiras race. Emira herself isn’t perfect, but she is a 25 year old who doesn’t know what she wants out of life, she just loves spending time with Briar. Their relationship is completely adorable throughout the book.

Listening to this made my long drives up and down the country much more enjoyable.