Dawn Turner, a former journalist for the Chicago Tribune, chronicles growing up in the Bronzeville section of Chicago with her sister and her best friend, Debra. While sharing stories about their childhoods in this part of Chicago—a Black community born of formerly enslaved people coming north during The Great Migration—she highlights the divergent path her life took, compared to those of her sister & her best friend. It’s all set against a post-civil-rights time when the hope Black Americans had for long-lasting systemic changes was dashed with stark realities. For every triumph, there’s tragedy. For every heartache, there’s joy. For every challenge, there’s hope.

Turner’s searing prose pulls you right in and doesn’t let go. You feel as if your friend is sharing her life in intimate, vividly descriptive detail. Turner's heart is laid bare on these pages and it’s a stunning literary achievement. Best of all, her messages of hope, home, family, redemption, faith, and, ultimately, love are ones everyone can relate to.

I loved this and highly recommend reading it! Even if you're more into escapist books, this memoir is a must for anyone who loves stories that celebrate the lives of women, especially women of color.

Thanks @this_is_edeweiss and @simonbooks for the free copies in exchange for an honest review.