Trigger warnings: abortion, physical and sexual assault, suicide, death of a parent, discussion of infertility
I cannot believe this is Brit Bennett's debut novel. Wow. I remember when it was coming out a couple of years ago. I heard a few people talking about buying/receiving the book, but didn't hear much about it after that.
A couple of months ago I chose her follow up, The Vanishing Half, from Book of the Month, and decided that I wanted to read this one first.
There is something about the writing that just makes you feel for the characters. Even when you don't agree with their decisions. Even if you don't particularly *like* them, you still feel that their motivations are coming from a place that feels genuine. They are flawed and messy, just like the most interesting people.
This book centers around a Black neighborhood/community in Southern California. Specifically, around a local church in the community. It felt very reminiscent to me of the small village I grew up in, with everyone knowing everyone else's business, or at least talking about it as if they do, and how that kind of atmosphere can breed hypocrisy.
There are some really beautiful lines of prose throughout the course of this novel, and the writing style just worked for me. I do wish that there had been a little more about the character's stories at the end, but that's mostly just selfishness of wanting more.
I can't wait to read The Vanishing Half and whatever she comes out with next.