I'm a bit late to jump on the bandwagon for The Vanishing Half but I fell in love with Brit Bennett's writing after reading The Mothers and immediately put this one on hold at the library.

I've read a lot of reviews about The Vanishing Half so I thought I knew what to expect from the book. For such a hyped book, I was pleasantly surprised to discover characters and storylines I wasn't aware of.

Brit Bennett writes beautifully flawed characters so well. The Vanishing Half tells the story of twins who run away from home, before one disappears without a trace. The twins are identical, but end up living completely different lives. Spanning several decades we see their lives unfold, learning their secrets and the vulnerabilities they're trying to keep hidden.

 Brit Bennett also manages to explore so many issues throughout the book, without the book ever feeling preachy.

The biggest issue explored is race and how different shades of Black are seen and judged, as well as the benefits that come from passing as white. Gender, family bonds, and broken family ties are also integral issues. There's even a queer narrative that's not traumatic. 

Through the characters we see the complex parts that make up identity and the ways different people only get to see certain parts of that identity. We see how the past effects the present. And how the choices we make can end up defining us. 

It jumps to different decades and different characters with ease. It was the kind of book I couldn't wait to pick up every night. I flew through the last part because I did not want to put it down. Don't be put off by the hype, The Vanishing Half is a gem of a book.