Jones weaves a complicated and engrossing tale of dysfunction, lies, secrets, and deceit.  Her ability to tell a story about the deception of bigamy that resonates and draws you in highlights the immense skill of this author.  And boy did this story make me FEEL- anger, empathy, frustration, uncertainty, grief, disappointment, anguished.

This book is a phenomenal character study.  Jones adeptly creates two distinct and multifaceted voices in James’ daughters, Chaurisse and Dana.  After being introduced to Dana, the illegitimate daughter, I became devoted to her, greatly empathizing with her struggles, so much so that  I did *not* want to know or like Chaurisse, the legitimate daughter.  But after a few chapters of getting to know her, I couldn’t help but connect with her as well.  The depth with which Jones writes these characters is vivid and heartbreaking.  

A nice bonus for me…as someone who grew up in Atlanta in the late 80s, reading this book transported me back to parts of my childhood…from jelly shoes and tube tops to the Varsity and Fernbank Museum.

Turning the last page on the book, I longed for more. I was invested in Dana’s and Chaurisse’s lives, and I wanted so much more.