While I typically like giving updates as I read the story, you can only do that here with a page or percent number. Which is nigh on impossible with an audio book. And I'm not there yet to double up on the audio and physical version of a book. Although I did have to get a physical copy of this to refresh of each story.

So! I'm going to update with one or two thoughts I had throughout each story to give an idea on my opinion on it. Let me preface by staying that I've only read one of these author's books so I won't really give an opinion on their talent; it will just be a commentary on the story in this anthology.

Half a Moon – this was cute and a good way to open up the collection. But since it was so short you didn't get a good idea of the sister's relationship before camp, why the younger one had to go to camp, etc. A longer exposition might have been nice since Raven ended up just seeming to be like a bit of a brat who took her anger at an adult out on another child.

Black Enough – I had mixed feelings on this one. I felt that Cam was almost unnecessarily vilified unnecessarily and that he was blamed for where he lived which was outside of his control. Could he have been more aware? Of course; we all can. But there was no need to ghost him like that; she should have had the courage to tell him why she no longer wanted to talk to him, especially knowing he was coming back.

Warning: Color May Fade – Plagiarism, in any form, is not funny or cute. Nivia is better than me. I would have snitched. Ruined Ryan and her family's entire dynasty. I'm that petty. Come. At. Me.

Black Nerd Problems – This was cute and gave me all the nerdy feels. Plus that descriptor of “like a pudding balloon being dropped off a skyscraper”....on my honor that is going to be seared into my brain forever.

Out of the Silence – This was beautifully tragic. I felt all the feels with this.

The Ingredients – This story has no aim or real plot. But I liked it. Very reminiscent of what kids did, and still do, on summer days.

Oreo – I liked this one. Sometimes it's hard to build close cousin ties when they live so far away on different levels but I like how they came together somewhat at the end.

Samson And the Delilahs – Dude. The eclectic music lover in me lost my damn mind at the System of the Down reference. I also had to roll my eyes at the 'devil's music' comment. I really thought Satanic Panic went out with the 80's y'all.....

Stop Playing – So while I had the typical jerk reaction to the term “naked selfie” followed by “Oh no baby what is you doing?!?!” at that part in the story, the one thing that really skeeved me out? Sharing the ear buds with someone you literally just met. That's initiate on a whole another level and not something you fly into all willy nilly!!

Wild Horses, Wild Hearts – This is one I read with my breath suspended because I legit thought it would turn out terribly at the end. Instead it left me with a warm fuzzy.

Whoa! – I loved this one. I really did. I didn't know it was what it was until the end and I think it did it all well.

Gravity – Second person perspective is always tricky but this did it well. It might have helped it's one of the shorter ones but I really enjoyed this, as much as I could considering the subject matter.

The Trouble with Drowning – This is the first one I didn't care for at all. Lyrically it was beautiful but I guessed the 'twist' from the start and overall I wasn't that impressed.

Kissing Sarah Smart – This was a sweet cute story. I enjoyed it.

Hackathon Summers – This gave me all the feels. Clearly, I adored how Garry respected Inaaya's decision in the end, but it still gave me a pang of sadness.

Into the Starlight – Never judge a book by its cover. In any capacity.

The (R)evolution of Nigeria Jones – This was an interesting take on so many levels. The ambiguous ending was a bit enraging because I like closure but it was well done.

Overall this was a good collection. There was only one story I didn't really care for and it's not that it was a bad one; it just wasn't my cup of tea. I would definitely recommend for the Black Youth of America since it proves that we all comes in different shades and personality types. And that we all matter, no matter what.

Also, to end on a bit of a humorous note, one thing I learned with this set of stories is that is that I am still very distrusting by nature. I kept expecting more abject betrayal especially in the love stories. Heaven help me if I'm ever single again.