Good Dirt is a sprawling family drama by Charmaine Wilkerson, the author of the beloved title Black Cake. This book returns with her style of a multi-perspective narrative that spans generations. 

Good Dirt is the story of a Black family in the Northeast United States with a precious heirloom, a large pot crafted by one of their ancestors who was enslaved. When an armed intruder entered the home twenty some years ago, the pot was broken and the eldest child was killed. Now his younger sister must reckon with their past, acknowledge the trauma she faced and that of her family, and try to find love. 

I felt so connected to the characters in this novel, our main character Ebby is a deeply relatable mess. As her life falls apart right when she thinks it is coming together, I read her decisions as realistic and relatable- they were messy, sometimes unwise, and usually the best she could do.  Wilkerson does an excellent job weaving a mystery throughout this family drama that makes the book impossible to put down. 

If you loved Black Cake, you'll almost certainly love this one. I found the pacing to be more even and in my case the characters easier to empathize with. I hope you'll add this to your list if you enjoy literary fiction!