Pomegranate is a stunning jewel of a book. It’s the story of Ranita Atwater, newly released from a four year stint in the Oak Hills Correctional Centre for opiate possession. She needs to stay clean, find somewhere to live, find a job and rebuild her relationship with her kids before she has any hope of achieving her goal of regaining custody of them. Plus she has to come to terms with issues from her past as well as her new identity as a queer woman - all without the support of her partner who is still incarcerated. I loved the structure of this book with Ranita telling her present day story in the first person, while events from her childhood up to her incarceration are told in the third person. A really clever way of showing how Ranita still needed to come to terms with her past. The book did an excellent job of highlighting the barriers women, particularly if they are Black and/or queer, face in trying to reintegrate into society after a period of incarceration, of trying to stay clean and trying to reunite their families. The system which should be helping them provides more in the way of obstacles than assistance, and appears to be looking for any reason to fail women and separate them permanently from their children. It seeks unrealistic constant linear progress and has little tolerance for even minor setbacks or regressions. I was really rooting for Ranita and so many times I was worried that her own actions or those of others, were going to cause her to lose her kids. In many ways this was a heavy read and Ranita suffered more than her share of trauma. But there was also joy, hope and love - the support she had from her aunts, the relationship she had with her father, the strength she eventually found via therapy, the support of one of her case workers, her love for her son and daughter.

Ranita is a character I really rooted for. I admired her determination, resilience and perseverance, was cheering for every success and biting my nails and every setback, real or potential. I found Pomegranate a really well-told story that highlights important social issues and deserves a wide readership. 

This book has so much heartbreak and pain and frustration and hope. I'm really glad I read it, especially when for a little bit there I was worried it would just be hurt after hurt, but knew I was going to push through regardless. Pomegranate is very much about the past and the present, and how we are all of our past selves at once. It's about growth and change in combination with not being able to fully escape your past. It's about queer love, and the way society sets some people up to fail, and the bravery it takes to open up to others. It's so so beautiful and I would highly recommend it. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the chance to read and review this ARC. 

Wow...I was stunned by this novel. The synopsis grabbed me from the beginning, but I definitely can say I was blown out of the water. The writing is so mesmerizing and descriptive and poetic. Reading this felt like I was literally watching someone paint each individual brush stroke of Ranita's life that would undoubtedly come together into a painting of a magnificent, bleeding pomegranate. More so, the topics that this book covered were so tragic and hopeful and heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. It truly takes you on her highs and lows of successes and failures much like the everyday high and lows of someone struggling with addiction. Watching Ranita fight with her past, present, and future while facing society's injustices against being a black, queer woman and addict is truly a sight to behold. This book did a beautiful job of getting you inside her head and almost tangibly understanding what addiction and prison really is.  Watching her also fight to better herself for her children and love was remarkable. It's a super tough story to read, but one that brings such important light to living with addictions, trauma, racial injustices, and the repercussions of choice.

Please note the trigger warnings posted! 
(Addiction, alcoholism, emotional abuse, toxic relationship, sexual assault, rape, drug use, drug abuse, sexual content, death of parent, child abuse, confinement, racism)

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!