booksamongstfriends's reviews
738 reviews

I can definitely understand why ratings on this book seem to fall in the middle. I was without a doubt intrigued and curious throughout the entire book, and I will even say I didn’t necessarily mind when the pacing felt a little slow because I was still motivated to find out what was going on and what the cause of all this was. This is why I felt so deflated and frustrated by the end.

Initially, the pacing did not bother me, but it did feel like the story was giving you the bare minimum to drag it along, only to ramp up in the end—and the ending wasn’t even fulfilling. It reminded me of those 10-course menus where every course is so small and just enough to feed that little ounce of hunger. You really think you’re building up to something big, only for them to rush out the final meals and leave you still needing to eat afterwards. So, just like those 10 courses, I ended up leaving unsatisfied at the end of this read.

I know some of y’all like a lot of mess and a quick finish. This is right up your alley.

If you just read this book and go along for the ride, you’ll definitely enjoy it. This book is 100% more for entertainment than in-depth consumption. There were times I felt like I was watching a BET show like Tyler Perry’s Sistas. It seems like maybe there was one character too many. It was almost as if, for the sake of the book, everyone had to have something going on all at once.

You have the once-broke friend who wins the lottery and pretty much runs through all the money. Yeah, one of the friends is a financial advisor and couldn’t connect her to someone to help her? You have a friend who is having fertility issues and a troubled past but didn’t think to tell her lawyer husband? Another woman’s daughter is sick, and her husband is a gambler, yet she still allows him to have access to major accounts? Then there’s a friend suffering from PTSD from a carjacking who refuses to go to therapy even though it’s destroying all of her relationships. It did feel like a lot of stereotypical tropes were on display.

There was this lingering depiction of the black women being selfish or self-serving, sassy, and being at times irresponsible. Even Darryl as the down-on-his-luck Black man who needs a ninth chance or a character like Skins—because what would this book have been without Black men coming from jail? I think I would’ve preferred if the drama was cascading. Plus, it always appears when we get these very strong in presence and personality women characters, they have to be immature in some other way, especially in their communication style.

This is definitely the kind of book I could see recommended for a book club or just to casually read on the weekend, but the minute you start to look deeper into it, there’s just too many things to pick apart. But something tells me this book could easily have a follow-up based on how it ended, and people would eat that up as well just because it’s so drama-filled, and the drama and situations are so over the top.

While some of the obstacles the characters are facing are very real and could easily happen, it’s the way in which the situations unfold that make them feel very distant and soap operatic. I can understand having smart characters that make occasionally biased or misinformed decisions, but it just felt like it was one dumb choice after another.

And to say that this book is about sisterhood is really loosely using that term. These women spend more time arguing and jabbing at each other—and not in the keke way. It made it quite obvious where the book was going to go, but also unfortunate in the pace at which we arrived there. By the time the climax happens, the ending just quickly wraps up.

All that is not to say I didn’t enjoy reading this book; it is definitely a guilty pleasure. It may not have been what I was really hoping for, but I’m also not mad at it. It knows what it offers and what it’s doing.

368 pgs
Pub Date: Jul 30th

Thanks to Netgalley & Harlequin Trade Publishing for this Digital Arc.

Fiction

Once I got into this read, I enjoyed it. Truly a fun combination and commitment to a Wild West scene with a zombie twist. I thought the prose was dark, lyrical, and lingering. Unfortunately, I think the book’s brevity works against it. It seems that the dialect was utilized to provide more character, instead of providing more space to create fully rounded characters. Though I understand this isn’t the full story and there should be other installments to come that I can look forward to. This horror novella has a lot of potential, and I hope to see a longer novel with more world building and character development.

Thank you to NetGalley & BDA Publishing for this e-arc.

First, I want to express my gratitude to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read The Black Utopians. I was really excited to dive into this, and I’m happy to say that the narration did not disappoint. It was familiar, eloquent, and perfectly paced, complementing the depth and breadth of the content. Robertson’s research is clearly extensive, and the book presents a vast range of perspectives on the long-standing question: where does Black prosperity exist without the limitations of oppression?

One of the strongest elements of this book is its emphasis on community-forward thinking. Robertson's personal connections to the themes of Black rediscovery and growth on multiple scales are evident throughout the work, giving it a grounding sense of sincerity and passion. I really appreciated how he highlighted the possibilities of Black utopianism, the idea that we can imagine a future of liberation that isn’t confined by current structures.

That being said, I did feel that the book sometimes fell short of fully engaging with the complex topics it introduced. There were moments when I thought, yes, we’re really going to dive deep now, only to see the narrative pull back and dance around the major points. It often felt like the book was covering a lot while elaborating on very little.

One aspect I found challenging was the heavy reliance on a religious standpoint. While faith is an important and legitimate lens through which to examine Black utopianism, I felt that the book missed an opportunity to explore ideas that could decenter whiteness and patriarchy from that viewpoint. For example, I would have liked to see more discussion on polytheism, pre-Christian faiths, learned patriarchy, and other alternative perspectives that might exist within the vision of Black utopia. Even if those ideas don’t align with the author’s personal beliefs, I think they would have enriched the conversation and added complexity to the idea of utopia itself.

Despite these critiques, I don’t want to take away from the important conversation that The Black Utopians brings to the table. In many ways the book is personal, reflective, and caring in its approach. One I’m sure will be well received. While I would have loved for the book to be a more elaborate examination of the topic, I understand that this might not have been its purpose. Instead, it feels like a thoughtful introduction, a kickstarter for future thought through the past and community discussions around Black empowerment and utopian ideals.

When I first came across The Jigsaw Man, I had no idea what I was in for—and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. The Binding Room didn’t disappoint, and The Kill List delivered in every way! Nadine Matheson has a way of capturing the reality of her characters so vividly. Every character’s voice carries purpose, without overshadowing others or detracting from the overall story.

I love how Matheson drops you right where the last book left off. This is a series where I highly recommend reading the first two books before diving into this one. Though Matheson transports you seamlessly into these characters' lives and cases, and it feels so real, like you’re working alongside them.

This book picks up from where the last one ended, focusing on the alleged crimes of DI Henley’s old boss, Rhimes. If you’ve read the first two books, like me, you’ve been waiting to uncover whether Rhimes is dirty or not. As the pieces come together, everything unravels, revealing Rhimes’ hidden history and controversial involvement in the case, while also showing how Henley’s career was shaped by this man.

Every time I read one of Matheson’s books, it feels like I’m watching the story play out on my TV—her writing is casually that immersive. I also appreciate how she captures the balance between work life and personal life, showing the toll it takes on Henley and her partner Ramouter, not just as detectives but as spouses and parents. It’s easy to get caught up in the cat-and-mouse chase to find the killer, but Matheson reminds us of the real danger these characters bring home to their families.

This book felt more raw and emotional than the others, as Henley’s connection to the case is deeply personal. The crimes span both past and present, and Henley’s team is tasked with uncovering the truth about their now-dead boss and his biggest cases. Henley is forced to confront the possibility that Rhimes may have knowingly put the wrong man in jail. Meeting the killer only complicates things further, leading to a whirlwind of discoveries that will either clear Rhimes’ name or confirm his guilt.

What I loved most is how Matheson gives us glimpses into the killer’s mind, making us feel as though we know more than the detectives—only to flip the script and leave us in the dark. You think you have it figured out, but you really don’t! Once again, Matheson does an amazing job keeping readers hooked right up until the very end.

I can’t wait for the next book in the series! All I can say is Henley and Rob better be done by then lol.

2.5