booksamongstfriends's reviews
738 reviews

3.5

When I first read the description of Harlem Rhapsody, I expected tea ☕️ and history—and that’s exactly what I got. Plus, I don’t know about you, but I love the Harlem Renaissance. As both a setting and an era, its creative energy is absolutely mesmerizing to read about and impossible to ignore.

This was my first read by Victoria Christopher Murray, and I truly appreciate how she highlights the force that was Jessie Redmon Fauset. As someone already familiar with Fauset’s work and impact, it was fascinating to see this adaptation of her life as one of the “most prolific and most forgotten” writers of the Harlem Renaissance. For many readers, I know this will be an enticing introduction to her legacy.

Fauset was so many things—and often the best at those things. She dedicated her life to exploring language, literature, social justice, and education, all while championing the Black voices of the Harlem Renaissance that we celebrate today. In Harlem Rhapsody, I really enjoyed seeing her relationships with other writers and how she navigated carving out a space for herself while investing in others. I hope this book inspires readers to seek out her works and truly understand the breadth of her influence.

I can see some readers feeling frustrated by the way her relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois casts such a wide shadow over her literary impact. But I also felt this was intentional and an honest reflection of the times. The sad reality is that many women writers were overshadowed by their male counterparts, and this book doesn’t shy away from that truth. We see how her relationship with Du Bois puts her in difficult positions—not just in her personal life, but also in shaping the future she envisioned for herself.

That said, I’m sure plenty of readers will enjoy the mess of it all, following where Ms. Fauset’s decisions lead her in the end.

3.5 Rounded up. Thank you to Hear Our Voices Book Tours for this read!

4.5 I love a book that gets straight to the point—especially when it comes to nonfiction. Ejaculate Responsibly is exactly that. This is the kind of book I’d give out in a gift basket. I’d hand it to friends, especially my male friends

Wow. This is proof that you don’t need a lot of pages to sell a story. Daley’s novelette BestGhost entertains, grabs hold, and spooks you out! It’s definitely an homage to classic ghost stories and feels like something you’d tell over a campfire. The story follows two boys, Sean and Devon, who are filming content for their podcast/YouTube channel titled BestGhost. In their little town with its eerie cemetery, they decide to visit the haunted mayor’s mansion—known all throughout town as the place where the mayor, his wife, and their six children all died one tragic evening. There are rumors that the mayor was responsible, but no one really knows for sure.

As Sean (the believer) and Devon (the skeptic) hunt for the paranormal, they start to gather more and more evidence that makes them question everything. From flickering lights, weird noises, and strange audio, the tension slowly builds, and we feel the presence of something darker over the course of the two nights they spend in the mansion. Because this is a short read, I don’t want to spoil anything, but the balance between comedy and creep was perfect here.

What also stood out to me was how relatable the two boys felt. In such a short time, we’re able to easily get a sense of their friendship and see ourselves in both Sean and Devon. I really enjoyed the brevity of this read—it felt concise, with conversations that were to the point and contributed directly to the story’s end. Just know that BestGhost doesn’t end here. Do they live on to share their story, or do their experiences now become part of the haunted tale?

If you’re looking for a quick and spooky read, this is it. I’m glad I picked it up to kick off my spooky season. I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more.

Thanks to Netgalley & the author for this digital arc.