July turned out to be a slower reading month. I got through two books—one to end a series, and another to start a series. This recap will take on a slightly different format than my earlier ones, but as usual it’s providing a little insight into books that may pique your interest.
Black Girls Must Have It All by Jayne Allen
Black Girls Must Have It All is the final novel of the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series that I started back in May. This series finale is largely about motherhood. It shares the experience of losing and simultaneously finding yourself when you become a mother…specifically a Black mother. I enjoyed the novel, but also realize it’s one that I’ll have to revisit in the future. As someone who is currently not a mother, I don’t think I received all that the book had to give. That is to say, reading this novel felt like listening to your favorite R&B song as a child—you don’t fully understand the words. Granted, that doesn’t stop you from singing your little heart out, but it’s not until you hear the song as an adult that you realize “Wait, those are the lyrics?” Or “Oh, that’s what that song is about?” Sometimes you just have to live a little more before you can really understand or appreciate something’s brilliance.
Nevertheless, there is so much wisdom in this book series. Here are some of my valuable reflection points from Black Girls Must Have it All:
- “A cry for help isn’t the same thing as asking.” Knowing when and how to ask for help is a true skill.
- We show so much enthusiasm when people in our lives get married and start families. Why don’t we show equal enthusiasm for other, life-altering moments and milestones like when someone starts a business, gets promoted or a new job, moves to a new apartment, or buys a home?
- Do you really know someone if you don’t know their family and upbringing? People will try to reinvent themselves or project false images of who they are, but in the rawest and truest version of ourselves, aren’t we just a product of our families, home, and childhood?
The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest
The Neighbor Favor is the first book in the Greene Sisters series. This book felt like a Hallmark movie—a little corny, a little cheesy, a little unrealistic, and altogether very predictable. I didn’t exactly enjoy it, but after getting to a certain point, I felt like I had to finish it. It’s unlikely that I’ll continue the series, but I was grateful for the couple of quotes and questions it made me consider:
- “…in order to be a moderately successful Black person, she had to be exceptional…. She simply wanted to be. That was already hard enough.” How much truth is in this statement? Also, if this statement were rephrased to apply to other races, what would those statements say?
- How different would we be if we were as compassionate to ourselves as we are to others?
If you’ve read any of these novels, or added them to you TBR (To Be Read) list, I’d love to hear it! Comment and share your thoughts below.
Rooted Reflections 
Leave a comment