"Feels like quality time with a best girlfriend." Read the daring, candid and sometimes hilarious experience of race, relationships and contemporary womanhood in the debut novel that has critics buzzing and readers already asking for more from author Jayne Allen.Â
"Touching on issues of professional womanhood, race, and family, the author crafts a novel that is both timely and enjoyable." - Kirkus Reviews
"Allen writes in a sharp, lively voice that is full of warmth and humor." - Kirkus Reviews
"Allen crafts an engaging and evenly plotted story of a woman who, after learning that she has only a limited window in which to have children, evaluates her relationships and personal aspirations. Allen explores the themes of racial prejudice, infidelity, and family dynamics in this voice-driven work...readers will readily connect with her search for fulfillment on her journey of self-discovery." - The BookLife Prize (Publishers Weekly affiliate)Â
"What makes this book so different is the cultural perspective that you usually don't find in other books and weren't expecting in this one. It shows how family secrets shape the family dynamic, and how it plays a role in other aspects. The book has the ability to transport you to that story with those characters, it's beautiful and much needed with everything that is going on in the World." - NetGalley Reviewer (5-star review)Â
"Black girls must die exhausted" is something that 33-year-old Tabitha Walker has heard her grandmother say before. Of course, her grandmother (who happens to be white) was referring to the 1950's and what she observed in the nascent times of civil rights. With a coveted position as a local news reporter, a "paper-perfect" boyfriend, and a standing Saturday morning appointment with a reliable hairstylist, Tabitha never imagined how this phrase could apply to her as a black girl in contemporary times - that is, until everything changed.
Tabitha's journey brings into view the internal experience of race, relationships, and generational patterns, and how each contributed to this crossroads. She must leverage the power of laughter, love, and courageous self-care to bring a healing stronger than she ever imagined - before the phrase "black girls must die exhausted" takes on a new and unwanted meaning in her own life.
A well-written and realistic character-centered novel, with a skillfully-crafted balance of humor and drama. Perfect for readers wanting more of works similar to those of Terri McMillan, Trisha R. Thomas, Omar Tyree, E. Lynn Harris, and Kimberla Lawson Roby.
