Some Other Now...So Wonderful, So Emotional!

 Trigger Warnings: Death and Depression

Sarah Everett has written a beautiful YA that looks at grief, dying, and love as it pertains to the past, present, and future of a tight-knit "family".  And yes, the quotations marks are purposeful. 

Summary of the book:

"Before she kissed one of the Cohen boys, seventeen-year-old Jessi Rumfield knew what it was like to have a family—even if, technically, that family didn’t belong to her. She’d spent her childhood in the house next door, challenging Rowan Cohen to tennis matches while his older brother, Luke, studied in the background and Mel watched over the three like the mother Jessi always wished she had. But then everything changed.

It’s been almost a year since Jessi last visited the Cohen house. Rowan is gone. Mel is sick and Luke hates Jessi for the role she played in breaking his family apart. Now Jessi spends her days at a dead-end summer job burying memories of her life in the Cohen house. But when Luke comes home from college, it's hard to ignore the past. And when he asks Jessi to pretend to be his girlfriend for the final months of Mel’s life, Jessi finds herself drawn back into the world of the Cohens. Everything’s changed, but Jessi can’t help wanting to go back, even if it means breaking her heart and losing them forever this time."

Book Fam, your girl is not a punk, but this book...this book right here had me all up in my feelings. Grief is such a complex emotion.  We grieve over the loss of many things, not just a loved one who has passed on.  We grieve missed opportunities, past mistakes, and heartbreak.  

I really enjoyed the characters in this book.  They were complex and it showed how each person responds to grief.  I love the relationship of Jessi with the Cohens.  We have a saying in my family, "Blood does not make a family."  Some of my siblings are adopted and I have a slew of play cousins.  You find your family wherever your heart is welcomed unconditionally.  Ms. Everett's use of alternating the timelines between the past and the present was very effective.  You could feel the tension building and man it was a roller coaster ride.

Simply put, this book is beautiful...hard on the emotions, but beautiful.  Grab your Kleenex and settle into this fabulous read.

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Some Other Now by Sarah Everett goes on sale February 23, 2021.  Buy your copy at your local Independent Bookstore or at Bookshop.org.

Daughters of Jubilation

Daughters of Jubilation is a magical story. It is a story of first love, letting go, and taking back what belongs to you. Set in the Jim Crow South, white supremacy reigns, and tensions are high. But Evalene Deschamps (Evvie) has other things to worry about. She has two little sisters to look after, an overworked single mother, and a longtime crush who is finally making a move.

On top of all that, Evvie’s magic abilities are growing stronger by the day. Her family calls it Jubilation - a gift passed down from generations of black women since the time of slavery. And as Evvie’s talents waken, something dark comes loose and threatens to resurface.  And when the demons of Evvie’s past finally shake free, she must embrace her mighty lineage, and summon the power that lies within her.

What a powerful and dynamic book!!  Ms. Corthron addresses very complex issues with a skilled hand. The main character Evalene wrestles with the expectations of her mother and her own wants and desires.  

Ms. Corthron does not shy away from the big topics. Throughout this story, she discusses sexual abuse,  teen sex, racism,  homophobia, and strained family relationships.  

DoJ was poignant and deep.  I wish there was more background on Evalene 's family but it was a very good story showing how a person must reconcile their past to embrace the future. 

Rating: 💖💖💖💖/5

Release date: October 13, 2020

Author Kara Lee Corthron