3.5 stars. I had high hopes for this book featuring multiple timelines. In the past, Becks and Townsend meet, marry, have kids and ultimately host coveted and curated summer parties. In the present, the couple’s now-adult granddaughter Keaton is abruptly out of a job, townhouse and relationship when her mother proposes she sell her grandparents’ abandoned home in North Carolina. As Keaton steps into the frozen-in-time home, she’s filled with questions about her grandparents and their mysterious death/departure decades ago. This is a story of family, finding oneself, enduring love, end of life issues, and more. I thought the story felt like a made-for-TV movie; it was fine but seemed to drag on. I listened to the audiobook via Libby.

Lovely book about honoring the memory of a loved one and how they stay with us. Noting the grandmother does fade and pass away within the story, and empathetic younger readers might find the storyline distressing.

His was too small so he went outside and he digged. I'm the garden with carrots and the rabbit came over and got mad cause he was digging up the carrots. And then he went into the forest and there squirrels and he was digging where there nuts. I liked the book.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: - I love thee for the celebration of Blackness and womanhood; for the joy, smiles and laughter despite the sorrow - I love thee for the variety of poems including new-to-me formats like an etheree, a pantoum and a tanka - I love thee for the gorgeous, bold and colorful illustrations by Ekua Holmes, for the physical book I found on the library’s shelf - I love thee for the Portland setting, which gave this Portland reader a feeling that my neighbor penned this - I love thee for the coming of age moments - I love thee for the powerful title poem - I love thee for the audiobook (listened to on Libby) narrated by the author poet with all the intended inflections and cadence - I love thee for the poem King and for this older brother’s love and goodness - I love thee for the sobering tributes to Renisha McBride and Breonna Taylor This is a fantastic book of poetry that is worth a read, a reread and a place on your bookshelf.

I read this book over 2 days. It is really good. The first part was a little difficult for me to read (and I considered returning the book), but the character development was so good that I kept reading. If you like long novels about (dysfunctional) families, this one is a big pick.

It’s a pretty good book that isn’t too long or too short.

I nice story with interesting characters and lots of twists

Very suspenseful, keeping me hooked with every word. Still waiting to find out what happens with Ella and Prince Charmont (Char). Will they marry, or will the curse tear them apart? Love this book!

It hade facts about sea creatures and it was mysterious.

Love It