2 STARS
All I ask of those who choose to read this review is to remember that little saying – “Opinions are like assholes, everybody has one.” This is my opinion. Some of y’all are going to go away thinking I’m an asshole. Maybe even a bitch. Fair warning.
I’m still calling this one a loss for me and I realized why. This series wasn’t written for a chick like me. There are so many books on Amazon Kindle Unlimited that I should have been reading. There was zero reason for me to waste my time on a book that I knew would stereotype African Americans.
I don’t care to do a very long review on this one but it will still be pretty messy. Just like me!
First let’s here with the author has to say. . .
Synopsis
Resisting an irresistible force wears you down and turns you out.
I know.
I’ve been doing it for years.
I may not have a musical gift of my own, but I’ve got a nose for talent and an eye for the extraordinary.
And Marlon James – Grip to his fans – is nothing short of extraordinary.
Years ago, we strung together a few magical nights, but I keep those memories in a locked drawer and I’ve thrown away the key.
All that’s left is friendship and work.
He’s on the verge of unimaginable fame, all his dreams poised to come true.
I manage his career, but I can’t seem to manage my heart.
It’s wild, reckless, disobedient.
And it remembers all the things I want to forget.
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I told y’all I didn’t really want to read this book, but I did after several of my reading peeps asked. I didn’t like the first book, so I made the decision to shake my hands of the series and call it a loss.
I am going to start by saying that the characters were written well. Both of the main characters had soul about them – I will give the writer that much. The story itself was kind of cute, excluding the times where black women were disrespected. The love between the MC came across very real and sweet.
There were a few touching moments between the two and that’s the ONLY thing that made me give this book 2 STARS.
As this book played up on soooooooooooo many African American stereotypes, you will find quite a few white American ones here in my review. I going to start with a Becky aka Bristol. Some of you may know what a Becky is and some may not. I’m not going to explain it to you because I don’t want to. So from here on out Bristol aka Bitch from Flow, will be referred to as Becky. I know the author gave you many terms that black Americans use but she left Becky out – no surprise there
Becky is the type of white girl African Americans often see hanging around black men. I don’t really care for Becky’s, they annoy me. I’d rather be around real white women than a Becky any day. Again – there is a huge difference between a Becky and white American women.
Who the fuck waits around for 8 years. Becky had zero dick for 8 years because she was so hung up on a dude who she shared a day or two with. Girl bye! Where were her friends at during this stupidity? I wanted to knock some sense into Becky. Her pussy wasn’t that golden where she couldn’t have a wee bit of fun with it. I mean shit, Grip was having plenty of fun with his dick during those 8 years. Idiot!
Maybe she was saving her secret golden pussy because she was so upset that what? Huh? I can’t hear you?
Oh, right. Grip was completely cliche when he got a young black woman pregnant? That must have been it. How can we not have a black men knocking up half of town? *Spoiler* The chick wasn’t even pregnant. Please excuse me while I jump off the cliche black men ferris wheel.
Just like in Flow, I hated how Grip felt the need to explain his blackness. I’m not explaining a damn thing. There are differences between black and white people so let’s not pretend like there isn’t. At the same time, don’t come looking at me for a history lesson because you sure as hell aren’t getting one. I didn’t even give one to my damn husband (He’s white. From Scotland. He had no true idea of what the African American was when we met.) He had to figure that shit out on his own. Granted he had more of a reason to as he loves me – this pretty little chocolate thang. LOL!!!!! Not to mention he has 2 black children and needed to understand the challenges that will face in life, especially his son.
Know and understand this much as said by Jesse Williams.
The burden of the brutalized is not to comfort the bystander. That’s not our job. All right, stop with all that. If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique of our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for black people, then do not make suggestions to those who do. Sit down.
Let me take a quick break for a Bullshit Alert. . .
“If I judge all officers by the actions of one, how is that any different than them profiling us?” – Grip
Here’s my problem with this. I have a black son. He may be light-skinned because he is mixed but the world will ALWAYS see him as black. I have taught my 12 year old black son how to act around police officers because I want him to come home at night. I don’t want to bury my black son because some officer got “scared” of him for whatever reason they see fit. I don’t want my black son to become a martyr, I want him with me, forever. Until one person can guarantee that my black son’s life is not in jeporday because of the color of his skin by police officers, I will judge them.
By judge them, I don’t mean hate them. When I say judge, I’m referring to being cautious because at any given time his life could be at jeopardy. I don’t hate cops and I don’t encourage others to do so. What I do know is that black people have a long history as to why to fear them.
Love me or hate me for it. But know this before you decide to do so. . .the first time one my friends were murdered by the police was when I was 14 years old. This cop killing shit ain’t new. Black people have been dealing with it for years. Now the shit is just caught on tape. Note how I said the first time, not the only time. I don’t want my son to end up the same way.
I don’t want my son’s face on a board like this one. Unarmed and murdered because of his skin color.
My heart hurt reading Flow and Grip because I felt the black culture was made into a circus show. The love story was there, that’s a fact. The entire book I felt like Grip deserved a better woman, regardless of her race. He deserved someone who didn’t just say words that sound good coming out of her mouth, but in her head was still as closed-minded and judgmental. Over and over and over again black stereotypes were introduced and then given a reason why black people do it. From drugs, to prostitution, to rapping, to prison. It was just too much.
The day I start explaining my blackness and culture to someone I’m fucking is the day I will be ashamed of myself.
I hope Becky and Grip have a bright and beautiful future in the next book but I think I’m giving up on their story.
At the end of the day, this book was not written for someone like me, with my mindset and history. I should have never read it.
I know I got real messy with this one so it’s time for me to get pretty again. I’m just going to sit here and sip my tea while I read the emails from people who don’t like my review.
TTYL, lovers. . .
