3.5

first half was a lot more compelling and easier to read than the second, but still solid oveall

Brown Girls

Thanks to Netgalley and 4th Estate for the ARC.

It’s beautifully written, and tells the stories of several women of colour. It’s primarily set in New York, and depicts their lives as they grow up together from school, through adolescence and into childhood.

It weaves in several topics, including school, finding your career path, family, race, heritage, student life, first loves, building their identities, dating, loss, navigating the world, the pandemic, and much more.

As a woman of Nigerian heritage, despite growing up in the UK I found it hugely relatable and loved reading it. One of the best books I’ve read in ages - it reminded me a little of Girl, Woman, Other.

I finished this book in one sitting.

This js one of the most captivating nods to girlhood, which I have read in a while. This was a love letter to her female friends, girls and women she has met and cherished during her girl to womanhood, growing up in the US.

Reading the story, I can also see how a small group of friends explored and navigated new experiences. It was also a period which they all hurt and built their resilience. Some of them may have had strong supporters in their corner, others may not have.

I became teary as I read the familiar narrative of society and some of its powerful actors threaten girlhood. Some of them (and us) succumb to its narrative of respectability and acceptability.

The themes of intergenerational assimulation, teachings from women in their lives landed heavily with me. I can see it has been woven into the fabrics of the characters identities.

This is a gem of a book.
This is a love story for all women in our lives.

First book or not, this work is tremendous. Clear, unflinching, and stylistically lovely. Andreades' ability to put voice to her generation reminds me of Sally Rooney and with much more depth around race and gender. I can't wait for her next book.

Tore through this in very short order, propulsive prose bringing to life an unusual blend of narrative perspectives and immersive, intense plot trajectory that's funny, frank and never not confrontational. Lovely to be so utterly enthused by not only the story but by every aspect of how it comes to be told.