This book came to me via an ARC program.

The Premise

A young woman of African descent navigates love and family, in a world where violence and abuse are commonplace. Put out of her house when she becomes pregnant as a teenager, she struggles to survive by her wits and grit to provide a home and stability for her sons. As she jumps from one “dog” of a man to the next, we see her continue to make the same mistakes and face similar disappointments. She must learn to rise above and work on herself to build the future she wants to see.

The Pros & Cons

This was an engaging though difficult read at times. It is an epic saga that included so much — apart from the core theme of domestic violence, there was a heavy undercurrent of gay/lesbian issues. Set in the 1970s-1980s when AIDS was still referred to as “GRID” (Gay Related Immune Deficiency), she experiences the tragic loss of a friend to this disease, which also haunts her own relationship with her son who has “sissy” tendencies. She also has a complicated friendship with her lesbian friend Rexanne, who helps her after she is kicked out but wants more than friendship.

The role of fathers in the Black community is another key theme here, as Cheryl hopes for a stable home for her children. After Diallo, the father of her first child, leaves town, she soon becomes embroiled with the man who would eventually become her husband: Plez. Despite the warning signs we can all see a mile away, she falls in love with this man Plez, who abuses her physically and emotionally, over the entire course of their marriage. He commands the household, alienating her from her friends and family, and he is prone to violent outbursts, jealous rages, and emotional manipulation. The way he treats her leaves her questioning her own self-worth, and despite some of her questionable choices to enact revenge, she continues to fight her way through all of the darkness she faces.

The author builds characters very well, and I appreciated that everyone felt fully developed — from her parents’ volatile relationship to her blossoming flirtation with a coworker, each character feels like someone you know. The richness of dialogue infused with ebonics was really interesting — I loved how it made you feel like you were living every moment with the main character.

There were very few cons here, as this novel is exquisitely written. My general feeling, though, was that it felt quite long, and with the content so overwhelming I had to take a break from time to time! Nevertheless I can’t imagine what the author could’ve significantly cut, as every scene paints a perfect picture of Cheryl’s life. If anything, maybe her new love interest coming down to the end of the novel could have been a more minor role, as her own growth was more important to the central story. It was uplifting to see her triumph in the end beyond all the drama, and find peace with herself.

Conclusion

Overall, this was a great read that aptly reflects a reality all too common among young Black women: the desperation to find love, at whatever cost, results in repeating the cycle of abuse. From the poor role models for young black boys, to the sadistic learned behaviours of gender-based violence, these gritty realities showcase the fundamental issues among the “dogs” in society, as well as the women that tolerate far too much before reaching their breaking point. I think this is an important book, and I was glad to see that resources for domestic violence were provided at the end. I would recommend this book to other adult readers, and hope they gain some insight from it.

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