This is my second book by the author, and I love it. I absolutely love her writing style and the important themes she covers. The first book I read was – Let me Hear a Rhyme , which I did review on this blog already. This one though, is something else. It is inspired by the R.Kelly News Report , I was pulled into the story right from the very first page and I’m absolutely mesmerized with her talents of forcing you to think about such sensitive topics in such a subtle way.
SYNOPSIS
Korey Fields is dead.
When Enchanted Jones wakes with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night, no one—the police and Korey’s fans included—has more questions than she does. All she really knows is that this isn’t how things are supposed to be. Korey was Enchanted’s ticket to stardom.
Before there was a dead body, Enchanted was an aspiring singer, struggling with her tight knit family’s recent move to the suburbs while trying to find her place as the lone Black girl in high school. But then legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots her at an audition. And suddenly her dream of being a professional singer takes flight.
Enchanted is dazzled by Korey’s luxurious life but soon her dream turns into a nightmare. Behind Korey’s charm and star power hides a dark side, one that wants to control her every move, with rage and consequences. Except now he’s dead and the police are at the door. Who killed Korey Fields?
All signs point to Enchanted.
THOUGHTS
Before I start with my thoughts in detail, I would like to put it out there that this book is not a fun, light hearted book. It’s intense, so be cautious of your mental health before picking this up especially if things like sexual assault, manipulation, drug addiction, rape, toxic relationships triggers you easily or it’s something you’ve been through your self as the scenes in here can get pretty graphic. The author in no way shies away from these topics and I understand that some of you may or may not find it overwhelming. Saying that, I would like to add in that this is a very important read for all and I really hope more people pick it up.
VICTIM BLAMING
One thing I absolutely loved about this book is how well the author has articulated how quick society resorts to victim blaming and shaming rather than listening to what they have to say. The perpetrator in this story is a popular personality and abuses his power and fame to manipulate and take advantage of not one but several underage girls. The victims who go through such brutal accounts of crime are constantly criticized and silenced which only favors the monster they help create. They constantly come up with excuses of how the victim is weaving lies for attention or how this would not happen if the victim was more careful or didn’t do what they did and it goes on until the little courage the victim had to stand up for their dignity is destroyed
“What a woman wears or doesn’t wear doesn’t give anyone the right to touch them. Well, you know he’s had a rough childhood. Abandoned by his mom, didn’t know his father, raised by his grandma who passed. We’ve all BEEN through a lot but that don’t give you no excuse to abuse girls.”
Tiffanu D.Jackson, Grown.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG
I have grown up listening to – ” You can’t clap with just one hand” or “it takes two to tango” which metaphorically means both parties involved in a situation or argument are equally responsible for it. This story addresses the problem in such situations where people are quick to look for the grey in a black and white situation. There is no excuse for being a pedophile or a child abuser. No excuse for violence of any form. The least we can hope for is for adults to know the difference between right and wrong. To give a platform to and support victims of such abuse and not silence them. For no matter which way you see it, we know better.
THE LIGHT MOMENTS
Even though this book was heavy on it’s message, the author doesn’t fail to add in some light moments with Enchanted being a Disney Movie fan and associating herself to be Ariel from The Little Mermaid, Also, there are so many songs mentioned in this book, I just had to stop and listen to each one of them . We need to get a playlist made for this!
RATING : 5.0/5.0
Overall, this book is a hard hitting contemporary novel with some thrill to keep you glued to your seat and your fingers to keep turning the pages. The pacing is a bit slow personally especially because I was too anxious and impatient to see how this ends. There is a lot going on in this book though, a murder , abuse, and some valuable insights on society. This is a masterpiece! It’s been a while I have been so obsessed with a book.
DETAILS
Pages : 384
Published On : September 15th 2020
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
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