Review by Booklist Review
In this collection of interlinked shorts, the YA-author supergroup of Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Ashley Woodfolk, Angie Thomas, and Nicola Yoon takes the concept of a New York City--wide blackout and lights it up with six sweet, Black-teen summer romances. The conceit begins with "A Long Walk," Jackson's story of a recently split couple whose flame reignites over the course of an epic walk from Manhattan to Brooklyn. Crucially, this is broken up into five interstitial acts, anchoring readers and giving the book a solid through line. In between those segments, Stone's "Mask Off" explores the history of two young men whose long-simmering attraction comes to a head after they're trapped underground on a subway car; Woodfolk's "Made to Fit" sees two lesbians falling for each other while caring for retirement-home residents; Clayton's "All the Great Love Stories . . . and Dust" draws out the agonizing confession of love between two lifelong best friends; in "No Sleep 'til Brooklyn," Thomas' love triangle (turned quadrangle) becomes a journey toward self-love; and Yoon brings it home with a meet-cute between a girl and her "Ryde" driver. Rich with intersectional queer representation and light with banter, humor, and even philosophy, this beautiful collaboration hits different from your typical romance novel, ultimately evoking the warmth of greater connection, community, and belonging. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Each of these six powerhouse authors would draw a crowd on her own; together, watch out.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Young Black love glows throughout this collaboration by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, which follows six couples through a summer blackout in New York City. In a primary story arc, Tammi Wright is about to start her first day as the summer office assistant at the Apollo Theater's Harlem headquarters when she runs into ex-boyfriend Kareem Murphy, who, due to an admin- istrative error, is there for the same job. Just as they are about to find out who will receive the single opening, a blackout sweeps the city, causing chaos aboveground and under. As the two reluctantly walk together back to Bed-Stuy, where Kareem is set to DJ a party after dark, they navigate their history and their love for each other. Featured between each stage of their journey are connections--some gentle, some combative, all thrilling--that feature characters falling in or professing their love across the city's landmarks. As each teen makes their way home, this joyful collaboration brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives. Ages 13--up. Agents: (for Clayton) Molly Ker Hawn, the Bent Agency; (for Jackson) Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary; (for Stone) Mollie Glick, CAA; (for Thomas) the Bent Agency; (for Woodfolk) Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker; (for Yoon) Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--This collection of short stories by six acclaimed YA authors--Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon--explores what happens when teens experience a blackout during a heat wave in New York City. While all of the stories feature different characters and story lines, they are interwoven as the teens head to the same block party and are tangentially connected to characters from the other stories. Each of these love stories is unique and features romantic tropes that are well loved: the meet-cute, the enemies to lovers, the second chance romance, the friends to lovers, and more. The stories are a celebration of what it is like to fall in love and to find yourself in unexpected places. This collection is also a love letter to New York City, exploring not only well-recognized landmarks but also the life beat of the different neighborhoods. While the authors are well-known, the voices of the narrators for each story will also be familiar to audiobook fans as many are YA alums and include Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dion Graham, Imani Parks, Jordan Cobb, Shayna Small, A.J. Beckles, and Bahni Turpin. Having different narrators voice each story truly makes them feel like individual stories and makes each set of characters unique. All characters are Black, with some identifying as queer. VERDICT A must-buy for all audiobook and print collections and a great recommendation for fans of romance and realistic fiction.--Courtney Pentland
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Six stories of romance from six Black young adult authors set this collaborative novel apart, with the tales, all taking place during a (fictional) summer blackout affecting all of New York City, intertwining as the characters make their way toward a block party in Brooklyn. The stories center Black love in its many forms, with Black protagonists who are culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse and have varying sexualities. Topics include love at first sight in Woodfolk's "Made to Fit"; a chance meeting in a rideshare in Yoon's "Seymour and Grace"; a relationship autopsy in Jackson's "The Long Walk"; former friends reconnecting on a stuck subway train in Stone's "Mask Off"; best friends exploring the possibility of love in Clayton's "All the Great Love Stories...and Dust"; and lessons in self-love in Thomas's "No Sleep Til Brooklyn." A breezy, entertaining summer read, with each author taking advantage of the premise to write into the underserved space of Black young adult rom-com. Monique Harris September/October 2021 p.91(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Six authors collaborate to create an interwoven story set during a blackout. Unbearably hot temperatures in New York City cause a sudden blackout, simultaneously throwing plans into chaos and creating unexpected opportunities. Contributor Clayton, who is joined by YA superstars Jackson, Stone, Thomas, Woodfolk, and Yoon, was inspired by Covid-19 and the "metaphorical blackout" it has created for the world to initiate this project that embraces a wide spectrum of Blackness and sexuality. The characters' final destination is a block party in Brooklyn with Jackson's "The Long Walk," a story about reconnecting exes told in five acts, serving as the overarching mechanism to connect the narratives. Stone and Woodfolk contribute queer love stories in "Mask Off" and "Made To Fit" respectively. Thomas' "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn" begins as a love triangle, progresses to a love quadrangle--and in the end is about self-love and discovery. Clayton's story, "All the Great Love Stories…and Dust," is set in the New York Public Library's main branch and centers on best friends who may become something more. Yoon's piece completes the novel with strangers finding love in a ride-share car in "Seymour and Grace." Working together to deliver a fantastic mix of humor and romance, these authors offer something fun and lighthearted that is welcome during the continuing pandemic and that will bring joy long after it's over. A celebration of Black teen love and the magic of possibility. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
