Black girls must have it all A novel

In the final installment of Allen's Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series, Tabitha Walker embarks on a journey of motherhood, friendship, and self-confidence. It's been three weeks since Tabitha welcomed little Tabitha Evelyn Walker Brown into the world, and motherhood is fixing to be her most daunting job yet. She's spent the better part of a month cleaning up diaper blowouts and soaking in precious moments with Evie while on maternity leave from her weekend anchor gig at Los Angeles' KVTV news station. Tabby left the station in a bit of uproar after conducting an unsanctioned live segment, and she's worried that her job may be on the line. That's not the only thing worrying her: Three weeks have passed since she refused a marriage proposal from Evie's father, Marc Brown. Tabby knows he wants to provide for her and their child, but she can't help having a few reservations about him. Even worse, Marc invited his judgmental mother to stay for a few weeks without consulting Tabby. Luckily, Tabitha's friends Alexis and Laila always have her back, although Laila's new business has made her go MIA lately. While Tabby is juggling a newborn, breastfeeding issues, one pushy mother-in-law, a BFF crisis, and a looming engagement, one more giant serving is heaped onto her plate: There's an opening at the news station for a prime-time slot. Tabitha begins to wonder if it's possible for her to really have it all or if she will crumble under the pressure. In the last book about Tabitha's journey, she's introduced to several stressors that would make anyone sweat, much less the mother of a newborn. Yet Tabitha is surrounded by positive reinforcement and remarkable women, both of which help make Allen's trilogy a must-read. It's refreshing to see Tabitha gain confidence over the course of the novel as she navigates being a mother, a friend, a daughter, and a career woman who's faced with life-changing decisions, and while it's not seamless, it sure is powerful. An inspiring finale about the strength of women and the bonds of sisterhood. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.