This multigenerational, and multiracial novel transported me through three generations of black women starting from the 1950s through the 1990s. The novel’s storyline was easy to follow, Bennett would preface each transition of time, allowing for the reader to distinguish the year each story took place. I felt that she did a great job in keeping the characters within that time period (i.e.: their look, attitude, and sociality).

WOW! This novel was extremely entertaining! One twin, a battered single black mom, forced to return to her hometown for the safety of herself and her black daughter. The other twin lives disguised as a white woman, without her husband or daughter knowing. The twin’s daughters’, one black one white, one growing up in the south with racial prejudices; while the other, raised in California, living an entitled lifestyle. I found it particularly interesting to witness how differently the daughters’ lives were; not just because of their race, but also as a testament to their childhood. I enjoyed watching the characters change and evolve throughout the years.

I fell a little bit in love with each character, I thought that there were a well-rounded depiction and equal glimpse into each one of the characters’ lives. I was fascinated by Stella’s character! In the beginning, I thought her courageous and a bit crafty, to be able to reinvent herself as a white woman, marry a white man, and live in a white community without no one noticing. Then, I questioned my feelings when given the perfect opportunity to own up to her lies, Stella decided to stubbornly keep her past a secret. As a mother myself, I was disheartened to witness Stella’s daughter, Kennedy, struggle with her identity, and seeing as Stella wouldn’t help her but would rather bully, and berate her into becoming someone she did not want to be. I sympathized with Kennedy, although her character had that annoying air of white entitlement, she grew up believing a lie and living a life she didn’t understand.

Then there was Reese, a transgender male, fully accepting who he felt he was meant to be. It was interesting to read; because, like Stella, Reese also reinvented himself. There was something different between Reese’s “passing” and Stella’s. I think it was (to me), Reese fully accepted his transition from female to male while Stella’s “passing” was a mean of survival rather than an inner working of personal identity.

Bennett did a great job in keeping me attentive to the plot, I would get a little taste or foreshadowing of what was to come, but not quite uncovering the details.
This was a great read for me and I’m excited to read another of Bennett’s novels.