passionyoungwrites's review
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Now I know y’all had warnings floating around about this book being a heavy read but, I was still shocked. Part one was rough and part two was worse. Though, I did enjoy how this story showed so much at one time. It showed how influence, relationships, and hardships can shape your life - even by default.
It’s just crazy how you can want change, and the options are sometimes limited based on your surroundings and upbringings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Addiction and Death
destheesquire's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Addiction, Grief, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Sexual violence, Drug use, and Drug abuse
wherethewildreadsare's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Hold You Down was a deeply emotional book about the injustices that plague the Black community. This is centered around 1980/1990's, during the rise of Crack in black communities. Two sisters, Mercy and Lennox, live in one of the NYC burroughs each with their young sons. Lennox's choices of entering the Crack business set the family on a path of loss, violence, and pain. But there is deep love within the family. Hold You Down is an example of many stories of Black families impacted by drugs. Brown does a great job describing the elements of racism that Black individuals receive from police as well as the justice system.
I can honestly say that I didn't expect this to be as gripping or brutally honest as it was. So much tragedy. I wish I had looked into some TW to prepare for some of the heavy content.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for the honest review.
I can honestly say that I didn't expect this to be as gripping or brutally honest as it was. So much tragedy. I wish I had looked into some TW to prepare for some of the heavy content.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for the honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, Gun violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Addiction
torrie_reads's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Review
When I say this book made me cry, I mean it made me bawl. I had to stop reading because I couldn't see. Books make me tear up or feel sad. But very few books make me this emotional. And I think that speaks to Brown's ability to make us create a connection with her characters.
This family feels like it could be your family, so when bad things start happening to them it makes it even worse.
There were a couple of things I didn't like but they were completely personal things and it might not bother others. And I wouldn't want that to take away from the book as a whole. There was a specific story to tell here and Brown told it perfectly.
This is a book with a lot of parts but at its heart it is the story of generational trauma and the possible consequences of one person's actions. This is book heavy and graphic so please check warnings before reading if there are things that are hard for you to read.
But I am really looking forward to more discussions about this one.
When I say this book made me cry, I mean it made me bawl. I had to stop reading because I couldn't see. Books make me tear up or feel sad. But very few books make me this emotional. And I think that speaks to Brown's ability to make us create a connection with her characters.
This family feels like it could be your family, so when bad things start happening to them it makes it even worse.
There were a couple of things I didn't like but they were completely personal things and it might not bother others. And I wouldn't want that to take away from the book as a whole. There was a specific story to tell here and Brown told it perfectly.
This is a book with a lot of parts but at its heart it is the story of generational trauma and the possible consequences of one person's actions. This is book heavy and graphic so please check warnings before reading if there are things that are hard for you to read.
But I am really looking forward to more discussions about this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Violence, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction
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