serena704's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
5/21/23. Editing my review to give my condolences to Tracy Brown's family and friends. I'm so sorry to hear she passed!
If you like crying uncontrollably this is the book for you!
One trauma after another. Just when you think things would get better..it just got WORSE.
Mercy should've moved in with that good man when she had the chance! She still could've been there for Dion...just a bit further away. I think that was a big mistake on her part. Her sister dying was traumatic to listen to. Lots of trigger warnings on that. Dion was a hot mess in his younger years and I woulda been said to hell with him if I was Mercy. You can only do but so much when you have your own child to raise. It's horrible what happened to Judah. He shouldn't have gotten that much time, he was trying to save his cousin. I hate how much he changed while locked up and that Mercy died and he had to go to the funeral in chains. Now let me read Judah cause dude you were in prison FOR YEARS. Yeah it's messed up Chanel and Dion got together but also you thought that woman was going to wait for you forever when you didn't even respond to her letters? Of course she took your silence as you no longer being interested and letting her go...DUH? I think he showed out way too much over Dion and Chanel hooking up. I hated the ending. The cousins should've remained close...that's what their mothers would've wanted. I need a part two Ms. Brown!
I meant to add that the narrator of the audiobook Patryce Williams did a wonderful job. It sounded like she was trying to hold it together while reading...that's how sad the story was!
If you like crying uncontrollably this is the book for you!
One trauma after another. Just when you think things would get better..it just got WORSE.
I meant to add that the narrator of the audiobook Patryce Williams did a wonderful job. It sounded like she was trying to hold it together while reading...that's how sad the story was!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Rape
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
mabonner's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Rape, Drug use, Violence, Grief, and Death
cleches's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Murder, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
d0505's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, Gun violence, Cursing, Death of parent, Violence, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Moderate: Terminal illness
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
mrsnwankwo57's review
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
Love the book. Definitely a page Turner. I love the family dynamic. Also there is a great lesson in the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Violence
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
blkbbyfem's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Super traumatic, limited relief. good writing and story telling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Rape
duckyreads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
In Hold You Down, Tracy Brown focuses on the story of Lenox and Mercy Howard, two sisters that depended on each other because of their absentee mother. The story opens with them as young mothers focusing on how they are going to survive and raise their two sons in New York City in the 1980s. Mercy is the more reserved sister of the two and mother to Judah, a sweet and smart young boy. Lenox is the fiery sister and mother to Deon, a boy that constantly looks for adventure. When an opportunity for Lenox to make more money and provide for their family, she chooses a path that will transform all of their lives. Hold You Down is a complex and well crafted story that focuses on family dynamics and how small choices have significant consequences. The characters felt very real, and there were many moments when I had to put the book down to catch myself. The characters make some decisions that seem horrible to the reader, but when placing yourself in their situations, it is easy to sympathize with them.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, Rape, Death of parent, Drug use, and Murder
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood and Suicidal thoughts
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