In "Pritty," Keith F. Miller Jr. delivers a compelling debut novel that masterfully intertwines the themes of love, loyalty, and danger against the backdrop of a gritty urban landscape. Miller takes readers on an unforgettable journey through the lives of two young boys caught in the crossfire of a sinister plot that threatens to engulf their world.

The story centers on Jay, a gentle soul in a tough, concrete jungle. His existence is often overshadowed by his older brother, the embodiment of traditional masculinity. But Jay's life takes an unexpected turn when Leroy, the enigmatic object of desire for many, begins to show a keen interest in him. Miller skillfully captures the vulnerability and excitement of budding young love, creating an authentic and heartwarming connection between Jay and Leroy.

Set against the sweltering backdrop of a Savannah summer, "Pritty" artfully weaves together the personal journey of its characters with larger societal issues. The murder of a young Black journalist and simmering tensions over territory cast a foreboding shadow over their neighborhood. As Jay and Leroy navigate the treacherous waters of love, they also find themselves entangled in the dangerous world of the Black Diamonds—a group committed to safeguarding their community.

Miller's storytelling is both evocative and suspenseful, making "Pritty" a page-turner that explores the complexities of family, trauma, and the weight of responsibility. The novel's narrative is underpinned by a sense of urgency, as Jay and Leroy race against time to unravel a web of secrets and danger that threatens to consume them.

While "Pritty" is an enthralling read, it does have moments where the pacing feels slightly uneven. Some readers may also find themselves yearning for even more depth in certain character relationships and subplots. Nonetheless, these minor shortcomings do not detract significantly from the overall impact of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This is my first ARC I have ever read + reviewed and I am so glad it was Pritty by Keith F. Miller Jr.! Thank you to HarperTeen and NetGalley for a digital copy of this ARC.

Pritty primarily follows two young black boys-Jay and Leroy-who live in a black neighborhood in Savannah. Jay is very insecure about himself as he's been bullied with homophobic and colorist comments. In Jay's eyes, he will never measure up to his brother, Jacob, or boys like Princeton and Leroy; boys who everyone likes because of their confidence, athleticism, and lighter skin. After the murder of a young black journalist, Faa, territory tensions start to heat up. It is placing Jay and Leroy's life at risk, and so Leroy leaves, not willing to put Jay in harms way. It turns out that both of their families are involved. They begin to work with the Black Diamonds, a group whose mission is to protect the black neighborhoods of Savannah, to uncover who is trying to take them and their home.

This has to be my favorite book of 2023 so far, if not the whole year. The main thing I really enjoyed was Miller's beautiful portrayal and description of black life: food and families; elderly and youth; queerness and masculinity. This felt really important to me as a queer, black young adult. The representation didn't feel forced, and it wasn't the conflict either; it was simply the character's lived experience, some of which I could relate and some not. Either way, it felt real and genuine, so I really appreciated how immersive that made the reading experience.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story follows Jay and Leroy. The pair relationship with each other and their families are most of what’s told in the story. Jay had to figure out how to deal with his feelings for not only Leroy but for Will too. Leroy was laser focused on his academics and the Black Diamonds. I did find that I was being to what was going on vs me knowing what’s going on from reading. That would be my only critique because I prefer to find out by reading vs you tell me everything. Overall this was a good read.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperTeen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

As a Black queer man raised in the hood during this era, this book was so refreshing. It had me dreaming of what life would look like if being LGBTQ+ was widely accepted in my community. I throughly enjoyed this journey but was also heartbroken throughout it. I did have some issues with timing and how quickly these teenagers fell so hard so quickly for each other. I would have love to see more scenes of them getting to know each other to substantiate why they were so head over heels for each other, especially when they had other love interests.

Priity is a captivating exploration of love in the midst of adversity. It's refreshing to see Black boys in love take center stage, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the diversity of relationships. The author skillfully weaves a tale that goes beyond the romantic narrative, delving into the harsh realities of gang wars and the deliberate keeping down of Black people and neighborhoods. Jay's journey of self-discovery and acceptance is both poignant and relatable, while Leroy's commitment to protecting his community adds a layer of social consciousness to the story. The suspenseful backdrop of whispered rumors and territorial tensions keeps the reader engaged, making Priity more than just a love story. The author's ability to address complex issues within the context of a romance novel is commendable. Priity is a powerful testament to the resilience of love in the face of external challenges.

In a world that is trying to erase Black Queer representation, this book was a shining star for everyone to see. It's Gen Z's Moonlight. I love the short this is based on and the book took it a step further. I hope this becomes a must read for many youth.

I must have missed the memo of when books started dropping us into the middle of the story with no background and no nothing else going on. And then at the end we’re just taken right out of the story and that’s supposed to be it. If I had known about it, I would have said can we not lol But even still, this was a good story once I got deeper into the story.

Ok so the beginning starts with him getting into a fight with someone. And it’s like right away and super sudden. I felt like threw into the story and was a little weirded out. I didn’t know any characters, who he could trust, if anyone, and I just felt lost. Add on to the fact that this is a multiple POV book and I was hella confused.

The plot took a while to get into too. It was mostly about the characters and their families at first. When the stuff finally started happening, I wanna say I was like 40% into the audiobook. The good thing was, I was listening to it, so I didn’t mind it. I was listening to it on 2.1X’s the speed, so it was fine. But also, all the things we found out about the characters families and their friends were so real and I was hella into it anyway. But then once the story started molding, it all clicked together. The family is what the main focus of the plot actually is. The book is showing how much they are a community and how they stick together and how they were going to take care of their own. I just wish that something more along those lines told us that information from the beginning. It was a lot of telling versus showing if that makes sense.

I did like the main characters tho. they all had different voices. It was easy to tell who was who. It was also interesting to be in the heads of all three boys in a love triangle too. I found that I didn’t mind that it was a love triangle because of that. I think this was the first book I’ve ever read where we get all three POVs. And I felt really bad because one of them was really heartbroken that he wanted to be with one of them but didn’t think he could protect them. To be honest I couldn’t really figure out who’s “team” I was on lol

I feel like I say this with every book that I like, but the emotion in this was top tier. I had times when I was really happy, I was sad and crying (yes real tears), and then times when I was swooning. They all felt so real. Real enough for me to wonder if these were based off real people lol Like that whole walking back from the pool scene? It made me feel so nostalgic to back in the day from where I’m from. Took me back to the good ol days. I know when the teens get their hands on this they’ll definitely relate to these characters.

Then we got to the ending. It was just as weird as the beginning. We’re given all this information, and there’s the huge as event….. And then its over. I know its a set up for the next book, but damn it, couldn’t they have given us a more clear ending?! I hate when we’re just dropped out of the scene like this. We could have even been given an epilogue or something. Maybe showing the dude that left? I won’t use his name for spoilers, but you’ll understand when you read it. Or even one of the moms? Idk I just hated that it was this thing happened. We have these revelations. THE END. It’s so annoying lol

I really should learn to read the synopsis of books before I read them. But this time I was drawn in by the cover. But the writing style, the characters, and the emotion in the book were really what made me stay. I loved this and you can bet I’ll be hanging on and waiting for the next one!

I really enjoyed this! What I expected to be a queer summertime coming of age with romance soon became an engrossing mystery. Set in sultry Savannah, Georgia, Pritty focuses on the lives and relationships of Jay and Leroy. Jay is concerned with keeping perfect grades and good behavior in order to please his mom and his older brother, Jacob. He struggles with being queer and tries to keep to himself and avoid trouble. But when trouble finds him, it's smooth and confident Leroy who saves him. Leroy has been crushing on Jay for the longest but has difficulty expressing his feelings. As the two grow closer, forces at work in their community tear them apart, and Leroy is plunged into a dangerous world of rivalries and secrets. I loved spending time with these characters and coming to know their friends, family, and community. There's a host of hidden ties, fraught relationships, and scheming to keep you guessing. There's joy, pain, reunions, heartbreak, new friends and old rivals. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next!

Absolutely wonderful! I am so, so happy to see an increase in books about Black queer people. I plan on promoting this throughout my library system -- this book is going to change so many lives. Keith F. Miller is a visionary and I look forward to reading what he writes next.

This book is absolutely stunning.

I wouldn't say that PRITTY is particularly experimental in terms of structure and so on, but the language Miller uses is miles ahead of 'commercial prose.' I read a lot of YA, and so many authors in the genre are focused on conveying information in a direct way rather than on exploring the language they're using to communicate said action. PRITTY does both. Not only are the characters' narration styles quite different (Leroy's POV is much heavier on use of AAVE), but the way each of them frames emotional expression, masculinity, attraction, loneliness... I loved it. Their relationships with themselves and with each other is beautiful. The characterizations of even minor side characters is specific and deep, and I cried over the trans rep that I wasn't expecting. There's so much joy and weight in this book, and they're balanced so well.

There were a couple of times where I had to go back and reread specific passages to figure out what was happening (there's one scene in a parking lot that I'm still can't quite visualize), but for the most part even those scenes were described in a rushed way because that's what the characters are experiencing. E.g. they're confused, so they can't fully explain what's happening to them in the moment. See, even the one bit of criticism I can scrape together is barely a critique at all.

Tl;dr, PRITTY is one of my favorite books of this year, and I can't wait to read more from Keith F. Miller, Jr. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me access this book as an ARC. My review and my enthusiasm are my own and are being left voluntarily.

A raw and emotional read—two adjectives that do get overused in book reviews, but they definitely apply here. Initially I thought the ending was a bit abrupt until I remembered that there's a sequel planned as part of the publication deal. I'd read the sequel!

I loved how realistic the characters and scenes were ; at times my attention was lost , as other reviews have stated it was the pacing of the story. Although I’m not a fan of audiobooks I would attempt this book again in that format.

The authors note was very lovely and you can tell the emotion that went into writing this story.

Thank you Keith F. Miller Jr. and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this incredible debut!
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The characters MAKE this book, and they are incredibly complex and dynamic. The reader follows Jay and Leroy as they navigate and grow into their various identities—their sexual identities, what it means to be a Black man, their friendships, and their roles within their families and larger community. I know these two boys will stay with me for a long, long time.
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Miller is a masterful storyteller. I absolutely love how his use of language brought to life the sense of family, community, and culture throughout this entire story. While this book explores some BIG topics, it simultaneously radiates Black love and joy. I could feel the love seep off the pages. (As a white, cis woman, this book was a “window” for me so please take my perspective for what it is.)
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This book is a genre bender—there are elements of YA, romance, coming of age stories, and contemporary fiction. It almost felt like a thriller near the end for me—I could not put this one down because I just had to know how things were going to turn out. I was so happy to learn that there will be a sequel, and I cannot wait to read it!

Pritty by Keith F. Miller. Jr. was beautifully written, and I learned about the book because I saw a snippet of the upcoming animation of the same name. I like how the author shows how young black men can share their feelings and fears. However, I did get lost a couple of times and had to do a double take on stories from the characters. I do feel like I will recommend this book.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the advanced readers copy.

I truly wanted to love this book, but this one just wasn’t for me. Before I say something negative I rather don’t say anything at all, because I respect the author and his cause and strength to write an emotional book like this. The authors note was truly heartfelt and touching, I’m sure many readers will devour this and enjoy the journey with lee and jay.

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books and Keith F. Miller, Jr. for providing me with an eARC of Pritty for review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ - available 14 November 2023 🎉🎉🎉

This is a lovely read. It was engaging and interesting. I really enjoyed how Leroy was written and Jay was just so adorable.

For me I feel that it was almost of tale of two stories - the romance story and then the Black Diamonds story. Both of which are wonderfully done but I don't know if they blend really well. I think that maybe that is the point. That this innocent, young love romance can only exist in this background of violence for Jay and Leroy.

I didn't realise that this wasn't a standalone read so it will be great to get the sequel and get some answers ☺️.

I have been looking forward to get to Pritty since I was given the arc. The cover and synopsis called to me every time I saw them. This is definitely a story that should be able to take off and gain well deserved attention.

I think my biggest problem was I should’ve seen if I could get this on audio. The pacing and style of writing were things I struggled with reading and I think if I could’ve listened instead I wouldn’t have struggled as much. When the opportunity arises I will listen to the audiobook.

Overall, I think everything to make this story successful is there. The plot, characters and setting are all really interesting. There’s a lot of potential and I’m excited for others to get their hands on this book.

Starting this book it lost my attention because I am tired of similar books with this theme of thugs and violence even if it is a reality. However the bond between the characters and family issues etc...started to grab my interest. I loved how they had their "own" personalities. This was worth the read and I will be purchasing it to re read later.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book! My review will appear on episode 34 of my podcast which drops on Monday, November 13. It will also be posted to my website, Instagram and Goodreads that same week.

Review:

As a gay man, I've experienced plenty of rejection and bullying in my life, as most gay men have. Still, as a white man, I have a privilege that people of color will never have, so to read a story about gay young men is one thing, but to read a story of gay young men of color and their experiences is something completely different. I love that these stories are being told.

The book is told in the alternating voices of Jay and Leroy - two young Black men from Savannah. Jay is on the softer side and always has been. His older brother is everything a man should be - tough, resilient, and charismatic - all things that Jay is not. When Jay learns that Leroy has been looking for him, he is certain it's because Leroy wants to beat him up. Imagine his surprise when he finds out Leroy actually has a crush on Jay (and has for a while).

With this newfound attention, Jay's summer before his senior year begins to look a lot different than it did, but it doesn't come without drama and an underlying sense of unease. When a young Black journalist is murdered, Jay and Leroy find themselves in the middle of something that could very easily put both their lives in danger.

One of the things that really stood out for me was the distinct voices of Jay and Leroy. The author captured both perfectly. Often, when you read a book that is told from dual points of view, the character's voices rarely differ enough that you immediately know which character you're living with at the moment. That was not the case here. I love it when an author can pull this off. Adam Silvera is another author who I feel manages to do this really well.

The relationship between Jay and Leroy was beautifully developed. It felt authentic and genuine, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning. Their connection was electric, and I appreciated how their bond was portrayed as something precious and worth fighting for.

The way Leroy is willing to risk everything to protect his loved ones, including Jay, was genuinely heartwarming. It added depth to the story and made their connection even more powerful. The author did a fantastic job of portraying the complexities of family dynamics and how they can influence our choices and actions. I also loved the relationships both young men had with their families. I love seeing tight familial bonds - especially in young adult literature.

While the character development of Jay and Leroy was exceptional, I would have liked to see more exploration of some of the other characters in the book. With such a large and dynamic cast, I felt that some of the side characters deserved more attention and development. However, this did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story.

The plot was well-paced and kept me engaged throughout. The author skillfully weaved together elements of mystery, romance, and family drama to create a multifaceted and compelling narrative. The tension and danger surrounding the Black Diamonds added an exciting layer to the story.

The inclusion of the murder of a young Black journalist and the exploration of territory tensions added a thought-provoking element to the story. It shed light on the challenges faced by Black communities and the importance of unity and resilience in the face of adversity. The author handled these sensitive topics with care and provided a nuanced perspective that added depth to the overall narrative.

The writing style was engaging and kept me hooked from start to finish. The author effortlessly draws readers into Jay and Leroy's world. The dialogue was realistic, and the emotions felt genuine. The pacing was well-balanced, with moments of intense action and quieter, introspective scenes.

"Pritty" is a captivating and engrossing novel that delves into themes of love, family, and resilience. With its well-paced plot, authentic characters, and descriptive writing style, this book is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. Jay and Leroy are endearing protagonists who will capture your heart. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a powerful and emotional read that is outside your typical YA gay romance.