Sorry for this late positive review. Lived up to my expectations. A timely multi-generational novel with emotional impact. Top notch writing.

The Unsettled sat on my to-be-read shelf for quite a while as I sensed that I needed to be in the right head space to read it. I am glad I waited for a time when I could appreciate the heartbreak of this story and of these characters. I especially loved Toussaint's storyline. The book is thought provoking and definitely worth reading! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Unsettled is available now.

I really loved the 12 tribes of Hattie, so I was super excited about this new release,I was really looking forward to reading something with a similar feel to 12 tribes. I really enjoyed the writing and was hoping to get the same feel and vibe, but this one didn't really work for me. The writing was decent, but I found it to be sort of confusing, it felt very much like agenda pushing, just typical woke stuff that one would expect from books at this point in time. This was readable, and the writing was decent, but it felt like an author trying to emulate the author from 12 tribes. This wasn't awful, but if you come here to get another dose of 12 tribes, you will be disappointed.

The Unsettled written by Ayana Mathis

Ava and Toussaint, mother and son left homeless after HER terrible decisions. She turns her nose up at everyone who was trying to help her and other people in similar situations like she's better than everyone. She's just as poor, desperate but she makes shit decisions for her child. She could have stayed with her husband until she had a plan to leave him if she wished. He even came and asked to take care of Toussaint for her while she got back on her feet and she physically attacked him for no damn reason???! Doesn't allow her son to go to school, follows a toxic con artist/wanna be cult leader, starves her child, refused to get a normal job...

I loved Toussaint and he was the only normal person in the story (besides the lady that ran the homeless shelter who seemed to have good intentions and the few kids Toussaint hung out with). I was rooting for him.

Just wish we knew why he was in and out of foster care. Things were more clear at the end of the novel.. Like coming out of a fog.

I had high hopes for this book and the premise was great but instead of a mother taking care of her child, she neglected badly him but thought she was above everyone. She's just as seedy as the con artist she slept with. I didn't really understand the final point of the novel. But I hope Toussaint makes it. He's smart, insightful, thoughtful and so sweet.

It took me awhile to do this review because I really had to sit with my thoughts after reading this. I don’t know where to begin but I can say the author picked the perfect title for the book because I was definitely left unsettled and confused.

The novel is told in three alternating perspectives between Ava, Dutchess, and Toussaint taking us deeper into each of their lives. Through each viewpoint we see them experience hardship, heartbreak, loss, failure, grief, and pain. It was unsettling to see how things continued to get worse for these characters before anything got better. By the end of the book I found myself only sympathizing with Toussaint. Nobody knows the true pain one has experienced until their story is told.

Mathis explores the consequences of irrational decisions, the depths of poor parenting passed from generation to generation, the dangers of co-dependency, and how our actions can have an everlasting impact on our life and those around us.

The authors vivid details really helped paint a clear picture of what was happening throughout the book. I did feel some things were out of place and didn’t really make sense. But nothing about the book was predictable I could really feel the authenticity and realism throughout. The emotions and dialogue was depicted in a way that made this all seem too real. Which I think added a lot of richness and depth to the characters.

I didn’t agree with half the things Ava did and felt she was doing to Toussiant exactly what her mother had done to her. Basically creating this never ending cycle of trauma. Can’t say which situation was worse for Ava living in the shelter or dealing with Cass and the mass amount of BS that came with him.

Overall, this was an okay book but I think the structure makes it hard to get through. I was also left with a lot of unanswered questions and felt the book ended so abruptly. Special thanks to the author and @aaknopf for my gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Wonderful characters with depth and substance. I felt every emotion. Rich with historical details relevant to the time period. I was immediately drawn in and held captive from beginning to end. Simply a GREAT read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Unsettled is a hard book book to read. It follows the journey of a mother, Ava, and her son, Toussaint as they try to navigate homelessness, poverty, bad luck and even worse decisions. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to a 13 year old Touissant trying to make his way to his grandmothers home in Alabama. His mother is in prison, who is his father and why is trying to make his way from Philadelphia to Alabama. As we read his story and answer the above questions, the author does a great job of describing events in Philadelphia in the mid 80's and what it was like to be black, poor and a single mother. A heartbreaking read!

This book is unsettling... but in a good way.
The depth of the characters and trying to figure out what happened to them, I was hooked. I felt for them and with them.

Very thought provoking and a story that will stay with you. A slow burn and very unsettling.
Many thanks to Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a very interesting book because there was a lot of history involved and this woman kind of Find It Was part of this and it was part of the story it was pretty interesting. Ava was a very ambitious black woman. But a lot of things did not go her way. Duchess was her mother and she lived in the rural self in bonaparte alabama. Her mother was a singer and she would go on these circuits and she will bring avid with her. Then she married a man and then settled down. But it was not a very happy life for her. Because there was a lot of problems in this town, especially with the cemetery and the plantations. The white people were trying to take the land back to land grabs and people were really trying to hold on what they had. Her stepfather died and her mother just kind of lost it. So she was pretty mount basically on her own. She went up North to Philadelphia. Where she met a man in the black panther party who was a doctor. They fell in love but she became pregnant and the man seems to disappear. She ended up marrying another man and moved to New Jersey. But this was not a really good relationship for was based on fear and domestic violence. She was very unhappy, but this other man came back. And this is when the other man lost it. She fled back to Philadelphia and was standing in a shelter. But this was not going very well as well. Because she was very protective of her son.. This other man came back in terror for life. And this became a really crazy journey. And he became very Abusive to her. The sun seemed to drift along, but he was not really being helped in his life. The ending kind of ties at all together and you can see where things can happen when you do not have structure in your life. The system relieved to not help Ava at all. Because it was too rigid and she was a free spirit. The book title unsettled really says it all.

This was my first book to read by this author but it won't be my last! This was a beautifully written novel that evokes so many emotions and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Don't miss out on this one!

I was really excited to read a second book by this author after reading her previous work; The Twelve Tribes of Hattie earlier this year. Needless to sat this book did not disappoint. Things I really enjoyed about this book are the author’s ability to draw the reader in and fall in love with the characters. In this case my favorite was Toussaint, I really wanted the best for him. Nothing get’s to my heart faster than family sagas and trauma and this book had it all. The relationship between Ava and Dutchess was relatable to the time period. Without giving the story away there is redemption for all in the end. I wanted more of Toussaint and his final thoughts thus 4 stars. This book was worth the wait .

Thank you, to the publisher, for this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion! The story touches on familial love, racism, misogyny. This is a multigenerational novel, focused on Ava Carson and her son as they look to escape their circumstances and fight for a better life. This book was an interesting read and definitely left a mark on me. I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy reading Historical Fiction novels.

This book did not work well for me which is very unfortunate since I was so excited for it. I loved the begining of the book as it captured poverty and the pain and desperation perfectly. But I found the main chatacter Ava insufferable and I hated the chouces taht she made. Which made me feel bad for her son because he was being dragged down. The pacing was also a struggle for me because it all felt so disconnected. I do recommend this for anyone who likes literary fiction with these topics.

Thank you ro Netgallet and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

THE UNSETTLED
by Ayana Mathis

Published by Knopf (September 26, 2023)
Hardcover $23.57
Kindle $14.99

Reviewed by Ashley Riggleson

In Ayana Mathis’ new novel, The Unsettled, the reader should never assume anything because this novel goes in some very unexpected directions.

The Unsettled tells the story of a mother and son, Ava and Toussaint, who are living in a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. Ava is fleeing from domestic violence and struggling with some mental health issues. From the outset, Ava attempts to put her life back together, but she is not very successful. Toussaint, in a state of constant instability, unsurprisingly, fails to thrive in these conditions, and he comforts himself by recalling the tales Ava has told him of his grandmother, who lives in an all-Black community in Alabama. Toussaint wants to go there more than anything, but these plans are dashed when Ava unexpectedly reconnects with an old flame, a charismatic man called Cass (Toussaint’s father), who she finds ministering to the homeless.

Instead of going to Alabama (as Ava had finally agreed to do, despite her rocky relationship with her mother), she, Cass, Toussaint, and others move into a house together where Cass has started a commune of sorts. A doctor who has been stripped of his license to practice medicine, Cass hopes to start a free clinic while getting more people to join the cause. In many ways, things at first seem to go better than expected. But the rules and regulations that Cass has put in place begin to sow discontent, and after the police raid their home, Ava begins to have doubts. Cass also becomes increasingly paranoid. What begins as a means to do good morphs into something else entirely.

Meanwhile in Alabama, Ava’s mother, Duchess, fears the loss of her land and community. Readers meet her as a lonely and eccentric woman, who is still reeling from her husband’s murder many years ago, and although Duchess is far from perfect, it is clear she still loves Ava despite their flawed relationship. In these chapters, readers learn about Ava’s back story and begin to see how trauma in Ava’s childhood influences some key decisions later in the novel.

The Unsettled is about homelessness, manipulation, and mother/child relationships, just to name a few, but this novel is, above all, about Ava’s internal conflict. As time passes, things within the commune become ever more sinister, and although Ava has doubts, her love for Cass prevents her from acting on them. She is not, however, blind to the fact that Toussaint is not doing well in this situation, and in the end, Ava must choose between the man she loves and her son.

This fascinating novel is sure to entice many readers. Mathis’ compelling plot and well-rounded characters will keep them turning pages. In the end, The Unsettled is also more poignant than I expected. This novel struck an emotional chord which, to me, means that the author has done her job. I was invested until the last page.

This review was originally printed in FXBG Advance in Fredericksburg, VA.

Ashley Riggleson is a freelance book reviewer from Rappahannock County. When she is not reading or writing book reviews, she can usually be found playing with her pets, listening to podcasts, or watching television with friends and family.

This is not a book that you can like or dislike because the subject matter is tough. Ava and her young son, Toussaint, are forced to live in a homeless shelter in 1980's Philadelphia, after her husband puts them out after a visit from her ex-lover. Ava's ability to care for herself and her son was hampered by the fact that her husband had been the sole provider, and everything was in his name.

The title is appropriate as the characters and the reader are left unsettled by this story. Ayana Mathis provides the reader with a glimpse into the fractured minds of both Ava and her mother, Dutchess. Both women are longing for something that they can't have (nor, does it seem, that they can identify).

There are plenty of topics/themes for a book discussion group, although the book group will have to be dedicated to getting through the story. There's a lot to unpack.

This was a tough, but necessary, read! Mathis handled a sensitive topic with such care...it reminded me of the fictional version of my reading experience with Invisible Child. Just the conditions that poor people always find themselves in - how there's so little dignity when they're down and could simply use a little care and compassion. This book makes you uncomfortable, and you have to be ok with that!

What a powerful story! This was not an easy read, but I was glued to the pages praying for some kind of miracle for Ava and Toussaint. The message in the story is meaningful, yet will not be appreciated by all. I would recommend this book for readers who are willing to put up with damaged characters and reality rather than a satisfyingly happy ending.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis is a dramatic, tragic tale, depicting people with difficult circumstances and hard beginnings, making great efforts to better their lives. Great struggles and strong characters! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I read this book in a day and I never looked back! The twist and the plot were pretty easy to identify but the different POV's kept me intrigued to see how everything was going to unfold. A couple of the characters were so unlikable that it made it hard to feel bad or connect with them in any way. I do wish that the ending would've given a little more, I wanted to know how the characters dealt with the aftermath.


*I received a copy of this eARC via NetGalley*