I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
This is the story of Ava and her son, Touissant. It is about racism and misogyny. It is about how land is stolen away and how power is given and taken. It has a lot of cruelty and hate, but also how those with little to give still give what they have. I wish it had a different ending, but it is what it is.

This book unsettled me, and it was also a book I thought I would not finish. It turns out you have to get uncomfortable with this novel to get to the good stuff.

Ava and Toussaint get kicked out of the story by Ava's husband, which leads to the search for shelter. We are also introduced to Dutchess (Ava's mom), who lives in a town called Bonaparte. Because the depiction was so lush, I imagined this settlement to be nothing more than a sizable clearing in the middle of a forest. There's something eerie about this town and Ava and Tousy's situation. I couldn't put my finger on it, and I think that's the reason why I struggled in the middle of this book. I was trying to place pieces of the puzzle when everything had not been laid out for me yet. Proceed with caution when reading, as you may get confused too.

Onto Ava's situation or mindset: she is one of those individuals who feels I am too good for this homeless shelter but must stay because I have nowhere else to go. It infuriated me because, girl, please!! This type of behavior Ava exhibits trickles over onto her child, Toussaint. I am not entirely sure if this woman was so unsettled by life that she could not see the needs of her child, but he was constantly crying out for help throughout the entire book. It's interesting because at first I was invested in Ava, but when I started to hear Toussaint's thoughts, I immediately switched to him. Toussaint has a relentless need to belong. The reader may trace the progression of this theme as well as how identity, grief, and the importance of love are defined. These characters in this book are all unsettled in some way, shape, or form. They are struggling to find a place to call home.
As bad as I wanted Ava and Tousy to have a stable place to live. Having Cassius Wright (Ava's partner and Toussaint's father) in their lives was anything but that. It actually got worse, in my opinion, and I'm excited to hear what everyone thinks about him once he's introduced.
Ava and Toussaint move from place to place. Dutchess even reflects on how her younger years were traumatizing and unstable. Cassius Wright (Ava's partner) moves from place to place too. There is a constant weight on everyone's shoulders. There are so many things to unpack in this book, but this review is getting long. Please someone go request this book so we can ride an emotional rollercoaster together. I still have unanswered questions, and maybe I will get to participate in an author talk, and when more people I know read this book, I can ask them as well.

- Was that a cult in this book?
- Why were the scenes in the beginning so choppy?
- Does Toussaint get a book of his own?
- Does Ava have Stockholm Syndrome or another condition?
- How does Bonaparte play an important role in this story?

The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis

First thank you to you publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

From the moment Ava Carson and her ten-year-old son, Toussaint, arrive at the Glenn Avenue family shelter in Philadelphia 1985, Ava is already plotting a way out. She is repulsed by the shelter's squalid conditions: their cockroach-infested room, the barely edible food, and the shifty night security guard. She is determined to rescue her son from the perils and indignities of that place, and to save herself from the complicated past that led them there..

This was an interesting read. This story kind of reminds of a real life incident that occurred sometime in the 1980’s I believe, somewhere in the north east. Being a “POC” I found the parallel story lines very sad on all accounts. The points of view of Ava, her mother Duchess, and poor young Toussaint were gut wrenching for me and very relatable.

Ayana Mathis writes beautifully. She certainty paints a geographical picture, whether it be of a homeless shelter or a beautiful but dying place in Alabama. I was there with her every step of the way.

Thank you to Net Galley for providing an early copy of The Unsettled by Ayana Mathis

The title of Ayana Mathis's new book The Unsettled could not be more appropriate as the life of main character Ava is exactly that---she is attempting to raise her 11-year-old son, Toussant, in the settings of a women's shelter and later a type of commune. She loves her son but has difficulty seeing to his care and education.. Ava did plan to return to her mother, Dutchess, in Bonaparte, Alabama, but an unfortunate mix-up kept her from leaving Philadelphia.
Ava takes up with a man whose duplicity will lead to tragic results for Ava. Toussant, however, will be given a chance to become "settled" as he will be united with the grandmother he has never known.
Mathis's characters are deeply created and satisfying to the reader. The contrasts of mother/daughter, mother/son and man/woman add weight to the idea of "unsettled" lives.

Ayana Mathis does a great job in creating a great multi-generational novel, it worked well with my expectations and I enjoyed getting to read this. The characters were what I was hoping for and enjoyed how well they were written. It left me wanting to read more from the author as I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the amazing publisher for the ARC of this title! I am so grateful to be auto-approved for this title!
I look forward to reading and reviewing. More to come!

This was an interesting read regarding family trauma. It was heavy and contains triggers (abuse and violence). The characters were well developed. The plot was good but I did have to take a break from it due to the heaviness.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****