As always thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the privilege to read this book before it's published.

I enjoyed this book a lot.

It's definitely a 5 star read for me.

Seeing the slave trade through several different view points (especially from the slaves themselves) was refreshing.

The time traveling aspect was done really well.

Usually when a book has me in all the emotions I just want it to be over but I was left wanting more.

I'm also still suffering Bree and Luke (they would have been great) but I guess Emily already knew how that would have ended.

If you liked the unmaking of June Farrow this book os definitely for you.

It being diverse definitely adds to it.

This book pulled me in from the beginning. I'm a sucker for mysteries and suspense and Shawntelle Madison sets this up from the beginning. I read it online via a NetGalley ARC and could not be happier to have received this book. The book begins in 1964 with Cecily Bridge-Davis inheritying an unoccupied house. "My family has poisoned roots"...she begins. The fact that she has been warned to stay away but is driven to lear more about her family, makes us,, the readers want to know more about her family as well.

We later learn that there are people who disappear in the family and that the family is cursed. One member through the male line is doomed to travel back in time. Cecily is on the hunt to find out how to break the curse. I find that the plot moves at a good pace and that the time jumps in the book help keep things moving to the inevitable conclusion.

The narrative is captivating, and character development shines. I grew attached to the characters, wishing for more time with these newfound literary companions.

The Bridge family's thoughtfulness and resilience contribute significantly to the book's appeal. Perseverance emerges as a compelling theme.

The ending, though bittersweet, resonates with optimism, leaving me yearning for more encounters with these memorable characters.

I received an advance copy of this novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is an epic family saga intertwined with elements of time travel, masterfully spanning two centuries from the 1760s to the 1960s. One of the novel's most compelling aspects is its rich character development. Each member of the Bridge family that the reader follows is vividly brought to life, fostering a deep emotional connection with the reader. The clever blend of time travel with the family saga illuminates the unchanging nature of racial dynamics, showing that in some ways, life for Black people in the 1960s wasn’t at all so different from the 1760s (for a free Black family). It highlights a constant underlying fear, a reflection of the historical and current threats from slavers to police, underscoring an ongoing reality in America. Amidst its historical richness, the book remains anchored in the personal journey of the family, exploring the enduring connections across generations and the consistent nature of their challenges and victories. The narrative also delves into the contemplation of fate and individual impact, questioning whether history is destined to repeat itself or if personal actions can forge a different path.

The novel's ambitious scope, however, presents certain challenges. The frequent shifts in time periods, coupled with each character's nickname, can make the narrative somewhat difficult to follow. I found myself occasionally lost in the lineage and timeline, which required a bit more effort than expected to keep track of the unfolding story.

I highly recommend this novel to fans of historical fiction, family sagas, and time-travel narratives.

Expressing gratitude to Netgalley, Amistad, and Shawntelle Madison.

Cecily Bridge-Davis reveals a family curse, thrusting one member back in time each generation. Endeavoring to grasp and reverse it, she travels through time, connecting with ancestors and peeling back layers of fate. Despite a captivating premise, Madison's inaugural historical fantasy encounters challenges with the flow of its storyline and an abundance of characters. The measured pace necessitates focused attention, potentially finding greater ease in a physical copy for quick reference.

Despite my anticipation, I struggled to resonate with this book. As a dedicated fan of "The Time Traveler's Wife" and captivated by time travel concepts, my expectations were lofty. Regrettably, this narrative fell short. The unhurried pace and excessive exposition impeded my connection with the story.

Amazing! I love historical fiction but the time travel aspect adds a fantastic fantasy spin. It pulled me in and kept me reading. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well done, the sense of place was really well developed and a character in its own right, and the time travel aspect used really well. I think fans of historical fiction will really like this.

Time travel, historical fiction, romance…..What’s not to love? I happily rate this book 4.5 stars. I wish we could actually award half stars!

The deduction of half a star comes mainly from the need to continually look back to see where we were in time and who was narrating to us. I feel Iike this issue could potentially be lessened or even eliminated if I were reading a physical book rather than an e-book. It still may require some looking back, but it would definitely be easier then in an e-book format.

The novel is very engaging and the character development is wonderful. I would have loved to spend more time with the characters as I found them to become good friends of mine as I learned about them and their lives.

I appreciated the empowerment of women. It was not necessarily the focus of the book, but it didn’t fail to shine though. The understanding that Bree needed and deserved more than the environment provided for her was a light in the book to show that she was worth more than she would have been able to achieve in her current situation. It was acknowledged and then acted upon. Emily(Millie) and her education was another example.

The thoughtfulness and attentiveness of the Bridge family was an attractive part of the book. Perseverance and steadfastness proved to be a great theme.

The ending left me wanting more! Whilst it was bittersweet, along with many other parts of the book, it held a note of optimism. I’d love to meet the characters again!

This book is an ARC read and I am giving my review voluntarily.

This was a really good read. The fantasy involved in the historical fiction was an interesting twist. It was woven well together and kept me engaged. The author did an amazing job. The characters developed well and were endearing. It took me through several emotions. Some parts were heartbreaking. It is well worth the read. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC book.

Loved this book so much. The characters drew me in and the story was matched k my by the voice of this author. I couldn’t wait to open and read where and when these characters would take me next

While I’m not a historical fiction fan normally the fantasy element pulled me in. If one thing is gonna get me interested in something it’s time travel.

That being said even the time travel trope wasn’t enough to pull me in. It’s slow paced but also over complicated so you have to pay really close attention to tons of information and characters being dumped on you while the plot itself goes in slow motion.

But if slow paced, character centric, historical fiction with a time travel twist sounds like something you may like then give it a try.

An outstanding multigenerational read of a family cursed to fall through time. This is a story of love, the bonds of family, and the inevitably of fate. I loved the non-linear plot, time jumps, and really enjoyed how it all came together at the end. I highly enjoyed the Black history and bipoc characters and the complications it added for the family since most of the story took place in a time of slavery. Overall, it is a very compelling read. I felt it lacked in description and could have painted a better visual image. I wish it had some visual imagery, something to reference the timelines, too. I would have loved a visual of the family tree, the Bible that was referenced, or even some of the research notes that were talked about.

The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is a historical fiction fantasy novel that spans generations of Bridge family that is plagued with a curse through which one member of each family unit (through the male line) falls back in time. The story opens in 1964 with Cecily Bridge who inherits her father's family's farm and uncovers evidence of the curse and then is on a mission to figure things out before she too succumbs to the curse.

I originally wanted to read this book because I like history and I'm starting to enjoy historical fiction. This book having a fantasy spin also added to my interest levels because while I know the genre blend exists, I have not read many by black authors. Generally speaking, though the pacing is slow, the story is an enjoyable read because you get to learn about the various moments of Bridge history and real history, gaining small pieces of the puzzle that Cecily is trying to figure out. This book is better suited to a physical copy or in conjunction with a reading journal because there are a lot of dates (the story is not told linearly), and though the chapters are linked in the ebook, it is still a hassle to go back-and-forth when you want to get your bearings on the passage of time. Also, without the family tree available in the beginning, I was lost on how the characters were related because there were so many to remember and some who seemed to barely be mentioned, if at all. I personally would have liked an image of the record in the family bible that marked the Bridge family.

There were loose ends in this story that frustrated me to no end. I admit that they may have been explained or alluded to and I missed it. The ending itself left me a bit unsatisfied because I personally felt like the answers I was seeking weren't answered. However, I can also admit that this may also be done by design. Black people attempting to research their family history and piece together stories further back than 1 or 2 generations can be difficult and my frustration may mirror the frustration Cecily felt throughout her research (though she had some minor advantages of family members who kept their own records). Still, some things were never tied up and, as a reader, I wish they were. I did also find some areas where the logic of the curse did not make sense to me once some key findings were revealed.

The book's title and cover image also seem to allude to the bible story of Adam and Eve, which is supposed to be the story of mankind. The Bridges also kept pieces of their story (the records of family members) in a bible. The curse is also passed down through the male line just as sin was passed down through Adam. There were also some things that I think lend to this idea, but they'd be spoilers, so I won't put them here.

Overall, it was a decent read that I should probably read again at some point because I'm sure there are things I've missed.

Cicely Bridge-Davis is a history professor who begins a race against time to relieve her family of a curse that has quite literally fallen upon them. It is a captivating and thought provoking novel that explores the themes of family, love, and sacrifice. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in each of their journeys. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to award this book a 5-star rating, but I will hold off until I have the physical copy in my possession. It is truly deserving of a re-read, especially considering how the story jumps between timelines! I sincerely appreciated the time travel aspect of the book. Reading it in digital format made it challenging to keep up with the dates as we travel back and forth between time, so if that's your choice, pay attention! I am sure having the physical copy will make a much better experience with this book! That and the fact that it left me wanting more at the end is my only gripe!

a gorgeous time travel story with a very nice motif. i really enjoyed this book a lot, if you're into historical fantasy it was a great choice. thanks for the arc.

I received an early copy of this book via NetGalley. I requested this book when it came up under the keyword time travel. The time travel aspect of this story exists, but not in the way any typical time travel adventure or story tends to happen. If you are looking for a Back to the Future, Doctor Who, or even Bill & Ted style story - this is not your book.
If you'd like a story that crosses generations, explores family stories (curses) and traditions of people in the southern US, this may be more your speed. This is more of the "multi-generational epic" -time travel is present, but as a method to move through the family generations, and as a thread that haunts them all.
The book follows the Bridge family, plagued by a curse that sends a child born from the male line back in time. Randomly. There isn't a goal to the time travel, nor a reason as to why a male or female travels. Just that it happens. And then the traveler needs to do what they can to survive. Some of the people who travel make their journey as adults, though some as children. The preparation, the confusion, the legend that surrounds the curse is really interesting.
I was pulled in to the characters, each time period, and their connections to the family history. I enjoyed the book for what it was, but was disappointed that there was no goal or true reasoning for the time travel. The resolution of the story fell flat for me. I think, had I gone into this with different expectations, I may have appreciated it more. Good book, good story, just not for me.

"The Fallen Fruit" by Shawntelle Madison offers a captivating journey through fictional history as Cecily Bridge — Davis unravels her families darkest secrets on inherited land. White the story is a bit slow and the characters challenging to connect with, the historical depth adds a unique flavor. The E-Reader experience might pose some challenges, but the intriguing narrative earned it a solid 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishing, and Shawntelle Madison for this ARC.

This book is an excellent story of family, heartbreak, overcoming hardship and prejudice, and so much more. The Bridge family is cursed to where one child born from every generation is sent back in time, and they never know when it will happen or what time period they will be sent to.

I will say that the timelines were a bit hard to follow throughout the story, but this is the case with every piece of media involving time travel that I’ve read or seen. I would often have to look back and reference the beginnings of the chapter and previous parts of the book to remember which time I was currently reading about. However, the characters were distinctive and well written enough that it was easy enough to figure out what was going on after doing so.

I enjoyed the mystery elements to the story, and trying to piece together bit by bit what’s really going on with this family and how, if ever, they will stop the curse. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it to others. 4/5 stars.

This book was EVERYTHING to me. It spoke to me in so many ways. I will recommend to any and everyone. It spoke to me about knowing where you came from. It’s so important to know the story of your people in order to break these generational curses and I believe this story explained that in one of the most creative ways possible.

I love historical fiction and fantasy, so the combination of the Bridge family history and time travel was compelling to me. The idea of following this free black family that is trying to navigate the difficulties of falling back in time is unique and also so intriguing because that would be a truly terrifying experience in the history of the United States. The one reason I am taking a star off of my rating is because I wanted to connect more with the characters. This book has storylines that should have made me cry, but the devastation and anguish that I would expect of the main characters did not come through for me. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others interested in historical fiction and light fantasy.