Though this story centers around the character of Knot, all of the other characters are just as interesting and worth spending time with. The story covers several decades with Knot, her neighbors, and her family, and my only complaint is that the book isn't longer. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the world within this novel.

The town of West Mills is a small close knit community. Everyone knows everyone and keeping your business to yourself isn't necessarily something that happens. Knot is a teacher in West Mills but when she is not teaching, she likes to drink her moonshine and enjoy time with her men friends. When her long time friend leaves town, Knot goes down the rabbit hole. And things for her take a change that no one expects coming. Knot's neighbor Otis Lee and his wife Pep are the only family Knot has in West Mills. She trusts them with her secrets and they trust her with theirs. Will Knot's actions in her life keep the friendship going or will it tear them apart.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book grabbed my attention from the beginning and held it. The things that brought the rating down for me were the transitions between years toward the end of the book. It wasn't until you were a few pages into the chapter that you knew it was 5 or 10 years later.

Knot is the kind of woman who does what she wants no matter what other people think about it. This story takes us from 1942 all the way through 1987. Telling the story and secrets of West Mills. Each character has a different story that all melds together in one incredible telling. I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to other books by this author.

Following the lives of a group of people in North Carolina, West Mills, the book opens with a young woman telling her boyfriend to get out. Meet Azalea, nicknamed Knot, a hard drinking, hard loving woman, who wants to live her life, her way. Took a while for me to warm up to her. I definitely don't approve of many things she does,, but by books end, despite her abrasivesness, she won me over. The book takes place over four decades in this black community, set in the 1940s, a time when unwed pregnancies were looked down on. When a family disowns one, there is no other choice but to live alone, or to make a new family from the friends one has. The other residents all have their own problems, but I came to pretty much like all of them.

The characters have many secrets, secrets we know and others know, but not the one to which the secret applies. That creates the tension in the story and between the characters.

As Knot says, "No more secrets. The longer they're kept, the more hurt they cause when they're set free.".

There is plenty of hurt here, but support and friendship, loving and forgiveness, as well. A debut novel with a great deal of pathos and passion. Reminded me of a young Angelou or Morrison.

ARC from Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley.

It’s October 1941 and everyone seems to have secrets in this African American community in West Mills, North Carolina. Amazingly in a town where everyone seems to know everyone else’s business, residents are still able to keep secrets.

Unfortunately, it can be at the expense of those who are affected  by them the most.Twenty-seven-year-old Azalea “Knot” Centre, who moved to West Mills for an elementary school teaching job, is such a person. She became pregnant from two relationships and gave her baby girls up for adoption to couples in town. Though she constantly sees them—this being a small town—she has no regrets. Somehow her family in Ahoskie, NC found out and renounced her. That hurt the most.

Luckily her neighbor, Otis Lee, looks after her, but she knows a secret about him that he isn’t aware of. In fact, many of the people are carrying secrets or are victim to them. When do these secrets become lies and which ones should be revealed, and which ones should be kept hidden?

"In West Mills" takes us through 1987 as we become emotionally involved in the lives of these memorable characters. They are relatable, believable and complex. For instance, Knot is strong-willed, determined yet vulnerable. She indulges in too much moonshine but is an avid reader of 19th century English literature.

I found myself sucked into the problems and secrets of the people. The story, told in a rural southern voice, kept me engaged as there were surprises throughout.

I just wished that the story included more events of the time, and the resulting effects on the community. Monumental events such as WWII, the Vietnam War and the 1960's Civil Rights movement took place during those four decades.  There were some thoughts on the Civil rights marches, but I wish there was more

. Still, those who enjoy intimate stories of family, love and friendship in a historical context are sure to love In West Mills.

This is an impressive debut and captures life in North Carolina, over a good few decades, in an evocative way. Winslow’s novel focuses largely on Knot Centre, real name Azalea, and her life in West Mills; her early, unplanned pregnancies; town gossip and secrets; and, what happens when you think everything’s fine but others don’t think the same.

The early parts of this novel provide deep insight into the fairly complex character of Knot; her turbulent relationship with Pratt and her family, as well as other people. As time goes on and her daughters grow up, Knot’s life becomes more difficult, as do the issues that become more prevalent in the story.

In some ways, this captures life as it changes through the years. Having said this, I think Winslow tries a bit too hard. For example, some years are skipped over and readers find themselves flailing a little regarding what has happened and who it has happened to. Along some similar lines, it is quite a character-heavy read, meaning it can be tricky to remember who is who and what the relationships are.

This is an enjoyable read and one that leaves one feeling irritated with Knot but also amazed at her forthright behaviour as a single black woman, and mother of two daughters who are given away, in the 1940s. It could, perhaps, be better if it slowed down a little. Despite this. Winslow’s West Mills is a place that has been effectively and visually created.,

There are echoes of Toni Morrison (especially Song of Solomon) in this debut novel set in the small fictional town of West Mills, North Carolina. Wilson has crafted a memorable antiheroine in Azalea “Knot” Centre, who likes to pretend she doesn’t care what people think about her but actually cares deeply. Alcohol and sex are her two vices, and in the 1940s her two out-of-wedlock daughters are secretly adopted by other families in the town, such that she can watch them grow up. The plot is initially slow-moving – it takes nearly half the length to introduce all the characters and deal with Knot’s first baby – but then leaps ahead to 1960 and further community entanglements. The rendering of the local dialect struck me as hokey, and none of the secondary characters seem worthy of sharing a stage with Knot.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

JUNE 4, 2019
In West Mills


"She love them damn books of hers more'n she love me." ~ 11%

Did you ever read The Turner House? What about The Twelve Tribes of Hattie? Well, this new novel appropriately called In West Mills is of the same vein. It is an intimate story about a woman nicknamed "Knot" that no one understands but accepts as a member of their rural community. Sheeeeeit, Knot can barely understand herself but she is determined to live life as she sees fit. Oftentimes, that means moonshine, literature and male company.

Never mind the town gossip. It means nothing in comparison to Knot's family disowning her. Having no communication with her family back home and living alone in a shack, she relies on her neighbor, Otis Loving. But Otis is so eager to help that he unknowingly puts his wife and family second to Knot. This is oh-so-apparent thanks to the author's writing style. The story is set in a majority black community— dubbed West Mills—in rural North Carolina. It covers decades: 1941-1987 so readers can see how much time passes but little as nothing changed. And there is never a dull chapter.

In West Mills deserves more credit than my review can offer. It brings about issues in the black community, the importance of communication and how we are quick to ASSume a situation. The storytelling is smooth and the main characters are well defined. My only negative feedback is the dialogue was hard to read in beginning. As chapters went on, I still was used to the language so it slowed my reading down a bit. However, the story wouldn't have been the same with formal words showing no southern accents. The author knew what he was doin'!

Happy Debut Pub Day, De'Shawn Charles Winslow! In West Mills is now available.

LiteraryMarie

De'Shawn Charles Winslow’s modern, compelling debut novel is an anthem to the black woman’s individuality and the prices of such independence. At the pulse of this book is a woman named Azalea who lives by her own terms and pursuits of happiness despite neighborhood gossip and naysayers — a heroine, if there ever was one. By turns a story of the blessings and curses of such freedoms, In West Mills came to me at such a relevant moment in my own journey of self-discovery, and for that, I'll hold it dear to my heart.

Set in in a rural African-American community of North Carolina, this story covers a span from 1941-1987. Azalea "Knot" Centre is the local teacher, a woman determined to be an independent woman, run her own life and answer to no one, even if that alienates other people and family. She enjoys her drink, her books(Dickens) and her men. Stubborn is a word that comes to mind when thinking of Knot. This is a story of love, pain, relationships, and life, not just for Knot but other characters in her life and community. There are emotional hardships, secrets, and redemption. Tissues may be needed. redemption
#NetGalley

I loved this book but even more I love Knot! I felt a connection to her. De'Shawn writes an amazing person and in a world of such hatred and judgment it is amazing to read about a light. I love that Knot is living her life the way she wants to live it. There were so many parts in this book that I would have my daughter read. It was very inspiring!
I can not say enough good about In West Mills...just one click this book now!

<i><blockquote>"In October of '41, Azalea Centre's man told her that he was sick and tired of West Mills and of the love affair she was having with moonshine. Azalea - everyone called her Knot - reminded him that she was a grown woman."</blockquote></i>

Determined to live life by her own terms, Knot makes the tough decisions and ignores the naysayers and gossip mongers. Despite the freedom that she seems to have in her choices one cannot overlook the pain that she must bear as a consequence. <b>In West Mills</b> is a journey not only of one headstrong woman but a poignant rendering of the travails of the black community through the Great Migration, WWII and the Civil Rights Movement. It is a story about the secrets we keep, the pain they cause and the reckoning with the truth. Within these 272 pages Winslow manages to encapsulate the heart of true friendship and the ties that bind community together.

<b>In West Mills</b> has been listed as one of the "Most Anticipated Literary Reads for Readers of Color 2019". It is De'Shawn Charles Winslow's debut.
<img src="https://www.ajc.com/rf/image_md/Pub/p10/AJC/2019/05/31/Images/newsEngin.24037551_De-Shawn-Charles-Winslow-CREDIT-Julie-R-Keresztes.jpg"/>

<i>Special thanks to NetGalley, Bloomsbury USA and De'Shawn Charles Winslow for early access to this book.</i>

{My Thoughts}
As In West Mills begins debut author De’Shawn Charles Winslow introduces us to Azalea “Knot” Centre. She’d only lived in the community for a few years, but had quickly become well known there. Knot needed to escape the eyes of her own family, so when her father arranged a teaching job for her in West Mills, Knot left home and rarely looked back. She was liked as a teacher, but what she really became known for was hard drinking, dancing, and men. Before long Knot’s free-spirited lifestyle brought trouble in more ways than one, leaving a path of destruction, and a bevy of secrets that affected many around her.

“Knot had heard about people going into shock. But she never had been able to imagine how it might feel. This must be it, she thought to herself. When you know you hurtin’. But there ain’t no pain. When you know you sad, but you don’t feel like you gon’ cry. I want to say a whole lot of stuff, but don’t want to talk. This must be it. Got to be what shock feels like.”

While I appreciated the loyal spirit of the small West Mills community created by Winslow, the secrets and lies that percolated just under its surface grew tiresome. By the second half I especially tired of Knot. She started out as a very flawed character that you had to be rooting for and wanted to like, but over the course of her life it was difficult for me to do so. A woman who was essentially very selfish impacted so many people’s lives in oftentimes complex and hurtful ways. Knot did make some hard choices that made life better for others, but she never seemed to be able to do the same for herself. As a debut, I truly appreciated Winslow’s strong writing and insights into the people of West Mills, but I wish his story would have been more about those people and less about their secrets.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Ballantine Publishing (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

Spanning from 1941 to 1987, twenty-six-year-old Ornery Azalea aka knot moves to a small black community in West Mills, North Carolina to get away from her family and to keep her drinking (her over love of moonshine) on the lo. Knot is living her best life with booze and books.

Her male best friend Otis Lee lives next door with his gossip queen wife Pep. He is so sweet, loving he and keeps knot grounded. This isn’t just a story of Knot, but all those of the West Mills Community. I have a love hate relationship for Knot, she is stubborn, but lives by her own rules and Otis is so sweet and loving.

This was such a great read, filled with laughter, love, community, friendship just everything you ask for a good book. I originally gave this book 4 stars but after some thought I see no reason why 5 out 5 isn’t fitting. This is the perfect book to add to summer reading list.

Thank you, Netgalley & Bloomsbury Publishing, for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This story is about the life of Althea Marie Centre aka Knott. You will find your opinions of her shift through the years. She loved to read, have fun and drink. She taught the kids to read in West Mills. Life can be cruel. People judged her and she got to the point she didn't care. She kept secrets that were told her but it seems people she trusted didn't do the same. There was jealously, envy, and loss of her friend. She didn't want more than the little shack she had and the ability to bake. I don't think she knew how to love as she wasn't shown what that was like when she was growing up. An interesting book.

In West Mills is a story of African American woman in her thirties and goes by the nickname Knot. She is determined to live life by her own rules. Everything changes for Knot by one major event!

I fell in love with the fact Knot was so bullheaded and strong willed. The town she resides in reminds of the small town I live in where everyone knows everyone's business. Due to that reason Knot was able to some shoulders to lean on.

I thought this novel was well written and definitely recommend this book.

I received this from Netgalley.com for a review.

Knot is determined to live life as she pleases. The neighbors' gossip won't keep Knot from what she loves best: cheap moonshine, nineteenth-century literature, and the company of men. Alone in her one-room shack, ostracized from her relatives and cut off from her hometown, Knot turns to her neighbor, Otis Lee Loving, in search of some semblance of family and home.

Wonderful story, good writing and characters, great read. Vaguely reminds me of Tennessee Williams stories.

4.75 ☆

There were so many things to love about this book, it's hard to know what to list first. I'll start with the main character, Knot Centre. Yes (a nod to the other readers who disliked her persona), she is self-absorbed, unyielding, and self-destructive -- but such an authentic voice!

As someone who was born at the tail end of the 1940s, I am often annoyed by the perception that females from that era were submissive, altruistic saints. Many of the women I grew up around had *very* interesting histories, a la Knot. It was so good to see this portrayed accurately.

The writing is memorable -- clean and truly unique. The relationships were powerful and realistic, for all that each was a one-of-a-kind pattern of interacting. Never a cliche

This is one of the most dynamic fictional renditions I've come across of the notion that "it takes a village" -- if by village you mean an oversized quasi-functional family, only some of whose members are related by blood; and if by "raise a child" you mean to alternately nurture and goad a fellow human being into evolving before reaching his or her 70s and 80s.

In West Mills was a wonderful place to visit. Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for an advance readers copy.

A triumphant debut novel! Winslow’s novel begins in 1941 and spans 40 years in rural West Mills, North Carolina. Here we are introduced free-thinking Azalea “Knot” Centre, a young black women determined to live life on her own terms, drinking, sleeping around, and reading Dickens. She often clashes with her next door neighbor and best friend, sweet Otis Lee and his wife Pep. When Knot finds herself pregnant (twice) with a child she doesn’t want, it is Otis that comes to her aid, helping her find someone in town to raise her daughters. Time and again, despite her protestations that she needs no one, Knot finds herself turning for help to her friends and neighbors in this tight knit community. Despite outside events such as WWII and the civil rights movement, West Mills and its inhabitants seem unaffected other than by their own relationships and problems. This insular community takes care of its own, whether they are fighting or loving.

In West Mills is a beautifully crafted novel with lyrical prose and authentic dialect that will make you want to sit reading on a front porch, with a glass of sweet tea, as the memorable characters move about from page to page. This is a story of love and friendship and the many forms they can take. It was hard to say goodbye to Knot, Otis and the others. I highly recommend this novel!

Interesting book, with a wonderful spirited woman at the helm! Set at start in the 1940's in a small rural African American town of North Carolina, this book spans over 40 years. " Knot" won't be kowtowing to anyone. Being her own person also means isolation and abandonment from others in the community who see her as belligerent and self destructive. Being this type of person, lends itself to not having many close friends. She does however find a true one in Otis. Otis and Knot share a special heartwarming platonic relationship that speaks of so many things that are a part of our life. Redemption, family, friends and love. I can see this book becoming a movie.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC for an honest review.