Sometimes a book comes along that just feels like a warm hug, and for me, Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson was exactly that. I picked it up because the premise sounded unique—a romance centered around a family-owned Harlem knitting shop—and I stayed for the heart, the community, and the characters who felt like people I’d want to know in real life.

The story follows Jesse Strong, the youngest (and most rebellious) of four adopted brothers. When their adoptive mother, Mama Joy, passes away suddenly, the brothers are left with the task of figuring out what to do with her beloved knitting shop. Jesse, long seen as the family’s black sheep, surprises everyone by insisting they keep the shop open. Enter Kerry, Mama Joy’s neighbor and longtime “good girl,” who has always harbored a quiet affection for Jesse. Together, they try to honor Mama Joy’s legacy, keep the shop afloat, and navigate the sparks that fly between them.

What stood out most to me was how Jackson wove together themes of family, responsibility, and community. This isn’t just a love story—it’s also about Jesse stepping into his own, showing he’s capable of more than people give him credit for. Watching his character grow from a bit of a mess into someone who can rise to the occasion was genuinely rewarding. Kerry, too, is more than just the love interest; she has her own goals and struggles, and I appreciated that she wasn’t afraid to call Jesse out when he needed it.

And then there’s the setting. The knitting shop itself is like another character in the story, full of history, comfort, and a sense of belonging. I loved how Jackson highlighted the importance of community spaces and the role they play in bringing people together. Even if you’ve never picked up a pair of knitting needles, you’ll feel the warmth and nostalgia of this little corner of Harlem.

Now, it wasn’t a perfect read. There were times when the pacing felt a bit uneven—especially in the middle, where the will-they-won’t-they tension between Jesse and Kerry dragged a little longer than I wanted. I also found myself wishing for more depth with some of the secondary characters, like Jesse’s brothers, who had so much potential but sometimes slipped into the background. Still, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise enjoyable story.

Jackson’s writing is easy to sink into—warm, funny, and heartfelt without ever tipping into overly sweet territory. She’s not afraid to let her characters be flawed, which makes their eventual growth more satisfying. And let’s be honest: the idea of a romance hero who knits? Absolutely irresistible.

In the end, Real Men Knit is a cozy, charming read that balances romance with themes of family and self-discovery. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to curl up with on a quiet weekend, maybe with a cup of tea and a blanket (bonus points if it’s one you knit yourself). Four stars from me—a story that feels like comfort food, with just enough spice to keep you turning the pages.

This was super fun end entertaining. Romantic and humorous, this is a great little story to make you swoon.

I appreciate the opportunity to review this, but I still haven't read it after five years and likely will not. Thank you anyway!

My god, how has it been four years? Clearly this is far too deep into my TBR. Apologies, but glad to know this series is out there luring men into reading more romance.

Appealingly sweet. The ending is a bit abrupt, and I do wonder how the relationship will work when they are continually surrounded by Jesse's ex-girls...

I wanted to like this one more than I was able to - may or may not give Kwana Jackson another go at some point....

Honestly, how can a book titled Real Men Knit NOT be a great read. Loved this one, just a delightful and fun book. Highly recommend.

It took me quite awhile to warm up to the hero in this romance. He didn’t want to commit to much and it took him too long to get rid of the other women. He eventually turned around his attitude and it ended as a happily ever after. The switch from coworkers to lovers seemed forced and came late in the story. This was a decent romance, but I'm not sure it entirely worked for me.

RATING: 3/5 STARS

I don't knit myself but was interested to read this unique book about knitting! Sadly it did not grab my attention and I didn't gel with the writing.

I really liked the book ! The main character was liakable and I loved the plot ,I wish it was longer tho ,to enjoy it a little bit more

I recommended this book for my public library's romance book club and they loved it. We had a great time discussing it.

This was mostly quite cute and fun, but there are definitely better romances novels out there. I loved the story but it just didn’t feel polished enough for me. There wasn’t enough detail and depth to the characters.

Did not finish and therefore. I will not be reviewing on any platforms due to not finishing this book.

I will rate 1 star for the purpose of this feedback, but will not be rating this book on any social media platforms or our blog.

This book and the characters didn't grab me at all, and sadly I couldn't finish.

I want to thank you for the opportunity to review.

This didn't hit for a lot of reasons but mostly for the lack of imaginative prose. The writing was repetitive and lackluster.

I adore Kwana Jackson's writing and Real Men Knit is another example of her shining talent of building romances steeped in the reality of today's world. Family, jobs, love, loss...nothing is skipped or glossed over in the lives of her characters.

An excellent book about family and community. Can’t wait to read about the rest of the family. We talked about this one on the Book Riot When in Romance podcast. https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/when-in-romance/

DNF at 18%

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I really wanted to like this one! The concept was interesting, the cover was stellar, and the fact that men were knitting definitely piqued my curiosity. It's just not something you see every day. Unfortunately, Real Men Knit fell flat for me, and I wasn't able to finish reading it.

The conversations between characters were long and convoluted, a lot of the information was repetitive, and the writing itself was choppy and felt forced. The brothers were jerks (to each other and Kerry), and fought nonstop from the start. Jesse didn't do himself any favors by staying in his boxers even when Kerry told him to put clothes on. I don't care how long he's know her, it was inappropriate and rude. It only gets worse when he goes to comfort her (because of Mama Joy's death), and then starts thinking about how good she feels. Really? That's where your mind goes?

She made his abs "twitch" just by looking at them, and he apparently had morning wood that he did nothing to conceal. Her eyes "roamed" all over his body, but they're both trying to keep themselves from crying??? The juxtaposition was headache-inducing, and caused me to roll my eyes hard enough to hurt. None of their exchange felt realistic, and the simple conversation lasted way longer than it needed to. Saying hello should not be followed by pages of dialogue before the other person responds with their own greeting.

Basically, there was a lot of talking that wasn't beneficial to the story, the characters were unlikable (although varied based on the numerous comments about appearances and backgrounds), and the writing was hard to follow. Obviously, I didn't get very far into this one, but I struggled to get from one page to the next.

This was my first book by this author and while I definitely enjoyed it, I feel like I was expecting a little bit more (especially after all of the hype). That being said, REAL MEN KNIT is an engaging story full of heart! While I found the plot (and the romance) to be a bit lacking, I absolutely adored the characters.

Rounding up from a ⭐⭐⭐ 1/2 rating.

Despite this being one of my most anticipated reads this just wasn’t for me. I failed to connect to the characters and didn’t form an attachment to them

This was a great book about love, loss, and what happens to things after someone dies. Jesse and his brother have different ideas about what should happen to their mom's store and this is a great book about how that plays out.