Carmelo Anthony is one of the most introspective and reflective athletes of our time. This book shows his candor, honesty and vulnerability in telling his life story from before the fame and before the NBA. I'd even be interested in a documentary or short film based on this book. Also, havind D. Watkins as a collaborator for this book was an excellent choice. Great read, I learned a lot.

Carmelo Anthony has gone a different way in his memoir than many of the other autobiographies I have read. Instead of focusing on his illustrious career, Anthony introduces readers to the gritty streets of Brooklyn and Baltimore. He credits his upbringing with shaping and molding the very public sports star that many call Melo. Anthony does a good job of highlighting the discrimination he has faced in his lifetime, showing the reality of the situations. He brings to life an issue that is still present to this day and, although I have more understanding, I can never truly know how Anthony and others feel.

Admittedly, I am neither a basketball fan nor did I know anything about Carmelo Anthony before reading this book. Overall, the book is very engaging and the author does a great job of explaining his life, telling it like it is without apologies. Reading Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised has made me want to check out more books by sports stars, whether I am familiar or interested in the sport in which they play.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy of Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised by NetGalley and the publisher, Gallery Books. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

**I received this book from Gallery Books via Netgalley for an honest review**

NBA Superstar Carmelo Anthony gives us a glimpse of his life growing up in Brooklyn and Baltimore. Anyone who pays attention knows these are two cities that aren’t short on crime and poverty in some areas. If not for some great influences in his life, it’s possible he wouldn’t be the superstar that he is now. He’s the youngest of four and lost his Dad at a very young age.

While I’m a fan of the game of basketball, I unfortunately wasn’t as hip to Carmelo as a high school player nor college player. I do remember watching the 2003 draft and the comparisons to LeBron and thinking they would for sure be entertaining to watch grow. To read about the things he’s endured and the traumas he faced were something else. I always knew he was a kid from New York, but I had no idea about his Baltimore roots. The structure he had in Baltimore was legit. I liked how people looked out for him, knowing he was a special person destined for great things.

I felt for Carmelo with some of the grief and pain he went through. I won’t lie and say I wasn’t a little worried on who would make it and who wouldn’t.

While some parts were a bit repetitive, this was a great read getting to know more about a player I’ve watched for many years. Carmelo’s journey was tough at times but he for sure made it to the top.

Was a great read. Not what I usually read, but his story was interesting and I enjoyed every moment reading it.

Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised is the autobiographical story of Carmelo Anthony's life up until the 2003 NBA draft. Anthony chronicles growing up in the housing projects of Red Hook and Murphy Homes, losing loved ones, and overcoming incredible odds time and time again. The book covers his high school and college basketball years, along with his experience in the draft.

Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised is a story of beating the odds over and over again. Anthony details numerous difficult stories and how he overcame them to get to where he is today. As hard as the book was to read at times, it will help the reader understand him more as a person beyond just basketball. I was most impressed with his descriptions of experiencing depression before it was widely talked about and his struggles with feelings of needing to get help: this was an exceptional part of the book in my opinion. While I wish the book covered more of his NBA years, I found Where Tomorrows Aren't Promised to be a great read for any basketball fan with an interest in Anthony's life.

Thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for this ARC; this is my honest and voluntary review.

Powerful, moving, insightful - Carmelo Anthony's book proves there's always more to a story than you think you know, no matter how well known the story's author is. You'll close this book with a great deal of respect for Anthony, a clearer understanding of the need for a social safety net, and a deeper admiration for the role of sports.