I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Friendship and sisterhood combined in this wonderful novel that I am privileged to have read great diversity of characters and so much heart!

This is the story of Bo, who’s mother marries Bill, who already has a daughter, about her age. Bill lives in a brownstone, in Harlem, with another couple, who also have two girls. So it is very much a blended family. And Bo has to go from being a single child, to being part of a sisterhood of four.

There are wonderful details about Harlem sprinkled throughout the book, and because the sisters are all freeschooled, a form of home schooling where the girls all do projects, such as sewing or baking, or researching local history, Bo is doing school all summer long, whether she wants to or not. She even gets to go on a tour of Louis Armstrong’s house, as part of her research.

The girls are into music, and Bo, who likes to do drums, fits right in, that aspect.

It is a fun, story, full of both liking to be in a full household with her “sisters” and wanting things to be the way they used to be when it was just her mother and her.

<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. </em>

This was a firecracker of a read: vibrant, engaging, funny, charming, and driven by fascinating characters. I loved reading it and wanted to go back to reread and savor the dialogue and events. The situation of found family was so interesting to me, I'd love for the author to do a prequel to tell how it came to be. As a parent myself, I did feel that there was a disconnect between mother and daughter once they joined the family, and it really bothered me throughout the book. I was also confused why the other girls were so open to new people but the main character Bo seemed the most authentic and really explained her feelings well.

I would love to see some recipes for all the things they cooked! I also would love to hear this as an audiobook. I think the format would be great either way. This would be a huge hit for anyone who enjoyed the Vanderbeekers of 141st St.

🎶🏙 BOOK REVIEW 🎶🏙*

Welp, I absolutely adored this one. What a delightfully pure and poignant story of sisterhood, friendship, Black joy, and the power of community. This book radiated pure comfort and joy, and I really appreciated Bo's journey of finding herself, sometimes on her own, and sometimes with the help of other people. Everything about this book made me feel all warm and fuzzy and I loved it so much! I've got my fingers crossed for a sequel🤞🏻 This is the ideal read for fans of the Penderwicks or the Vanderbeekers and I can't recommend it enough💛💕

* thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Bo and her mother have always made a great team, and while Bo doesn't mind her mother's boyfriend, Bill, it's still a big change to move to Harlem to live with Bill and his daughter, Sunday. It's an even bigger adjustment because the two live in a shared house where there are lots of pets and two other girls, twins Lili and Lee. It's also a different neighborhood, and she misses some people from her old stomping grounds. Bo is a drummer, and Sunday plays the keyboard, so along with the twins, they put together a band. They have a lot of big plans, but have trouble getting along, and finding the right songs to play. Bo, whose mother is from Nigeria, embraces her cultural heritage and tries to recreate some family recipes, and is also looking forward to visiting Lagos. Bill, who is in a wheelchair, runs a bookshop that is struggling, and the girls try to use their skills to help his business. Bill, as well as the people in the house, are trying to better their neighborhood in a variety of ways, including reopening a garden and keeping the area clean. With so much going on, will Bo be able to settle in to her new life with her mother?
Strengths: There was a note at the beginning that the author was a big family of Elizabeth Enright and Sydney Taylor, and their books about big, bustling families in different locations. This updates that type of story, setting it in New York City and utilizing a nicely diverse cast. Bo has her own interests, but also has typical tween issues with friends and family. I love the cover!
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters, and a lot of activities going on in a variety of locations, so keeping everything straight was a bit of a challenge.
What I really think: This was on the younger end of middle grade, but definitely captured Enright's Melendy Family vibe. Hand this one to fans of Glaser's The Vanderbeekers series.

I loved getting to know Bo and her new sisters. I would have loved a little more about chosen families, but appreciated the author's decision to let it go without remarking.

This one is cute and a good representation of blending families and trying to find your place within that new family. I loved Bo, she was spunky & feisty and has so much heart. I loved how she always let Dougie tag along. I liked the "operation sisterhood" of the story too and watch Bo figure out this new group and friendships.
A good middle grade read!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!