Long Gone, Come Home by Monica Chenault-Kilgore is another historical fiction book to add to your MUST READ list. Taking place in the 1930’s, this was a nice change from so many historical fiction books that take place during World War II. I’m always happy to find a good book taking place in the 20’s, 30’s.

Synopsis:

Birdie Jennings dreams of a big life beyond her small town of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, beyond her mundane job tying tobacco leaves at Wrights Factory, beyond her position as the baby of the family. Her life changes when she meets Jimmy Walker, a smooth talker and dreamer. Jimmy makes big promises of a magical life filled with poetry, passion, and music, and Birdie is quickly swept off her feet. But some short years after they marry, Jimmy leaves for work and never returns, and Birdie is left behind with two toddlers and no explanation for her husband’s latest disappearance. With no support system, Birdie moves back home with her overbearing mother.

Just as she’s settling into her new life, Birdie witnesses a gruesome murder and flees Mt. Sterling to avoid questioning. For the first time, Birdie is truly on her own. She travels to the big cities of Cincinnati and Chicago just as she dreamed, but with a new goal: find Jimmy and bring him home. Along the way, Birdie explores the bustling jazz scenes in the hottest nightclubs and backwoods juke joints. Finding her place among criminals and saints is tough, but Birdie is tougher, and she soon wonders if an independent life on her own terms is the better way forward.

A serious and heavy read, it was also rich with detail and I loved being immersed in Birdie’s story.

Read it now!

I really enjoyed this complex and riveting debut novel. I love historical fiction and it is nice to read one that isn't so focused around one big global war (don't get me wrong, WW1 and WW2 books are great, but there are so many!). In many ways this was tough to read because Birdie and her family just faces constant hardship and they can never quite make it out of their situation. But the characters and story were vivid and engrossing. I really felt for and rooted for resilient Birdie. This is not what I'd call an easy read, but so many great books aren't. Well done to this new author and congratulations!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and UpLitReads for this ARC!

Heavy read. It really well written. You kind of assume it’s a romance but it really goes horribly wrong. I loved this moving and complex book!

I really enjoyed this book. Books like this is why I absolutely love historical fiction. The characters were vivid and authentic. The timespan was felt in the music and the vibes of the setting.

We see Birdie in the beginning as a young woman full of hopes and dreams and when she falls in love with Jimmy and starts a family, those dreams seems as if they’ll never come true. Birdie and Jimmy’s love story is like so many. The struggle for a young Black couple to make a home and stay above water. Jimmy’s want and need to provide in a world that keeps a foot on his neck. Birdie’s love for her family and her husband makes her strong and allows her to face her fears and overcome all that’s thrown at her. In the end, Birdie becomes a formidable woman.
This is an amazing debut novel!

Monica Chenault-Kilgore has written an incredible story of resilience and determination. This book takes place during the 1930’s jazz era, and we are able to see the world through the eyes of a strong young woman named Birdie. Her life is one of love, loss, and tragedy, but through it all she persevered and never gave up. This is one historical fiction book that will have a permanent place on my bookshelf. I look forward to reading it over and over again. Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading this debut and I wasn't disappointed. Birdie is such an interesting character and I enjoyed her journey. I would love to read more about Birdie's mother and her life. She's such an fascinating and complex character and feel like she deserves her own book. This author is in the same field as Sadeqa Johnson! Highly recommend!

Long Gone, Come Home was such a delight to read. I loved the main character Birdie and her storyline. Author Monica Chenault-Kilgore writes a story filled with history of the early 1930’s really educates the reader about the segregation at this time along with the importance of family and freedom. As a reader I found the authors writing very similar to Sadeqa Johnson’s, who I love. I really enjoy books that mix a good love story with historical fiction. I stayed home yesterday and couldn’t stop reading until I turned the last page. Long Gone, Come Home will be released on June 6th so preorder now!
Birdie is the baby of the family and dreams of a life beyond the walls of her mammas house. Always a dreamer Birdie wants to do something besides working at the tobacco plant but their aren’t many jobs offered to those of color. Nights out getting to listen to live Jazz music brings Birdie the excitement she craves but what she really wants is someone to love. When she meets Jimmy she knows he’s not someone her mamma will approve of but the heart wants what the heart wants and Birdie knows she has something brewing in her belly. Quickly Birdie and Jimmy are married and welcome their first born but cracks in the relationship start to show right away. Jimmy is always talking about these extra jobs he does to try and earn more money but leaving for work and not returning for weeks or months is to much for Birdie to handle. Is he dead or alive, is he with another woman, in jail? As a new mother with no way of making an income, and no way she can crawl back to her mammas house, Birdie is about to give up when Jimmy stumbles back into the picture.
Birdie welcomes a son and once again Jimmy leaves, but something tragic happens and Birdies momma sends her away to start a new life while things simmer down. She gets a job working for a family cleaning and does some catering on the side. She misses Jimmy with all her heart but her children are her priority. Birdie doesn’t want to depend on any one and she’s hoping she can make enough money to take care of her babies. Jimmy might be taking care of her even though he’s not there because Birdie finds a note stating a property has been promised to Jimmy upon the owners passing, so Birdie hires someone to help her. To be able to own her own home and eventually her own restaurant would be a dream come true. So much has happened over the years and so much sadness has brought down Birdies spirit but out of the dark clouds the sun will shine, and the little bird will spread her wings.

Long Gone, Come Home
Monica Chenault-Kilgore
Pub Date: June 6, 2023

“My girl, my sweet little bird. When I first saw you, all I saw was the best parts of me and I knew you would always fly.” (page 230)

Long Gone, Come Home by Monica Chenault-Kilgore is absolutely remarkable and captivating. From the moment I started, I was hooked. If you love historical fiction with characters who possess resilience and determination, then this book is for you!

Birdie Jennings lives in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, and has big dreams beyond her current constraints of her tobacco factory town. One night, she meets Jimmy Walker at the Paramount Theater, where a band was performing. Jimmy steals her heart from the start, but disappears before she can learn more about him. Luckily, she knows where he works and is able to meet up with him again. Their relationship grows, much to the dismay of Birdie’s mother. Mama reluctantly gives her blessing for Jimmy and Birdie to marry, but does not offer the couple much support.

Birdie and Jimmy have two children together, and Jimmy disappears shortly after, leaving Birdie to care for her two toddlers. With no other choice, and no money, Birdie moves home with her mother. After witnessing a murder, Birdie leaves home in search for Jimmy. Along the way, her strength and resilience is tested as she searches for Jimmy and begins her life in Cincinnati, OH.

Long Gone, Come Home is about love, loss, survival, and family. Set in the 1930s and 1940s, the reader gets a glimpse of life during the jazz era and the injustices Birdie faced during her life. Birdie was such a strong character, despite many setbacks, and I love her tenacity. I think this book will stick with me for a long time!

Read if you like:
▫️Historical Fiction
▫️Books with unforgettable main characters
▫️BIPOC Representation
▫️Books centered around strength and resilience
▫️Themes of family, love and loss

As someone from Cincinnati, I loved all of the references to the city!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Grayson House and Monica Chenault-Kilgore, along with Uplit Reads for providing me with a #gifted copy of Long Gone, Come Home.

A moving story. Birdie falls hard for Jimmy and begins her life, but soon she is left to own devices with two children to provide.
The book is about Birdie’s growth as a woman, wife, and mother and finding herself while having some fun too.
The author does a great job with the cultural context, especially the Clubs and music.
That was my favorite part of the book.

A complex and movie story about a black woman chasing her dreams and finding ways to move forward in the face of adversity. Taking place during the 1930s jazz area through the civil rights movement, the author integrates historical facts beautifully and transports you right to the small town of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky and other nearby cities. I really enjoyed the side romance storylines and the emphasis on family and survival. Definitely a debut to look out for!!

Read if you like:
-BIPOC rep
-US Historical fiction reads
-Themes of family, love, loss and survival

Thank you HTP for the ARC. Pub date: 6/6/23

This is a really good book for book club discussions.
Birdie is a girl who is looking for a way out of the life she is stuck in. We see her fall in love and then begin a life with Jimmy. But then things get tougher.
Birdie is a fighter. This book has very heavy parts but it is very much a story that is needed to show how much tenacity people have even in the face of adversity.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book was heavy. A story of a young woman who falls in love with a dreamer. Jimmy has good intentions but so much goes wrong. It was complex and moving. I recommend it.

****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****