Oh. My. God. What a book!

Tracy Brown depicts the most haunting, emotionally distraught character I have read in years! Brooklyn (as the character) is someone I know, it’s someone I’ve been, and it’s someone you may meet in your lifetime. The book, Brooklyn, follows our FMC Brooklyn through the woes and heartbreak of life.

Brooklyn has it all growing up; stability, family, and friends, until one day, when her “uncle” touches her inappropriately. That one night set her on a course she didn’t come back from.

Brooklyn (the book) discusses family drama, neglect, church issues, dating drug dealers, the hustler lifestyle, abortion, being gay in a religious environment, suīcidē, narcissistic behavior, hopelessness, homelessness, murdèr, and more.

It was an emotionally devastating book. Not a romance read. Not a HEA. Strictly emotional, urban fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin Griffin Press for the ARC of this book. Also, may you RIP, Tracy Brown who passed earlier this year.

my first tracy brown book. the book had highs and lows. brooklyn you want to cheer for her but as it continues you realize she is her own worst enemy.

Brooklyn by Tracy Brown is a gripping and intense exploration of one woman's journey from a tumultuous upbringing as the daughter of a pastor, to becoming a master manipulator and serial survivor. The heart of the story lies in the protagonist, Brooklyn Melody James, whose life becomes a mosaic of lies, heartache, and deception once her father kicks her out of the home. Raised in a family that skillfully manipulated their community for personal gain, Brooklyn absorbs these tactics like a sponge, vowing to forge her own path with no rules but her own. As she navigates through a world of hustlers and criminals in New York City, she quickly learns the power of manipulation and charm.

Brooklyn's character is an intricate portrayal of ambition and survival. Her instinct to survive at any cost drives her to make choices that lead to a trail of destruction and broken relationships. Brown does an exceptional job of showcasing how Brooklyn's determination to rise above her circumstances blinds her to the consequences of her actions. With every betrayal and bridge burned, Brooklyn's reign of terror intensifies, and her ultimate undoing becomes an inevitability. The reader is constantly reminded of the adage "you reap what you sow," as Brooklyn's actions come full circle, leading her to face a reckoning she could never have predicted.

While Brooklyn's actions and decisions might be morally questionable, the underlying vulnerability of her character invites readers to empathize with her struggles and desires. The supporting cast adds depth to the story, with each character contributing to the intricate tapestry of Brooklyn's life. The resolution of the story is a testament to the theme of retribution.

Tracy Brown masterfully explores the complexity of human nature when faced with adversity and ambition. This cautionary tale is another testament to Brown's contributions to urban fiction. Her work often portrays the struggles, ambitions, and complexities of characters dealing with difficult circumstances.

GENERAL INFO
Brooklyn

Year Pub/Re Pub: 2/27/24, read 8/27/23

Book's cover: it pulled me in

Format: e-ARC

Source: Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Page Count: 320

Setting: NYC, DMV

Genre: Adult Fiction, AA Interests. Mystery

*Tropes:
✅ bad girl syndrome
✅ love/hate relationships
✅ revenge plot
✅ forbidden love
✅ age gap
✅ family drama
✅ dark/gritty

Standalone/Cliffhanger/Part of a Series: standalone

HEA/HFN ending: no

Epilogue Included: no

Character(s)POV Spoken: Brooklyn

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: A tale about a true survivor who will claw and scrape through all of NYC to get what she wants. Brooklyn hustles in a world over her head, and she's betrayed one too many people.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Contains Cheating: yes, h is cheated on and cheats w/ someone

Contains Children: yes, starts with Brooklyn @17 years old

Flashbacks: yes, a lot of traumatic events in Brooklyn's young life

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h : yes

Amount of Sex In The Book: enough

Overall Smex Rating: 3

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Heroine: Brookyln Melody James

Heroine Description: 17 yr. old, ambitious, rebellious, selfish are just a few adjectives for her.

Heroine Likability Rating: 3

Secondary characters:

Sabrina-Brooklyn's mother, a religious zealot, in denial about her own life. I got the feeling she was probably abused too and blocked it out. She held her kids Brooklyn especially to an impossible standard of godliness.

Elias-Brooklyn's pastor father. Didn't practice what he preached, was a womanizer, money hungry.

Amir-Brooklyn's older brother, unable to live up to his father's expectations as "heir to the throne."

Hope-Brooklyn's younger sister, "the good daughter."

Jordan-the church drummer helped Brooklyn's family after tragedy.

Erica-Brooklyn's childhood bff

H /h RELATIONSHIP INFO
Endearments: none

OW/OM/Exes: Alonzo and Hassan

Cheating Before/During/Outside H/h Relationship: yes, h is cheated on by 1st bf Zo.


CONTENT WARNINGS/TRIGGERS: statutory rape, molestation, suicide, homophobia, drug dealing, murder


AUTHOR OVERVIEW
Tracy Brown

New or read before & any favorites: new author for me

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 5

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: A definite must read for those who love NYC and drama! Brooklyn gave love and pain that made me love and hate her. She' was a product of her environment- her parents' hypocrisy and her refusal to be ordinary.

This book was an emotional rise and fall from grace. The twists and turns of Brooklyn's life had me rooting for her even though she brought chaos with her where ever she went. Well, I was rooting for her until... 🤫

I loved Hold You Down by this author so I was excited to read this follow up. Then I found out the author passed away this year and I’m just devastated! What a loss:(
As her last book, Brown looks at the life of Brooklyn; who grows up in Staten Island. She’s the daughter of a preacher who watches her family scam through the church and takes her own game to the streets. It’s a book about a woman who sees herself as a victim, who digs a hole for herself over and never lets herself truly get close to anyone. It’s a sad story and while it does show how Brooklyn descends it doesn’t really give the psychology behind it. The book is fast paced however and kept me furiously turning pages. I’m so glad I discovered this writer and I hope for her books to live on as her legacy.

This was phenomenal! It was risky letting the reader know Brooklyn's end from the beginning but it worked great. In the beginning, I found myself rooting for and having sympathy for Brooklyn. But slowly and methodically Tracy Brown helps the reader to fall out of love with Brooklyn and to see her for what and who she really is. I thought this was a lesson in what it means to really care about people and what it means to truly be grown and to be there for others. I could not put this book down! Finished in about a day.