This historical fiction book is a little different from many I've read. It involves historical events more tangentially rather than front and center, which makes it a little quieter and slower-paced story. However, that approach means that we get to know the main character, Katia, really well. She exemplifies the plight of so many women, especially Black women, who work ceaselessly in service of others. She is the director of a group home for young boys and runs it with integrity and love. She is a daughter who is trying to live her own life while respecting her mother's sensibilities. She is a sister whose twin brothers are missing in action in Vietnam. She she is a woman who takes her responsibilities very seriously, like so many women do. We see how much she is bonded to the boys in the group home when some of the boys go through difficult, life-altering events. Along with all that she is carrying, she has a desire to find love and be a mother, and it seems like that desire will go unmet. The author protrays the realities of gender, race, and socioeconomics of the time in a way that puts the reader right in the middle of the story. I listened to the audiobook, and I enjoyed the narration. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced digital copy.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown is an emotional masterpiece that reaches into your soul and refuses to let go. It’s been a long time since a book made me cry crocodile tears, but this story pulled them clean out of me. The depth of the characters, the rawness of the emotions, and the beautifully woven narrative hit me in ways I wasn’t expecting. Brown writes with a sensitivity and honesty that brings her characters to life, making their struggles and triumphs feel personal. If you’re looking for a book that will break your heart and heal it in equal measure, Untethered is the one. A powerful, unforgettable read!

Katia: a young black woman that was the executive director of a group home for young black boys. When she loved you, she loved to and she gave you her all. Katis was like this with her family, her friends and the boys at the group. She invested all that she was into those that she loved in spite of what she was going through and what she needed.
Katia dealt with a number of issues surrounding her family, a gentleman caller, boys at the group home, most notably Chad and PeeWee, the board at the group home, and her brothers. Katia presented herself as the epitome of strong black beast womanhood in this work of historical fiction.
Thank you, let Netgalley and K. C. Mills for allowing me to read this ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up. I have mixed feelings about this one, but I’ll start by saying I’m excited to read more from Jackson Brown. This book convinced me that whenever I’m in the mood for a character-driven story, I’ll be reaching for her work.

What this book does well is dive deep into the life of its protagonist, Katia—a grieving, vulnerable, and, at times, self-loathing woman. She’s relatable and recognizable, while also displaying immense strength and care for those around her, often to both her benefit and detriment.

The story tackles heavy topics, including grief over losing her father, supporting her mother, longing for her missing twin brother, and caring for her other brother, who has returned from war. Katia is also the director of a foster home for young Black children, all while navigating her dating life and grappling with her inability to have children. I expected heavy themes, especially with the foster care system and the systemic failures that often affect children.

While I was drawn to the these deeper topics, the execution left me torn. By the end, the heavier moments didn’t land as strongly as I’d hoped, and some felt underexplored. The story leaned heavily on Katia’s feelings of inadequacy, particularly around motherhood and her relationships, which sometimes felt repetitive. When a character dies, for example, it felt rushed and almost unnecessary to the narrative making it hard to fully grieve them.

I also struggled with the genre blending. At times, it felt more like a romance novel disguised as something else. The ending—a sappy romantic resolution—felt out of sync with the rest of the book. While some readers will find relief in seeing Katia finally appreciated by someone who recognizes her value, it didn’t entirely work for me.

That said, Katia’s connections with the young boys in her care, her family, and her friends are deeply felt. I just wish we’d gotten perspectives from other characters, like her brother Mark, whose experience with war and its aftermath is only shown secondhand. The same goes for Mason and Chad, whose voices brought innocence and vulnerability to the foster care storyline.

Lastly, the historical fiction aspect didn’t always feel convincing. Without a few dated references, much of the story could have taken place today. While the author touched on racism and abuse in Katia’s work environment, as well as the stacked challenges faced by Black children in foster care, I think there was room to expand on these themes and firmly ground the story in its intended era.

Overall, while I didn’t love the book, I did like it. It’s rich in emotion and complexity and would make an excellent book club pick. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

3.5 rounded up

Untethered is a thought-provoking exploration of faith, duty, and self-discovery set against the backdrop of a racially tense 1967 Alabama. Katia Daniels, the protagonist, has dedicated her life to caring for others—first her family, and now the boys at the Pike County Group Home. Her struggles with love, loss, and a deeply rooted sense of obligation unfold in a story filled with emotional depth and historical context.

While I appreciated the book's focus on faith and its examination of trauma, I had trouble fully connecting with the characters and the narrative. The writing sometimes felt awkward, and the story lacked cohesion, which made it hard to stay engaged. Repetition throughout the book became frustrating, and despite the intriguing premise, the pacing often felt too slow.

That said, the novel shines in its portrayal of Katia’s resilience and the complexity of her relationships, particularly as she navigates her connection with Seth, a figure from her past. The narrative beautifully weaves together themes of faith and healing, lending the story an emotional weight that lingers.

Ultimately, while Untethered didn’t fully capture me, it’s a reflective read that touches on important topics. For those who appreciate historical fiction with introspective characters and a strong faith element, this novel might resonate more deeply. My rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up.

** Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary advance copy. The opinions are my own.

This book was just amazing. I love reading books where I learn something I didn't even know I needed to. This book focuses on issues that existed in the south in the 1960d including foster homes for black boy. This book touches on my heart.

Angela Jackson-Brown is one of my favorite contemporary writers, and she has delivered another thoughtful, heartfelt story.

Set in 1967 Alabama, Katia Daniel's is an Executive Director for a boys group home. The boys and her staff have become her family and she tries so hard to save them all, even while putting her own happiness aside. She lives at home with her elderly mother and her twins brothers are off fighting in the Vietnam War.

This story delves into many themes such as family obligations, love, self-discovery, self-love, race, and civil rights. We all wonder where we fit in this world and the path is oftentimes a journey with alot of twist and turns.

If you love historical fiction, I suggest you read Angela's books. She is an amazing syoryteller!

Set amidst the backdrop in 1967 in Troy, Alabama, Untethered follows Katia Daniels, who runs the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys while grappling with personal and professional challenges amid the Vietnam War.

Katia is a deeply compelling character whose resilience left a lasting impression. Her commitment to helping troubled boys succeed, despite the systemic racism of the time, and her desire to have children of her own, is both inspiring and heartbreaking. As she navigates the pressure of family responsibilities and the emotional turmoil of reconnecting with her high school crush, Seth, Katia learns the importance of opening up and leaning on others for support.

Angela Jackson-Brown’s writing is poignant and draws the reader into the lives of her characters. While the book touches on some difficult themes, it concludes beautifully. The inclusion of Nina Simone’s music, the escape into romance novels, the striking book cover, and Karen Murray's narration, which brings the characters to life, are additional highlights that made this book a truly enriching read.

Favorite Quote:
ᥫ᭡  "..I wish I could have been in your life then to take care of you.  If you'll have me, we'll figure out together if you want to be parents.  I learned from watching you with those boys at the group home that there are many ways to create a family.  But the first person I want to create a family with is you."

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher HarperCollins Focus and Harper Muse Audiobooks and the author Angela Jackson-Brown for the complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! I was so invested in the characters and their stories that the book became very emotional for me. Angela Jackson-Brown is a very talented author and I look forward to reading more from her.

This book is incredible, possibly one of the best books I have read this year. It was so poignant and so beautifully written but it was also thought provoking and evocative. Stunning

The dictionary gives the meaning of untethered as not physically connected to fasted to something to restricted by a tether. However, Untethered is anything but that because you could not tell me that these characters were not linked. I think the author named this book untethered to show us that we are all connected in some way because I definitely connected with Katia. Katia made me face somethings I feel about myself so much that I had to grab for a tissue or two. I love when a book reaches in and touches your soul unexpectedly. I loved this read and will remember Katia and her family by blood and the family made.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown ⭐⭐⭐⭐

HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse
Pub Date: 12-3-24

Thank you @netgalley, @harpermusebooks, and @angelajacksonbrownauthor for this eARC.

Just when I thought I wasn’t connecting with the characters, the tears began to flow!

Katia is a selfless woman who, with the support of her mother, invites two boys from the group home she manages to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her extended family. The bond between Katia and the boys, Chad and Pee Wee, is both beautiful and heartbreaking.

Katia also faces the impact of the Vietnam War on her family when her twin brothers are reported missing. One returns home struggling with mental health challenges, while the family continues to hold out hope for news of the brother who remains missing.

While dealing with these heavy responsibilities, Katia reconnects with a handsome, kind man from her past, who offers her friendship while hoping for something more.

". . . I had boys who needed me— yet they weren’t my boys. I only had them temporarily and then they went on their way. But hearing Pee Wee beg me to somehow create a situation where I could parent him and Chad broke my heart wide-open. I wanted it, but this was a dream that had no chance of coming true."

#untethered #angelajacksonbrown #harpermuse #netgalley

This is such a lovely emotion filled book. Katia cares for the boys who lives in the home she runs beautifully. In my opinion Katia is a representation of black women the load that they’re left to hold and the people in their lives they’re uplifting. We’re expected to be strong, uplift the family, and we’re supposed to do it because we love our families even if the giving hurts our hearts sometimes. This is a story about love and so much more!

I’ve already suggested this book to multiple people, and it was an amazing read.

Occasionally I will read a book that so touches my heart that I'm almost afraid to share my thoughts for fear someone else won't feel the same way. Then my rational mind reminds me that the wonder of books is that there are so many great books, and when you love one, you should shout it from the mountains. I absolutely loved Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown. It is set in Troy, Alabama in 1967. The main character is Katia Daniel's, the Executive Director of the Pike County Group Home for Boys, Negro boys ages 8-16. Katia's love and commitment to the boys is the driving force in her life. She is 40 years old, single, lives with her Mama; her twin brothers Marcus and Aaron are serving in Vietnam. The storyline is so well crafted that I felt that I was living the story along with Katia. The love of and commitment to family made me yearn for simpler days, yet sadly the prejudice and fear Blacks in Alabama, and elsewhere experienced still exists today. One sentence really stuck with me, Katia was talking to a Black friend who was questioning the time he served in Vietnam; he lost his leg in service to the USA. She said: "Seth, being a Black person in this country ain't easy. We love America a whole lot more than it loves us, but it's the only country we've got. "
There is too much depth in this novel to adequately share it in a review; I could go on and on. Suffice to say, Untethered, made me laugh and cry. At one point I had to take a quick break just to compose myself. It tells a story of love, honor, disappointment, death, joy and the miracle of living one more day. Thank you very much to NetGalley, Harper Muse Publishing, and Angela Jackson-Brown for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of Untethered, this review reflects my honest opinion. And to the author, Ms. Jackson-Brown, thank you for writing this wonderful book. 5 stars.

Untetheredf explores the complexities of family, identity, and the weight of responsibility, but with a focus on the struggles of a woman navigating infertility and the constraints of societal expectations.

I cried reading this story. I also have purchased a copy for my trophy shelf. This was a beautifully written piece of literature.

This was a delightful surprise! Jackson-Brown is so adept at portraying this tumultuous time period (1967) and all the emotions and fears of her main character. The children in the story at the Alabaman Home for Negro Boys were portrayed so lovingly and other than the clueless Board, the reader finds herself just wanting to BE a character in the embrace of this community. It's a fine historical novel that anyone could enjoy despite some very sad happenings.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It is simply lovely.

Katia Daniels is the director of the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys in Troy, Alabama. The year is 1951 and she is in a constant battle with the system, to see her boys succeed, all while mourning the loss of her father. Katia takes a special interest in Chad and young Pee Wee. Then she received notice that her twin brothers are MIA in Vietnam.

The last thing that Katia is thinking about is falling in love, until her high school crush, Seth enters the scene. He is patient with her, there for her family and a stellar good dude. What is important to note is Seth is on a healing journey as well. I loved how he used his healing to help other veterans, who may have been suffering from PTSD.

Hands down, one of the best books I've read this year.

Trigger Warning: This book addresses several issues, including racism, loss, physical, mental and sexual abuse.

This is now my second book by Jackson-Brown (courtesy of Hear Our Voices) and the author always hooks me in with the messiness that is life of the FMC and weaves in such a poetic and well written story. Untethered follows this blueprint but somehow there is so much than unfolds here that knocked me off of my feet.

Our FMC Katia is a perfect example of the burdens that we as black women face consistently. We are looked at as “strong” and as the backbone of the family because we have to be. It’s not out of choice of out of sheer will to provide for our families needs whatever those may be. I know far too many women in my life that fit the archetype: my mom, aunts, and elders fall perfectly into this and it’s because it’s so ingrained in our society. The novel eloquently showcases why it’s important to divorce black women from this “ideal” of the superwoman mentality of having to burden all of them demands of the family PLUS our own struggles.
The parallels in my own life were impossible to miss, truly I was internally reflecting about my own decisions and why I am a peace maker in my own family as I read through this.

I struggle with how to put my thoughts into this review because it has so deeply impacted me. Untethered solidified Jackson-Brown as an auto buy author. This beautiful novel releases Tuesday, December 3, 2025.

As soon I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this book. The book is set in Troy, Alabama, which happens to be the birthplace of one of my favorite Civil Rights Legends, Representative John Lewis. It’s also not too far from my hometown so you know I was locked in! (Plus, Me 🔑 + Southern Fiction🔒 = 🔐) This was my third Angela Jackson-Brown book in just a few months. She’s definitely one of the reasons why I’ve been stuck in my historical fiction reading streak. This was different from the others and I think this might be my favorite of hers. Katia runs a group home for boys and she’s very protective of them, as she should be. She is also burdened with a load of professional and personal problems. I know that life all too well, especially working with children myself. Those problems can be particularly hard to leave at work. I loved seeing her take a few moments to herself to enjoy a few pages of her favorite books, a few spins of her treasured albums, or a quiet, calming bath. We have to find joy and peace whenever and however can. Although this story takes place in 1967, it still rings true today and it’s more important than ever now. Black women it’s our time to rest! You should pick this one up if you if need that reminder in historical fiction form.

Rating: 4.5/ 5 ⭐️

Thanks to Hear Our Voices Tours, Harper Muse Books, and Angela Jackson-Brown for my gifted ARCs and ALC!

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ♾️/ 5.0 (I HIGHLY recommend)
𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰: ♾️/ 5.0 (I HIGHLY recommend)

“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒆𝒘 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒗𝒖𝒍𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏.”

“…𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖…𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔, 𝑰 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅.”

🄱🄾🄾🄺 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆

Wow! I do not even know where to start! I enjoyed this book so much and it was so much more than I ever expected! This is my second read by Angela Jackson-Brown, and I AM A FAN!!

I just love her writing style, the way she builds her characters, the realism in her stories. I loved it all.

𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 is a heavy and emotional read but it is also a story of love, lost, and found family. In 𝑼𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅, we meet Katia Daniels who is the Executive Director at a group home for at risk boys. As of late, work has been overwhelming for her. At the beginning of the story, we find her at her wits end with this job. Will she have to quit work or will it even matter if she gets fired? In addition to her issues at work, Katia is lonely. Though she has her mom, her brothers are off at war and her “gentlemen caller,” who she really has no interest in, is not really fulfilling all of her needs. Katia wants more. She deserves more. But will she ever find true happiness?

This story took me on an emotional roller coaster ride. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I felt encouraged, and my heart filled with joy by the time it was all over. Angela Jackson-Brown knows how to draw the reader in and she builds a world that allows her readers to be fully immersed in the narrative. The setting of the story is the 1960s during the Vietnam War and the author did such an amazing job with the story that I was able to see and feel like I was there. I loved the musical references (i.e. Nina Simone) and I loved the feel of the small town and all of the other settings in the book.

In addition to her excelled world-building, Angela Jackson-Brown did a stellar job with her characters. Katia Daniels is my shero. Though life gave her rotten lemons, boy was she able to make some sweet lemonade. Katia was selfless, supporting, loving, strong, and a true inspiration to me. I just loved the way she stood up for her boys at the group home. She understood the racial dynamics and how, even though they were technically “kids,” society would see and treat them like men (seeing them as a threat). One of my favorite scenes in the book was when she defended Chad Montgomery (a young boy at the group home) against one of the counselors who was working at the group home. Katia was not afraid to stand up for him by letter the counselor know “I will not allow you or anyone else to disrupt their routine or their peach of mind…Neither your needs or the needs of the foster care system will ever supersede the needs of my boys.” Man, at this time, I was her biggest cheerleader, cheering “yes girl, you go girl, you better let her know not to mess with you and those boys!”

I wont spoil it too much but I have to say that I just LOVED the way Katia’s relationship with Seth Taylor was written. Again, I do not want to spoil it but it was a slow burn that was worth the payout! That man loved him some Katia and his patience, and understanding was so beautiful to watch. He gave her what she needed at the right time. He was her friend when she needed a friend, her strength when she had none and her protector when it was necessary. I just loved it all! There were so many times in the story that I wanted her to get out of her own way so she could find true happiness and I must say, I was over the moon happy with the ending we were given.

Overall, I HIGHLY recommend this book! It is an inspirational, beautiful, love story (romantic & familial (found family as well) but it is also a story of self-love and self-worth.

🄰🅄🄳🄸🄾🄱🄾🄾🄺 🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆: I had the opportunity to listen to the audio version of this story and I must say that the narrator Karen Murray did a phenomenal job bringing not only Katia but all of the characters to life. I especially loved her portrayal of Pee Wee.

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅴🆇🅿🅴🅲🆃
🌹Historical Fiction (Vietnam War)
🌹Found Family
🌹Black Love
🌹Second Chance at Love
🌹Mature Main Characters
🌹Mental Health Rep
🌹Plus Size Rep
🌹Infertility Rep
🌹Foster Care System Rep

🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂 🆃🅷🅰🆃 🆁🅴🆂🅾🅽🅰🆃🅴🅳 🆆🅸🆃🅷 🅼🅴
❤️ “Dear Creator, today I need mercy.”
❤️ “You deserve happiness, Katia. Large helpings of Happiness.”
❤️ “Integration didn’t equal fair treatment. “
❤️ “I am not my circumstances. Even when it feels like all hope is lost, I am still a winner.”
❤️ “Time will be the best healer.”
❤️ “Good things don’t just happen. We make things good by being intentional.”
❤️ “ He needs to tell his story to you and his sister. That is how we heal. Silence is what kills us slowly.”
❤️“I never should have accepted crumbs when I deserved the entire cake.”
❤️ “Life is too short, and death is too long for people to not be with the one they love.”
❤️ “Sometimes one broker person just needs to hear from another brother person.”
❤️ “We’re all looking for love and acceptance. Nobody is better than anybody else.”
❤️ “The last few months had forced me to acknowledge that I also needed to be vulnerable and taken care of sometimes, and needing those things didn’t make me weak. It merely made me human.”
❤️ “It’s okay for you to not be strong sometimes.”
❤️ “It means nothing to talk about God if we aren’t living godly lives.”
❤️ “I h-h-have more gr-gr-grannies…Gran is th-th-the main one but m-maybe it’s okay if I-I-I have more?”….”You deserve all the grannies and all the aunties there are…”
❤️ “Let yourself be happy, Katia, and don’t settle for less than what God has for you. Be brave. Just like He said.”
❤️ “I need you to pray like you have never prayed before.”
❤️ “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.”
❤️ “You don’t have to be okay with me…You can be as vulnerable as you need to be. I know this is a lot. You shouldn’t have had to go through this alone….Kat—I care about you.”
❤️ “My goal was always to encourage them to feel their feelings but also to figure how to harness those emotions into something that ultimately serve them in a positive way.”
❤️ “I did this because you need to be reminded of the legacy you’ve created.”
❤️ “…I have been working very hard not to fall in love with you…but in spite of my efforts, I fell hard.”
❤️ “You are kind and generous and unselfish and beautiful and sexy and thoughtful…”
❤️ “The blessings just kept pouring on me like summer rain.”