Member Reviews

While Untethered does take place during 1967 and certain plot points are directly influenced by historical moments, this story felt like it could have taken place at any point in history and still make sense. Jackson-Brown does an excellent job balancing multiple plot-lines that create a full story and allows for a very real feeling experience. Untethered has nicely balanced moments of humor, heart breath, joy, and despair. Katia is a magnificent character and it was rewarding watching her grow and evolve, even with everything life was throwing at her. Untethered explores what it means to be a Black woman in American society and the many ways in which Black women can and do mother the young even when those young might not be theirs in a biological or conventionally sense. Jackson-Brown celebrates Black community, Black family, and Black love in all forms, and she employs beautiful prose to do so, penning moments that almost brought me to tears or had me grinning from ear to ear.

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Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s Focus for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

An emotional historical fiction focused on a group home during the Vietnam war. Definitely a read that’ll get you crying but it’s really well done. You love the characters, the way it’s written is incredible and I really recommend

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Themes:
Motherhood, Abandonment, love, found family, transformation
BIO:
In the small college town of Troy, Alabama, amidst the backdrop of 1967, Katia Daniels lives a life steeped in responsibility. At the Pike County Group Home for African American Boys, she pours her heart into nurturing the young lives under her care, harboring a longing for children of her own. Set in a society where due to race and gender she has less power & options.

Love this 💕:
💕 Perspective of a Group home carer
💕 Medical Representation
💕Discussions around womanhood & motherhood
💕disability rep in love interests
💕 The Ending
Not my cuppa tea ☕️:
☕️ only negative perspective on birth parents

Ideal Reader:
✨Fans of stories with complex mother & child relationships
✨Fans of books that deal with complex themes
✨Fans of historical fiction from BIPOC perspectives

Thanks to NetGalley , Harper Collins & author Angela Jackson-Brown for an ARC Copy of this Books in exchange for a fair and honest review

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Angela Jackson-Brown crafts a poignant and heartfelt tale in Untethered, weaving themes of love, loss, and resilience into a deeply moving narrative. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the story follows a young woman navigating the complexities of family, identity, and survival. Jackson-Brown’s lyrical prose and vivid storytelling immerse readers in a richly textured world filled with emotional depth and raw honesty. A beautifully written novel that lingers in the heart long after the final page.

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Troy, Alabama. 1967. Katia Daniels is a 40 year old plus size Black woman of faith and director of a group home for young Black boys. Her younger twin brothers are away fighting in the Vietnam War. Her father died years ago, leaving her and her mother to share the family home alone. She puts her everything into her work, and treats the boys and her coworkers like family, advocating fiercely for their best interests and safety with pure intentions. When she’s not working, she delves into the worlds in romance novels and Nina Simone’s music. When she finds out her brothers are missing in action, the safety of one the boys she cares for is in jeopardy, and her time as director of the boy’s home is on the line, an old familiar face (and her high school crush) comes back into her life to support her.

🏡📚🕯️📺🪖⛪️🌥️🎼💐😭🪽💍🫀

This book tore me up!!! (in a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ kinda way) I cared so much about each of these characters, and could not stop reading! I love that the representation of Nina Simone inspired Katia to embrace her afro. My heart broke for her desire to be a mother and how she truly loved the boys as her own. Chad and PeeWee were such memorable and lovable characters, just sweet and smart little boys who didn’t deserve all the suffering life had handed them 💔 When Seth came in Katia’s office, with a warm spirit calling her “Kat,” I knew a second chance romance was on the horizon. But Katia fought their connection so hard. She felt that she didn’t deserve him because she couldn’t have babies 😢 although he constantly showed that he would keep choosing her. I cried so much with sadness and grief but then the happy (but still sad) tears at the end made it all so worth it. I could not recommend this book enough!

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Untethered was a heartbreaking “if it aint one thing, it’s another” love song to Black women. We have all either been Katia, or known a few Katia’s in our life time. This is just another tale of a magical Black woman who goes above and beyond for everyone around her; who feels not good enough when we can’t fix every wrong and make everything right.

Katia is balancing her job which practically consumes her life and energy, family issues and gives her the scraps every day. Things get harder when she finds herself deeply involved in the lives of the boys at the group home she manages.

I absolutely loved this story! It brought me back from a deep reading slump and makes me want to read more moving stories like this.

The narration was incredible!! All of the emotions were amplified! I’d love if this narrator could read every audiobook to me!

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"Untethered" by Angela Jackson-Brown is a 5 star historical fiction novel set in Alabama in 1967 with a smart female black main character. The Vietnam War was happening overseas.

Open the book and see what life was like for Katia Daniels, the executive director of the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys!

She is 40 and childless and really wants to be a mother, but she is close to many of the boys at the group home she runs. Most of the boys have troubled backgrounds, and some have challenging or even violent behaviors. Mostly, they need love and protection. She gets close to two of the boys in particular, Chad and PeeWee.

Katia lives with her mother, and they have a very good relationship. Her brothers, who are twins, are serving in the Marines in Vietnam and are declared missing in action. This story is set from just before Thanksgiving until around Christmas in 1967.

Karen Murray was the narrator of the audiobook, and she did an excellent job. The nearly 11-hour long audiobook flew by.

This book is immersive and very well written. It's interesting, and it gives you a sense of the culture and time period. There is introspection and self development as well as fear and anger, hope and love. This book gave me insight into a culture different from my own and made me feel nostalgic for it. Wow!

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 5/5
Plot - 5/5
Pacing - 5/5
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 5/5
Overall - 39/8 = 4 7/8 rounded up to 5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Focus / Harper Collins Muse, and Angela Jackson-Brown for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

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This book took me on a powerful emotional journey—captivating, heartbreaking, and deeply moving. I experienced it through the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Karen Murray, who truly brought each character to life. The setting of the story resonated with me, not for its historical context, but for its poignant exploration of the mental and emotional challenges faced by Black boys and the men who served in Vietnam. It beautifully illustrated that family isn't solely defined by blood; rather, it's about those who offer love, support, honesty, and a comforting hug in times of need. This was my first encounter with this author, but it certainly won't be my last. Additionally, Katia's admiration for Nina Simone was a delightful touch, as I share the same love for her music.

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This is a well told story with great characters and a realistic setting. I really loved all the characters, wanting a happy ending for each of them. The audiobook was well read, and I was fully engaged in the narration throughout. The story is set in Alabama in the 60s, with race as a main theme, but it didn't feel extremely historical in the voice, I kept forgetting it was in the 60s, the situations and issues are still pretty relevant today, which is a bummer to realize. I really liked it overall. I don't feel the title really fits the book.

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Untethered is a difficult book to explain. Each time I’ve tried to put pen to paper, I’ve felt as though I’ve failed to capture its magic. While the premise—a story about an African American woman running a foster home for Black boys in the segregated South—is compelling in itself, what truly makes this novel memorable is its execution. When I try to pinpoint what the story does best, I find myself going in circles. The very things that make it brilliant also make it difficult to describe. But here’s trying.

Every element—the historical setting, the exploration of race, the characterisation—is done exceptionally well. Even more impressive, though, is how each of these elements informs the others, seamlessly blending to create a story that feels greater than the sum of its parts.

The characterisation, in particular, stood out to me. Each character feels so well realised that the story could have easily centred on any one of them and still been an engaging read. And yet, there’s something about Katia that makes her the perfect lens through which to view the story. Her rich inner world immediately drew me in. There was always a tension between her thoughts and her actions—whether in her relationships with the boys or her romantic life—as she often acts in ways that contradict her desires. What I found especially compelling was how her motivations were explored in these moments: placing boundaries with the boys to protect them despite her love for them, or keeping distance from men out of fear of vulnerability.

The foster boys, particularly Chad and Peewee, are portrayed with remarkable empathy, their experiences illustrating the nuanced ways trauma manifests. Some boys become withdrawn, others lash out in anger or fear, and many embody a blend of seemingly contradictory emotions. Peewee’s anxious attachment and vulnerability highlight how trauma can leave someone clinging for reassurance, while Chad’s anger reveals how fear and hurt can harden into defiance. These portrayals underscore that responses to abuse aren’t always ‘ideal’ or linear, yet they remain deeply human and deserving of compassion.

Finally, I really appreciated the way race is woven throughout the novel, shaping every interaction and decision. From how Black boys are disproportionately returned to unsafe situations, their emotions more readily dismissed or weaponised, to how Katia struggles to be taken seriously as both a Black person and a woman—all of these challenges are heightened by the story’s Southern setting. As a Black woman, I found the portrayal accessible to a wide audience without compromising its authenticity. It never felt like a story about Black characters written for a white gaze; instead, it was a deeply grounded story that reflected the realities of being black within the wider context of the story.

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"Untethered" by Angela Jackson-Brown is a poignant exploration of duty and personal growth, set against the backdrop of the turbulent 1960s in Troy, Alabama. This narrative centers on Katia Daniels, a compassionate caregiver at the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, who finds herself deeply entrenched in a life of service, spurred by her family's history and her own inherent sense of responsibility. While the novel does not delve deeply into the historical context of the Vietnam War era, focusing instead on Katia's internal journey and her romantic entanglements, it still captures the essence of personal conflict and societal change.

Jackson-Brown's portrayal of Katia is compelling; she is depicted as a strong, resilient woman who consistently overcomes the hardships life throws her way. However, compared to Jackson-Brown's previous work, "Homeward," which I found rich with historical depth and complex narrative layers, "Untethered" feels somewhat straightforward.

Overall, I give "Untethered" four stars. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the complex choices one must navigate in the pursuit of personal fulfillment and happiness. While it may not have the historical richness of her previous works, it is undoubtedly a touching and meaningful read.

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Katia Daniels, who serves as director of a group home for boys of color in 1967 Alabama, grapples with many professional and personal struggles. She loves the kids who live in the group home as if they are her own (especially since she can't bear any children herself), and she longs for true love although she is convinced it isn't meant for her. Her twin brothers went to Vietnam, and now one of them is home with PTSD while the other is missing in action. In unconventional ways, Katia struggles to build a family in spite of the challenges thrown her way.

This book is historical fiction, but it's different than most in the genre because it's much more character driven and less focused on the events of the day. It's full of richly developed characters and touching dialogue. I really enjoyed this book and I also thought the narrator had the perfect voice for this type of story.

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Untethered was a really great historical fiction book about a Black woman running a group home for young Black boys while dealing with the stress of her twin brothers being lost at war. It touched so many different issues from self love, to grief, to childhood trauma to even a little ableism. I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone that loves historical fiction will love it too.

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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.
I must add that the narrator really made me want to continue and not press pause.
Thank you, let Netgalley and K. C. Mills for allowing me to read this ARC.

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It’s a 10!

Untethered is a book hangover worthy read of all the feels. A book that captures your attention from the beginning to the end. And I cannot leave out the unforgettable emotional pull at your heartstring moments.

Historical Fiction at its finest. This is one for the books and definitely a favorite in my top 5 books of 2024.

Bonus for the audiobook. I am talking next-level enjoyment.

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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. The audio version, narrated by Karen Murray was well done for the most part. Her voices for the children left a little to be desired. For those who appreciate historical fiction with introspective characters and a strong faith element, this novel might resonate more deeply.

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

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This review is for the audiobook, so let me start with the narrator.
Wow! The book is narrated by Karen Murray, and she does a phenomenal job! The characters have accents, they are male, female, and even children. There is also a child with a speech impediment. She provides voices for these various characters, and does so flawlessly! It's hard to believe it is one person narrating this book. 5 Stars to the Narrator!!

The book covers a time in history (mid-late 60s), during the Vietnam War. I have not read many books covering this era with Black characters. It was refreshing to delve into a story during this time period.
The main character, Katia, is a black woman in charge of the boys' home in a small town in the South. Along with the trials and tribulations of caring for boys that society looks down upon, she has her issues, including finding love and dealing with grief in her own family.
This story is multi-layered and kept my interest throughout the book.

The audiobook was very enjoyable, I listened to about 6 hours in one day. I was never bored, and the narrator kept me listening and involved. It will make you laugh, cry, and see there is hope.
Overall 4.5 Stars!

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Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and Netgally for this audio ARC.

The 5 star book touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. The narrator brought this story to life for me. Katia is a social worker at a group home for boys in Alabama. She lives and breaths for the safety and well-being of the boys in her charge. I loved how no matter what, she fought for their rights to be loved and taken care of just like any other child while living with the fact that she is in her 40's and has not been able to have any of her own. Katia had her own personal and family struggles and at times she was burning the candle at both ends but she always had supper in everything she did.

I cant wait to get a physical copy for my shelf.

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Angela Jackson - Brown once again pens us a raw honest story that shines a bit of light on a small snippet of history most of know very little about.

Katia Daniels is the director for Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys. Which in and of itself is hard enough, but then add in that it is the 60's and racial unrest has gripped the nation. The Foster care system is already a mess and then add prejudice to it and she is fighting an uphill battle for her boys.

With her own unique writing style, Jackson-Brown brings us a story that will grip you from the first. Your heart will ache for these boys that have been abandoned by their families for various reasons. As they all learn to navigate society, we as the readers will not only want to fight for them, we will find ourselves amazed that anyone could think so little of a fellow human.

Jackson-Brown does not pull any punches. She drops the problems of society, not only in the 60's, but also modern times right in our laps. She forces the reader to ask questions of themselves. Untethered is a must read for anyone looking for a well written book. full of characters that you will laugh with, cry over and grow to love.

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Untethered is absolutely beautifully written. Katia runs a boys home with a loving heart and open mind but she always manages to maintain that professional line. Then thanksgiving comes and with it much heartbreak and a rekindling love connection.

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