I loved reading this book, which is the retelling of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When I read The Great Gatsby in high school, I had some conflicted feelings about the book – it didn't feel like the world I lived in, and that is one of the things I enjoyed most about The Great Mann. The book follows Charlie, a veteran, as he starts his new life in Los Angeles amongst the black elite. It was a fun read, full of interesting characters, and even some celebrities made a cameo, e.g., Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel, to name a few. I found the book to be super interesting. Charlie is a great narrator, and the book explores a range of topics, including social class and racial injustices. It's an excellent book!

This book is a retelling of The Great Gatsby taking the white gaze of the minuscule Black characters in that story and spinning it on its head.
Charlie is home from the War and grappling with being a Black soldier in White America. He leaves the South to stay with his cousin in LA and is enamored with the lifestyle he's thrust into. Particularly the lifestyle of James Mann. Will befriending this enigmatic character cost him more than he bargained for?
The characters are richly compelling and complex. A mix of real life people and fictional characters amongst vivid imagery made the story authentic and immersive.
I loved Louise Beavers' character. Marguerite was annoying yet sympathetic. Charlie was endearing. And I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about Mann. @kyradavislurie writing is clever, concise, and informative. This retelling of an American classic is brilliantly done. Conveying the themes and characterization in a Black world makes the story more dramatic with much more depth. Brava! I rarely do rereads but this is a story I know I want to revisit again.
Thank you @netgalley for my digital ARC and a chance to read and review.

The Great Mann is to The Great Gatsby as James is to Huckleberry Finn. I live in SoCal and appreciate historical fiction set in the region. The peek into early Los Angeles' Sugar Hill neighborhood was fascinating. In this regard, Lurie's novel is historical fiction at its best. It revealed to me history I was previously unaware of, brought the characters of the era to life, and opened my eyes to aspects of American Black culture I knew little about. The story is well-paced and has a strong and varied cast of characters. The Great Gatsby has never been my favorite book - I don't particularly enjoy rich-people-behaving-badly stories, and I enjoyed The Great Mann far more.

Many thanks to NetGalley for gifting me an ebook in exchange for a review.

Kyra Davis Lurie does a fantastic job in retelling the Great Gatsby, it told the story that it needed to and enjoyed the overall concept of this. It created something unique that still had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from retellings. The characters were so well written and had that overall feel that I wanted. I hope to read more from Kyra Davis Lurie as this was really well done.

New York Times bestselling author Kyra Davis Lurie's THE GREAT MANN, is a haunting and lyrical reimagining of THE GREAT GATSBY. The novel is set in 1945 and told from the perspective of Charlie Trammell, a Black war veteran. Raised in the South, Charlie is invited by his cousin Marguerite to establish himself in California. Looking for a better way of life, Charlie steps off a train in Los Angeles and finds himself thrust into the world of the city's Black elite as he develops relationships with the residents of West Adams Heights aka "Sugar Hill".

Kyra is a prolific writer, penning both the Just One Night and Pure Sin romance series as well the beloved Sophie Katz mystery series, and I've enjoyed reading her backlist titles.

But this book? You would never know this is her initial foray into historical fiction. She is a masterful storyteller, capturing the spirit of that era with authentic dialogue and captivating descriptions. The main characters are fictional. They're flawed but relatable and their struggles invite empathy. There are also appearances by real celebrities and business leaders who were instrumental in the fight for racial justice during the court case that challenged racial covenants in their community. Lurie's extensive research is evident and she skillfully offers historical content in a way that captivates the reader.

I was enraptured to the point that I have the book in both print and audio. The narrator is superb. I would lie in bed, close my eyes, and feel like I was in the scenes. It's absolutely cinematic and I anticipate a film adaptation. Lurie's writing is so excellent that creating a screenplay should be seamless and I hope she is involved in that process.

Fitzgerald's classic may be the inspiration for this book - and the original themes are still present - but Lurie's examination of the American dream with the added component of racial dynamics set her apart. She created a brilliant piece of literature that stands on its own. I LOVE this book and I highly encourage everyone to read it. Now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the ARC!

In The Great Mann, Kyra Davis Lurie breathes new life into The Great Gatsby, relocating the story to 1945 Los Angeles and centering it within the historically rich Black enclave of Sugar Hill, an affluent neighborhood in West Adams Heights once dubbed the "Black Beverly Hills." Against the backdrop of a city redefining itself after World War II, Lurie introduces us to Charlie Trammell, a young Black veteran seeking purpose after the war. What he finds instead is a world of glittering promise and simmering tension.

From the moment Charlie arrives, he is swept up in the dynamic rhythm of a community alive with possibility. Boarding with a charismatic actress and working at a Black-owned insurance company, Charlie begins to taste a version of the American Dream that had always been denied him in the Jim Crow South. But the true gravitational pull is James “Reaper” Mann, an enigmatic, larger-than-life figure whose lavish parties (featuring cameos from real figures like Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel) cloak a deeper loneliness.

This book doesn’t just echo Gatsby, it transforms it. The change in setting, from Long Island’s mansions to Sugar Hill’s historically Black prosperity, adds layers of complexity and historical resonance. Lurie skillfully interweaves fact and fiction, incorporating real housing covenants and legal battles that reflect the systemic racism threatening to unravel everything the community has built. It’s not just a social drama, it’s a meditation on access, erasure, and belonging.

I appreciated this book both as a literary homage and a historical education. As a white reader, it pushed me to reflect on the narratives I’ve grown up with and the many that have been sidelined. Lurie’s storytelling is deft and empathetic, and her characters, especially Charlie, are written with real emotional depth.

I enjoyed this Great Gatsby retelling! I was drawn to this book because it is retold from the perspective of a Black man. It is set in. Set in 1940s Los Angeles, the film features many Old Hollywood icons such as Hattie McDaniel and Louise Beavers. A lot of research went into this book as well. I learned so much about the Sugar Hill neighborhood, and it even made me want to do my own research once I finished this book. I definitely recommend reading this if you want to learn more about Black history! Read if you enjoy:

-Stories about the Black elite
-Post World II era
-Books retold from a Black perspective!

The emptiness of the American Dream, especially for Black folks. Wow. This book was stunning.

Let’s start with the characters. Like Charlie, I was immediately drawn to the lore of James “Reaper” Mann. His wealth, his blinding love for the one that got away, and his sketchy reputation made me want to get all in his business. But really, all of the characters in this book were complex and layered. Charlie was written with such big, human emotions, and his fascination with Mann made me realize that I couldn’t imagine this story being told from any other POV. I also loved his romance with Anna and watching him see Margie change in real time. The other characters provided a mix of mess/scandal and various manifestations of Black excellence, but I especially loved how connected the community was. I also caught how the stories of the figures we know, like Lena Horne and Hattie McDaniel, were interwoven in the book.

The setting thoughtfully centered affluent Black folks who created pockets of luxury and safety in the midst of Jim Crow, but who were still reminded of the threats of it despite how successful they were. I also learned so much about the real history of Sugar Hill and went into a rabbit hole looking up the Supreme Court racial covenant case Shelley v. Kraemer in 1948.

I was a little scared that I wouldn’t 100% get the book because I’ve never read The Great Gatsby (or really remember the movie), but this still felt like something I could understand, especially mixing in bits of our history. Beautiful writing and storytelling.

The Great Mann is a powerful, character-driven novel that delivers sharp commentary wrapped in sharp wit and unapologetic swagger. The story unfolds with confidence, giving us a main character who’s equal parts brilliant, messy, and unforgettable. It’s one of those books where the dialogue crackles and the observations cut deep.

The pacing was a little uneven in parts, which is why it’s not a full five stars—but trust me, when this book hits, it hits hard. The themes of identity, legacy, and self-worth are woven in beautifully, and the emotional payoff in the final chapters is worth the ride.

‘The Great Gatsby’ has, for many years, been one of my favorite pieces of classic literature. As the inequalities in our society grow, so does its relevance. So, I jumped at the chance to read ‘The Great Mann’, Kyra Davis Lurie’s Gatsby retelling. As the author explains in her note at the beginning of the novel, she set out to take a fresh look at one of our Great American Novels from a different angle, breathing life into the so often untold story of African Americans – mentioned briefly in Gatsby as an “anything goes absurdity”. I was in from page one.

If you know Fitzgerald, you’ll recognize themes and plotlines here. This story, however, is set in the very real Sugar Hill neighborhood of Los Angeles, among its wealthy Black elite. Set in the 1940s, just after the end of WWII, Hollywood is in its Golden Age and prosperity seems to be everywhere. Charlie Trammell, a veteran who has just arrived from his hometown in the Jim Crow South, is enthralled with the freedom he sees around him, but racial tensions soon bubble up. The main characters are fictional, but the work is peppered with a number of real-life movie stars and historical figures of the time.

The story and characters are both familiar and very fresh. This novel is highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction and/or retellings of classic literature, especially from a different perspective. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to Crown Publishing | Crown, the author, and NetGalley for providing this copy of The Great Mann for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is an easy five stars for me. I had a hard time putting it down! I learned more about racial covenants and Black Hollywood stars along the way. Each character is so layered. No one (even Terrance) is just one thing. Charlie is a great narrator both tragic and funny. His friendship with Mann almost made me cry because you could tell he loved him and pitied him.
I am about to read everything Davis has written.

I really enjoyed this retelling of The Great Gatsby and reading about Charlie's experience after the war and him rubbing elbows with some of the best of black Hollywood. The gossip and scandal of it all is always entertaining. The things that married couples do and put up with behind closed doors is always interesting and Charlie had a front row seat to that and more. Loved it!

This is a difficult book for me to review, as I loved the look into this time and place in Black history, and I was fascinated by all I learned, knowing the author had tried to represent it all with fidelity. However, the writing didn't always work for me, and I felt there was such a strain for the writer (and for me as a reader) to fit it into the Gatsby narrative (which it definitely fits, but sometimes strained to do so). I'll recommend this book to Gatsby aficionados and to those interested in little-appreciated aspects of Black history, but perhaps not to others.

It's been more years than I can count since I read The Great Gatsby so I came at this retelling fresh. And it stands on its own. Read this as the story of Charlie, who arrives in Los Angeles as a naif, and finds himself in the Sugar Hill neighborhood and in the thrall of the Reaper. It's well done historical fiction with cameos from real people (yes, I googled many of them and learned something). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

This was fine - another Gatsby retelling and it was certainly faithful to the original. The setting was good and could have worked but I found myself a bit bored. I wanted to love this one and just didn't even though I think it was really well done. I think the writing could have been a bit more fantastical and pretty, if that makes sense. However, if you love the original, I would certainly recommend this one!!

The Great Mann comes out next week on June 10, 2025, and you can purchase HERE.

"The way I talk ain't got nothin' to do with my intelligence or my education. It's a marker of where I'm from. As my mama always says, only the most vacuous and ignominious of men try to act like they're from somewhere they ain't."
The corners of her mouth twitch. "Your mama says that?"
"No, 'course not. My mama probably thinks vacuous is the latest model of Hoover. But I'm trying to make a point."

Set in 1945 Los Angeles, The Great Mann follows Charlie Trammell, a young Black veteran looking to rebuild his life after the war. He moves into Sugar Hill, a wealthy Black neighborhood filled with promise and pride. There he’s drawn into the orbit of James “Reaper” Mann, a wealthy and mysterious businessman known for his lavish parties and powerful influence. As Charlie learns more about Reaper’s world, he witnesses the community’s rising tensions with their white neighbors, leading to a historic court case that tests the very idea of belonging and justice in America.

This was a skillfully researched and thoroughly well-written novel. Kyra Davis Lurie brings the Sugar Hill community to life with vivid detail and care, grounding this fictional story in real historical events. You can feel the weight of that history in every scene.

For me, this was a gut-check kind of read. It’s a book that doesn’t flinch from hard truths. As a white woman, I was deeply moved and challenged by the way this story centers voices and experiences that have so often been pushed aside. The emotional impact is real, and it made me reflect on the importance of whose stories get told and remembered.

I applaud the author for taking a well-known classic and reimagining it in such a bold and necessary way. The Great Mann is innovative, thought-provoking, and full of heart. It’s not just a retelling. It’s a reclamation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advance copy of this ebook. All opinions are solely my own.

I was required to read The Great Gatsby in high school. I didn't find it wildly entertaining and don't remember a lot of details besides the main character interactions. However, I thought this was a great retelling. It stands on its own, but I could still recognize the major themes and characters. There's so much to be discussed about the characters and the setting in the affluent neighborhood of Sugar Hill, which I didn't know a lot about. The author taking from real events and including Hollywood figures like Hattie McDaniel, Lena Horne and Clark Gable worked really well. I'd like to read more from the author in the future.

I may be one of the only people that never quite made it through the admittedly small novel, The Great Gatsby. (Shocking I know!) So I think I was able to come at this story through a different lense. I really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect and the characters felt interesting and well fleshed out.
This may convince me to read the original inspiration. Or maybe I should just stick with loving this reimagining!

I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The novel is set to be released on June 10, 2025.

I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and imaginative read—a richly drawn, African-American re-imagining of The Great Gatsby. The post–World War II historical context adds depth and resonance, offering a fresh backdrop that sets this retelling apart.

While the general arc of the story may feel familiar to those well-versed in Gatsby lore, this predictability doesn't detract from the novel’s emotional pull. The characters, though clearly inspired by Fitzgerald's originals, are vivid, distinct, and compelling in their own right. I found myself fully invested in their journeys, eager to see how the author would interpret and evolve these iconic roles.

This is a bold and thoughtful homage that manages to feel both timeless and timely. I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction and literary retellings.

4 stars!

The best book I’ve read this year! An homage to The Great Gatsby and set in the opulent Sugar Hill region of Los Angeles during the 1940s, Kyra Davis Lurie’s The Great Mann masterfully blends history and fiction into a story that, while familiar, is completely new and completely riveting. The characters are complex and the writing captivating. While exploration of the American Dream is nothing new, the nuanced look at the Black experience in the post-war era with characters only a generation removed from sharecropping is a view I didn’t know I needed. 5 stars