I love the premise of this book. The idea of a young millennial discovering so much about herself through a trip to Senegal. For those of us who are descendants of enslaved Africans here in America, most have not had the opportunity to reconnect with where our ancestors came from. Often, we don’t have enough information to go beyond the records of when they were first enslaved.

The main character Anana is a mess. She drinks too much with a foul mouth. However, she loves her best friend and her grandmother fiercely. Anana describes, in an almost lyrical way, the powerful impact that a trip like that can have. The narrative starts with a lot of self reflection. The author’s references to things like Britney Spears, TRL, and 106 & Park really connected me with that millennial generation. Also, as a North Carolina native, the setting and Southern influence were relatable.

As the narrative progresses, instead of remaining lyrical, it becomes more like general fiction. I was really impressed that this was a debut novel and I look forward to reading Armstrong’s next work.

This ARC was provided by the publisher Red Hen Press via NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed Ferry Tales. Following Anana's journey as she reconnects with her heritage and develops a deeper connection with her ancestors was both interesting and meaningful. I particularly enjoyed the way the book explored the African diaspora alongside themes of identity, culture and belonging.

There was also quite a lot of humour throughout, which gave a nice balance to some of the deeper themes. An enjoyable and thoughtful debut that explores ancestry and self-discovery while still having plenty of personality

Ferry Tales follows Anana Freedman, a Black millennial whose comfortable life is built around work, drinking, smoking, and relationships that never require too much from her. An unexpected wedding invitation takes her to West Africa, where she is forced to confront the distance between the life she has created and the history she has inherited.

I liked that Anana’s journey is not presented as a simple homecoming or an instant spiritual awakening. Her experience brings together family history, corporate ambition, romance, cultural disconnection, and the complicated realities of the African diaspora. She can be messy and self-protective, but that makes her search for a stronger sense of identity feel more honest.

The novel occasionally tries to carry several large themes at once, but Anana’s voice, the humor, and the West African setting kept me engaged. This was a thoughtful debut about what it means to reconnect with a heritage that feels both deeply personal and unfamiliar.

My sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free advance review copy.