Ruby King lives in Chicago with her mother and her abusive father. When her mother dies, Ruby knows she can't be there alone with her father. What can she do and where can she go? Her best friend, Layla, tries all she can to help and protect Ruby from what is happening. But Ruby needs more than protection, she needs a whole new change in scenery. Three generations of trauma are seen in this book along with a lot of parent/child relationships.

Thanks to Park Row Books and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.

When I read the description to Ruby King, I was expecting a very different book. The subject matter in this book is very heavy and has quite a few triggers throughout. From a father sexually abusing his child, a husband abusing his wife and child, and one man blackmailing another. While Ruby King is the title of this book, every character in this book needs some kind of saving. One important character in the book, that I didn't see coming was the church. You get to see what happens, "If these walls could talk." It was eye-opening and interesting to see that part. The church is where all the secrets were kept.

This book was heavy, but also surprising.

This is a stunning debut novel is about family and friendship. There are so many sections that are relevant in today's world with Black people and their relationship with the police. It speaks volumes on the issues since this book was written before the events of 2020 and 2021.

Saving Ruby King is told from multiple points-of-view, including a church building and the secrets within its walls. This book reminds us that we are all human, and the role of a pastor isn't a pass for horrible behavior or ignoring it. There difficult issues discussed in this novel: domestic abuse, sexual and physical abuse of a child, and how friends, families, and even the church turn a blind eye.

This book stirs a lot of different feelings: compassion, anger, fear, and love. West's emotional words made me care about characters and root for both Layla and Ruby to overcome obstacles and learn the truth. The deep friendships and support they provide each other is truly heartwarming.

4 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This is an incredibly powerful book.
It’s is an emotional rollercoaster! Saving Ruby King’ is a sweeping, revelatory tale about love, friendship, and family bonds.
When her mother, Alice, is found murdered, it’s one more murder in a violent part of Chicago, but to Ruby it’s devastating leaving her alone with her abusive father. I loved this book. I highly recommend it.

I felt so much sympathy for Ruby in this book... Her mother is murdered and she's left with her abusive father. Luckily her friend Layla is there to protect and "save" her, hence the title of the book. It is a family saga that spans many decades (but is set in modern day Chicago) and includes themes of race, friendship, and trauma. There were several mysteries and secrets revealed throughout the novel, with a "twist" that I liked and didn't see it coming. My only complaint is that there are a lot of characters and points of view presented, which was a little hard to follow.

I received this book as part of my ticket to an event with The Girly Book Club. This may not have been the type of book I would typically pick up on my own, but I am so glad I was introduced to it.

I love generational stories and this book did not disappoint. Though the topics were often heavy, the stories presented were powerful and meaningful. The author did a wonderful job of conveying the difficult life of Ruby and the unique challenges she faced.

I highly recommend this book and would suggest it to any of my bookish friends.

3.5! I had a hard time getting into this book and feeling invested for about the first half, but after the halfway mark it all started to click into place and I was hooked! Beautifully written and constructed.

A huge thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Recommended for those who loved Americanah, The Hate You Give and All American Boys.

This is a riveting debut that examines the intersection of race, class and religion in South Chicago.

Layla and Ruby are best friends -- even though Layla is the pastor's daughter and Ruby's life has been defined by domestic violence and its aftermath. They seem to represent opposite ends of the spectrum in their neighborhood, but both are struggling to find answers and escape the invisible cages that confine them. The closer they come to finding answers, the greater the role of the physical church plays in their lives. It represents the solid foundation of their friendship as they grapple with issues of faith and forgiveness.

This story takes a hard look at the racial division in this country, and exposes the underlying oppression that has created it. Layla and Ruby confront obstacles beyond their control, and cope with a heritage of trauma that shadow every step the take.

This story is a slowly-evolving, gut-wrenching examination of friendship, loyalty and race.

I really really liked it. I love any book that criticizes the US justice system/police but this was especially powerful. I think it could have been a bit shorter-- I felt like I got tired of it by the end, whereas I'd have loved to leave wanting more. But overall, really great!

I read this book in a time fraught with discussion of racism, which made it extra poignant. I strongly recommended it as an Own Voices work, as those in the community were hit with an onslaught of anti-racist syllabi, and while those were well-intended, we truly need to support works of fiction like this one.

What a deep and moving tale. Love the multiple POV and this is a rich and wonderful mystery novel that is layered and fantastic.

Saving Ruby King, the debut novel by Catherine Adel West has the makings of a strong powerful and emotional statement. However, with the multiple narrators and the nonlinear timeline, I find myself lost. The issues taken up in this book are important, relevant, and considerable. Unfortunately, for most of the book, the emotions and the grasp of those issues seems just out of reach. (Trigger warning: This book includes the topics of abuse, murder, violence, domestic violence, and incest.)

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2020/12/saving-ruby-king.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

I put this book off for a long time, and I wish I had read it sooner. Beautifully written and seamlessly woven together. A must read!

The premise seemed promising, but I wasn't able to get into this book. A few chapters in when the POV switched to that of the church building, I just lost it.

I got this title from attending a Girly Book Club event and I can't believe I waited so long to read it. This book was every bit worth the title of one of the most anticipated books of the year and did not disappoint. It was everything I needed to read and more and I cannot wait to read more from this incredible author.

Emotional, powerful - a timely must-read that will make any reader think beyond the pages.

Saving Ruby King is one of those books that everyone should read just to understand some of the issues going on behind closed doors.

Being brought up in a fmaily that went to church a lot, the belief that church officials were above sin allowed so much corruption into the church go unchecked ultimately causing rampant mistrust and the loss of a community figure.

SRK is heartbreaking, a true narrative gut punch that will keep you reeling through each chapter. With hidden lives, deep family secrets, and brutal truths, Catherine Adel West tells a dark and twisted tale of survival.

this was a great debut novel, the characters were great and I really enjoyed getting to know this world and story. I look forward to more from the author.

West gives an honest and nuanced portrayal of Chicago, the Black church and the complexity of family in this novel. The point of view shifts each chapter, focused on different community members that ripple outwards from the death of Alice King, a church member, mother and victim of domestic abuse. The key to this book’s success and readability is West’s characterization, providing a background and emotional depth to each character’s actions, such as Lebanon, Alice’s husband with a record and history of trauma. The bruised heart of the narrative is Ruby, tumbling her way through grief and adolescence. This story soft peels back the petals of the mystery of Alice’s death while examining the motivations behind who protects each other in a community.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I was not able to get into the story at this time so will not be leaving a full review.

Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West is an exceptional debut novel. It's a story of multigenerational family trauma on Chicago's South Side. It's timely, relevant, and raw. This is a story about the redemptive power of friendship, even in the darkest times.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

The story of Ruby King is powerful and delves into some heavy themes including generational abuse including domestic violence, murder and child abuse.⁣⁣
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The author weaves a⁣ complicated and connected story that takes place in a Black neighborhood on Chicago's South Side among several families that live in the neighborhood and attend the same church. ⁣⁣