Great book. Lots of twists and turns which kept me engaged and intrigued. I found myself reading when I should have been asleep

Since I have not read Brit Bennett's first novel, I wasn't sure what to expect from The Vanishing Half, but I was intrigued by the plot. I have read a few other books about "passing," and I am fascinated that a person's identity can be that ambiguous.

This is the story of Stella and Desiree Vignes, African American twins, who leave home as teenagers, with one of them going off on her own to live her life as a white person. The consequences of that choice reverberate throughout her life, her daughter's life, and that of her sister and niece.

The writing in this book was very strong and intelligent. I found myself highlighting several passages, including, "She hadn't realized how long it takes to become somebody else, or how lonely it can be living in a world not meant for you." The tone was a bit melancholy, but I didn't mind because it seemed fitting.

I could see this book being a big hit with book clubs, since it touches on so many meaningful topics including, race, identity, being true to yourself, and even transgender issues.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Group Riverhead, for providing advance access to the digital copy in exchange for my review.

I must begin by reiterating how much I enjoyed Bennett's debut novel so I was naturally excited that her second book was coming out this year. Similar to The Mothers, this novel explores race, family, and the complicated relationship between community and self. Twin sisters Stella and Desiree, eager to leave their small Louisiana town, start over in New Orleans- My Favorite place btw- the meat of the story is in the differences each of these women face with respect to privilege and racism and the choices they make within that scope. Brit's writing is lyrical, devastating, and exactly what we all need. Obviously, she is here to stay and she's the real deal. This book was fantastic.

Plot: 4/5 Characters: 5/5 Writing: 4.5/5

Brit Bennett’s second novel is just as good, if not better than, her first (which I already loved).

Identical twin sisters grow up in the 1950s in Mallard: a small Southern town that doesn’t even make it onto a map. Mallard is “colorstruck” — a town inhabited by colored people, all obsessed with lightness.

The twins leave Mallard, each for her own reasons. One disappears overnight — “passing” into the white world; the other rebels, marrying a well-educated, sweet-talking, and very dark man . From these beginnings emerge a narrative that spans the 50s through the 80s, extends across the U.S., and incorporates expanding family and friends. It’s an exploration of characters who aren’t completely comfortable in their own skin: a colored woman passing as white; a transgender man in a time predating legal surgical options; a dark child shunned in a negro community valuing lightness above all else.

What I loved about this book was that any dramatic events (e.g. domestic abuse, lynching, cruelty in many forms) were tied to individual characters — how they felt, how they reacted, how their personality was modified — shifting how they made decisions, protected themselves, and made the most of their lives. The point was not the drama of the acts themselves, but how they impacted the characters. The author also embedded the impact of societal trends of the time as well — feminism, civil rights, and many blunt and subtle inequities. I so appreciated that each character was a true individual — no stereotypes — and that no single group was demonized. Each character was both interesting and likable (to me) and I loved watching them develop, learning about their own strengths, disappointments, and fears. The ending was quite realistic — no pat finish artificially tying up all the loose ends — but lives continuing with some aspects resolved and some ongoing.

Incredibly skilled writing — the stories emerge and twine together as each character develops and builds / evolves relationships with others. I didn’t find a lot of quotable sentences in this book as I did with the first — but it’s quite possible this is because I was devouring the book too quickly.

Highly recommended.

Wow!! This book made me think and feel so many things and all I can say is how have I not read The Mothers yet? It is moving to the very top of my TBR

Wow! I will definitely be reading more Brit Bennett. Her writing is beautiful, her characters complex. The book spans four decades and is told from the perspectives of two twin women and their daughters. They all took very different paths but still experienced love, loss, and heartbreak. The books beautifully presents and deals with race, gender, and self-identity.

I can already tell this is going to be one of the best books I'll read in 2020.

I loved THE MOTHERS, Bennett's debut novel, and was excited that her second book was coming out this year. Just as in her debut, this novel explores race, family, and the complicated relationship between community and self. Twin sisters Stella and Desiree, eager to leave their small Louisiana town, start over in New Orleans; however, within a few years the sisters separate to begin distinct lives, never expecting how they will be reconnected in the future.

Bennett's prose is extraordinary, and each character is drawn so specifically that you feel as if you know them. While some authors struggle to find success after a major debut, THE VANISHING HALF proves that Bennett is a force to be reckoned with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Riverhead books for providing an eARC in exchange for this review.

Yes! Brit Bennett did not disappoint! I enjoyed the Mothers but wow I'm completely blown away. Loved, loved. loved. Can't wait to discuss and share this with everyone I know!

I thought this was well-written and full of vibrant characterization, but I'm not sure it will stay with me. I guess I wanted more to HAPPEN. This book is a compelling account of two divergent sisters. I found the Desiree and Jude parts most effective - Jude's story in particular really interested and moved me. But I'm not sure I felt like anything happened and all of the Kennedy stuff fell a little flat. But I'm not sure I felt like anything happened and all of the Kennedy stuff fell a little flat. I wanted to be more interested in Stella's narrative and stories of passing are often really interesting but despite making such an active choice she was such a passive character it was hard to be as pulled in as I wanted to be