If you can get past off the instalove, this is a pleasant fluffy read that includes a lot of Black joy - always nice to see - and some queer reps.

Blackout was the book I didn't know I needed and couldn't put down. These amazing authors told different stories that all wove together to show love in so many different ways. I couldn't put this one down. I can't wait to share it with my students!

This book had it all from the setting to the layout to our characters- all phenomenal. I loved the layout of this book as it was six short stories that intertwine together as we see how a blackout in NYC affects different groups of people on their way to a party. Each chapter stood out on its own, each character was so charming, and I absolutely adored this fast summer read!

What a cool concept! A series of short stores by six authors, but they all follow the same plotline and are set in the same reality. I FLEW through this, and I loved the different stories and all the different ways the characters were connected, by friendship or by blood. The characters were well-defined - something I often feel is missing in short stories, since there isn't a lot of time for character development - and their stories felt true and real. I liked the mix of couples and that not every couple was straight.

In short, I thought these women killed it. The stories were captivating and interesting and every one of them made me smile.

What a cool concept! Six incredible authors collaborating on a collection of interconnected short stories that all take place during a city-wide blackout? Yes, please!

The snippets of stories were all great, and I love how each intertwined in their own way. Some stories get more page time for sure, and I did want to know more about some of the stories and characters. Regardless, all of the stories are heartwarming and revolve around similar themes in their own unique ways. Definitely, a must-read!

𒊹︎𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𒊹︎
Hi, buy Blackout. Right now. I broke my book-buying ban for this book. I needed a physical copy and so did my classroom.
♡︎ the anthology follows six sets of teens as they navigate their ways through a heatwave and city-wide blackout in NYC.
♥︎ each character/pair is working through ʙɪɢ sᴛᴜғғ (homophobia in sports, censorship with breastfeeding, friend breakups, discovery of self, and fear of the future, just to name a few!)
♡︎shenanigans ensue, but the brilliance of these pieces shines through the moments of joy captured in each story.
♥︎beautifully interwoven narratives threaded together by the universal topic: love in all it’s messy, complicated, joyous, devastating forms.
♡︎i couldn’t put it down. when my AirPods died I found my headphones. when my ears started hurting I switched to my kindle. this anthology is NOT to be missed!
♥︎craft-wise, I cannot get over how wonderfully these narratives blended together! Each of these authors is a powerhouse in their own right, but to see tone and voice create such a sense of synchronicity and harmony?!?! Music. This book is music.

I think Blackout is a great read and I'm so glad it exists, especially for Black teens. Representation is so important and they deserve to see themselves in love stories. I didn't find the individual stories too impressive, and don't know that they will be too memorable - but it was still an enjoyable read.

Birthed from the darker moments of the pandemic, 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 is an interwoven novel of delightful, whimsical, and touching stories about Black teenage love. It will definitely make you reminisce about your own first relationship(s) and how you figured out love’s purposes in your life. Six, best-selling, YA authors collaborate, in a brilliant effort, to bring readers an intense plot and characters that must brave a summer heatwave and a citywide blackout [One of the largest blackouts in NYC history occurred on August 14, 2003]. Each story in 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 sheds light on Black joy and the ways black teens matter.

What I really enjoyed about these stories is that the authors did not romanticize love. They didn’t show love as a surface-level, easy love, but that it is often messy, complicated, hard, and sometimes scary. One character states, “But all at once I decide that you can’t be brave unless you’re at least a little scary.” It’s like being in the skating rink on a Saturday night with your friends with it’s time to do a Wipe Out. That moment is exhilarating, fun, fast, and whimsical, but you have to be brave and at least try. Love is just like that.

Ultimately, the sun will set, the skyline will return to normal, with lights twinkling from tall buildings and wide bridges. While these characters in 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 didn’t fear a catastrophe per se, they feared where their hearts might lead them. For these lucky teens, it was just a glowing adventure they couldn’t quite see through the darkness.

I enjoyed the all of the short stories, but I had three favorites in the collection:

🌌 “The Long Walk”
🌌 “No Sleep ’til Brooklyn”
🌌 “Seymour & Grace”

Now, I might blackout from disappointment if you do not add 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐮𝐭 to your bookshelf for the summer because it is a must-read. Go get it, now!

Blackout is what happens if Love, Actually was about a bunch of cool, young Black kids during a Blackout set in New York City and everyone was thoughtful, progressive, and consenting. “The Long Walk” by Tiffany D Jackson, YA thriller phenom, is by far my favorite story. I wanted way more from “Mask Off” by Nic Stone because the lead characters were so enthralling. “Made to Fit” by Ashley Woodfolk is about heartbreak and hope, in true Woodfolk style, and is as saccharine as can be. “All the Great Love Stories” and “ Seymour and Grace,” by Dhonielle Clayton and Nicola Yoon respectively are adorable. “No Sleep til Brooklyn” by Angie Thomas is fire and even has an important message about the most important love story. Overall, beautiful compilation of stories focusing on Black teenagers in love.

What do you get when beloved authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon celebrate the beauty of six couples and the unforgettable magic that can be found on a sweltering starry night in the city? Absolute literary perfection!

One of my most anticipated YA releases of 2021, “Blackout” - available June 22nd - sees these six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors feature Black teen love in an interlinked novel of short stories.

There are simply not enough words to express how much I ADORE this book. With each new story, I’m convinced I’ve found a favourite … until the next one comes along and steals my heart. This truly is a magical collection of realistic fiction filled to the brim with authentic and genuine charm.

Sincere thanks to @hccfrenzy, @harpercollinsca, and NetGalley for this advanced readers copy.

The book honestly reminds me of a better version of Valentine's Day, that movie with all the famous characters playing out different love stories over Los Angeles (my favorite movie of all time, definitely seen it more than a dozen times by now), but better because there's a bunch (and I do mean a WHOLE lot) of LGBTQ+ characters, which is what love actually looks like in real life even though society tries to pretend it doesn't sometimes.

What I really enjoyed was the unification of these stories. Characters from each one were related to one in another in some way, whether they were cousins, siblings, best friends, or just knew them from school. It tied the anthology together, which made it a little easier to stick with. I often find that I trail off when reading normal anthologies since there isn't a story to continue, but the fact that all these did... I liked it a lot.

This book was such a delight. I’ve read most of the work from each individual author and so it was super neat to see them all come together for this story. My only struggle was remembering how the characters were connected. It ended up not necessarily mattering much but when I’d pause to take a reading break, I’d be confused coming back to the story. I’m glad they didn’t necessarily need the other stories to make sense but that they were just slightly connected through the community. I can’t wait to recommend this book to students!

This is a really cool book! As a teacher, I like it as a book to read, but it’s also a cool concept for a mentor text. It would be so awesome to read this as a class, and then have the kids break into groups and write their own books.

Fans of Tiffany Jackson, Nic Stone and Angie Thomas will enjoy this anthology focusing on one night when NYC goes dark. Follow a group of teens as they case love, friendship and family while waiting for the lights to come back on.

This is definitely a perfect summer read, full of sweet and fun-to-read stories. I loved how they all threaded together, though perhaps an epilogue could have helped the culmination of all of them. The stories are all well-written, though I feel like most of the authors included write much better writing full-length novels.

Love this book by six of my favorite authors! This is a wonderful collection of 6 stories that take place during a blackout in New York City. While the stories do not intersect, it was refreshing to see a grouping of stories during the same timeline. I loved hearing different perspectives during the same event and it was excellent to see 6 different love stories featuring Black girls. Loved these romances!

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! While short story collections can be hit or miss for me, it helped that this included so many of my favorite authors. Each story brings something different to the table. But, I enjoyed how they were all connected, too.

This is a quick read, and it’s one you very well could read in one sitting. I know I almost did! I enjoyed the fact that Tiffany D. Jackson's story “The Long Walk” bookended the entire collection. It definitely helped in creating transitions and connecting all of the stories. Nic Stone’s “Mask Off” is a second favorite, though. I love how she captured the voice in that story.

Additionally, even though these are short stories, the characters fill the pages. As someone who is a character reader, I appreciated the fact that each story had characters that leapt off the page. They have all this stage of New York, but they aren't swallowed up by their setting. Likewise, each author plays off each other to create an interwoven story that's contagious.

What’s also great about this book is the way it presents different paths to love. The presentation of romance has such variety! And probably something for everyone! This is very much a book about love and joy, and that’s just what we need right now. Honestly, this is the perfect time for this book to come out! If you're making a summer TBR, this book should definitely be on it.

4.5/5 stars

So many of my favorite authors have come together! The stories of love re magical and are woven together perfectly. I wanted more from each of these characters, but the taste that I got was perfect!

Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk and Nicola Yoon was a great read. I featured it as Book of the Day on all my social media platforms, and I’ll include it in my monthly roundup of news releases for my Black Fiction Addiction blog.