Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades is a lyrical debut that captures the voices and experiences of young women of color growing up in Queens, New York. Written in an inventive, second-person collective narrative, the novel vividly explores themes of identity, heritage, and the push-and-pull of assimilation and belonging. Andreades’ prose is poetic and immersive, drawing readers into the rich tapestry of city life and the complexities of friendship, family, and ambition. While the unconventional narrative style may not resonate with everyone, the emotional depth, and authenticity make Brown Girls a resonant and powerful read about what it means to navigate the space between cultures.

What to listen to while reading...
Say My Name by Destiny’s Child
I Wanna dance with somebody by Whitney Houston
Gold Digger by Kanye West
What About Your Friends by TLC

Brown Girls stands out as a powerful debut that offers a fresh and poignant look at the lives of young women of colour in America. Its strengths lie in its unique narrative style, lyrical prose, and the depth of its thematic exploration. However, the collective "we" perspective might make it challenging for readers seeking a more traditional, character-driven narrative. Overall, Brown Girls is a compelling read that provides a meaningful and authentic portrayal of the immigrant experience.

A story that is familiar to all of us who grew up as part of a neighborhood group. We went every where together and told each other every thing and then we grew up and went our seperate ways. It was very easy to see parts of my own life in BROWN GIRLS.

I finally finished this book and when I tell you!!! As a brown girl THANK YOU. It meant everything to me to see our stories told so beautifully and lifelong

Brown Girls was a portrayal of female friendship, identity, and the immigrant experience that takes place in Queens.

This was a beautiful ode to us Brown Girls, women, children of immigrants, who are making their way in this world while trying to overcome generational curses and trauma.

This intriguing compilation of interconnected vignettes on being brown in the United States hit all the right spots of a good read. I loved how the characters were developed and how everything was connected and unapologetic. I loved the cover and the deep dive into family and race-ish. This book isn't preachy about race, it shows rather than tells the intricate bonds people have while being a certain race as well as how they are perceived. I really really liked this book and hope to read more by this fantastic author.

I at first really enjoyed these stories, but at some point it felt like the book was falling into some reductive stereotypes, which was disappointing. I would have liked a bit more depth and more joyful situations portrayed.

"Brown Girls" takes readers on a vibrant and lyrical exploration of friendship, identity, and the complexities of growing up as young women of color in Queens, New York. This debut novel offers a tender and poetic portrayal of a group of friends navigating the challenges of reconciling their immigrant backgrounds with the ever-evolving American culture they inhabit. From the rumbling subway cars to the salty breeze of Rockaway Beach, the author beautifully captures the essence of the city that serves as both the backdrop and a character in its own right. I was captivated by the author's evocative prose and musicality.

While the book is an honest and unflinching exploration of the characters' experiences, I found myself longing for deeper character development and a more cohesive plot. At times, the narrative felt fragmented as the story shifted focus between the various characters and their individual arcs. That being said, I would still recommend "Brown Girls" for its unique perspective and beautiful writing.

Absolutely enjoyed journeying through "Brown Girls" with this group of girls from Queens. While some of the narrator's tales captivated me, others broke my heart. I got front row seats to the inner workings of these girls' hopes, dreams, and sometimes bleak realities. Made me think of my own childhood.

"Brown Girls" made me FEEL for these ladies as if I knew them, cheering them on and wishing the best for them throughout this beautifully-written ride of a book. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At just over 200 pages, this original debut by Daphne Palasi Andreades can be read in a single sitting, but Brown Girls should be savored.

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

Poignant and beautifully written. I love a well-done use of the first person plural. You will root for all of the girls.

Tender stories about immigrant families in Queens - felt super real from the diaspora experience. I don't think the story collection did anything particularly groundbreaking or new but it was a very comforting read. I loved that the stories were interconnected as well, which lent a feeling of community built into the fibers of the book's structure itself

Truthfully, I remember liking the flow of the story. I think other woman can really relate to the struggles that woman go through at various points in their life. It is a quick hitter too.

Overall, I like the rawness and point of view.

This novel was a great read. I took me back to my NYC days and how as brown girls the expectations from family are set high but as Brown Girls we always preserve. This book makes me proud of being a Brown girl.

4.5. I felt like the vignette style of this book worked phenomenally and effectively to carry this story, probably better than traditional prose. It was emotional, reflective, and powerful. Excited to see what this author puts out next.

I very much enjoyed reading this! The writing was strong and the story was enjoyable. I recommend it.

2 1/2 stars. This was very short; I listened to the audiobook and it was under 5 hours and the book just a little over 200 pages. I really didn't are for the format in which it was written, 3rd person plural. the characters were undeveloped; the book was more a series of vignettes, rather than an atusl well-rounded story. After seeing that it is categorized under the genre of literary fiction, I am not surprised I was not crazy about this book, between this and that it was YA.

4.5 stars

Loved the writing style of this one, especially with the use of the second person plural throughout. It was so easy to read and felt very close to home. Would highly recommend this one to all fellow brown girls.

Well worth a read. Lyrical yet real, this book offers glimpses of what happens to some brown girls and how we ought to listen.

A House on Mango Street meets Jacqueline Woodson's Another Brooklyn. The collective, lyrical prose made the story ebb and flow in such a gorgeous way.. I really felt like an outsider having the privilege to see slices of these girls/women's lives grow and develop. Some readers may feel it is disjointed but the vignette, poetic style really have the book a sense of rhythm that kept me entranced to keep reading.