Member Reviews
What a powerful story! This story left me angsty the entire time and gave me a real sense that something bad was coming for these characters but I kept holding out hope. These characters were so layered and so well-written. It's interesting the things we do for family and how that same family can be detrimental to us in a way that we aren't aware of until it is too late. This story really pulled at my heart strings and I really enjoyed it!
This multigenerational urban saga tells the story of sisters Mercy and Lenox and their sons Judah and Deon, living in Staten Island over a period of about fifteen years in the 80s and 90s. The characters struggle with poverty, structural racism, and the crack cocaine epidemic, but they are supported by their family relationships, friendships and community ties, and their own internal strength.
The best aspect of the novel was its broad chronological frame. The evolution of the characters felt authentic, as well as the way secondary characters moved in and out of the story. The shift of focus from Mercy and Lenox to their sons halfway through the story felt very natural.
The broadness of the rest of the story was less appealing to me. The narration skips between the thoughts of the four main characters, occasionally entering the thoughts of more minor characters. This was sometimes confusing, and I felt it kept the story from really digging in to any one character's internal landscape. However, what was lost in individual character development was made up in seeing the development over time of the tapestry of relationships in Mercy and Lenox's community.
Now I understand why this book has received such high praises! Beautifully written, stirring, emotional and deep. I have to admit like others, I shed a tear or two! I loved that this book was set in the 80's and the 90's. Born in the 80's and raised in the 90's this is a time period that I love dearly and always reminisce about. This book reminded me of the 70's sitcom, Good Times. Similar to the show, Mercy, Lennox, Judah and Deon didn't have the best of luck and they most certainly didn't seem like they had nearly as much good times, but they did. In the midst of all the tragedy they endured, they all had slivers of good times and that's what they reminisced about, that's what they dreamed about and that's what they held on to. Unfortunately, they didn't get the endings that they deserved, especially Lennox and Mercy. Hopefully, their children, Judah and Deon will be able to find those good times in their individual lives.
Tracy Brown has done it again! Hold You Down was entertaining urban fiction at its finest. The first half of the book tells the story of sisters Mercy and Lenox. They love each other fiercely but as they get older their lives go down different paths. Mercy is more restrained and cautious pushing her son to get the best education possible. Lenox is more carefree and all about getting money. She wants her son to grow up and be “the man”.
The second half of the book focuses on the cousins Judah and Deon. Now teenagers, they have to decide which road they will take. Through it all, the good and the bad, the ups and the downs they remember that family has to hold each other down.
This book was fast paced and highly engaging. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t put it down! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.
New to me author alert! The verdict is...I need to read more from author Tracy Brown. This book took me back to my mid-teens, early 20's days in my hometown. There were things that triggered my memory from this time period. It was definitely a journey following Mercy and Lenox as they try to navigate their adult lives in the projects of New York after growing up without their mother.
Mercy, is the quiet, reserved, responsible sister, while Lenox is the more outgoing, make things shake kind of sister! Looking at their boys as they grew, they also followed the same personalities as their mothers with Deon being more tough and outgoing and Judah being more reserved. One thing is for certain though... they made sure they all 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 when the time came to do so!
In this book we see family love, family struggles, street happenings, loss, and grief while we follow their story through the years. I was a little surprised by how I was so drawn to the story, but I was. I could not help becoming attached to Mercy and Lenox as well as and Judah and Deon. I tried to hold it together towards the middle, but I shed a few tears which I'm not always a crier!
This story was very well written, showing the families strengh while going through the ups and downs of their lives, but then came together when they needed to. Although family may have struggles, they will still "Hold You Down" at the end of the day!
Hold You Down
Thank you to St. Marten’s Press and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first time reading a Tracy Brown book and I enjoyed reading this book so much. Tracy Brown developed these characters well. They seemed so realistic and their struggles were believable . I loved the relationship, Mercy and Lenox, the two sisters have. The ups and downs of their situations kept me reading.In fact I could not stop reading it until I was finished. I loved their two boys so much. As a mother of two boys, I hoped that they would grow up to be self sufficient men.
I definitely will be following this author and reading more books in the future.
Hold You Down is a double entendre in the case of this book. A family holding you down through your struggles, but also holding down from getting back up and moving you forward.
Although this book had, its ups and down for me. I still enjoyed the book because it transported me into the story. I felt like I was in the 80s seeing everything Tracy described so vividly. The rawness of the story. The realness of life’s unpredictability and the domino effect of events based on one’s life decisions is right at the forefront of this book.
Tracy Brown knows how to make you feel emotions you didn’t think you were until after finishing her books. I found myself in a different mood by the time I finished this book than when I started. I was excited to read this book as I enjoyed her previous work. The never ending heartbreak and struggle in this book was sad, but it was real.The story that was depicted was not new nor rare but a rendition of what already was.
Make no mistake this story is layered with trauma bonds, family ties, and grief. You must be ready for all that and more. Tracy takes you on a captivating journey and keeps you engaged! I could not put the book down.
Thank you to Tracy Brown, Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC e-book version! It was truly an honor to read this.
I really wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get into it. I tried both the e-book version and the audiobook version, and neither one could capture my interest and keep it. I gave up after 100 pages.
I didn't quite get what I thought I was going to get from this book, but the setting & characters made for an intriguing story. A first Round Purchase (If this isn't a celebrity book club pick I will be shocked)
Expertly written as always, Brown produces another relatable work. Both her gift and curse she spanned the characters whole lifetime. I found myself at times thinking surely this book has come to an end, but I was significantly far from the ending. It not often that I say a book could have been a successful part one and two, but Hold You Down could’ve been just that. I would’ve loved more detail to part 1, transitioning into part 2 and would’ve happily acceptable the rest as a sequel. Great characters and character development with an unexpected twist, she never disappoints. 5 stars.
Thank you to Tracy Brown and St. Martin's Press for providing me with this e-ARC (electronic advanced readers copy) via NetGalley
𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝙳𝚘𝚠𝚗 is an urban fiction novel set in New York City during the late 1980s and to early 1990s. Mercy and Lenox Howard are sisters with a strong bond who are doing their best to make ends meet and provide for their sons, Judah and Deon. The bond that the four of them share is unbreakable. Wanting better for her family, Lenox gets involved in a world of fast money, but underestimates the impact of her choices on her loved ones.
This is my first read by Tracy Brown (𝚂𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚕𝚎 𝙱𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝙵𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚎 just got bumped up a few spots on my TBR after this!) and I was hooked the whole time. While following along on the Howard family journey, I experienced such a wide range of emotions and even shed a few thug tears. The plot is exceptional and the narrative sucks you in instantly. The characters are authentic and readers are right alongside them as they experience some much deserved wins but also many, many losses.
The Howards took blow after blow pretty much right up to the end. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming and wow, my heart-strings were mangled for a hot minute after I finished. That being said, there is a special place in my heart for Judah Howard!! For my lovers of the TV show 𝙿𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛, you’d most likely enjoy this. If you are looking to avoid books about trauma/loss, then this one isn’t for you (see triggers below).
Possible triggers: drug dealing/use/abuse, murder/death, loss of loved ones/funerals, sexual assault, incarceration of loved ones, gun violence
Rating: 5/5
*All opinions in this review are 100% my own.*
Pub day: November 1, 2022
Go pre-order this RIGHT NOW! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!
I was totally riveted by this gritty drama of two sisters who choose different paths that end up having consequences that ripple through their lives for generations. I loved each character and their development. The women were complex and the author weaves in issues of the time from the 80s/90s including the crack epidemic. The second part of the book that follows the womens sons is equally heartbreaking in new ways. The peak into these lives was important and I’m glad to have read this book. Between 4 and 5 stars and likely to be a favorite of the month (sept) for me.
Tracy Brown never ever fails me. Her writing is literary- she is the queen of urban fiction to me because her writing is literary. Her prose, while filled with urban references and situations, is never basic. White lines will be one of my favorite books by her, and this can stand up with that classic. Please read this cautionary tale about family, friendship, and love.
Tracey Brown has done it again. She writes stories that take you through an emotional rollercoaster. Hold You Down did not disappoint. A sister bond is strong and fierce. That's where we find Mercy and Lenox Howard-sticking together through childhood traumas and adult pains. The sisters look out for each other the best way they can, but individual choices soon distance them in a way that is not repairable. What do you do when you want a better life for your family and make unwise sacrifices that end up tearing a family apart? This story was gut wrenching and it showed that sometimes no matter how hard you try, things sometimes just don't work out. A coming of age tail deeply rooted in pain and unfortunate circumstances is what the author has rendered, making it an excellent read.
Tracy Brown has done it again! Hold You Down brought so many emotions out of me. I can't remember the last time I cried multiple times while reading a book. The story focused on two sisters, Lenox and Mercy and theirs son's Deon and Judah. Lenox was the rambunctious sister that lived on the wild side while Mercy was more reserved and introverted sister. Deon is Lenox's son and Judah is Mercy's son. Mercy took care of Deon while Mercy lived in the fast lane as a crack dealer. Tragedy struck the family and Mercy took on the responsibility of taking care of him alongside Judah. The cousins were as close as brothers. However, Deon was in and out of trouble while Judah was a scholar on his way to college. One simple mistake caused Judah to lose his freedom while Deon took this as a time to get his life together. I won't release too many more details as to not spoil the story for others. However, you must read Hold You Down. From the first page to the last, you will not be able to put it down. I hope there is a part 2! This was a Five star read!!
The first thing that struck me as interesting with Brown’s book was, how much she took literally from New York City. From using actual hospital names in New York City for her characters. Mercy, the eldest sister is named after Mercy Hospital in what we call “Strong Island.” Whereas Lenox the younger of the two is named after Lenox Hill Hospital, in the “City.”
The foundation of the story centers around the bond these two sisters have. Raising their two boys together in the projects of Staten Island, theirs is a story that is not uncommon growing up in the city. What is uncommon is that Brown is finally telling a story of how life really is. How easy it is to stray from the straight and narrow and be enticed by that fast and easy money. How hard it is for a single parent to make ends meet for your child. Or to have to worry that your child may not make it home safely from school. It is just the way of the “Street Life” (Like the song says)
Lenox thought she found that quick route out, but she should have known better; there is no quick way out. There are only two ways out of that life, Death, or Jail, you choose. As a mother she should have known better. But this was fiction, unfortunately what Brown has written is all too real.
Her story is about the love between two sisters. How they have always been there for one another, and how that special type of love has passed on to their boys. As far as the boys are concerned, even though they were cousins they were so close that they should have been brothers. Their closeness had stemmed from their mothers, that same type of hold me down type of relationship that they had.
But in the end, where did it leave either of them?
Brown tells a blast from the past with brutal honesty. Based on one person’s actions, an entire family is ripped from existence and left only with confusion, anger, and turmoil. Filled with heartbreaking, emotional, and devastating results.
Damn! Brown gives us a total “Tearjerker” of a novel.
Astonishingly Captivating!
Stupendously Written! Each character will move you like you have never been moved before.
This book is so thought provokingly written, it will Blow Your Mind…
Cannot say enough about this book.
Brown is one “Hell” of an author
PHENOMENAL!
One of the best books of 2022
Kudos to you Brown!
(#NYC4LIFE)
I play the street Life
Because there’s no place I can go
Street life
It’s the only life I know
Street life
And there’s a thousand cards to play
Street life
Until you play your life away!!!!!!!
Thank you to NetGalley/Tracy Brown/St. Martin’s Press St. Martin’s Press.Griffin for this “Amazing” eARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are of my own volition.
Song: Street Life
Vocals By: Randy Crawford
What a great read. From page one, I was held in rapt attention by the story, all thanks to Tracy Brown's incomparable pacing and authentic dialogue throughout. The familial bonds on display throughout this book lived in and the raw emotion left a lingering impact for me. Judah's journey in particular stood out for its complexity and lack of a tidy resolution. There is a palpable pain that Judah expresses that kept me glued to this book. I'm looking forward to more people reading this book and recommending it.
This is the first book that I have read by this authour. It grabbed me right from the first page and I loved the setting and character development and relationships between the sisters and their sons. However, I did feel like the timeline pacing got a bit choppy about halfway through the story. I felt like it would quickly jump months ahead all of a sudden and that threw off my enjoyment of the book a bit. Overall, I did enjoy it enough to read others by the same author in the future because the character and setting development was so well done..
OMG,. "Hold You Down" the story of Mercy & Lenox and their sons Judah & Deon was so good. Ms. Brown took you on a roller-coaster ride full of highs and lows and twists and turns. Just when you thought you knew what would happen next, the script was flipped completely! I literally could not put this book down! Kudos to you Ms. Brown on being a master storyteller! 👏 👏👏👏
Visceral, Searing Coming of Age Story
The 80s was an era of tremendous growth, not only for technology but also for the illicit drug trade. Paralyzing cities across the US, the crack epidemic stole many dreams and killed hopes. It is hard to imagine some refer to the 80s as the Moderation Decade.
Beginning in the 1980s, Hold You Down features two mothers, their sons, and a host of friends. Growing up on Staten Island, Lennox and Mercy's lives changed after Mama Lula's passing. Things took another turn as each sought to care for their sons: Deon (Lennox) and Judah (Mercy). Desiring to give the boys a comfortable home in the Mariners Harbor projects, each chooses a different path to do so. The trajectory of the lives surrounding them changed with the decision of one sister.
Wrought with sadness and riddle with trauma to the black soul and body, the story mirrors the lives of many black and brown people who live in the concrete jungle. The title speaks to an underlying theme in the book – holding down the ones you love. While the title is accurate, I would have titled the book My Brother’s Keeper simply due to the tremendous character arc. Brown developed Deon and Judah with surgical precision, and their growth throughout the story is phenomenal.
The plot was evocative and bold, blistering with raw male angst and thug pride. Even paced with the appropriate amount of tension, Brown has outdone her previous work, Single Black Female.
Highly recommended for fans of urban fiction and readers of KiKi Swinson, A’Zayler, and Ashley & JaQuavis.