This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. May be THE best. I will never forget these characters, or the way my heart broke and repaired itself, then broke again. Tracy Brown writes characters that are so deeply layered! I will be recommending this book to every person who asks (or even those who don’t)!

Wow! I cried all through this book. I’m still emotional as I type this review. I’ve never read a book that pulled so many emotions! It was wonderfully written. I was pulled in from the very beginning and related to the characters so much! This is Tracy Brown’s best book yet! I’ve been a fan of hers since White Lines but this one topped all of them. When she said get your tissues ready she was not kidding.

I still love Tracy Brown's work! This is a heartbreaking story of Lenox and Mercy being single mom's in the projects trying to raise their sons the best way they know how. Deon and Judah grow up together more like brothers than cousins while one is more sensible, and one is more on the wild side, just like their moms. Ironically, they both fall in love with the same girl along the way. The story takes us through their teen years, and early 20's. I hope their is a sequel, as I feel their is so much more to their story to be told!!

Hold You Down by Tracy Brown is a racy novel situated at the beginning of the novel in Harlem, NY, in 1984. It is a story about two sisters who are at their mom’s funeral in the cold in February. Lenox was the mother of Deon. She was bolder, smoked, and wanted money fast, she consistently asked Mercy to watch Deon while she ran the streets with Gerard. She quickly moved up the drug hierarchy through Benny, the plug. She replaced Tatianna, Mark’s lady, as the trap house’s crack cooker. Eventually, moving the operation to her apartment with Deon. Lenox’s murder left a hole in Deon’s heart that grew so big that it consumed him. Deon was the best-dressed child in school. Deon stayed in trouble and fought. On the other hand, Mercy was the opposite in nature. She was the mother of Judah, a very studious literary reader. Judah went to a private school. Mercy was the mama bear. Mercy worked a regular office job at a hospital processing insurance claims. Mercy sacrificed her all before her tragic death.
This novel was spectacular. Deon first was the bad boy going to reform school and fighting repeatedly over the years. Then, Deon matured and got his life on track. Consequently, Judah made a detrimental decision to shoot the guy who beat Deon with a bat. His life was horrifically altered as he became the bad boy.
This is a must-read for all who desire a novel full of excitement and drama about the crack era and how it affected individual lives.
This was an ARC from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

Hold You Down is edgy urban fiction from upcoming author Tracy Brown. 5 out of 5 big, bright stars.

The story opens in Harlem in 1984 and follows sisters Mercy and Lenox Howard and their sons, Judah and Deon, respectively, through the following decades. They each have the opportunity, at different times, to “hold each other down”.

I had never before read anything by this author and was pleasantly surprised by this first captivating read. She accurately depicts the time period. Taking us back to the 80’s and 90’s through sight and sound. Ms. Brown made me feel the gamut of emotions. She reaches inside you and wrenches them free. The plot, narrative, and dialogue are raw, emotional, touching. Explores the price of loving, supporting, and holding down the ones you love, the cost of mistakes and missed opportunities, and how we adapt to what the world gives us. You’re left with only the aroma of dreams. I loved the ending; it was highly satisfying and appropriate. I recommend Hold You Down to all readers of multicultural interest and anyone looking for truly exceptional fiction.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

I'm a big fan of Tracy Brown, I have read all of her books. This was one different from her usually in the sense it was written during the start of the crack of epidemic so it more of historical fiction in my opinion. Also, Tracy does not focus on labels or dropping names of Hip Hop stars. This was refreshing,
The theme throughout this week is family you have two sisters rising their sons more like brother than cousins. Mercy and Lenox are night and day and so aren't their sons. A big part of the story is what roles we play in families and what happenes when those roles change and how to handle it. Also, how black women tend to take on the caregiver role, but that means we stop taking care ourselves. This book will make you feel like you part of the family. And we all know what that comes with right? Fighting and making up. I felt like Mercy and Lenox were my aunts. But in true Tracy Brown fashion, there aren't fairy tale ending in the hood, just a lesson learned.

This is the story of two black sisters, Mercy and Lenox and their two sons Judah and Deon. Both sisters are single mothers and they try to bring up the boys as best as they can. Judah and Deon grow up together more like brothers than cousins. Just as the sisters are different, so are their sons. The older sister Mercy is the quieter one who dreams of owning a restaurant one day. Lenox is the wild one who chooses a fast track to being rich and giving Deon all the material things she thinks he deserves. Judah is the studious son, who always excels in school and makes his mother proud of him. Deon is the trouble maker, the rebellious kid. Although the book held my attention, I found it repetitious at times and dragging especially in the second half. Overall a good story of the two sisters and their friends trying to make ends meet in the projects on Staten Island. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I enjoyed the characters that Tracy Brown gives us in Hold You Down, as well as their relationship. But, overall, I wanted a more upbeat overall vibe which I just didn't get here.

In Hold You Down, Tracy Brown focuses on the story of Lenox and Mercy Howard, two sisters that depended on each other because of their absentee mother. The story opens with them as young mothers focusing on how they are going to survive and raise their two sons in New York City in the 1980s. Mercy is the more reserved sister of the two and mother to Judah, a sweet and smart young boy. Lenox is the fiery sister and mother to Deon, a boy that constantly looks for adventure. When an opportunity for Lenox to make more money and provide for their family, she chooses a path that will transform all of their lives. Hold You Down is a complex and well crafted story that focuses on family dynamics and how small choices have significant consequences. The characters felt very real, and there were many moments when I had to put the book down to catch myself. The characters make some decisions that seem horrible to the reader, but when placing yourself in their situations, it is easy to sympathize with them.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This book made me feel a lot of different emotions, but I really enjoyed it. It was about family and how the choices we make can have a ripple effect. One bad decision can change everything. It was about two sisters who were very close & their two sons who were also close. Things begin to take a turn when one sister decides to live the fast life. I’ve alway enjoyed Tracy Brown’s books and this is no exception.

I am a fan of this author and have been for a long time. I was very ecstatic to read this book. The author did not disappoint. Well written and it pulls you in to want to keep reading. The twist is one I did not see coming. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

Mercy and Lenox are sisters and best friends. Their young sons Judah and Deon are more like brothers than cousins. When we first meet the foursome they are at the funeral of Mercy and Lenox's mostly absent mother. From there we follow the sisters back to their life on Staten Island.

Mercy is the older sister. She is a nurturer and worrier by nature. She loves to cook and dreams of one day owning her own restaurant so she can share her gifts with the world. To make ends meet and provide some stability for her son, Judah, she is working at a local hospital.

Lenox on the other hand is a fly by the seat of her pants younger sibling. She dreams of having the finer things in life. Her only dream is to get money and lots of it to provide a better life for her son Deon as well as her big sister and nephew.

On the night of their mother's funeral Lenox goes to hang out with an old admirer from the neighborhood and he introduces her to the life she always believed she deserved. Dazzled by the money, Lenox easily falls into this new lifestyle. The fast money is intoxicating and she can't get enough.

Mercy notices the changes in her sister right away and is instantly concerned. She fears this new life and fast money is going to bring more trouble than her impulsive little sister can handle. As the story unfolds we watch the sisters and their sons deal with the consequences of their mothers' actions and inaction.

The storytelling was face-paced and attention grabbing, but it was extremely heavy. This family endures trauma after trauma. The weight of their decisions chart a path that none of them ever expected.

I truly enjoyed this book. My only gripe is with the setting of the book the AAVE seemed more current. I grew up in the era and area of where this book is set and we weren’t using that slang. Overall another great book from Tracy!

I love to read. I love to read about sisters making their way into the world. I know there are ups and downs in every life. I can see that on the news. I did not enjoy 'Hold You Down.' This book was too depressing for me. Two sisters who were each single mothers were always there for each other. They always seemed to look out for each other and keep each other grounded. After the death of the mother who left them with their grandmother, they start to seek different paths. The sisters each seem to be sure of what they want in life, but differ on how to go about achieving it. Younger sister Lenox won't take anyone's advice as she knows how events should play out. Unfortunately, events don't work in her favor, and everyone suffers. It would be great if the mistakes stopped and some lessons were learned, but that is not the case. I so wanted this book to soar above what it ended up being. I hurt for these mothers and these young men. The author did a great job of making me feel for them. I just don't know if I could ever read this again. I'm sure someone is living this, but I just could not get beyond all the sadness to allow myself to enjoy this book.

I loved Single Black Female. It wouldn't be right if I didn't pick up Brown's newest novel Hold You Down.
Tracy Brown knows how to write strong, amazing, phenomenal women!
And their characters shine bright throughout the entire novel!
I love the way she writes her characters and makes them feel so ridiculously real. I felt like I was living in this book when I was reading it.
From the very beginning, I was enraptured with the story and I just had to know what would happen next.
The story was very well written and
The pace of the story was good, the buildup was great, and the story telling was exciting.
A gorgeously captivating story. That I couldn't put or wouldn't put down.
I devoured this book!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I felt all the emotions, I felt the strong sadness of hurt, pride and love slipping away at every chapter. I loved the relationship between the sisters, and kinda expected their sons to eventually have strive because of the roles and expectations the kids were given from a young age. I don't think the premise of the book rooting black trauma wasn’t for me. I kept wishing they’d get therapy at every point of the book. However, I understand that wasn't typical for the setting of the book. I also felt that the language/ slang etc was not authentic for the setting, it seemed like recent AAVE was used versus back in the 80s, 90s 2000s.

Tracy Brown put her heart and soul into this book. The story grabs your attention from the very first page until the last. I felt all kinds of emotions reading this story - happiness, sadness, anger, sympathy just to name a few. The characters and the storylines were so complexed and put together wonderfully. I absolutely loved this book and definitely recommend everyone get a copy. Bravo Tracy Brown you did it again!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for gracing me with this ARC.

I have enjoyed almost everything I’ve read from this author so I was excited to be able to get my hands on an ARC of her latest. I read the description and was prepared for a fun jaunt through the 80s and my childhood. I got that and more! I did not expect the depth and richness to the story. While the book wasn’t entirely unpredictable, the way we arrived toward the ending was thoughtful, intense, and consuming. Very good book and I will recommend to others when it’s released for sure.