Have you ever finished a book and found yourself thinking "I want to read it again?"

This was my experience with Kwame Alexander's remarkable "Why Fathers Cry at Night: A Memoir in Love Poems, Recipes, Letters, and Remembrances."

While it is not rare for me to love a book, it is rather rare for a book to fully immerse me in its universe. This is precisely what happened with "Why Fathers Cry at Night," a "new-fashioned" memoir that so fully bathes us in the exhilarations and exhaustions of love that I was in awe of every word, every emotion, every recipe (Yes, there are really recipes here!), and every memory that Alexander brings so vividly to life.

"Why Fathers Cry at Night" is stunning in its simplicity and intimacy, beautifully portraying a man's journey toward learning how to love. Alexander recalls stories of his parents, stories both heard and observed. He explores his own relationships, successes and failures and successes that became failures. There's a palpable sense of grief as he attempts to make sense of the unravelling of his second marriage and deal with his mother's recent passing even as he finds coping in learning how to perfect her famous fried chicken dish. Alexander weaves a tapestry of relationships that have brought him into the now, relationships that helped him define love even he begins to realize that, just perhaps, he's never really learned how to love himself. Alexander eloquently takes us on a journey through his relationships with his daughters both past and present, relationships that continue even as his own relationship with love has changed.

I say this seldom, but there's never a weak moment in "Why Fathers Cry at Night." Full of heartfelt reminisces, family recipes, love poems, and personal letters, "Why Fathers Cry at Night" gives us this Newbery Medal winning author in a way that I'm not sure we've experienced and in a way that feels stunning in its bravery and vulnerability. I cried, more than once, during stories centered around Nikki Giovanni and I reflected on my own journey many times the more Alexander revealed himself.

While we are still early in 2023, it's almost unfathomable that "Why Fathers Cry at Night" won't end up being one of my very favorite books of the year. With "Why Fathers Cry at Night," Kwame Alexander has given me practically everything I long for in a book and so much more. I can't stop thinking about it and I look forward to reading it again and again and again.

Kwame Alexander takes his literary talent for verse and prose — and travels inward. From vulnerability and honesty, Alexander shares from his personal life. A book that’s sure to be transformative for readers of all ages — I highly recommend it.

Even when Kwame Alexander writes in prose form, the words are music to my ears. Why Fathers Cry at Night is a memoir, recipe book, family history, poetry collection and beautifully rendered written record of the life of a father - from the late 60's to today.

This book will change you - in some way. I challenge you to read it , to read the poems aloud, to ruminate on the prose, and to try the recipes. I believe it will bring joy to your life! Kwame shares his own life in a way that allows the reader to consider their own joyful existence.
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Kwame Alexander is a masterful poet. I read this in one sitting; each poem, each recipe, each journal entry pulled me in deeper.

Alexander reflects on his own childhood, fatherhood, love, longing, and aspirations. He brings readers into his world through words only he could string together with such eloquence. A must-read collection of poignant prose and heartfelt tributes to those he loves most.

Look for this May 2023.

**I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.