First things first, cover LOVE!
I’ve been sitting on this one for so long because I didn’t know what to say to depict my feelings about this one! To sum it up, I LOVE IT! I loved how the story was broken up into 3 parts telling the stories of the three girls/women Grace, Delores (Lolo), and Rae.

Grace and her Grandmother’s bond was beautiful, and it was heartbreaking when she looses her and her life ultimately changes for the worse. She had no one to count on and is taken through the ultimate betrayal by having her baby taken from her.

Lolo, having a hard young life herself, she does what she thinks is best and keeps deep dark secrets of her own from her husband. Once her daughter Rae is an adult and pregnant herself things start to come to light. Lolo is then forced to come to terms with her secrets.

This story has so much packed into this book, and will have you wondering what’s to come next. The connections are done so well. There was a point where I wanted and hoped for more, but once I finished, it was all I needed. Then to read the authors notes brought it home and gave it an added meaning.

Be prepared, this book is powerful! The story follows three Black women who are consistently faced with obstacles and heartbreak on their quest to seek mere happiness. The story spans generations and is pretty much separated into three parts. The book is very character-driven and as a reader, you get to experience the stories of these different women, as well as experience America through various generations.

Very well-written and the storytelling is absolutely superb.

A beautiful portrayal of the black matriarchal experiences. Very well written, and highly engaging. Heart warming and touching. I definitely recommend this book.

I haven’t finished the book. I’m struggling to find interest in the writing and the characters. I like different genres, but so far I’m not interested in the subject. It’ has been difficult to follow the storylines. I’m not sure if I will finish the book.

I'm not huge on historical fiction buuuut books like this change my mind. I have come to find I am a sucker for a generational story. Extremely powerful and thought provoking hearing the stories in this book kept me more than interested. Three women, three parts, three stories. One Blood is about growing, overcoming obstacles and the powerful women that take on life in an inspirational way. Full of heartache and hope, I believe One Blood is a must read.

One blood was a much hyped book of the fall that didn’t work for me. The story travels across three generations and explores issues of class, race, family, segregation, etc. while the multi generational premise is initially what lured me in, but something didn’t work. I found the plot somewhat hard to follow and disoriented in trying to place where I was in the timeline. I do feel like this may have been more on me and maybe distracted when I was reading-and I do feel like this book well work for many!

This book follows the lives of four generations of mothers and daughters. Heartbreaking at most times, but kept me entertained with surprises and shocks along the way. Shows how black women have been treated in history during different time periods, at work, school and in the medical system. Also, showcases the relationships between black women and men in marriages and the importance of family, close female friends and self care. There are some trigger warnings and the timelines were a bit confusing, but the pacing of the story was good. Thoroughly enjoyed this powerful book.

🤩 Many thanks to Forge Books, NetGalley, and Denene Millner for this advanced copy of the book!
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The significance of blood related to procreation and family ties was not lost on me as the reader of such a poignant story chronicling the journey of 3 black women in different time periods and walks of life. I loved the detailed writing of each woman’s struggles and triumphs. It wasn’t a doom and gloom book. It showed that Black women could endure challenges and rejoice in their triumphs. I did get a bit thrown around with some of the intrinsic timeline switches. For example, people’s ages switch on me before I can blink, so it’s imperative to keep up. There were a few times I had to go back and re-read to ensure I was following. I also read some time period related forms of communication, which I thought made sense for that particular time frame. Still, I saw some others that I had to determine if it was an old saying that made its way to the current day or if current day sayings were being misused. For example, the saying “square up” related to starting a fight threw me off cause I hear it so often in the present day but had to Google if this was a term used decades ago, too. All three women spotlighted in this book made me feel proud to be a black woman, and it also made me weep for the things that we did not only endure as black people but as women. Women take so much, and this book highlights those challenges, but again, I’m grateful for the balance with their strong and resilient sides. I appreciated the authentic storylines. I was very much invested in these ladies’ lives, from cover to cover. I recommend this book.

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

This story follows 3 black women Grace, LoLo, and Rae. 3 different generations of surviving different traumas. Telling the 3 different experiences.

The Book of Grace

The Book of Delores

The Book of Rae

Overall this was one of those books that you’ll never forget reading. My only negative about the book at times I wanted to skip through because I was triggered a few times. 4.5 out 5

Thank you Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books
and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

"One Blood" spans three generations of Black mothers. The story starts in South Carolina in the 1960's and then moves to New York for the next two generations. Trauma and family secrets drive the storyline but much of the book is about day to day life. I went into this book thinking it was going to be heavy and dense but it was a much easier read than I was expecting.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I was excited to request, receive, and review this book but after reading the first few chapters, I was uncomfortable. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs, but some the subject matter (which seemed to be somewhat of the focus) did not align to my beliefs.

I am sure this book is a good read and I hope it finds the right reader.

Thank you Denene Millner, Tor Publishing Group, Forge Books and Netgalley for this ARC.
#OneBlood #NetGalley

Three generations of women. Family secrets. Trauma. Connection. Grace. Lolo and Rae all have one thi g in common: blood. Each one experiences the effects of unresolved intergenerational trauma.

Meet Grace: raised by her beloved grandmother in tension-filled, post-segregation Virginia, after several back to back loses, Grace is shipped up North to live with her Aunt Hattie. In an attempt to rid all traces of her country upbringing, Hattie torments Grace daily. Grace soon catches the attention of a local affluent males and begins a relationship that results in unexpected outcome, Aunt Hattie is not pleased and commits the ultimate betrayal to avoid further embarrassment leaving poor Grace broken.

Delores a.k.a. Lolo has never had it easy. As a last ditch effort to ensure marriage and a family of her own, Lolo withholds a secret from everyone. As we all knows, secrets always have a way of coming to the light. As they secrets spill, her life unravels and soon her sanity is threatened.

When Lolo’s headstrong daughter, Rae discovers one secret among others that her family is keeping, her life is quickly turned upside down.

This book has so many layers and themes. It shares the history of AA families from the south. It touches on hoodoo and Christianity, rape being swept under the rug, domestic violence/ intimate partner violence, infedility, infertility and more. It illustrates just how impacted the next generation can be from the experiences of those came before. This was heartwrenching to read at times but overall I enjoyed this story.

*Title: One Blood, a standalone

*Release date: 9/5/23 | read: 8/23 /23

*Author: Denene Millner, 1st time author for me

*Book cover: A black woman w/ 3 different faces in her afro, love it!

*Format: e-ARC

*Page Count: 425 kindle

*Setting: VA

*Genre: Historical, Literary Fiction, AA Interests

*Tropes:

✅The Great Migration 1960s
✅ Womens Equality 2000s
✅ generational family drama
✅ marriage
✅ female friendship
✅ surprise pregnancy


Look out for:
⚠️ all the "isms" really(sex,race,age), MH, fertility issues, cheating, adoption

*Synopsis:
The lives, loves, and sacrifices of three generations of women in the South spanning 40+ years.


Characters:
Maw Maw Rubelle-midwife to white socialite women and her own family/friends. Has visions of the future.
Grace Adams-8 yr. granddaughter of Maw Maw, has the gift of midwifery from her grandmother.
Bassey-Grace's mother. Never wanted her mother's gift.
Dolores/Lolo-wanted to be a model but needed to survive so she got married.
Rae-Lolo's daughter

*Review: Such a great history lesson and mirror for the women in my own family. They are strong, independent, and literally carry the world.

FYI- I read Cane River by Lalita Tademy about 20 years ago and I got the same "Wow, we did that?" feeling from it.

*Rating: 5/5

*Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

It took me multiple days to get through the first chapter. I understand and appreciate the need of details to set the story's foundation, but this seemed to drag on for too long. It sounds from the book description like it will be an interesting read for those who finish it. I however don't want to spend multiple days in one chapter to then feel like I haven't gotten anywhere.

This book is powerful. One Blood absolutely gutted me and made me distrust men. The story follows three Black women that consistently find obstacles and heartbreak and try to find happiness. Three parts, three Black women all united by blood and family. Three women, three different stories but all of them linked to each other by motherhood and intergenerational trauma. There is very little joy or light in this novel but the bond between them, between their stories is special. This is a beautifully crafted book, written by someone who knows exactly how to make a perfect novel I had not come across this author before that she has been quite prolific with her writing, and I will be searching her out in future. #netgalley #oneblood

I personally felt like the opening was overly heavy in exposition, and — this is a me thing — when I come upon paragraphs that go the entire page, it’s very intimidating for me as a reader and I have to force myself to focus. There were a lot of very long paragraphs. I stopped at the end of chapter 1.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.

This was one of my favorite books, and then about a third of the way through it completley dropped off of the very interesting story about Grace and her hurtfull life, I was so into the story i couldnt wait to pick it up and read a few more pages, It left you hanging in a very important time in Graces life, her Aunt had just taken her newborn baby and gave her away, while Grace was sleeping after giving birth by herself to herself. My openion, It was the worst place in the story to start on the life of a new charactor, otherwise i would have loved this book

From the moment I started reading, I was immediately captivated by the book's compelling narrative. Split into three parts, the first two parts introduce us to the stories of Grace and Deloros. These strong-willed women are dealt a challenging hand in life, yet we witness their remarkable resilience as they carve out their own paths. Millner's portrayal of their journeys is nothing short of exceptional, pulling at our heartstrings and evoking a range of emotions.

However, as I progressed to the last part centered around Rae, I found myself yearning for more of Grace and less of Rae's story. It felt as though a different book had emerged, with a slightly disjointed connection to the first two parts. Despite this, the overall impact remained profound, leaving a lasting impression.

One of the standout elements of the book for me is its exploration of motherhood. Throughout the narrative, the theme of motherhood intertwines with the struggles faced by the protagonists, showcasing the strength and perseverance of three generations of women against all odds. Millner's depiction of their resilience is both inspiring and moving, highlighting the incredible bond that connects them.

It is important to note that this book may contain potential triggers, so it's advisable to check them before diving into the story.

Grace was raised in post-segregation Virginia. She was barely a teenager when she lost her grandmother. In her grief she was shipped up north to live with her aunt. Grace is out of her elements and desperate to feel at home.

Delores has never had it easy. Once she makes it up North, she does what she has to do in order to survive as a woman with no money – she gets married and has a family. When the times get tough, she must do whatever it takes to keep her dreams intact and those she loves together.

Rae is Delores’s headstrong daughter. When she learns she’s about to become a mother herself, she learns shes adopted.

This is a very powerful book, but also confusing at times. This was three parts all told from a different character’s point of view. I didn’t enjoy how they didn’t really connect; they were rather disjointed. I really struggled with how children were treated in this book, but it was true to the time sadly. Despite this book being depressing, like I said it was a powerful read. It was a wonderful story into what it takes to be a black woman in America across several states. This is also a story of the power of love and family.

This is not a book that I will be forgetting anytime soon.

If you are looking for a deeply compelling read, then I hope you check this one out.

Thank you to the publisher Tor Publishing, and Netgalley @Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Additional Links will be added once posted.

I found the story jumps to be confusing and it took away from the flow of the book. However, the writing is beautiful, the premise of the affects of generational trauma is an important one, and I would try another book by this author.