This story follows Ava and her son Toussaint as they arrive in a shelter. Ava is in a bit of a mental health crisis and in general they are horrified by how they have to live. Over the course of the book we get chapters going back in time that reveal all of the heartbreaking circumstances that led them to be there.

I’m not sure I 100% understood the through line, the structure of the book with the all over the place chapters was confusing. There were times when a chapter was giving someone in Ava’s orbit’s story and while I enjoyed the depth of experience, not sure how it moved Ava’s story forward. I adored Toussaint and wished at every second for a better life for him. There were definitely pieces of this that were hard to read. Was nice to read a story set in Philly where I knew all the places they were! Lots of heavy themes: mental illness, domestic abuse and of course the strife of being a Black person in America between the 1950s and 80s.

This cover is one of my favorites, it’s so beautiful and yet haunting.

Thanks to Knopf for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

This story was multilayered with characters that did not appear to have anything in common. Fortunately, by the end the connection of the multiple storylines was explained. This was not a personal favorite; but was definitely worth the read.

Netgalley requires stars so I went with average, but this was a DNF for me at 28%. I was almost curious enough to keep reading, but the writing style is what did me in. Some of it was too steam-of-consciousness for me. It pulled me away from the characters. I did start to see the reason for it, as I was starting to see the bigger picture of the circumstances of each character, but something about it was too dry for me to be invested and want to continue.

The Unsettled is a coming of age story, but also a story about holding on to our past and inheritance. The story centers around Ava, her mom, Duchess and her son Toussaint. Ava is a wanderer who finds it hard to settle down and provide a stable home for herself and Toussaint. Duchess is trying to hold on to a Black community that is being undersold from her and its few inhabitants by whites in neighboring areas. Ava leaves a short term, unhealthy marriage and ends up depressed in a shelter with her son. Cass, Toussaint's biological father, ex-Black Panther. reappears in their lives and promises a utopia. The story unfolds from the varying viewpoints of Ava, Duchess and Toussaint and how the choices, mostly bad or unthought through effect their present and future. The book was very emotional and thought provoking.

Ayana Mathis's The Unsettled is a powerful and moving novel that delves into the lives of three generations of Black women in America, grappling with themes of racism, poverty, and displacement. Set in 1980s Philadelphia and the fictional Alabama town of Bonaparte, the story follows Ava Carson, a single mother struggling to find stability for her young son, Toussaint, amidst the harsh realities of Reagan-era America.

Mathis's prose is lyrical and evocative, bringing to life the gritty streets of Philadelphia and the dusty roads of rural Alabama. Her characters are richly drawn and complex, each carrying their own burdens and dreams. Ava is a fierce and determined woman, fighting tooth and nail to protect her son from the hardships she faced in her own childhood. Toussaint is a precocious and observant child, grappling with the realities of poverty and racial injustice. And Dutchess, Ava's mother, is a haunted figure, haunted by the past and struggling to find peace in the present.

The novel is interwoven with historical events, such as the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia and the crack cocaine epidemic. These events serve as a backdrop to the characters' own struggles, highlighting the systemic forces that contribute to their unsettledness.

The Unsettled is not an easy read. It deals with difficult subjects and can be emotionally draining at times. However, it is ultimately a hopeful story about resilience, family, and the enduring power of love. Mathis's characters stay with you long after you finish the book, and her novel is sure to spark important conversations about race, class, and the American Dream.

THE UNSETTLED by @ayana.mathis is a novel of displacement and not feeling like you belong as a mother struggles to protect and house herself and her young son in Philadelphia in the 1980s. They find themselves in the predicament of being unhoused first, and after struggling at a shelter for some time, move in with the mother's ex which also happens to be the boy's father. While this move affords them some security from the outside world, they encounter new, darker obstacles and threats to their health.

This story was difficult to read at times but was an eagle's eye view not only of one woman's struggle to protect her own, but also a glaring example of how the U.S. social system is and has been in shambles and allows folks very few options of they are not wealthy or if they have an economic crisis. One of the themes in this book is that the person that promised to protect them was feeling so abandoned by the system itself that he refused to let anyone else around him engage with it and restricted their movements, etc.

Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher @aaknopf for the e-ARC.

Where did you grow up? I grew up in Spokane, WA in the U.S.!

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"The Unsettled" by Ayana Mathis is a novel that delves into the complexities of family, identity, and the impact of past traumas. While the book is undoubtedly well-written and tackles important themes, it may not resonate equally with all readers, warranting a three-star rating.

The narrative unfolds in Philadelphia in 1985, where Ava Carson and her son, Toussaint, find themselves at the Glenn Avenue family shelter. Ava's determination to escape the harsh conditions of the shelter is the driving force behind the plot. The intertwining stories of Ava, her estranged mother Dutchess in Alabama, and the reappearance of Toussaint's father, Cass, create a tapestry of familial struggles and the search for a better life.

Mathis's writing is brilliant, and her exploration of complex relationships is both nuanced and vivid. The characters are well-developed, and the dynamics between Ava, Dutchess, and Toussaint offer a rich exploration of family ties and the lingering impact of past traumas.

The novel's strength lies in its examination of the characters' internal conflicts and the broader societal issues woven into the narrative. The portrayal of Cass's radical vision to combat racial injustice and create a new communal living is both timely and thought-provoking.

However, the pacing of the novel may be a point of contention for some readers. The intricate storytelling, while beautifully rendered, may feel slow and meandering at times, potentially causing the reader to lose engagement with the plot.

Additionally, the level of intensity and the characters' volatile relationships may be emotionally taxing for some readers. The complexity of the narrative, while offering depth, might make it challenging for certain readers to fully connect with or invest in the characters' journeys.

In conclusion, "The Unsettled" is a well-crafted and vitally important work that tackles significant themes. Ayana Mathis showcases her storytelling prowess with vivid characters and a compelling exploration of family dynamics. However, the novel's pacing and emotional intensity might not resonate universally, resulting in a three-star rating. It remains a recommended read for those who appreciate intricate family sagas with a focus on social issues.

This was a SLLLLLOOOOWWW burn. At times, I struggled with this one because I didn't get the point and that made me not want to continue reading. But I'm glad I pushed through because I ended up enjoying this multigenerational saga. I didn't enjoy Ava as a character but seeing why she was the way she was throughout the course of the book softened my feelings a little.

I had seen mixed reviews on this novel when I first picked it up, but I had high hopes as I started to read, but that quickly diminished. I got to 55% and could not trudge any further. I debated on leaving a review but there are some decent things to be said about this novel that deserve to be spoken.

The Unsettled feels exactly what the titles alludes to: unsettled and disjointed, with the narrative cutting from one narrator to another, with each unique perspective taking you a minute to get your bearings as you read on. I feel like this was the author’s intent as the hunt for finding your place when the rug has been pulled out from under you can be disjointing, and I felt that especially with Ava and Toussaint’s story. They almost feel like lost souls fighting to find purpose, and my heart did go out to them. It’s heartbreaking to me that this happens to people every single day, yet so many are blissfully unaware as we live our day to day. It’s a heartbreaking thought and my prayers go out to those who are struggling right now.

That being said, I still chose to not finish the novel. The language bothered me and the more I read the more disinterested I became. It had such a strong start and fizzled out to the point that I dreaded picking it up. That right there was my sign to give up.

I’m sad that I couldn’t finish this novel, as I try my hardest to finish everything I pick up, but when it all came down to it I want to enjoy what I am reading and I just did not enjoy The Unsettled.

Took me a little while to get into but once I did...I was surprised at how frank Ayana was. This is Twelve Tribes of Hattie but a little more bold, but still with that same dense yet fine writing. When she finds her true story, Ayana will be unstoppable.

I am not usually a historical fiction reader, but received this book as an ARC and decided to give it a go. It was absolutely full of heartache, poverty, and racism. It could be quite depressing at times, but I believe that was the whole point of the book. Definitely one that I will be doing a lot of thinking about.

Much like its title, The Unsettled is a discomforting read following a family across generations and the relationships they have with each other, their land, and the idea of revolution. Not one character is truly sympathetic, but the depth of each perspective (Ava, Dutchess, and Touissant) lends an understanding of the (sometimes poor) decisions being made. This is not a read for the faint of heart and takes the idea of "morally gray" to new heights as it is applied to situations that are only too real. Mathis is a master in character studies, and I am excited to continue to read their work and see what other ways she can push her readers.

Sorry for this late positive review. Lived up to my expectations. A timely multi-generational novel with emotional impact. Top notch writing.

The Unsettled sat on my to-be-read shelf for quite a while as I sensed that I needed to be in the right head space to read it. I am glad I waited for a time when I could appreciate the heartbreak of this story and of these characters. I especially loved Toussaint's storyline. The book is thought provoking and definitely worth reading! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Unsettled is available now.

I really loved the 12 tribes of Hattie, so I was super excited about this new release,I was really looking forward to reading something with a similar feel to 12 tribes. I really enjoyed the writing and was hoping to get the same feel and vibe, but this one didn't really work for me. The writing was decent, but I found it to be sort of confusing, it felt very much like agenda pushing, just typical woke stuff that one would expect from books at this point in time. This was readable, and the writing was decent, but it felt like an author trying to emulate the author from 12 tribes. This wasn't awful, but if you come here to get another dose of 12 tribes, you will be disappointed.

The Unsettled written by Ayana Mathis

Ava and Toussaint, mother and son left homeless after HER terrible decisions. She turns her nose up at everyone who was trying to help her and other people in similar situations like she's better than everyone. She's just as poor, desperate but she makes shit decisions for her child. She could have stayed with her husband until she had a plan to leave him if she wished. He even came and asked to take care of Toussaint for her while she got back on her feet and she physically attacked him for no damn reason???! Doesn't allow her son to go to school, follows a toxic con artist/wanna be cult leader, starves her child, refused to get a normal job...

I loved Toussaint and he was the only normal person in the story (besides the lady that ran the homeless shelter who seemed to have good intentions and the few kids Toussaint hung out with). I was rooting for him.

Just wish we knew why he was in and out of foster care. Things were more clear at the end of the novel.. Like coming out of a fog.

I had high hopes for this book and the premise was great but instead of a mother taking care of her child, she neglected badly him but thought she was above everyone. She's just as seedy as the con artist she slept with. I didn't really understand the final point of the novel. But I hope Toussaint makes it. He's smart, insightful, thoughtful and so sweet.

It took me awhile to do this review because I really had to sit with my thoughts after reading this. I don’t know where to begin but I can say the author picked the perfect title for the book because I was definitely left unsettled and confused.

The novel is told in three alternating perspectives between Ava, Dutchess, and Toussaint taking us deeper into each of their lives. Through each viewpoint we see them experience hardship, heartbreak, loss, failure, grief, and pain. It was unsettling to see how things continued to get worse for these characters before anything got better. By the end of the book I found myself only sympathizing with Toussaint. Nobody knows the true pain one has experienced until their story is told.

Mathis explores the consequences of irrational decisions, the depths of poor parenting passed from generation to generation, the dangers of co-dependency, and how our actions can have an everlasting impact on our life and those around us.

The authors vivid details really helped paint a clear picture of what was happening throughout the book. I did feel some things were out of place and didn’t really make sense. But nothing about the book was predictable I could really feel the authenticity and realism throughout. The emotions and dialogue was depicted in a way that made this all seem too real. Which I think added a lot of richness and depth to the characters.

I didn’t agree with half the things Ava did and felt she was doing to Toussiant exactly what her mother had done to her. Basically creating this never ending cycle of trauma. Can’t say which situation was worse for Ava living in the shelter or dealing with Cass and the mass amount of BS that came with him.

Overall, this was an okay book but I think the structure makes it hard to get through. I was also left with a lot of unanswered questions and felt the book ended so abruptly. Special thanks to the author and @aaknopf for my gifted copy‼️

Rating: 3.5/5⭐️

Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Wonderful characters with depth and substance. I felt every emotion. Rich with historical details relevant to the time period. I was immediately drawn in and held captive from beginning to end. Simply a GREAT read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Unsettled is a hard book book to read. It follows the journey of a mother, Ava, and her son, Toussaint as they try to navigate homelessness, poverty, bad luck and even worse decisions. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to a 13 year old Touissant trying to make his way to his grandmothers home in Alabama. His mother is in prison, who is his father and why is trying to make his way from Philadelphia to Alabama. As we read his story and answer the above questions, the author does a great job of describing events in Philadelphia in the mid 80's and what it was like to be black, poor and a single mother. A heartbreaking read!

This book is unsettling... but in a good way.
The depth of the characters and trying to figure out what happened to them, I was hooked. I felt for them and with them.