4.5✨ The rollercoaster of emotions I felt as I read Brooklyn was intense. I understood her story all too well. She felt like she was suffocating because of her overbearing strict parents and wanting to be “grown.” But the fast life was not a place for someone like Brooklyn: those that have lived a sheltered and spoiled life. She had so many opportunities to change the narrative of her life throughout the book. But, Brooklyn’s biggest weakness was her inability to regulate her emotions. She constantly acted irrationally and impulsively. She lashed out when she didn’t get her way, and was extremely selfish. I empathized with her character a lot, especially towards the ending. But even after hitting rock bottom, she still made poor decisions that hurt her in the end.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I wouldn’t expect anything less than stellar from the author. The storytelling, plot, 90s vibes, and the characters were all accurately portrayed, The grit, dangerous lifestyle, tough love, backstabbing, and raw emotions was just what I needed. I understand that the ending felt rushed but I personally am happy we have this story. It would have been nice to see what happened with Alonzo’s story and how her former friends and family would have responded to the news but I still loved it.

My first experience with Tracy Brown’s work was 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝐷𝑜𝑤𝑛 and I loved it. Just like it, I loved 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐥𝐲𝐧, the story, as well.

The beginning has Brooklyn at a young age experiencing one the most traumatic things a young girl could ever experience. Not to mention, her mother’s betrayal! I feel like this set the trajectory for Brooklyn’s life. I felt as though we start out with an innocent Brooklyn and quickly get introduced to a totally different person. Kind of felt like a flip of a switch!

As I continued to read I found myself nervous for the outcomes of her life as she ventured into dangerous territory. The story became real for me because I wanted to jump into the book and say girl don’t do this or that because her decision making was horrible. I can only blame her for maybe 80% of her actions and the remainder on her parents. I felt as though if they had handled the previous situation differently, Brooklyn 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 taken a different path. But, once she was in the game, she caught on quickly, but her greed, selfishness, and anger caught up and gets her in a world of trouble!

As you can see I was fully vested in this one. I will say there was a bit of a slow moment somewhere in the book where it felt was rushed or the writing felt a bit different, not as strong as the rest. However, Tracy Brown was an amazing writer and her work will truly be missed as a writer!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy an am voluntarily reviewing it. I did not know this book was about a young girl. I enjoyed it. It actually reminded me of Flyy Girl and The Coldest Winter Ever. Brooklyn Melody James was the middle child in every sense of the word. She spent her life trying to stand out and get noticed. In a family that was the head of the Promised Land Church, she was very involved in church activities. Brooklyn noticed very quickly that her parents did whatever they needed to do to appear like the man and woman of God that they were supposed to be. Brooklyn found out quickly that appearances were all that matter. They would turn their back and anyone or anything that tarnished that appearance, even their own daughter.

Brooklyn decided to do things that made her happy regardless of how anyone else felt. Her priority was getting out of the fake life her parents had made for her. Everything Brooklyn thought she wanted came in the form of the local hustler, Alonzo. Zo was seven years older than Brooklyn, who was still underage at the time of their meeting. No one could tell Brooklyn no. She even started working for Zo. What's the difference? He funds the church. They make a way to turn his dirty money good. Why could she get a slice of that pie?

Everything came to a head when Brooklyn got caught. Brooklyn, only looking out for herself, exploded on her family. Basically, if she was going down, she was going to take everyone down with her. She left and went to some of her hustler friends. They got her deep in the game and she did good for a while. But Brooklyn still just wanted what Brooklyn wanted. I am just going to come out and say it. Brooklyn was selfish from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet.

Ms. Brown had me in my feelings with this book. Readers will be thrown into turmoil over this girl. You want her to succeed, but deep down you know she doesn't really deserve it. She is not going to do right being successful. Not the way Brooklyn did it. Readers also have to keep in mind that she is just a kid. She hasn't lived life and doesn't know what to do. Thankfully, she had people looking out for her. Whew, Ms. Brown knows how to pull readers in emotionally and that is why I enjoyed this book. I was so vested and at some points disliked Brooklyn with my whole heart but still rooted for her selfish tail. It is not a lot of books that grip me the way this one did.

This book is nothing short of amazing writing from an amazing author… Tracy Brown wrote phenomenal stories that we will cherish for a lifetime. This book was a good read with heavy topics and wrote so beautifully that you couldn’t help but be completely immersed in the story. From beginning to end I couldn’t get enough and I was cheerleading for Brooklyn the whole way through.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for the ARC.

I could not put down this book. The storytelling and writing drew me right in. A heartbreaking tale, about a girl, Brooklyn, who struggles with her conservative family and always wants something better for herself. Even though Brooklyn’s character is unlikable, I still rooted for her to make the right decisions. She was selfish, a master manipulator and only did things that she thought would better her own life. The story line was easy to follow, I enjoyed how it began and how it ended. This was an emotional rollercoaster of a read. A story of hardships, family drama and breaking from expectations. This would make a fantastic book club read! I am so sad that we lost Tracy Brown last year. She had so much more to give, and I would have loved to read more of her talent.

Brooklyn by Tracy Brown is a story of a master manipulator and serial survivor who will destroy anything in her path in order to get what she wants. The story opens with a murder and Brooklyn Melody James leaves behind a web of lies, heartache, and betrayal. As her life slips away, she recalls the events that brought her there. Brooklyn learned the art of the hustle of her parents, who used the church to get money and she is determined to be the type of woman who lives by her own rules. After one explosive fight with her parents, she runs away to New York City. There, she charms her way into the inner circle of hustlers and picks up the necessary tricks of the trade. With an inflated ego, ambition and ruthlessness, she leaves a trail of burned bridges and broken hearts. Little does she know that her reign of terror is about to end; but the question isn’t who will do it, it’s who wouldn’t?
Brooklyn is the third book I have read and reviewed for Tracy Brown and I think this one is my favorite. I devoured this book in two days. I was hooked from the opening chapter and I could not put it down. It was captivating from the beginning with its powerful story with its heartbreaking grittiness and realism. At first, Brooklyn was easy to sympathize with as she realizes the facade her family puts up is all a front but as she goes from group of friends to group of friends, her behavior and lack of remorse is heartbreaking. Even at points when it seems she is turning a new leaf and getting on the straight and narrow, her selfishness rears its ugly head. The identity of her killer was a shocker! Sadly, Ms Brown passed away before this book was published but I hope she knew how impactful her stories have been for me and millions of other readers. I highly, highly recommend Brooklyn!

Brooklyn is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Wow, I had zero expectations going into this book (I didn't even know what it was about!) and it was incredible. The writing captured my attention from page one. The main character, Brooklyn, was not likeable - she was sneaky, conniving, childish and self centered... yet I felt myself fully invested in what came next for her. The characters have stayed with me long past finishing the book, they were so real. Be ready for an emotional rollercoaster while reading this book - you will feel them all throughout the book. I loved this book so much that I can't wait to read some of Brown's earlier books.
Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read. This book was great. I have about 20% left to read in this book and have yet to read it. Since knowing the author has passed away, I just want to hold on to that and read it slowly, as this is the last book from her.

I really struggled with this book. I wonder if I’m the target audience for a story like this and I could possibly just not be into urban stories like this anymore.

I hated Brooklyn’s character and her mom wasn’t any better. They sucked! I wanted to whoop Brooklyn & quite honestly I’m not surprised with the deadly ending she had because she just was doing too much of what she wanted to do and not listening to the wisdom of her dad— can’t say her mom cause she was horrible. I don’t think I can recommend this book because I just didn’t like it.

RIP Tracy Brown, a truly brilliant writer. Brown’s last novel, Hold You Down, was a 5 star read for me, so I was grateful to receive a free ARC from Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. What can I say, Brown knows how to craft a heart pumping, page turning novel full of characters you will both love and hate. Brooklyn James is 17-year-old preacher’s kid longing to escape her suffocating family life when she falls for an older man who hustles drugs for a living. Brooklyn is lured into the lifestyle just as her family is hit with a tragic event. While Brooklyn finds success in her new path, the trauma of her past looms, painfully unresolved. Brooklyn makes bad decision after bad decision, leading to a shocking yet inevitable end (not a spoiler). I flew through this one in two days.

RIP Tracy Brown!! A great storyteller/author gone too soon. I have been a fan of every Tracy Brown book and this one didn't disappoint either. Brooklyn is an urban fiction novel about Brooklyn James. Brooklyn James is a young girl from a very religious home who runs away when her family is in turmoil. Throughout the book we witness Brooklyn's struggle to navigate adulthood without guidance, often sabotaging her own relationships along the way. Overall Brooklyn is a child who wants to be grown but has no idea what she is doing. Tracy Brown takes the reader on a journey full of raw emotions with this book. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for my ARC of Brooklyn!

RIP Tracy Brown 🙏. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book. I’m a big fan of Tracy Brown, she has a way of making you think about her characters long after you’re done the book. In this book we follow Brooklyn in 90’s NY. We know from the beginning of the book what will happen to her at the end of the book, but it’s still so heartbreaking. Brooklyn is portrayed as a selfish and entitled girl. But she’s a survivor and will do anything in order to survive and gets what she wants. But I don’t blame her and see how her childhood and her parents had a strong influence in shaping who she is. You want to hate her, but you can’t. Just like in the authors other book, Hold You Down, she gets you to feel these strong emotions toward the characters.

Whew! First, RIP Tracy Brown. This is my first book from the author, and I will go back and read her catalog that she left for this world based on this read!

Secondly, thank you to Griffin books and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Brooklyn” is a story of family turmoil, trauma, and revenge. Brooklyn was a privileged child who decided to get it out the mud. The beginning of this book was pretty fast pace until the 70% mark when it slowed a bit but picked back up quickly. As the saying goes “you die by the life you live” but I was in no way expecting this ending!

Thank you to St. Martin's press for the physical and e-ARC of Brooklyn. Even after her passing, Tracy will always be a legend in the Black community and while I love the way Tracy Brown writes her stories, unfortunately Brooklyn wasn't for me.

I love the way Tracy Brown crafts stories and characters! Her books leave you satisfied and really thinking about these people as if you are gonna walk out of the door and see them.

My only issue with this story is that the ending felt rushed. I don’t know if the story was completely finished before the author passed or if she had plans for a sequel. Either way this story is worth a read and would make for a great book club discussion. #RIPTracyBrown

An over the top melodrama that I had to put down but which others might well enjoy. Brooklyn's extended family is torn apart and her world shredded when she is assaulted by her "uncle." What set her down a path into bad relationships- first with Alonzo and then with Hassan and others? She's an unpleasant person (what she does to her brother in unforgivable) who thinks only of herself. I eventually put this down, exhausted by the tumult and disgusted with Brooklyn. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I've enjoyed Brown's work in the past but this was a miss for me.

I was excited to read this book being that it was Tracy Brown’s last book that she wrote. Overall the book was okay. Brooklyn was a hard character to like as she was very selfish. The storyline was missing something but I can’t really explain what, but something more was needed. The ending wasn’t a surprise as I knew who did it early on in the book. It was predictable.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Every time we get close to our destiny, the devil sends a diversion to make us lose focus.”

In true Tracy Brown form this book swept me up and took me on a ride. We meet Brooklyn as a teenager living the soft life of being a pastor’s daughter with many expectations. Brooklyn is one of three children and her life is consumed with church life and being a good Christian girl, but she longs for more. Living in the suburbs she begins skipping school and taking the ferry to NYC to soak up the life she wants to live and before long she gets wrapped up in the drug life. There were so many moments throughout this story that I truly wanted to shake Brooklyn and knock some sense into her. The story is tragic and is the perfect cautionary tale of growing up too fast and being careful of what you wish for.

This story is amazingly written and draws upon all emotions. After reading the book, I've been torn between giving it between a 3 star and 4 star rating. The story tells of a young woman trying to break away from her strict and hypocritical religious upbringing. The plot is nicely written, but some portions of the book are predictable and not much of a surprise. I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep reading at times, however Tracy had a way of drawing you back into the book with it's varies twist. I will say the ending was very unexpected and almost left me wanting more. Overall, I would say this book isn't one of her best works, but it is definitely worth a read.

I received the eARC from Net Galley to read early. I loved Hold You Down by Tracy Brown! I was sad to hear of her passing. When I heard that her last book would be released posthumously I knew I had to read it! Brooklyn is the tale of a young girl desperately trying to find her way in life. She leaves home in hopes of building the life she has always dreamed of but gets caught up in situations that always leave her back at square one. The common denominator…Brooklyn. She is a selfish girl but I think she felt she had to be that way because she never felt anyone ever stood up for her when she was younger. This is a sad tale of a family full of secrets and lies. Her downfall was caused by someone she never would have expected. Great book!