Thanks @netgalley for the ARC. This book tells the story of Brooklyn, a restless girl raised in the church who knows she doesn’t belong from an early age and she sets about a life of exploring the wrong side of the tracks. Told over years of her life it’s a story that sucks you in and leaves you cheering for her demise. I would recommend this book.

Gone Too Soon Tracy Brown… Rest In Peace

“I played a deadly game and I lost.”
“Who would be mad enough to kill her? I don’t know where to begin”

This book is a true example of The Prodigal Daughter, who returns but never changes…In this book we meet the main character Brooklyn, whose desire to grow up too fast and partake in situations below the greatness she was born with costs her everything. I am a fan of the Author and was happy to receive this ARC from @Netgalley.

Let’s first get into this cover. The cover of this book is absolutely gorgeous and must be added to my bookshelf just because of how pretty it is.

Now let’s get into this review... The way Tracy Brown can tell a story makes all of her books hard to put down, even this one, no matter how frustrated I was with the main character.
Brooklyn James experienced an event in her young life that changed her entire perspective on life, family, and trust. After a season of rebellion and risky behaviors Brooklyn finds herself engaged in a lifestyle no one could have ever imagined for the daughter of a Pastor. While life for Brooklyn was not easy after her traumatic experience, it became even more tragic as we witness the toxic manner in which her mother continues to traumatize her throughout her young life due to a lack of care. This toxic mother-daughter relationship coupled with Brooklyn’s disdain with being phony and continually putting on a show for church folks knowing full well her family was a mess sent her into a life that spiraled out of control.

The Brooklyn character frustrated me to no end. Her level of selfishness, self-centeredness, and the ability to play the consummate victim role really bothered me. She was a master manipulator and though I wanted to like this character I just couldn’t. There were times I felt her character would see the light and come around, but every time she was backed into any corner or had to be held accountable for her own decisions and choices, she became the evil victim. It’s unfortunate that the character didn’t learn one lesson throughout the book no matter how much destruction was in her path.

I feel the ending of the book was very rushed but considering the untimely death of the author I really believe this book may have been set to become a sequel. Even an epilogue would have made the ending come together a little more.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC of this novel. The author does a great job at creating a character, Brooklyn, who keeps you shaking your head, asking why is she like this, completely selfish, naive, destructive, and immature. She is irredeemable from beginning to end. There are a lot of people who will like this storyline. A young girl, leaves (or is thrown out by her religious parents) home while still in high school and turns to the street to support herself, seemingly with great success (really?). The timeline is from the late '80s/ early '90s through 2000s. Some events are predictable, some are not realistic. It's an interesting story.

Be careful what you wish for...

The opening of this story set the tone for all the emotionally charged events that unfolded throughout. The late Tracy Brown was a master storyteller who had an uncanny ability to portray the grit and hustle of urban New York City through the eyes of each character she introduced. The life of Brooklyn James was yet another polarizing example of the highs and lows of a fast money lifestyle, where selfishness and karma can lead to your downfall. This was a page-turner that kept me guessing the entire journey. And I couldn't put it down until I got the answers to all my questions. Bravo to the author for stringing me along in such a spectacular fashion that before I knew it, I'd reached the end! With a supporting cast of troubled family members rooted in the church, envious friends and nefarious associates as intriguing and mysterious as the city itself, if you're a fan of Tracy's previous work, you will not be disappointed in what I sadly expect will be the final addition to an impressive catalog that I've had the privilege of consuming after discovering White Lines a few years ago.
And I've been a fan ever since! RIH Tracy Brown, your contributions to the literary community will truly be missed!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Brooklyn left home because she felt misunderstood by her family because of events that took place. We follow her on her journey of hustling, scheming, and running from her past. She’s looking for love and acceptance in all the wrong places. I just wanted so much for Brooklyn but she just couldn’t get it right. I enjoyed this book and I didn’t see the ending coming at all.

Talk about a rollercoaster ride of a story! I was drawn in from the beginning by the premise although it was heartbreaking at the same time to know the ending before truly understanding Brooklyn’s character. She’s a piece of work, putting it nicely, but I also struggled at times to understand the extent of her angst and rebellion (as her sister, Hope, calls it). The narrative brought everything full circle and ensured all the dots were connected, so I appreciated Brown’s storytelling and attention to detail. Brooklyn’s just not my cup of tea and I couldn’t commiserate with her. I’d rank this more like a 3.5 and appreciate having an opportunity to read it in advance. I also enjoyed Brown’s conceptualization of character enough to want to read her earlier works. She will be missed.

Thoughts

Y'all the way I cried while reading this one.

Brooklyn is not that likeable, in the sense that she doesn't go with the flow. She will cause trouble to benefit herself everytime. However, she also has people in her life who refuse to stand up for her and it broke my heart.

I think Brooklyn is going to stick with me for a while. And I would to have done a buddy read with someone so we could discuss this one because there is SOOOOO much to discuss.

I am heartbroken for Brown's family and friends that she passed away so young. But she has left a legacy with her books.

I just want to say that I didnt want this book to end. I wanted the crazy ride to continue. Brooklyn is probably the most unlikeable character in any book that Ive read. I disliked her so much! You know a book is well written when you dislike someone that aint even real. This is my second book by this author and tbh, im not surprised at how good this book was! Shes very talented. Coming to the end of this book made me really sad because I know this will be the last book by her. 🥺

In the beginning of this book until midway, i was feeling sorry for Brooklyn but then I started to see all the selfish stuff she did. The only person she cared about was herself. I do think her mom is alot to blame though because in the beginning of the book her mom went about things in the worst way. Brooklyn needed her mom and she didnt come through. But ultimately Brooklyn made her bed, so she had to lie in it.

She did so many people dirty in this book. I wanted to jump through the pages and knock some sense into her. How can one person be so selfish? Stacey and Hassan were two of my favorite characters in the book. True definition of ride or die friends! But that didnt last long. I didnt like the way the book ended but I think it ended this way due to the authors sudden death. I have so many questions that i need answered! Whew! Yall have to read this book when it comes out. I cant wait to buy this. It needs to be framed. These characters and the events that happened in this book will forever be embedded in my head 😩This was a masterpiece fr! RIP TRACY!!!

Brown is a skilled storyteller with an uncanny eye for detail. Her depiction of Brooklyn captivated me and reading this story was an emotional journey.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Selfish. Self-centered. Manipulator. Theif. Greed. Outspoken. Ambitious. All these attributes is what Brooklyn was.

I was sympathizing with Brooklyn at first. Her upbringing and childhood would have you thinking that she’s just a misunderstood teen but she continues repeating the same mistakes. Every action have a consequence and Brooklyn found out the hard way burning bridges with family and losing friends.

What she did to Amir left a bad taste in my mouth. His situation is very much different from hers and the way she went about it was so unpleasant.

What I liked about Brooklyn is her hustle. She was ambitious wasn’t scared to make money. I loved how outspoken and blunt she was. Her decision making not so much.

One thing about Brooklyn is if you not siding with her or she don’t get her way she directs her anger towards you. Whether she’s right or wrong. She lacked accountability. She can’t accept constructive criticism. She had to be right.

The characters are so memorable that some will have rolling your eyes or talking out loud to yourself.

This book was emotional and fast paced that it will suck you right in. I don’t want say too much and spoil it for others so just read the dang book.

May Ms. Tracy Brown rest in peace. Thank you @netgalley for this eARC.

I feel like this book deals with some really interesting and important topics, but I just couldn't fall in love with the main character and plot. Still, I think the writer is incredibly talented!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book was so well written!! I had a great time reading it. I was invested from page one & it never lost its momentum. I was so heavily invested in Brooklyn & all her decisions. This is definitely a book I will be buying once its released & recommending to others. The only con: the killer was obvious to me.

I did receive an ARC courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (:

This book was amazing. I loved every second of it and it was a page turner.
Brooklyn felt slighted with her parents response to her telling them something happened to her and she decides from now on it best to be selfish and do whatever makes her happy. She leaves her family to start fresh and ultimately turns all her new friends into enemies and with nowhere else to go she goes back to the place she was running away from.
Im so sad that this is the final book by Tracy Brown (RIP) , the ending left me wanting more and I was hopefully of reappearances from characters early on in the book. I love how the first page is the unaliving and you are essentially working backwards to see how Brooklyn got there. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone.

Firstly RIP TRACY BROWN … such a phenomenal writer gone too soon. 🕊️

One thing Ms. Tracy knows how to do is pull every emotion out of me. The way she writes has you so deep in your feelings fr.
Brooklyn had me stressed since the beginning of the book. From the first chapter she was doomed if we’re being honest. One event caused her to be on a path of destruction!! She was such a frustrating character but a lesson can definitely be learned.

Urban & mystery together is tooooo good. I went back & forth on giving this book 4 or 5 stars because the ending has you left with too many questions & That alone would automatically cause me to rate 4.5 but this book was still THAT GOOD even though guessing the killer was pretty easy to me.

I will be thinking about Brooklyn for a while just like I still think about the characters from Hold you Down 😭

THANK YOU NETGALLEY FOR THE ARC !!

Brooklyn Melody James, is a 17 year old girl who wants out of the picture perfect life her family portrays. While her father is a Pastor and her mother the First Lady, Brooklyn feels as though her household lives a double life; one that she no longer wants to be apart of. Brooklyn is a girl who plays the game thinking she’s 10 steps ahead, only to be 10 steps behind. This is a story of how selfishness can not only affect those around you, but it can also be your very own downfall.

Brooklyn is the type of person that throws the first punch and then hides her hands and refuses to take accountability for anything, because obviously nothing is ever her fault. At one point I felt sorry for Brooklyn, because of some of the things that happened to her, but eventually all of that faded- and fast. In the beginning my heart went out to Brooklyn because her momma was the definition of trash, like who doesn’t believe their child (if you know then you know), but chile the more I read, the more Brooklyn was the spitting image of that lady. I mean look at the way she did everybody she crossed paths with, even her own flesh and blood. Even then, Brooklyn continued to only see how she was done wrong, not how she contributed to any wrongdoing. Just when you want to give the girl some grace, she turns right back around and throws those same punches, and burns more bridges. Brooklyn is the walking epitome of “you reap what you sow” and honey all babygirl did was sow discord, confusion, betrayal, and hurt. Whenever you thought she was going to get her act together, boom she starts back at square one.

Now I won’t lie to y’all, while this book was a page turner for sure, the ending felt a bit rushed, and left me wanting more. I was eager to see if Zo was gonna pop back up and get his lick back, and I wanted- no, needed more on Hope. Buckle up y’all, because Brooklyn will have you on one heck of a ride!

May your work continue to live on @tracybrownwrites 🕊️
Thank you @netgalley for this ARC

Brooklyn is seeking independence from her religious family. She ends up involved in the drug game and on a constant chase for money. This is my second Tracy Brown read and I am truly devastated that we won’t be getting any new work due to her untimely death. Brooklyn is definitely a fast paced read that truly keeps you on the edge of your seat. When you want to really champion for Brooklyn she does something that makes you want to slap her. Unfortunately there were a number of loose ends that the story never tied up. Also, the book ends really abruptly..

If you are a fan of The Coldest Winter Ever or A Moth to a Flame, buckle up because Brooklyn takes you for a ride.

I’ve been reading Tracy Brown since I was a teenager, sneaking her books into school to pass along to my friends. Her passing is such a loss but Im so grateful we’re able to read one last book by her ❤️

Brooklyn is your typical teenager who thinks she knows it all. She’s willing to do whatever to get what she needs. And boy did she stress me out!! I couldn’t put the book down because every page had me anxious to see what the end result was going to be.

I wanted better for Brooklyn just like I did with Winter & Raven but you know how the story goes …

Brooklyn kept me captivated to the very end. Five out of five stars. Navigating life of a morally grey character was very interesting. There was never a dull moment. Every page had me holding my breath. This book is a must read. I will recommend this book to everyone I know. I am soooo thankful I got the chance to read this novel.

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, Brooklyn
This was truly a good read! In some ways, this book should serve as a cautionary tale for those that want to be a part of “the game.” This book dealt with childhood trauma. That maybe could have been explained a little more. The book also talked about growing up to fast. In some ways, Brooklyn was trying hard to be grown, but at the same time, she was kinda forced to be grown. The book also dealt with parenting. Should you be a strict parent or not? Basically, strict parenting doesn’t allow for mistakes, so facing consequences, or not, impacts your life. There were so many lessons in this book. Overall, this was an excellent read that I highly recommend.

Tracy Brown (RIEP) is known for giving us gritty, raw stories. From White Lines, Black, and Criminal Minded (my favorite books from her, by the way!), readers are taken on a bumpy ride. Brooklyn is no different.

Brooklyn is a church girl with a cookie-cutter family life. From her viewpoint, her family is fake, and their well-orchestrated church services show just how much her family and the church are fraudulent. She resents her family and their perfect image.

After the family's shell of perfection is cracked, Brooklyn runs. Left in her wake is death and deception: the consequences of being young and dumb, and not learning from her mistakes.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I did roll my eyes several times because of the mistakes and consequences I saw coming. The storyline isn't new, however. I did know what was going to happen, it was the WHO that I questioned. But, I wasn't far off from my assessment.

Tracy Brown readers should check this out and represent for our girl. She gave us many. many books, and this one is surely a lesson for young ladies out here who think they know it all. This book also demonstrates how the sins of the father/mother will visit the child.