This is a good choice for a book club discussion. Whole I don’t think the reparations solution presented here would work (it’s not going to change the remaining systemic racism embedded in every facet of this country), I think the author presents relatable characters with a sensitive topic.

There is nothing wrong with this book, but the description made me think I would get a twist regarding the protagonist’s backstory, and I was disappointed when I didn’t. This isn’t the author’s fault. My expectations were wrong. However, it did lessen my enjoyment.

The book itself was an interesting look in researching a family tree. Especially when there are open resources to do so.

Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks is a poignant debut novel that explores the complexities of family, legacy, and reparations in the United States. When the opportunity for reparations arises, Willie Revel, a young woman struggling to save her family's business, must confront her family's history and the weight of their past. This powerful novel tackles important themes with sensitivity and grace.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks!

I love the cover and liked the blurb for this one, but I was not able to get fully into this one. I can see why others enjoy, but it’s not for me.

"Acts of Forgiveness" by Maura Cheeks is my first read by this author, and I was introduced to her work through NetGalley. The novel presents a complex family drama set against the backdrop of a proposed federal reparations act. I appreciated the well-developed characters, especially Willie Revel, whose journey to uncover her family's history is both poignant and thought-provoking. In "Acts of Forgiveness" by Maura Cheeks, the theme of forgiveness is intricately woven into the narrative, impacting both personal and societal levels: The protagonist, Willie Revel, embarks on a journey to uncover her family's history to qualify for the federal reparations program. This journey forces her to confront past grievances and misunderstandings within her family. As she delves deeper, Willie learns to forgive her parents for their decisions and the secrets they kept, understanding the complexities of their choices. Willie also grapples with forgiving herself for the sacrifices she made, including giving up her journalism career to support her family's struggling construction business. Her journey is as much about self-acceptance and letting go of past regrets as it is about uncovering her lineage. The novel is set against the backdrop of the Forgiveness Act, a proposed federal reparations program. This act symbolizes a broader societal attempt to address historical injustices and offer restitution to Black families. The varying reactions to the act within Willie's family and community highlight the complexities of collective forgiveness and the challenges of reconciling with a painful past. As Willie uncovers her family's history, she learns about the resilience and strength of her ancestors. This knowledge helps her to heal and find a sense of pride and identity. The theme of forgiveness extends to understanding and honoring the legacy of those who came before her. These elements combine to create a powerful exploration of forgiveness, both on an individual and collective level, making it a central theme of the novel. While the story had its compelling moments, I found the pacing a bit uneven at times. Despite this, the themes of forgiveness, legacy, and the impact of history on the present kept me engaged. #netgalley #actsofforgiveness



I look forward to seeing more from Maura Cheeks in the future.

Acts of Forgiveness has compelling characters and an amazing premise, but stops just short delivering what it promises. There was so much happening in this book, and while much of it fed into the characterization, at times it made the plot hard to follow. There’s a troubled motivation to Willie that typically love in characters, and a big focus on family history. However there’s many threads that take us into pockets that don’t feel aligned with the main driver of the book, and I was left feeling a bit unsure. Cheeks is a talented writer and I look forward to other books.

Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks is a powerful and moving novel that’s perfect for readers who enjoy stories about complex family relationships, history, and social justice. If you're interested in themes like family, reparations, and the lasting effects of racial inequality, this book will definitely resonate with you.

This was not a book for me. I DNF'd it. I read bout 50 pages, but could not get into the story. The book was very well written but just not for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

So my initial thoughts on this book was good foundation, solid foundation, but what was built on it can only be referred to as unstable.

(I do find it funny that we are a few months away from possible having our first Female President.)

That being said, there wasn't much else that really stood out to me in terms of characters. Willie was anice enough but the story was missing a little emotion for me. +

A beautiful book, I like anything I’ve read before. I loved the characters, plot and writing. I learned a lot as well, just a wonderfully solid debut novel

This was a powerful idea with biting social ideas. I found the idea of reparations fascinating and the dollar amount shocking. I found the struggle of the family to track the lineage so touching. But this one was a bit bogged down in the past. We spent a lot of time juggling the family and I would have loved to have spent more time in the now and how this act affected the people. But there were so many good statements, so many good lines, this was a great audiobook! It made me think and struggle with the right answers.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book

Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks feels so very topical right now. The novel centers on a proposed reparations program for those who can prove that they are descendants of slaves. Cheeks does a very nice job of helping the reader see and understand several different viewpoints held by various characters. This book had been on my to-read pile for too long and I'm glad I finally got to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Acts of Forgiveness in exchange for an honest review. This book is available now!

This had a really enjoyable premise, but the execution was shaky. There was so much that was left unresolved by the end and so many loose threads of plot that it was disappointing to me. There just wasn't a lot of depth to this, when I felt it could have really benefited from it.

Overall, 3/5 stars.

Acts of Forgiveness had a great premise. Coincidentally when we have a female candidate for presidency, it could have been a very timely story. However, I felt like there was something missing in execution.

When the act was published, Willie was already over her journalism career and taking care of her family's business. Money was tight and this act could have been a band aid she was looking for to put everything in order and get the hell out of her hometown. As always it is the case with "free" money, she had to prove that she was descendants of slaves, which comes with its own baggage.

This Act of Forgiveness reminds me Paycheck Protection Program. You can have the money but you need to prove everything. You need to prove your need. You are already vulnerable but you have to make yourself more vulnerable. Idea is great but money offered for it is comical

This book was interesting, as it is a fictional account of what would happen in America if a Forgiveness Act is passed which allows Black families to claim up to $175,000 if they can prove they are descended from slaves.
It shows how even though they "pass this law" in the book, it is still a hardship to get the money. The book has many subplots, and some slow areas.

This book was quite boring and I chose to DNF it since I'm not wasting my time reading about uninteresting characters.

I am not sure what I was expecting when I started this book.
It is the story of a black woman who has to make a choice between her career and her family when her parents need help. It brings up some thoughts about what would happen if reparation payments were actually made to people who could prove they had family members who were once slaves.

This is not a story that I would recommend to all of my friends, as they wouldn't all understand it or it wouldn't affect them the way it would others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a thought provoking read that I'm glad I picked up. The character development and pacing were particularly well done, I thought.

I honestly was surprised how much I liked this book. It was very interesting to see how she fought her family to dig up her ancestors to prove they were descendants from slaves. I would definitely recommend this book.