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.

Willie works for her family's construction company in Philadelphia after reluctantly giving up her career as a journalist in Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks. She loves her family and her tween daughter, but she feels like she has another chance to become the person she's always wanted to be. The Forgiveness Act grants descendants of enslaved Black people reparations for the longtime suffering they experienced. If the Act passes, Willie could embark on her own journey and know that her parents have enough money to live well as they did when her father's company was succeeding.

In order to claim the reparations money, families must find documented proof that their descendants were indeed enslaved. This puts Willie on a path to finding out about her family's past history and what that means for her and her family's future. What will she find out from her research and will it provide the solace and backing she needs to move on with her life?

I found the premise very interesting, whether or not you agree with the possibility of reparations. The book isn't futuristic--it's present day and a what-if scenario. I loved the fact that it's set in Philadelphia, partly because the areas sound familiar, partly because much of the country's history took place there. I wasn't sure if that was intentional or not.

The story of Willie and how she grew up and her family life was a good story. In the beginning, the character who happened to be her grandfather experienced trauma from not receiving the veteran benefits he was entitled to and failing to be approved for a mortgage. That was a good background for the rest of the book, but it jumped ahead to Willie and her childhood, and I felt that there were some steps that were missed.

I did feel that the story wasn't very well-paced, though, because it takes until almost the end of the book for Willie to find out the information about her father's and grandfather's slave history. I wanted to also delve into more of the results of the Forgiveness Act from multiple perspectives. It was addressed but not enough to be the center of the story.

Also, suddenly, Willie becomes involved in a relationship that didn't ring true. In fact, the characters seemed to have no chemistry, and it seemed too much of a throwaway relationship. Same goes for the parent of her child--I feel like we needed more information about the situation and moving it into present day with some answers. I did like the relationships that Willie has with her parents and young daughter and friends. All of those seemed substantial and dynamic, so that you understood what drives Willie.

Unfortunately, the epilogue doesn't work for me. It's too far into the future, and it still doesn't properly address what happens for the characters. I felt like it was tacked on although I did like the character it focuses on. Actually, I feel like it could have been done differently and closer to the time period that the book is set in.

Other than that, I found the writing well-done and engaging. I would be willing to try another of the author's books if she publishes another novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

“Acts of Forgiveness” by Maura Cheeks is a poignant and thought-provoking debut novel that delves into the complexities of ambition, legacy, and the pursuit of redemption. Set against the backdrop of a nation on the cusp of a historic decision, the narrative follows Willie Revel, a single mother whose life is a testament to the enduring struggle for identity and prosperity in a world that often seems to have predetermined her place.

Cheeks’ novel is a mirror held up to society, reflecting the intricate layers of family dynamics and the weight of history on the shoulders of those seeking to forge a path forward. The proposed Forgiveness Act serves as a catalyst for a deep familial introspection, pushing Willie to confront the buried truths of her lineage. As she navigates the murky waters of government bureaucracy to claim what is rightfully hers, we are taken on a journey that is as much about unearthing the past as it is about envisioning a future.

The author masterfully captures the essence of Willie’s internal conflict—her dreams deferred and the forgiveness she must grant herself to embrace the possibilities that lie ahead. Cheeks’ prose is both powerful and tender, weaving a narrative that is rich with insight and brimming with the raw emotions of characters that are as real as they are flawed.

In “Acts of Forgiveness,” Maura Cheeks asks us to consider the price of success and the meaning of legacy. It’s a novel that challenges readers to reflect on their own histories and the lengths they would go to in order to claim a piece of the future. With its compelling storyline and resonant themes, this book is a significant contribution to contemporary literary fiction and a must-read for anyone who appreciates a story that not only entertains but also enlightens.

Cheeks’ narrative is a reminder that sometimes, the act of forgiveness is not just a personal journey, but a collective experience.

Acts of Forgiveness is a moving and thought-provoking debut novel. Maura Cheeks has crafted a beautiful, layered story surrounding a memorable family and set of characters. Willie is an amazing character - to see her grow up from the start of the novel, follow her through the highs and lows of her life as she tries to help her family in every way that she can, even if it means her dream is put on hold and takes a different shape. The subject of reparations and the passage of the Forgiveness Act in the novel was very interesting and done extremely well, showing Willie and others researching their family history to apply, struggling with the harsh reality of the past uncovered, and dealing with a society that pushes back against the law and is unafraid to fight with cruelty and violence. This is a beautiful novel of identity, acceptance and forgiveness, and coming to terms with the past. I really enjoyed reading this novel - definitely recommend! Thank you to Random House, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Reparations for America’s involvement in slavery have been introduced in various forms. The Forgiveness Act, introduced by Elizabeth Johnson, America’s first female president, would give everyone over eighteen a payment of $175,000 if they could prove that they were descended from slaves. If passed, it could be life changing for Willie and the Revel family. She graduated with a degree in journalism and had a promising career when she moved back into the family home to help run her father’s construction company. Once a successful business, it has now fallen on hard times. Willie sets out to learn the family’s history, but not everyone is eager to participate. Nor do they trust the government’s promises. This is a multigenerational story of family and heritage. The Act provokes controversy as it passes through Congress. It also provides hope to families like the Revels. Maura Cheeks has presented an important story that is beautifully written and gives you characters that will stay with you long after the story ends. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for providing this book.

Strong Debut novel by Maura Cheeks:

What I loved:
1. A complex and emotional topic.
2. Themes of promise, forgiveness, self-determination and family dominate against the backdrop of slavery's stain on our country.
3. Loved her writing style
4. Would be a great book club book - so much to unpack and talk about.

What I wanted to be different.
1. Felt too political at times at the sacrifice of the family.
2. Wanted to see more of the aftermath of the law and the impact.

I look forward to reading more from Maura Cheeks!


Many thanks to Ballantine Books | Random House for the opportunity to read this book.

I thought “Acts of Forgiveness” started out strong, but then lost some steam towards the latter half of the book. It was a very interesting premise, but I didn’t love the execution of it. I thought it was thought-provoking and timely, but ultimately the story aspect failed to keep my interest throughout. This was a solid read, but not one that I loved. 3 stars ⭐️. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy for review.

Wow, what a book! This book was eye opening and very powerful to read. The characters were so well written and I felt invested in the story. I cannot wait to recommend this book to others!

The multigenerational Revel family share a home and a hard-earned business. Although, Max and Lourdes’ only daughter, Willie aspires to be a journalist, she must give up her dream to help Max run the construction business while raising her ten-year old daughter, Paloma. As the family begins to struggle with finances, the first female US president, a former professor of Willie's, pushes The Forgiveness Act. through Congress. This new law will offer reparation payments to American citizens who can prove that their ancestors were slaves. While this act sparks controversy and waves of protests and racism, Willie sees potential hope in bailing her family out of financial difficulty. Her ancestral search takes her to Natchez, Mississippi where she learns some ugly facts about her enslaved ancestors. Meanwhile, her daughter, Paloma struggles through her own experiences with racism at her all-white school and becomes an aspiring and talented playwright.
This book was a short and quick read but really packs in a lot. The push and pull around family issues was a major theme - the family is so close yet have to deal with big and small differences of opinion. Willie's ancestral search was a very interesting part of the book. I thought that the characters were well- developed and the author made their struggles very real. A very thought-provoking book!

This book had an interesting premise of the forgiveness act. The act would give families 175,00 if they could prove they were descendants of slavery. The book gives a good outline of race, ambition, family, and sacrifice. This book was a good idea, but fell a bit flat for me overall.
Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy of this novel.

The propelling event in "Acts of Forgiveness" is the Forgiveness Act; the first American federal reparations program to compensate descendants of slavery. Unsurprisingly, it is an emotionally charged issue, and a politically and logistically complex behemoth.

We follow four generations of the Revels, deservedly proud to be business owners and the first black family to live in their desirable neighborhood. But, times are tough and there are difficult decisions to be made. The money from the Forgiveness Act might be the answer, if they are willing to excavate their family history.

Overall, this debut novel has an interesting storyline and characters but it was a bit too on the nose and preachy. It gets a solid 3* from me. I look forward to her next offering.

I received a drc from the publisher via NetGalley.

A compelling and thought provoking novel about reparations. It was well-written as well as educational.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Acts of Forgiveness is billed as a novel about reparations for slavery, and although it covers that, it is also an exploration of family relationships, genealogy, and sense of belonging. There were quite a few characters that were difficult to track at times, though I appreciated how the story focused on the mother-daughter pair of Willie and Paloma. I found the relationship between Willie and her parents to be very compelling, and their reluctance to open up to one another was emotionally fraught. This was an important read with many layers that made me reflect on race, family and affluence.

This was an impressive debut, and I look forward to reading more from Maura Cheeks.

The United States has its first female president and she has passed the Forgiveness Act in order for descendants of slaves to claim up to $175,000. Willie Revel's life has not gone exactly as she'd like. She wanted to be a journalist but family obligations redirected her ambitions. She lives at home with her parents and her daughter, as the father is not in the picture. She works for the family business which she excels at, but it is not her dream job. In order to receive the $175,000 claim, each person has to prove up why they are descendants of slaves. Willie takes on gathering the information and along the way learns things about her family. Her mother is adopted so she has to explore her father's lineage. Willie's ancestry also hits home as her daughter is to do a project about the family's genealogy and Willie and her family do not know where they are from. Acts of Forgiveness explores the impact of the Black families finally receiving restitution for the wrongs forced upon them, but of course, it is difficult for many of the people to prove up their ancecstry. Acts of Forgiveness demonstrates how important a family's legacy can be when it is difficult to ascertain where to begin to discover one's legacy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read the ARC of Acts of Forgiveness.

"Acts of Forgiveness" by Maura Cheeks is a dramatic, deep story about a family, with its many generations, tackling the topic of forgiveness for slavery and examining the past. Upsetting yet uplifting, as the various characters with their unique perspectives approach this political movement. Tender and enlightening. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

I picked this book up to read and got about thirty percent into it before I stopped. It just wouldn’t hold my interest. The idea of it was great, but it wasn’t an easy read. A few weeks later, I listened to it from the beginning and again, it held my interest for about fifty percent before I just didn’t want to finish. I did listen to the entire book, but I think there were too many subplots and characters for me. I didn’t like the way the timeline jumped around so much and didn’t enhance the story at all for me.

This book is built on the fascinating concept: A female president who is a descendent of Andrew Johnson works to pass The Forgiveness Act into law. This law provides all African Americans who can prove they are the descendants of slaves with financial reparations. While this national story plays out, domestic drama also unfolds.

Willie is a single mother who reluctantly gave up her journalism career to help at her father's construction company. Raised by Black parents who seemed to care more about wealth and status than true, emotional connection, she's surprised that they're not more excited about the possibility of reparations. Her daughter, Paloma, struggles with her identity, specifically her experience as a budding playwright at a mostly white school. As the stories of these ladies play out, we also learn more about Willie's parents and grandfather.

Although I enjoyed the themes of the book and certain parts of it, it didn't gel with me as a whole. While Willie seems to get the most scenes and we can great insight into her actions and emotions, the other characters didn't get enough time for me to truly connect with them. I really wanted to learn more about Paloma's struggles. Sep was teased as having this whole life of resistance that we never get full visibility into. And while the Act lurks in the background and we do get to learn about each character's feelings about it, some aren't developed enough to be truly insightful.

All in all, I enjoyed this book and its intriguing plot. I do wish, though, that some of the secondary characters had more narrative depth.

I was excited by the premise of this book, but it didn't wow me. It touched on so many important topics, but just grazed them. I didn't really connect with any of the characters, which probably didn't help me connect with the story. This was a miss for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

An interesting premise of what would happen if America passed a reparations bill for Black families who can show they are descendants of slaves. Told from the perspective of Willie, a former journalist who now helps her father run their family's struggling construction company, as she navigates the minefield of what is best for their family. When the bill is passed, Willie must find proof that her family's ancestors were enslaved and this leads her on a genealogical search that will reveal something none of them expected. Overall, this is an ambitious concept that does well in its social commentary of showing barriers that could occur if a reparations bill passed, but does tend to skim over how public sentiment would change to get there in the first place.