As soon I heard about Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks, I immediately added it to my tbr. In the story, the President of the United States spearheads the Forgiveness Act. If passed, the bill will allow payment of $175,000 to Black Americans who can prove they are descended from enslaved peoples. Told from single mom Willie Revel's perspective, the story explores what a bill of this magnitude really means to many Americans. From enslavement to a time where owning a home itself becomes an "act of resistance" to a more contemporary time, I was eager to see how the author would handle the premise.

In her debut novel, Maura Cheeks touches on sensitive subjects such as filial piety, family dynamics and generational wealth. With engaging storytelling, Cheeks brings up lots of great questions through her characters and their musings. Her deft writing touches on topics like identity, ownership, and belonging. I appreciate how she explored the challenges that come with a bill like the Forgiveness Act.

Acts of Forgiveness raises thought-provoking questions, like what would financial reparations truly mean for the recipients? Would the government formally apologize, pay the money, and it's over? What are the actual logistics of proof? How difficult is it to prove your ancestors in these situations? How well were records maintained back then? Who "owns" these records? Are they a matter of public record? I love that this book provides the opportunity for meaningful discussion.

If you're looking for another book for Black History Month or if you're aiming to diversify your reading, I hope you consider Acts of Forgiveness!

Acts of Forgiveness by Maura Cheeks
Read this if you like:
• Family drama
• Single mom MC
• Diversity in books
• Commentary on social issues

Available today! Many thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for this thought-provoking book!

Is the United States ready to reparations for slavery? This book follows Willie who has a 10-year-old daughter who she lives with in her parents' house in Philadelphia as she helps manage the family business. The book does a good job at flashing back to times that her family was disadvantaged because they were Black. The overall plot is just okay - it felt like there were some unnecessary threads and a few things that were a little hard to believe - but the story as a whole is intriguing.

To me, a book that gets 5 stars has to be well-written, make me think or explore ideas, sticks with me afterwards and makes me want to discuss and share the content with others. This book earned its 5 stars with me!

At the time of the book, we have a female president and the government is on the cusp of passing the Forgiveness Act, which allows Blacks to claim up to $175,000 if they can prove they have descended from slaves.

Willie, the daughter in the Reveal family, is charged with finding the proof that her family descended from slaves. As the story evolves, it does an amazing job of explaining the far-reaching impacts of generational wealth and how it has influenced the lives of the Reveal family many generations later. It also delves into the brutality and inhumanity of slavery as Willie conducts the research on her ancestors. I found myself physically ill as I read through these part of the book and it further solidified my embarrassment of society's treatment of Blacks.

The story also explores the logistical process of implementation of the Act and society's reaction - things like Blacks being unable to access family record or even being prevented from accessing records, assistance with how to research and the violence from those who oppose the Act.

The intention of the Forgiveness Act is society's way of asking forgiveness for slavery. As many Blacks embark on their search for their proof, it produces lots of anger associated with stories that may have never been told or hidden from the descendants of slaves.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own.

#ActsofForgiveness #MauraCheeks

What if Black Americans were given monetary compensation for the way they have been treated since they were stolen from their lands and forced into slavery centuries ago? Is there a way to uplift this particular demographic that has been subject to unfair laws by the government for generations?

Maura Cheeks explores this topic in this debut novel which follows a middle class Black American family that is trying to create and pass on inherited wealth while dealing with the systemic racism that persists in American society. In this fictional reality, the government passes a Forgiveness Act that entitles current families to trace their lineage in order to receive monetary compensation. We are taken on a journey of ethical and logistical issues that could potentially arise from this.

I found this to be a fascinating read that invoked some ethical issues of right and wrong and serves as a hard look at the damage that has been done over many generations.

Thank you to @netgalley and @ballantinecorp for this early digital review copy

Wow this book was so good but it took me a little time to read it. I enjoyed the authors writing and I recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible. I can't wait to read what she comes with next.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

In a future year, which the author intentionally kept unknown, the first woman President of the United States successfully passes the Forgiveness Act, the nation's first federal reparations bill. Any African-American who can prove they are descendants of slaves in America stands to receive $175,000 dollars. To put it mildly, the country is divided over this Act.

Willie Revel, a single mother who still lives in her parent's house after giving up a promising career as a journalist to help with her father's struggling business after he suffers a heart attack. Having a child out of wedlock seems to be the only rebellion she has ever shown, but she still dreams of the career she might have had, and hopes for more for her daughter.

Willie sees the Forgiveness Act as a last attempt to both save the company and, perhaps, give her the freedom for which she longs. But the search for her family's history takes her to places and answers she never expected. In the end, they do receive the money, although the government in its infinite wisdom, only sends half, "in order to prevent inflation".

This was an eye-opening read and one that will give me things to ponder for a while.

3.5 stars. The country’s first female president is trying to get the Forgiveness Act passed, which would provide reparations to black Americans who can prove they are descended from slaves. It explores the political and personal implications of such a bill, primarily through the story of one family in Philadelphia. What real impact would it have on people’s lives? What kind of protests and retaliation might there be? What does it look like for families to have to track down proof of their ancestry?

This was a compelling premise and I loved the way the author was able to explore this topic through the lens of fiction. It’s very character driven and just as much a family story as it is about the Forgiveness Act. It didn’t blow me away, but it was a thought-provoking debut and I’m glad I read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

An uniquely imaginative debut novel which envisages an alternative reality where the American President wants to grant reparations to mitigate the cruel history of slavery in the United States. . The Revels are an African American family based in Philadelphia. They come from a history of slavery although that is never talked about in the recent times. President Elizabeth Johnson, granddaughter of the American President Andrew Johnson has just passed into law, the Forgiveness Act whereby the Revels may be entitled to compensation. They simply have to prove their genealogy. Definitely not a simple task for this extremely private family where the patriarch Marcus is absolutely reluctant to pursue any discussions of the past, his son Max is highly cynical of the benefits of the Act and Max;s wife Lourdes is herself adopted. . Max's daughter Lizzie is not one to let things rest though. Told through a series of back-and-forth flashbacks, the novel is part family drama, part historical fiction. I especially loved the freshness of the storyline and also the details of historical events surrounding the slave trade and plantations of the American South. This is not my history yet it had a profound effect on me. This novel would be an absolute must read for anybody who descends from that history. And all this while asking the highly provocative question of whether money can really compensate for the atrocities of the past. Perfect for book clubs.

Thank you NetGalley, Maura Cheeks and Random House Ballantine for the ARC.

3.5 stars out of 5

Just a heads up, there are some spoilers in this review.

I liked the premise of this book a lot. The idea of how it could play out for black American families if there was a national reparations program.

I enjoyed the author talking about how something that can look like a great idea on the surface, has many other complex moving parts and things to consider. Even when you think you’ve thought something through, there are always edits that need to be made.

In this story, some of the families are unable to provide the needed documentation to gain access to the reparation funds. So the government adjusts the needed proof and also provide funds and resources to help families get access to the needed documents. The government didn’t realize how difficult it would be to trace one’s ancestry back to and through slavery.

Other characters in the book felt like the reparations were a hand-out or that others would see it as a hand-out and were afraid of the backlash and protests that could happen. It showed how white-owned businesses could choose to stop doing business with Black-owned businesses, really negatively effecting their ability to continue surviving.

The main character in the book, Willie, has to make a big decision about whether she’s willing to do business with someone who is adamantly against the reparations act in order to save her family’s business. This could also cost the family their nice home that they’ve worked and saved for. In the book, this house represents so much more to the family than a nice home. It’s physical proof that blacks have the same rights as whites. It shows how far her family has come from being slaves to owning their own business and being able to buy a house in the “nice neigborhood.”

Although I thought this book brought up some great moral choices, I wanted the characters to be more fleshed out. I wanted to see more of their emotions and more interactions between them. I think these family relationships could have brought more to the book and we could have more deeply explored their complicated feelings about the reparations act.

I also felt like this book just kind of ended too early. In the end, the main character and her brother get the reparation funds, but half is in cash and the other half is held in a government fund as to help fight inflation. I don’t think this is what the characters were expecting and I think their thoughts on this could have been an interesting idea to cover. Also towards the end, Willie is trying to find happiness and we never discover what that means to her or if there is progress on this front. There is an epilogue at the end, but it didn’t answer these questions.

An interesting read, but I wanted a bit more character depth, relationship exploration among family members, and more of a conclusion with loose ends tied up.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book!

I really liked this story but I wanted more from it at the same time. It took a long time to get to the part that I was excited about: learning about the family tree. The Forgiveness Act is a great discussion point for book clubs; not for or against but what are the outcomes of doing it? Is the amount enough? How do you quantify centuries of wrong?

I liked Willie but I adored her daughter Paloma. She was bright and ahead of her peers in 5th grade. She had a wise way about her even at a young age.

Beautiful family story of love and legacy. Themes of racism (both overt and covert), legacy, resentment, history and legacy are beautifully treated by the author. Family, its history and its impact on how we grow and develop are explored. What we sacrifice to make our parents happy and how these actions transcend race and become universal resonate.

Acts of Forgiveness is an ambitious debut novel that spans multiple generations, focusing around the main character Willie as she navigates helping her family business stay alive amidst a federal reparations program (Forgiveness Act) being passed by her ex-Cornell professor turned president. This is a novel that focuses on themes around family and its obligations, wealth in the form of property namely the family house and what it represents, respectability, and societal success especially around the arenas of writing and career. The writing has wonderful moments where you feel integrated into the specific scenes and also provides a very interesting glimpse into what may happen after a reparations program passes and a description of the various complex policies, issues, and emotions that such program may involve for this family. While the book started out weaving many promising threads, my main complaint as a reader was that sometimes it felt like there wasn't enough time or depth with the characters and events to understand them fully or deeply (or maybe there were too many events and subplots) and the ending felt it came too much like a deus ex machina (joyous, but also maybe with not as much heft or reflection as would be expected from the set-up and premise).

Thanks to Ballantine for the opportunity to read this ARC.

"Acts of Forgiveness" delves into the enactment of the Forgiveness Act, which provides $175,000 to individuals able to validate their lineage to enslaved ancestors. The narrative centers on the Revel family's journey as they endeavor to secure this compensation. Initially, the focus lies on the Revels' experiences, preceding the passage of the Forgiveness Act. Following its implementation, the family embarks on the meticulous process of researching their ancestry to claim the funds. Despite the Act's intentions, the narrative explores lingering racial tensions and obstacles encountered by those attempting to collect. While the premise of the Forgiveness Act holds significant narrative potential, the reader expresses disappointment in the singular focus on the Revel family. Acknowledgement is made of the broader struggle many families faced in tracing their lineage and filing claims. The narrative touches upon other families' efforts and deliberations surrounding the Act, hinting at a wider tapestry of experiences beyond the Revels. Though the Revels' story is well-crafted and insightful, the reader expresses a desire for a more expansive exploration of how various families navigated the challenges posed by the Forgiveness Act.

An original, provocative and thoughtful novel about a family struggling to look back at its past. Willie, a journalist, has been a somewhat privileged woman but now, with the possibility of reparations paid to those descended from slaves, she's exploring her family's history. Not everyone agrees with this-and Willie herself finds herself periodically conflicted. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's an interesting look at one family but applicable to so many more.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley, and I was immediately drawn to the intriguing premise of "Acts of Forgiveness." Exploring the impact of a national reparations program on individuals and families promised a powerful and thought-provoking read, and Maura Cheeks did not disappoint.

The prose is vivid and immersive, transporting me to the heart of the story and allowing me to truly connect with the characters' emotions. The concept of the 'Forgiveness Act' felt so real that I found myself half-expecting news articles about its implementation.

Something I would have liked to see done differently was Willie's daughter's (Paloma) story. While it was interesting to see the perspective of the youngest member of the Revels, I felt it could have been more tightly integrated into the main narrative. At times, her chapters felt like separate threads rather than seamlessly woven into the larger tapestry.

Despite this, "Acts of Forgiveness" remains a powerful and thought-provoking novel. If you're looking for a book that will challenge your perspectives and leave you pondering its themes, I highly recommend picking this one up.

ACTS OF FORGIVENESS
Maura Cheeks

ACTS OF FORGIVENESS is a debut novel about family, fighting for what you believe in, and the power of forgiveness.

In ACTS OF FORGIVENESS, we are following the residents of 512 Lewaro Street. Willie is the daughter of Max and Lourdes. She is many other things but first, she is a daughter. Their daughter. Fulfilling her parents’ wishes is important to her. It is her guiding force.

Sometimes it is her downfall.

ACTS OF FORGIVENESS is also about the concept of reparations. Expressed in this fictional world as The Forgiveness Act. We follow along as the impact of The Forgiveness Act is seen in the world, on the family, and Willie, individually.


ACTS OF FORGIVENESS felt like a debut. It has a big heart, and the focus is big, almost too big. Over the duration of the book, we discuss a wide range of topics and have multiple discussions. It’s first and foremost about The Forgiveness Act and in that we talk and family, heritage, history, and in there somewhere we talk about forgiveness.

It is written as if it were the only book Cheeks would ever write. Like her pen was on fire, she had a lot to say, and it felt like, not a lot of time to say it. I enjoyed the characters and I’m thankful for much of the discussion. I gave ACTS OF FORGIVENESS three stars.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Ballantine Books for the advanced copy!

ACTS OF FORGIVENESS…⭐⭐⭐

What is the weight of history, both personally and societally? In Acts of Forgiveness debut author Maura Cheeks explores this idea in the context of one woman’s search for her family’s lineage.

In a modern America not placed within an exact timeframe (but that feels both shockingly progressive and also unsurprisingly regressive) Cheeks creates the Forgiveness Act, passed by Congress and signed by a female President, which at last grants Black Americans reparations.

Willie is a woman tethered by familial responsibility, who felt compelled to abandon her dreams to preserve her parents’. As she determinatively seeks out her family history to ensure that her family receives their money, she fully realizes the impacts (both positive and negative) of knowing exactly where you came from.

Overall, I thought that this was a compelling story with a timely premise that did not flinch away from the horror that systemic racism has wrought in the United States. My only qualm is with the pacing and some of the transitions, but these were very minor concerns in the context of the overarching plot. Overall, I felt that including multiple points-of-view enriched the story and painted the picture of a complicated family dynamic that was and is shaped by myriad circumstances.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

I was really excited to receive this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley. The premise of this debut novel is fantastic; I'd personally be thrilled if I ever saw something like the Forgiveness Act and financial reparations happen in my lifetime. The author wrote really powerful passages about this Act and why it is so important. The rest of the story, however, suffered from really poor pacing (the Act didn't pass until more than 50% into the book), half-baked character development, weird transitions (like really poor editing in a movie), and a bunch of secondary characters/plots that never quite connected well to the story. The book constantly felt like it was setting itself up for something big, but then it always fizzled out. As a result, I struggled to connect to the characters and every night when I picked up the book again, I had to flip through a bunch of pages because I didn't remember what I had read the night before and even when skimming, it seemed out of order and new to me! While this was a disappointing read for me, it certainly covered a topic that is really important and very thought-provoking.

This was an interesting debut novel that imagines an America in which a Forgiveness Act is passed which allows Black families to claim up to $175,000 if they can prove they are descended from slaves. Focused on the ways in which this affects one particular family, this was a fascinating exploration about the implications of what such an Act could mean in terms of helping heal past wrongs or incite further racial divides. Good on audio and definitely the mark of an author to watch in the future. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Acts of Forgiveness will undoubtedly be on a lot of people’s ’Best of’ lists in 2024. This account of what could be, dreams deferred, and the forgiveness it takes to realize those dreams is one that will sit with me for years.

Everyone waits with baited breath to see if the first female president will pass The Forgiveness Act—granting each descendant of slavery in the US over the age of 18 $175,000. We follow the main character Willie and her family through their journey of forgiving the country and each other.

I was so excited to receive an advanced copy of Acts of Forgiveness after reading the brief description. As a Black American, the conversation around reparations is one that we hear tossed around time and time again and seeing how it might actually play out was eye-opening. But what stole the show was the family story Cheeks’ told about the Revels.

Taking us from Philly to the Deep South, we follow Willie as she navigates being the Privileged Black Girl, The Only Black Girl, The Black Single Mother, The Angry Black Woman, and more. Willie learns the power of forgiveness within herself and her family in addition to how to forgive on behalf of and for others. We also get a look into the meaning of legacy with the Revel family business and how being Black in America can often feel like one step forward means two steps backwards.

This book made me laugh, cry, and feel an immense sense of pride to be a Black American in this country. A fantastic debut for Maura Cheeks and I can’t wait for everyone to be talking about this book. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for my advanced copy. Acts of Forgiveness is out February 13, 2024.