Shawntelle Madison’s *The Fallen Fruit* is a sweeping, genre-blending novel that intertwines historical fiction, fantasy, and family saga. Set against the backdrop of American history, the story follows Cecily Bridge-Davis, a history professor in 1964, who uncovers a generational curse that causes one member of each Bridge family generation to involuntarily travel back in time before their 27th birthday. As Cecily delves into her family's past, she encounters ancestors across centuries, each grappling with the curse's implications and the era's societal challenges.

Madison masterfully navigates multiple timelines, providing a vivid portrayal of the Black experience through different historical periods. The narrative's structure, while complex, is anchored by a family tree that aids readers in tracking the extensive cast. The novel's strength lies in its exploration of themes like generational trauma, resilience, and the enduring bonds of family.

Critics have lauded the book's ambitious scope and emotional depth. Kirkus Reviews describes it as “a crafty, page-turning spin on chronicling Black family history” However, some readers have noted that the intricate narrative can be challenging to follow, requiring careful attention to detail

Overall, *The Fallen Fruit* is a compelling read for those interested in stories that blend historical context with speculative elements, offering a profound look at how the past continually shapes the present.

I enjoyed this. The Fallen Fruit was one part historical fiction (and a very nicely done one), one part fantasy (because, time travel), and one part Kindred. I liked the characters. Their actions, thoughts, and reactions all seemed to be realistic.
For me, however, the biggest downfall was the ending. It ended a bit abruptly.
The Fallen Fruit was still a very solid read for those who enjoy historical fiction/light fantasy.

The Fallen Fruit is historical fiction with fantasy elements. The members of the Bridge family have a strange curse where descendants unexpectedly fall through time. This book skips around time periods and generations, following those who fall through time and those who are left behind.

I thought this book had a really interesting premise. It reminds me somewhat of Outlander and Kindred but has a permeance that the other two books do not. Like Kindred, it has the added element of wildly different rights throughout time in the south as a Black family. I thought this book handled time travel in a very unique and interesting way that I haven't seen before. I enjoyed getting to know the members of the Bridge family throughout time.

I had some trouble with remembering what was going on in each time period (family/character wise) and each chapter made me pause to try to figure out what was going on. Several of the characters have very different nicknames that they go by in different time periods, which was also hard to keep track of who was who. This is probably a me problem, but it made the reading experience kind of confusing for me. I was kind of disappointed by the ending as well! However, the other qualities of this book that I liked made it an interesting reading experience and my issues with it did not ruin my read.

Overall, I liked this book and recommend it if the premise sounds interesting to you! 3.75 stars rounded up to 4. Thank you to Amistad and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

While this novel's description seemed interesting, I struggled to get into it and slogged through the entirety of it. T\he concept was great but the overall execution was lackluster. The bouncing between present and past felt very disjointed and incomplete.
I think the concept of exploring the black experience through history is an important message, and one often overlooked. I just wished this novel had better pacing and more flushed-out plot to keep the reader engaged.

I love anything related to time travel, so the fact that this novel chronicles the unusual tales of generations of time traveling Black women in this single family was fascinating to me. I would say this is historical fiction spanning around 200 years. The historical aspect influenced the characters but wasn’t the main pull, which was fine by me. There was just enough to root you into the time and place of the plots. It was very much a character driven story.

There were multiple point of views because of how much of this family we are seeing the world through. I was surprised by the level of care I had for the members and how many individual personalities the author was able to portray. The book comes with a family tree, and that’s why this is only 4 stars for me. I had to continue to reference this image MULTIPLE times just to recall who is who and how they’re related. The ending was a bit of a let down and didn’t answer every question I had, but I was very satisfied with the overall story. The journey to the end made it worth it.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

This debut novel is for those that love time travel with a mystery thrown in. It centers around a woman who is searching and trying to understand a family curse. When did the curse start? Why is the curse there? Is there a solution for it? These are the questions that drive our main character through the timelines and allow us to jump back and forth to learn some of the answers. Chapters heading provide you date context so you can understand which storyline you are in. It is a book that you have follow closely. Many characters, name changes and different timelines make for an interesting weave of stories, but it is not one for audio format which what I chose. The author has lots of potential. The characters relatable, the writing is descriptive and emotional when needed. I look forward to seeing what they write next.

Shawntelle Madison’s debut historical fiction novel is a masterpiece that captivated me from the very first page. Cecily Bridge-Davis's journey to unravel a centuries-old family mystery had me hooked, as she uncovers a dark, time-bending secret that spans generations. The blend of history, suspense, and family drama is seamlessly woven with emotional depth and rich character development. I was particularly drawn to the complex relationships, from the courageous Sabrina Humbles to the determined Luke Bridge, each of them playing a crucial role in Cecily’s quest for answers. The rules of time-travel and the stakes of saving her family make this a high-stakes, heart-pounding read. Madison’s writing is evocative, rich with historical detail, and full of twists that kept me turning pages late into the night. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction laced with mystery, love, and the bonds that transcend time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amistad for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

The Fallen Fruit is a great read, with the perfect combination of fiction and history. Shantelle Madison did an incredible job incorporating time-travel, historical fiction, as well as black history into this novel. The author gives us flashbacks into history and the realities of being black throughout periods of the 1900s, but also makes it fun with the concept of time travel, family secrets, and a generational curse. Definitely a compelling read! 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Amistad, and Shawntelle Madison for such an interesting read!

Such an amazing read! It gave vibes of Kindred, and Cloud Atlas for me. The story was incredibly engaging, which was perfect

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The concept was unique, blending family drama with magical elements, but the execution felt a bit rushed. The characters were compelling, though I wished for more depth in the world-building. A solid, if not groundbreaking, read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC for reading and review.
It's an epic tale with time travel (my favorite) and some historical fiction.
This is the story of the Bridge family and the curse of time travel that plagues the family. Through different characters, the reader visits different periods, meeting several members of the Bridge family and how the time travel affects the entire family.
I enjoyed the writing, the events covered, and the time periods that are the story's focus.
I think the story is well-paced.
You do have to pay close attention, and a few times I found the events a little confusing.
Overall it is a book that kept my attention, and I enjoyed the characters and the story

I was nervous to read this. Ultimately, I'm glad I did, but this in general is just hard to read. The romance made sense and the history/mystery of it all was captivating, but there were a few questions I had that didn't get answered and the pacing was kind of all over the place for me. Oddly enough, I still am not fully sure how to rate this one. There was a lot I liked and a lot that I wasn't so sure about. I do think people should read it because I see a lot of people loving it so much.

Cecily Bridge-Davis is a college professor who lives in Nashville with her husband and two sons. When she learns that she inherited a plot of land from her father’s family, she travels to Charlottesville, VA to check out the property, in hopes of selling it. When she arrives, she discovers several cabins, an apple orchard, and the original Bridge family house. Long abandoned, she explores the property and finds some interesting items. The Bridge family records dating back to the late 1700s, a map marking hidden survival kits among the land, and the (mysterious) Bridge Family Rules. Confused and curious, Cecily begins researching her family history. She discovers the Bridge Family Curse: one offspring from each Bridge family unit in each generation suddenly vanishes before the age of 27 and falls back in time. Once a child in that unit falls, the remaining siblings are safe. Once Cecily learns this, she realizes that she herself will fall soon, being only 26 years old. While she doesn’t now where the curse originated or how to break it, she wonders if any of her ancestors have the power to do so. So she takes the unadvisable risk to try to change the past and free her family. The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison is a time travel historical fiction novel that follows five generations of Bridge women as they experience inevitable loss and prepare for uncertain futures.

The Fallen Fruit was quite the journey for this reader. Madison’s careful attention to detail and consistency with a complex narrative will capture readers’ attention. Once I got the hang of the story, the characters, and how the chain of events are all connected, I deeply felt for the family and their circumstances. Not only that, but the implications that the Bridges are an African American family whose members fall back in time are terrifying. Imagine one moment you’re sitting in a cabin speaking with your family. Then the next moment you’re in a field in the middle of no where. You don’t know where you are, or when you are, or what happened, or why. And suddenly someone approaches you with a weapon to bring you back to authorities because they think you’re a runaway slave. Terrifying is an understatement.

The only problems I have with The Fallen Fruit are the open-ended mystery of a horrible tragedy committed by one of the Bridge men. It’s not clear why he did what he did – we don’t get the scene on the page. It’s possible that I didn’t connect the dots. But it was a mystery throughout the book and I so wanted that explanation. And without spoiling the ending, it’s not what I expected. One might argue that things are left unresolved, but my interpretation is that the truth is a bit more heartbreaking. Readers will have to check it out for themselves – which I highly recommend, nevertheless.

This book was so well researched! I enjoyed the story along with the historical elements woven through. The concept of being thrust back in time involuntarily is frightening and very well done here. The way the characters act and behave as they move through time and react to the changes around them in these different time periods is striking. As I have recently read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, the depth of emotion and meaning behind every interaction was profound. This is a wonderful addition to anyone's library!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book was a fascinating combination of historical fiction, magical realism, and time travel. Focusing on intergenerational members of an African American family where certain folks fall back through time to the past, there is incredible conversation around what it means to be black at different points of history, how we find the perseverance to keep going, and what we preserve and protect for those who come after us.

At times, the story was a bit slow, and with the format of vignettes following different characters, I had a few stories I liked better than others and wished for more time with them. On the whole, the novel was captivating, and at points, heartbreaking in the way that the characters’ relationships were rendered. Learning as well that certain aspects of the family history were inspired by the author’s own family was so interesting, and kept me engaged throughout.

Overall, I give this 3.5⭐️, rounded down to 3⭐️ on Goodreads

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This was my first time reading S.C. Lalli, and I received The Plus One as an ARC from NetGalley. The novel presents an intriguing premise with its blend of luxury, suspense, and mystery. The plot is engaging, with several twists and turns that keep the reader guessing. The character development is a mixed bag. Shay is a relatable protagonist, and her perspective as an outsider adds an interesting dynamic to the story. However, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, which made it harder to fully connect with the broader narrative. The interactions between the characters are filled with tension and drama, but at times, the motivations behind their actions seemed a bit forced. The pacing of the novel is generally good, though the first half felt a bit slow. The setting of a luxurious resort adds a glamorous backdrop to the unfolding mystery, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The ending, while surprising, left a few questions unanswered, which might be frustrating for some readers. Overall, The Plus One is a decent read with a unique premise and an engaging central mystery. Despite its flaws, it shows promise for S.C. Lalli as a writer. #netgalley #theplusone

*The Fallen Fruit* by Shawntelle Madison offers a captivating blend of time travel and family drama, creating a unique and thought-provoking narrative. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story weaves together elements of history and personal discovery. The main character’s journey to uncover her heritage and the mysteries surrounding her family kept me hooked from start to finish. If you're a fan of *Kindred*, I’m confident you’ll appreciate this novel as well, as it similarly explores themes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

DNF at 33%.
My first DNF ever, which pains me a little since I am a completionist.

I was on board with this novel for the first third. I enjoyed the writing style and the concept, and I was getting invested in the characters.

And then the Luke plot line appeared. To summarize: <spoiler> Luke is a young man (17-19 ish, I don't remember his exact age) engaged to Addy, who is a bit younger than him (15-16 I think). Addy's sister Sabrina (17) loves Luke, but her family wants him to marry Addy, which he agrees to do. He is a member of the Bridge family, and the first to fall to the Bridge family curse. He falls 22 years into the past, becoming enslaved despite having freedom papers, and eventually regains his freedom, fights alongside his uncles, and returns home, arriving 6 days after his initial appearance. He had barely been gone in his family's eyes, but 22 years had passed for him. The family accepts that this stranger is Luke without a whole lot of trouble, and soon decides to move forward with the wedding to Addy. Sabrina and Luke have a heart to heart where they admit their feelings for each other, but the wedding with Addy moved forward. </spoiler> This is where I stopped.

Perhaps later in the book this is addressed, but I could not continue because I was so utterly disturbed by the age gap present between Luke and the two girls after he returned. I could not fathom why moving forward with the wedding was still an option or how Sabrina and Luke could still have a conversation about feelings given that gap. Again, maybe I did not read far enough for this to be rectified, but I simply did not wish to continue knowing that this plot line would be present.

I realize this is not a novel about age gaps or child marriages, that it is more focused on the realities that black people faced in the past and continue to face today. From the portion I read, I can see it relays its main message powerfully. I know that historically, people married younger and age gaps were less of a concern. Nevertheless, It is simply an individual choice that I made to not continue reading after a child marriage occurred.

I think every now and then I find a book that kind of exceeds my expectations and this was one of them.