As soon as I saw this I knew I needed to read it. Funny because I had no idea what it was about. Y’all know I don’t read the synopsis or do anything besides look at the cover lol But this one I was actually happy with.

So basically, Clae has never known her father. She wanted to know more about him but her mother shuts down when he comes up. But when Clae is accepted into a program where he once lived, she decides she’s going to try to find out as much about him as she can.

The road blocks she runs into and the things she encounters while trying to figure this out was crazy. I loved the mystery and the hunt she was on, but the reveal?! Terrible. They spent no time on it. And I get that she didn’t want to know anything at the time, but like at some point in the end it should have been more discussed. But it isn’t. It felt like we wasted an entire book trying to figure this out just to throw away all the depth from it.

The characters were also just okay. She had this whole entire THING with that random girl from school and I just thought that was weird because we hardly got any back story. And when we did, it was just like bits and pieces. Honestly I didn’t understand what was so wrong in the first place. The whole thing was weird af lol

I did enjoy this, but the writing style was a bit lacking. I think I would have enjoyed it more if she had given us more detail; more depth. I just think it glossed over so much and never gave us any information. Even in those situations that actually mattered to the movement of the plot. It was weird in my head.

I think this could have been better in some ways, but it was still entertaining overall. I know someone out there will love it, but for me it didn’t have enough feeling for me. And because of that I didn’t feel that much throughout the story either. Idk it just seemed weird. Like we just looked at a point in her life, but there was no climax or anything.

As an ex-journalist, I absolutely loved this story and really connected with Clae, the main character, and the NYC backdrop was just the cherry on top! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for the advanced copy!

This book is about a young black girl who is a on quest to discovery who she is. She doesn't; know who her father is and her mother is not budging on giving any details. She does discover that her mother is receiving help for her that is coming from a mystery donor. Unfortunately, although this is YA and as an adult who reads YA, I don't recommend this book for anyone over 16. The FMC comes off as super bratty and unappreciative. About 89% into the book, she finally has an internal thought questioning if she is a mean girl - spoiler...she is! Clae (the FMC) has a victim mentality while also lacking any type of emotional maturity. She was someone who was seeking answers but at every turn discovered that she was ready to receive whatever they are. The same could be said about Clae's friends as well. The friends seemed seriously misguided and as opposed to seeking help and answers from trusted family and friends, they would just fly off the handle bars with their decisions. One of those rare books where there is no one to root for.

I was not prepared for just how much a enjoyed this YA coming of age story about a Clae, a young Black teenager who has never known much about her father. Growing up with just her mom Clae has always felt a piece of her identity was missing.

When she stumbles upon a mysterious 'Fairy god somebody' who has been helping her mother out, she takes the opportunity to try to learn more when she's in New York for a summer internship. NYC is a wonderful experience for Clae where she befriends two other Black girls with their own issues and meets a new guy who is all too happy to show her the city.

Full of female friendship, romance, great disability rep (Clae has asthma and her friend Nze has a condition that's causing her to go blind), African American history and a family mystery, this was wonderful on audio narrated by Angel Pean and perfect for fans of books like Keah Brown's The secret summer promise.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

This book does an awesome job of giving a satisfying ending without wrapping everything up in a bow. The situations and emotions are complex and handled skillfully.

This was a really interesting, complicated, story that is part mystery, part adventure, and part family drama. The breadcrumb clues kept the story moving forward and the relationships along the way kept the mystery complicated.
On another level, this story can be disturbing for anyone trying to find out more about a family member. You never know what you may find out. So this may not be for everyone.
Enjoy - with a little bit of caution.

In the heart of young adult literature, a new coming-of-age story emerges, centered around family and the quest for identity. Clae, a spirited teenager, is on a mission to uncover the truth about her father, a man who vanished from her life as an infant. Her mother's reluctance to discuss him only fuels Clae's curiosity, leading her to unearth hints of a mysterious benefactor she whimsically dubs her 'fairy god-somebody.' As Clae delves deeper, she unravels a narrative that resonates with the trials and tribulations of middle school readers, capturing their hearts with every page turned.

♡𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3 🌟
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Clae is a young teen who just wants to know who her dad is and get to know his side of the family. But whenever Clae asks her mom about her dad, she says he took off when Clae was a baby, end of the story. But when Clae discovers clues about a mysterious person she calls her fairy god somebody, she's determined to know more. This book reads very middle school. #ClaesJourney #FamilySecrets #MiddleSchoolReads 📚🔍
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬:
•coming of age
•young teen | adults
•found family
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 Dec.3
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Harper Collins Children's Books for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.