I had a hard time finishing this book. There was too many things going on. Too many tropes. There was a problem with each one of the characters.

This book was tough to read. If you're into books heavy with racism, adultery etc this is for you. I couldn't get past the hard R even thought the book comes with a trigger warning. I do enjoy this author as I have read books by her before. I'll definitely continue to check her out but this one just was not foe me

Thanks to NetGalley and Odyssey Media for this book. I have to say this was quite thrilling!! I enjoyed the read all the way through. The book was well paced and it disheveled have any slow parts that were boring at all.

Thanks again!!

What a rollercoaster of a ride! From beginning to end, the twists and turns will keep you wondering what is going to happen next. Can it get worse than it already is? And let me tell you. Yes, yes it can.

The characters were all misguided in their views of religion, race, sexuality, mental health, substance usage, etc. If I went on this list would be a paragraph. Choosing to amplify stereotypes because it was ingrained in them from their upbringing or choosing not to stand up against the wrongdoings prove to have the same results.

This was definitely not what I expected but it's provocative and I couldn't look away.

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Odyssey Media for the ARC copy. All thoughts are my own!

I normally don't read this type of book. I really enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat. So glad I stepped out of my comfort zone.

Okay, I feel like I was expecting something completely different based on the cover, blurb and the Confessions in B-Flat comp. This looks like a thriller, but it wasn't (still an amazing cover though), and originally I wasn't really seeing where the comp came into play, but by the end I think I can kind of see it.

Now mind you, Confessions is one of my favourite books, so that made Tainted Liberties one of my most anticipated reads of the year by default. But I'm not quite sure how I feel about it.

First off, the book goes from 0-100 in chapter one. My eyes bugged out of my head when I read certain lines that I absolutely was not prepared for. My brain was like "what did I pick up" and had to double check I was reading the correct book.

I read on and it just kept getting wilder and I couldn't understand why we needed Mark's PoV at all, because he was racist & homophobic and he did NOT hold back in his bigotry, it was disturbing to read. I did not like the inside of his head, I hated when the PoV would switch to him, it was awful, awful, awful.

Having finished the book, I do understand why his PoV was necessary, but that doesn't make it any easier to get through. So be prepared going in that you're going to read some disgusting things coming from him (and his father too).

The other characters aren't likable either, except maybe the kids, but I think that's kind of the point. They're all horrible with their own problems, and boy, do they have a lot of them. I won't be spoiling anything because it's best to find out on your own, but if you're looking for a read with a lot of drama, this is it.

Despite the language used, this still ended up being a quick read for me, I wanted to know what would happen next and if Mark would finally get punched.

I'd like to highlight the rage I felt, because, in the acknowledgements, the author explained why she chose to write this. She managed to package that hate perfectly and put it into a book, causing her readers to become angry at the text as a result. I like when books make me feel something, even if it's negative emotions like this one.

But I also know this book won't be for everyone, so please do check the disclaimer before going any further. It lets you know the type of content that's in the book, but really think it through, because I promise, you're not ready even with that warning.

Another thing to think about, is the questions at the end of the book. Some seem like no brainers (would you accept your LGBT kid if you were a parent - duh), others might be really interesting to discuss.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

“Oh, what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”

When I saw the cover of this book, I thought it was a mystery/thriller. After the first chapter, I learned I was way out of the ballpark. I honestly don’t know how I feel about this book. I feel like it’s one of those books that, once you finish, you have to let it sit on you and download what happened. I described it as reality TV in paper form. Baby, people were messy from top to bottom, and I was here for it. That’s how I read it in a day. There’s nothing else I can say but try it, and I’m sure you’ll see that this is better than a made-for-TV movie.

So this is a book of many secrets and drama. Mark was brought up to hate people of color. Only to discover down the line, he is a man of color himself and has to unlearn all behavior taught to him by his father. Amy is having an affair with a man of color who her husband hates.
Everyone's lives are entwined. They will come to see that being open and honest with each other will help. They also come to see that it takes hard work to make relationships work. This is a powerful read and the emotional Rollercoaster your on is intense.

My rate 3,5
Wow ! I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting that lol ! Sheldon and Mark were the same person in my book. Mark Momma husband (because I would never call him his father) was disgusting smh how dare you treat and teach him to hate himself because of his own hatre black ppl. Mark was in the dark about his biological father. He thought he ruined him for good but didn’t, he got on track and is doing the work to be a better man,husband, father, & friend! I think this book is a great representation of many standard stereotypes and biases placed against the black and minority community. At first I thought it would be impossible for them to actually change but they proved me wrong. I’m proud of all them for continuing to do the work. Overall I did enjoy the book, it was a lot going on but I honestly couldn’t put the book down.

When I read the synopsis it made this book interesting. Once I started reading it had me a little confused, but as I kept reading I was starting to understand a little more. Mark was something else. Eva just wanted to be loved an the children just wanted to live their lives.

The author warned me that this would be a tough read and she was right! This book has a large amount of content warnings which I will list at the bottom for those interested.
This story takes a look at the biases that are so present in America and showcases both the harm that those biases have and the improvements that could be made if folks cared enough to unlearn them. This was a wild ride but it was worth it. I would recommend this for people who are interested in literary fiction that mirrors the harsh truth of reality but still offers a rainbow at the end of the storm.

My rating for this book on The StoryGraph is 4.25

Content warnings:
- racism & anti-Blackness
- white supremacy
- infidelity
- misogynoir & misogyny
- sexism
- homophobia
- toxic masculinity
- teen pregnancy
- suicide attempt
- death of a parent/ grandparent/ spouse
- murder (briefly mentioned)
- drug use/ abuse/ addiction

I really enjoyed this read although it was nothing like I expected. I really appreciated the way the author tackles the themes of religion, homosexuality, and racism, it is written in a way that evokes various emotions but you are able to digest the material. I felt like each character was very relatable, and I was able to see parts of myself. Mark was probably my least favorite character, however I still enjoyed his story. Overall, I would absolutely recommend this to a friend. Can’t wait for the official release.

Based on the cover, I thought it was a murder mystery. The author doesn’t waste time getting into plot. The racism from one of the main characters had me hating him right away but his redemption story is riveting. The other 3 main characters are flawed yet relatable. Besides racism, it deals with infidelity, homosexuality, teenage pregnancy and religion. The author did a wonderful job of writing about these issues without making it political, judgmental or too “preachy”

This gripping romantic drama had me hooked from the start. As I followed the intertwined lives of these families, I couldn't help but feel a rollercoaster of emotions. From frustration at Mark's stubbornness to empathy for Amy's struggles, the story kept me on edge. I found myself reflecting on the delicate balance between tradition and personal growth, making this book a truly captivating read that left me pondering long after I turned the last page.