What a cool book! It read like a Coen brothers movie with its cinematic magical realness. It’s also always a big bonus when a story includes so much casual black queerness. It doesn’t always have to be a major plot point or the crux of the books conflict and this book really showcased that. The only issue I had was that I wish the newspaper pictures were clearer. I couldn’t really read them and they didn’t cover what was included in the photos conversationally in the book so there were some holes left for me. All in all I loved this

Tannery Bay invites readers into an enchanting world where time loops like a stubborn cassette tape. In this mysterious town, it’s July 37, then suddenly July 2 again, but the year remains elusive. The prose hums with immediacy and timelessness, unraveling secrets that cling to the air like summer heat. Characters—rich, lovable, and haunting—navigate a landscape shaped by place and memory. Yet, despite its brilliance, the novel occasionally stumbles in pacing, preventing a perfect 5-star rating.

Tannery Bay - A Novel by Steven Dunn & Katie Jean Shinkle is a gorgeous amalgam of highly detailed characters with depth of personality that the reader will want to dive down into and explore extensively

There is just so much to this highly lyrical account of a family sharing time, thoughts and dreams, from the greatest loves to the darkest evil that lurks outside

Brilliant

Thank you to NetGalley, University of Alabama Press, Fiction Collective 2 and the authors for this outstanding ARC. My review is left voluntariy and all opinions are my own

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This was a fun, fairly fast read, with a dreamy storytelling style and unusual characters. I enjoyed it, but I think it could have been a bit longer. A lot goes on in this book for it to be so short.

Ethereal and uniquely poignant, Tannery Bay provides the reader with discussions of pride, time, and the greed that flows so viciously through those in positions of authority. This book is an astounding example of the dangers of being perfunctory in the face of adversity.
Thank you to the author, The university of Alabama press, and Netgalley for this incredible reading experience.

Every character is delightful, the story is unique, I loved it! And I know it came out in February, but I didn't see the read-now ARC until June, which means I read about the neverending July during the neverending July. It might not coincide with the publishing date, but it was perfect timing for me. Thanks to the authors for this marvelous book.

I added this to my library because it was auto-approved for anyone, but I was accepted for more advanced reader copies than I thought I would for the time being and have too many books on my hands! EEP! I definitely will get around to reading this one and it will remain in my queue, but I don’t want to hurt my acceptance % if it takes me a second to get around to it - and I probably won’t make the archive cut.

Anticipated Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tannery Bay feels like hazy summer memories in a close community, a family reminiscing about a shared dream. The slices of intimate moments pull the reader in close enough to want more. There's anger, there's resistance, there's justice, there's joy, there's pain, there's art, and there's love, so much love.

You yearn to know more about the main cast of characters; they are so richly written. Both authors' voices are intertwined so smoothly and cohesively, that I could not pick them apart from each other. The prose is imaginative and dreamy but it pairs with this vibe of uncanny magical realism, that makes you absolutely itch with unease and tension. All this, set alongside the exploitative villains who are portrayed in an exaggerated and caricatured way, and the oppressive atmosphere of an eternal summer setting, the characters all trapped in sticky limbo, makes for a unique outcome.

Thank you to NetGalley and University of Alabama Press, Fiction Collective 2 for this eARC.

Vivid, poignant and almost stream-of-consciousness at times, Tannery bay tells the story of a community stuck in a non-defined July, trying to free themselves from the chains of time, space, and The Owners. The characters (old, young, black, queer, rich, poor) are real, tangible in an universal sort of way - we struggle when they struggle, we rejoice when they do (not the Owners!).
It would probably be very interesting as an audiobook, due to the style and voice in the writing.
All in all, I definitely recommend it.

"Tannery Bay" offers a surreal reading experience that combines magical realism and elements of speculative fiction within a Black and queer community.

It took me some time to get into the writing style, which had a distinctive style different from my usual reads. However, while the writing challenged me at times, it also strangely added to the feeling of this town where nothing really makes sense: pink fog, ghosts, July on repeat. It's funny, haunting, and highlights the importance of collaboration and community.

While there were some parts that did not quite work for me, the concept and the synergy between the two authors tipped the scale, making it overall an enjoyable experience.

Tannery Bay is a book that must be experienced to be fully understood.

Thank you to the University of Alabama Press & Fiction Collective 2 for providing this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was able to read this via an ARC on NetGalley!

What a beautifully haunting story that painted so many incredible and frightening pictures with a great cast of characters. You can feel the synergy between the two authors and their source material so much in each sentence that my eyes were glued to my Kindle for the whole read.

Dear Authors,

Your book made me smile, many times. Your book made me laugh, over and over. Your book made me feel normal, as any queer man can.

Thank you for writing such a beautifully poetic, magical tale about a town on a purple bay, with pink fog, ghosts, laughter, love, community, and hope.

Yours truly,
J. D. McCoughtry

A big thank you to NetGalley and University of Alabama Press for allowing me to read such a wonderful book.