Thank you Netgalley for an early arc of this book, Issac's Song. This book was excellent. It deserves all the stars. It was so emotional and so well written, I would highly recommend it, especially on audio which I also listened to.

Daniel Black does an incredible job capturing the essence and complexities of Black men. His writing is both stunning and deeply poignant. While I loved this book, it didn’t resonate with me as much as Don’t Cry for Me. That said, Isaac’s story—his journey from boyhood to manhood while navigating masculinity, sexuality, and family history—was powerful and compelling. I especially appreciated the book’s structure, with Isaac not only sharing his story but also engaging in conversations with his therapist. The therapist’s perspective was a great touch, offering insight into the guidance Isaac received and how he processed it in his own words.

Isaac’s Song by Daniel Black is a beautifully poignant and emotionally charged novel about self-discovery, resilience, and the search for belonging. Set in 1980s Chicago, the story follows Isaac, a young queer Black man navigating the weight of societal expectations and the trauma of a strained relationship with his father. As he begins to embrace his true self, the AIDS crisis and the attack on Rodney King shake his world, forcing him to confront both personal and collective grief.

Black’s rich prose and complex characters draw readers into Isaac’s journey of healing, where he reconnects with his past in Arkansas and unearths painful truths about family, identity, and the long shadow of history. The novel is a masterful exploration of family dynamics, forgiveness, and the perseverance needed to overcome trauma. Fans of The Great Believers and On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous will find this book equally gripping and unforgettable.

Isaac’s Song is a compelling and deeply moving story, marking another high point in Daniel Black’s career, showcasing his talent for blending personal narrative with the broader struggles of a marginalized community.

This was so overwhelmingly good! I have so many thoughts and follow up questions. I enjoyed Isaac’s story and his POV. I agree that our memories are subjective and that we remember them based on how we felt at the time. I never thought of it that way and that was something that truly stuck with me throughout the book.

I like how the author blended in Isaac’s conversation with his therapist with him telling his story and ultimately his father’s story. Therapy is another thing that is taboo with black men and very slowly that is becoming okay in the community. Simply crying is becoming okay in the community.

I love that Isaac wasn’t afraid to show emotions and explore his creativity. He got a lot of his qualities from his dad. He was determined, strong, and unapologetic even when he felt he wasn’t any of those things.

There was a lot of great information in this book detailing black history, black creatives, and how each generation set out to make the next generation better. I think now we strive to make the next generation so much better that we shelter them and they don’t learn the harsh realities of the world until they’re adults. I think we’re starting to realize that and are trying to fix that while healing ourselves at the same time.

This story was deep and brought up many thought provoking moments. Great read. 5 ⭐️ HANDS DOWN!

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a special coming of age book about Isaac, a black man from Chicago who, after the death of his father, seeks out a therapist to help him cope with the loss of a man from whom he was estranged. In doing so, Isaac goes back through the memories of his childhood in Kansas City to better understand his parents and his identity as a gay boy in the 1970s.

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📖 ARC Review

PUB Date : Out Now !!

Pages - 320

My Rating : 3.8 Mending Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 💫

“It was a beautiful sight, actually, a band of rustic , seasoned black men, three on each side , bearing my father like a king , while the rest of the crowd finished the hymn.”

“Parents wound children all the time ‘ I retorted , “ then expect them just to get over it. But that hurt seeps deep down and settles in the soul .”

Oh Isaac’s Song is a profound and deeply moving coming of age story .

I really liked the lay out of this book how the chapters bounced between past and present and when we were in present time Isaac was in sessions with his therapist and they seemed so real and genuine.

When we are in the past Isaac starts off writing daily from when he was a child to a grown man.

Isaac is a smart artistic gay man growing up in the 80’s and battled demons in his head between him and his father and just wanting acceptance. Isaac’s so focused on what he wants that he is blinded by his own race and this pushes him away from his father.

With the help of the therapist, through writing Isaac finds his way to heal all of their hearts ❤️

I did really enjoy this story , however I did struggle in sections as I felt the story was repetitive and I didn’t get the emotional connection I was hoping for , but when I tell you it was beautifully and well written it truly is , it just was missing a little something for me to be a stand out novel .

Thank you NetGalley , Harlequin Trade Publishing and Daniel Black for this gifted ARC 🙏

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

This is a book that needs to be read. This is my first book by Daniel Black, but it won't be my last. Isaac is a gay, black man growing up in the 1980s who is working to figure out who he is, where he fits in, and why he feels like he has to.

This was my first Book of the Month pick and I honestly picked it only because it was the highest rated at the time I chose it, but it did not disappoint. This novel is raw and emotional and I read it right after our current president was sworn into office, so it came at the right time for me to read. There was one point in the book that I did almost put it down because the parallel for what was/is happening in our country with that particular part of the book was unnerving, but I think it's important to push through the hard conversations, so I did and I am very, very glad.

While this book is a novel, Daniel Black's writing style to immerse the reader in Isaac's story that is told like a biography hooked me early on and really didn't let go. This will definitely be one that will be staying on my shelves and will be a certain re-read for me in the future.

Isaac’s Song by Daniel Black is a novel that I think everyone should experience. It provides a moving story while also presenting some hard hitting facts about life and the way all of us are capable of distorting memory to fit our own perceptions of what occurred. The story is told from two different standpoints, the past and the present as Isaac and his therapist try to navigate the complicated feeling Isaac is dealing with after the death of his father.

Without going into too many details of the novel Isaac’s Song forces the reader to face their own past over what is fact versus feeling. The narrator was forced by his therapist to note that he has a skewed view of his father due to him constantly seeing his mother as perfect. That misunderstanding caused Isaac to view almost every action taken by his father in a negative light.

As stated I loved the experience of reading this novel and the way it made me think about my own perceptions of things that occurred in my own past.

There are no words that I can formulate to express just how amazing this book is. There was so much depth to the not only Isaac’s story, but the story of his mother and father. The thread between the past, the current and the future is so strong. Finishing this book in the height of our political climate felt heavy, because the frustration Isaac carried is the same one I and others feel now.

10/10….no notes

Issac’s Song is Dr. Daniel Black’s follow up to Don't Cry For Me in which a father writes letters to his estranged son while on his deathbed (check out my review a few posts down). Isaac’s Song follows Isaac grappling with his father’s death. It’s hit him hard and he’s not sure why because they had such a tumultuous relationship. His therapist suggests he starts writing everyday. Isaac starts at the beginning with his earliest memories and he begins to see that looking back, his memory is different. He sees how hard his dad fought to give him the life he thought his son deserved. He begins to see his father as a human with real flaws and real trauma and so much love for his son. This book is full of stories within stories. Through his grief, Isaac tells his life story in ways he never thought of previously. He goes through a difficult process of not only trying to understand his father, but finding his true self, his relationship with God, acceptance of his sexuality and identity, and learning from his ancestors. There’s so much to be said about this beautiful book. Any review I could write would not do it justice. So I will just say, please read this book! It’s absolutely five stars from me and made me bawl like a baby. Jacob and Isaac both will live on in my heart for a long long time.

Isaac must come to terms with the recent death of his father, and in doing so, he reckons with his childhood upbringing and the complicated relationship they shared.

As a Black gay man, Isaac is forced to sift through his memories and emotions to uncover the love that may have been present beneath his father’s actions. Though the story is slow-paced, I enjoyed following Isaac’s journey through different stages of his life. The level of detail made it feel almost like a memoir, which kept me deeply engaged.

My only critique—and I hate to say it—is that I wished for a more complete ending to the story Isaac was writing. That ‘story within a story’ was compelling, deeply connecting him to his ancestors and giving him purpose. But its conclusion felt abrupt. Maybe I was just too invested and wanted more, or maybe it was intentional—I’m not sure. Either way, I didn’t see it coming.

All in all, this was a solid read, and I’m grateful to have experienced it. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sharing this copy with me.

Oh my heart! A moving story that is a beautiful mix of therapy session conversations, memory recollections and storytelling. With the recent passing of his father, Isaac finds himself overwhelmed with mixed emotions towards his father. To navigate these feelings and grief he's faced with hidden truths and revelations about his family, childhood, and self that helps him shape how he views/lives his adult life. Lots of tears were shed on my part with this one and it will be a book that I will always recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is my honest review.

5 🌟

This is one of the most beautiful, healing books I've read in a long time. I actually cried at the end, and I don't cry easily!

The writing is lyrical and evocative. The observations about life - from race to religion to sexuality - are heartfelt and touching. I am so different from Isaac but I connected to his story so deeply, and that is the mark of a truly fantastic writer.

I haven't read the authors previous work, but I absolutely will now.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Such a beautiful book about love, healing and community! The author did an amazing job taking us through Isaac’s healing journey and dropped so many life gems throughout the process

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Non-spoiler synopsis:
Isaac’s Song follows Isaac, a young gay Black man, as he does the work to unpack his relationships with his parents, both of whom have passed. Through a series of sessions with his therapist, he receives guidance on how to do this – to try to match his feelings with his experiences by writing chronologically through his past, his story. This book features both his sessions with his therapist and his life story as told by him. Here, he comes to understand his past relationships and a little bit about his family history to help him forge a path forward.

Review:
This was regrettably my first read by Daniel Black. I will be going back to read his other work because this was a wonderful read – heartbreaking at times, but so raw and thought-provoking. While I could not personally relate to a lot of the struggles Isaac experienced and the generational trauma that he experienced, I did still find some pieces relatable and genuinely felt like I was sitting in on his therapy sessions getting genuine advice on how to work through my own traumas. I really enjoyed the insights on matching feelings and perceptions to reality. I think sometimes I get caught up in my feelings and perceptions that I fail to realize the reality of situations or the “why” of how people act. Reading diversely is more important now than ever; stories like these need to be told and should be read by all, so this comes with my highest recommendation even if you feel like you might not be able to personally relate with it.

Please read Isaac’s Song if you ever felt like your parents did not understand or support you; if you feel like you are carrying the weight of your generational trauma; and/or you just simply want to read something insightful and thought-provoking! Isaac’s Song is OUT NOW!! I’d love to hear what you think of it if you do!
___
TW: homophobia, racism, the AIDs crisis, generational trauma, excessive substance use (alcohol), intimate partner violence (IPV)

Isaac, a young black gay man looks back at his relationship with his unsupportive and acerbic father. Through his therapeutic writing, the reader learns about Isaac, his parents and how he has been living since their death. His writing and discovery has him go back to his father's home where more of his past is learned.

I started this one at the beach and realized quickly it was the wrong vibe for me at that time, I also thought that the audio mixed with reading would be ideal for this novel so I waiting for the audio accompaniment. I was right, being in the right headspace and having the audio made the book a fantastic read. Experiencing the ways in which Isaac's father shut him out because of who Isaac is was painful to read but ultimately worth it. This is a really important story to read.

Thank you to HTP for the ARC to review

If you liked Daniel Black's "Don't Cry for Me," then you have almost already read and will also like "Isaac's Song," as the themes, writing style and tone are so familiar. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as the author has a way of narrating Black culture, family values and views on faith, discrimination and sexuality in a brutally honest, academic/therapeutic and compassionate manner. His characters, flawed as they are, have heart and you root for them to find peace and happiness. Some very poignant scenes between the main character and each of his parents -- really makes you think about the lens through which you view your parents. Some of the childhood scenes are heart-wrenching. The novel-within-a-novel was an interesting device and gave a glimpse into the writer's journey—which many of us who love to read and write reviews could not do ourselves. Still, I was hoping for more of a flex from the author — some new ground, topics, viewpoints — guessing there will be more to come and I will be there for it! Not quite a four-star read, but not wanting to be stingy. PS. Nice touch to have his primary character reside in Chicago for a bit.

This book was ABSOLUTELY breathtaking. It was literally THERAPY in a book. Issac's story reflected so much of my own in terms of perspective and how I perceived things vs what actually happened. Beautifully written

This author, from my first time reading his book, has never failed to leave me with something to think about. This book kept this up for me. A beautifully written book that takes you on a journey with the author. Another outstanding read from Mr. Black. I recommend all to read this author. You will look for him again. To the author I say, “Ase”. Blessings unto you. Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for blessing me with the arc of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my thoughts.

Isaac's Song is a follow-up to 2022's Don't Cry for Me. It's not a follow-up in the sense that it begins after the earlier title. It actually tells the story told in Don't Cry for Me (and a bit more) from a different character's point of view. Don't Cry for Me examines a father's too-late coming to terms with his son's homosexuality. Isaac's Song begins with the death of this father, then moves back and forth in time, and gives voice to Isaac's (the son) experiences of life with his father. These two stubborn men don't learn how to respect one another until after the chance of an improved relationship has passed—but their stories still have happy endings of an incomplete sort simply because each has come to a better understanding of the other.

Either title can be read without the other, but they make a good pair. I'd suggest reading Don't Cry for Me first. Beginning with Isaac's Song would work, but would spoil some of the powerful reveals in Don't Cry for Me.

If you can think of someone in your life with whom you have values disagreements, but still feel obliged/motivated to stay in contact with (and who among us doesn't?) these titles offer a way into reflection, even if your situation is quite different from the one the two books are built around. Witnessing these two men's coming to terms with themselves—and with the idea of one another, if not a real-life reconciliation—allows for a great deal of valuable personal reflection. You don't have to be the queer child or the homophobic parent to benefit from this reading.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.