“Isaac’s Song” by Daniel Black is beautifully written, showcasing the author’s brilliance. Seeing the world through Isaac’s eyes brought clarity and appreciation for his father. A moving and insightful read.

This was a deeply emotional read coming of age book. I found Isaac's journey of healing so heartfelt. I loved this one. Isaac deals with hardships being a queer black man in 1980s, and his feelings towards his own father and coming to terms with his true self. I thought it was interesting how the author told the story as Isaac is talking to his therapist, and then Isaac in real life!

I haven't read the previous book DON'T CRY FOR ME yet, but after I read and enjoyed this one, I'd definitely want to get to that one too.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

When I finished this book my first thought was "that was amazing". This is a book I want to buy for everyone in my life so they can all read it and feel as touched as I did. The journey we go on with Isaac is so beautifully written. The way the author demonstrated healing and forgiveness through Isaac's story was truly inspiring.

Thank you to @htp_hive and @htpbooks for the ARC copy of this in exchange for my honest review as part of the Hive Influenced program

This is the emotional, poignant follow up to “Don’t Cry For Me”. This is a beautiful story of racial identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, self acceptance, forgiveness and healing while set in the backdrop of the 80s-90s.
Upon the death of Isaac’s Father, he finds himself grief-stricken and is perplexed by this, as they didn’t have a “good” or close relationship. The story starts with him in therapy where his therapist recommends that he write down his memories. This takes us on a journey of his childhood, through adolescence as a boy trying to find his place in the world, while realizing that he felt “different” from what his father and the world expected him to be, and ultimately discovering that he was gay.
As Isaac begins to examine his past memories- he begins to see his father as a man, and not just “his father”. He is able to find appreciation for his father and realizes that the very things that frustrated him as a boy, are the very things that has helped him succeed thus far in his life. His father was rigid, among other things, but the discipline he instilled in Isaac has carried him thus far in his life. Slowly he began to rectify the grievances he had with his father in his head and in his heart. Unfortunately his fathers death was the catalyst for this. Their relationship was “healed” in his death. Sometimes understanding comes too late for the physical realm but it’s still necessary to free your heart from the bondage of blame, guilt, regret, and anger.
I do wish that there would have been an epilogue. I would have loved to have Isaacs life a little more tied up at the end. Did he find his happiness? Was he able to finally live out loud?

The first pages took my breath away. The story begins with Isaac’s father passing away, and to his surprise, Isaac finds himself crying. Weeks later, he visits a therapist due to weight loss and insomnia. Isaac’s sessions with his therapist form the backbone of this book, as he revisits his childhood and explores his perceptions of his parents, his Blackness, and his sexuality.

"Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator."

This story digs deep into themes of love, perception, and reality. Isaac’s relationship with his father was always strained, but as he rethinks past events, he realizes he may have judged his father too harshly and placed his mother on an undeserved pedestal. "Some of the truths you discover, Isaac, are going to conflict with what you feel in your heart. Still, don’t back away from them. This is what you’re looking for. It comes to make us reconsider what we think we know." I flew through the pages, captivated by Isaac’s journey through his childhood, university years, and early career, all while grappling with his identity as a Black gay man. "You become an agent of your own existence the minute you stop blaming others for what they did to you. Those who hurt us cannot heal us. That’s our job." When I read his father’s letter, tears leaped into my eyes. The love that shone through those sentences was palpable, despite his father’s past hurtful words. This book is a must-read, and I highly recommend it. One of my favorite books by this author is Precious Peace, and I was thrilled to receive this book as an ARC from NetGalley. I really need to read Daniel Black’s Don’t Cry for Me next—I think it will make me bawl my eyes out.

Set in his hometown of Kansas City, Isaac grapples with his intersecting identities as a queer man, a Black man, his femininity, and the father who seems to suppress these attributes. As Isaac grows up, his formative experience coming of age during the Rodney King attack and AIDS crisis adds layers to his complexity, and after a tribute to his father’s home in Arkansas, Isaac begins to unravel the thread of his father’s, and his family’s, past.

This book had my heart in a chokehold. I have not read the author’s book Don’t Cry for Me, where these characters are introduced, but that in no way impedes the enjoyment and beauty of this novel. At times heartbreaking, the author does a phenomenal job of exploring the depths of the expression “forgive but don’t forget” - and just how impossible it is to do either one. Strongly recommend this book for all; the relationship between this father and his queer son will leave us all reflective of our own authenticities.

Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to @hanoversquarepress for the opportunity to read and review. #IsaacsSong

Another deeply reflective piece for readers to sit with and learn from. I’ll preface this by saying I completely understand why some readers might not love this as much as Don’t Cry For Me. But the love is still there! The story feels familiar, yet we’re given even more insight and angles to approach it from. It’s like experiencing a series that’s done in such an artful, poetic, and touching way. The layering and connectedness of it all—that’s the sweet spot of this read. It makes me hopeful to finally hear from Isaac’s mother.

As someone with older parents, some of the lessons and conversations in this book hit close to home. Once again, Daniel Black has delivered a work that’s stunningly self-aware in its exploration of change, generational trauma, unpacking, and readdressing the realities of our past selves and childhood through a lens of forgiveness and honesty.

I personally found the storytelling masterful. Black’s decision to revisit elements of Isaac’s history through therapy adds so much depth to this book. We witness how Isaac’s memories and connections are challenged as he unveils so much of himself to his therapist. And just like Isaac, we as readers are drawn into this process, reassessing who Isaac’s father was to him. This is done so beautifully that you don’t just feel for Isaac—you feel alongside him.

I loved the depth of Isaac’s pain and growth. He’s a character that, like many, seeks acceptance and acknowledgment from his parents while also fighting to give it to himself. We see his struggle to become the truest version of himself that he’s been told he could never be. This truly brought the ending home for me, with its sense of relief—Isaac finally lets go of the weight of his father’s approval.

The therapist’s commentary throughout the book is another highlight. Time and again, a mirror is held up to Isaac, showing how his inability to love himself affects his ability to love others. The narrative emphasizes the importance of forgiving oneself as a means to forgive others—particularly one’s parents—and to see them as whole, flawed individuals outside of one’s expectations.

There’s so much in this book that doesn’t just appeal but deeply resonates. Whether it’s the journey of self-discovery, grappling with sexual identity and acceptance, or the continued lessons of forgiveness and generational healing, Black captures emotions with stunning clarity. Readers can feel pain, compassion, disappointment, hope, and so much more!

I particularly appreciated that the forgiveness in this book doesn’t absolve Jacob of how he treated Isaac. Instead, it’s a grace and insight that fosters connection and growth—even posthumously. By the end, we see a bridge built and the recognition that Isaac is, in many ways, his father’s son.

Now I’m really hoping we don’t just hear from Isaac’s mother, but also get a book set during the time of his parents’ youth.

Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin for this e-galley!

Thank you, NetGalley & Daniel Black, for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was thrilled to learn there would be a follow-up to Don’t Cry For Me! It was one of my favorite reads of 2022. I wish I had reread it before diving into this one, as I couldn’t recall everything that had happened from the father’s perspective.

This story tackles important themes and is an essential narrative to share. While I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to this book as I was with DCFM, I’m still glad it was written to complete the duology. As a Black American, I deeply related to Isaac’s struggles with trying to please his parents, never feeling he measured up, and being told, “Well, that’s what you’re supposed to do.” The author did an excellent job of making me feel seen in that aspect.

I also appreciated how the therapist emphasized to Isaac that, regardless of his father’s actions, he has the power to decide how he reacts. “Don’t let them control your emotions” was such a powerful takeaway. This story truly highlights how people and situations aren’t black and white but complex and multifaceted.

I do wish Isaac and his father had reconciled, though I’m glad he got the chance to read the letters. It’s unfortunate his father couldn’t have been kinder, but understanding that generation of Black men and their views on homosexuality added depth to the story.

This is my second book that I have experienced of Dr. Daniel Black. I loved Don't Cry For Me so as soon as I heard about this book being told from Isaac's point of view, I was in! I tend to gravitate to books with complicated parental relationships. I appreciated that this one involved him dealing with his issues with his father in the setting of therapy. And his therapist? Chiiile, she got me together too at times! I felt like Isaac and I were working through this together. I found myself thinking maybe I've misrepresented some memories of my mother just like he did with his father. I loved seeing Jacob from this POV. The last book had me screaming at him but this one showed him in a more positive light with his wife having a more realistic representation. It made me long for the origins of why my elders are the way they are. Perhaps what I adored most was seeing Isaac finally embrace who he was as a queer, black man in spite of it all. Beautiful!

Rounded up from 4.5 stars

Isaac’s Song resonated deeply with me as a Black woman, particularly in its exploration of generational trauma and the complexities of healing. Isaac’s journey reminded me that healing often requires us to forgive those who have wronged us, a difficult and painful process that can feel like a betrayal of our own pain. This book, my first 5-star read of the year, captured the emotional weight of that struggle, highlighting the courage it takes to reconcile with the past while carving out a new future. The story’s depth and cultural relevance left a profound impact on me, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the challenges we all face in our healing journeys.

The catalyst for the book (memoir, novel) is the death of Isaac’s father and his obligation to fulfill his father’s last wish. He is troubled afterwards-he can’t sleep, is losing weight and seeks help from a therapist. With her guidance he journeys into his past. It’s the 1980s and he’s a black gay child doted on by his mother but belittled by his father, and their relationship is fraught with tension throughout his father’s life. He is everything but the picture of masculinity his father wants. Yes he encounters racism, homophobia, the AIDS crisis , the struggles of being black in America (which his family unit had shielded him from) as his life progresses, but for me the main and most intriguing aspect of the book is his realization that his father had his own dreams and struggles in life and Isaac’s own culpability for the problems in their relationship. The most moving event occurs when after his father is gone, he returns to the house he was raised in and finds the letters his father had written to him as he was dying. His father asks for forgiveness and acceptance and expresses the love he failed to show when he could have done so, and writes of his own unfulfilled life and dreams. It is an excellent read .

I was first introduced to the author Daniel Black while listening to Karen Hunter on Sirius XM Urban View channel. His words are always so profound.
So much so that most times I have to just sit and reflect on what he said during their interaction on the radio show. I imagined that reading his book would also have that effect on me. And was I correct!

I was granted an ARC of Isaac's Song by NetGalley, I could not wait to set aside time in my day to absorb myself in the writings of Mr. Daniel Black.

Having not read Don't Cry for Me in which the character's return in Isaac's Song I was hoping that I wouldn't be lost in the story. I thankfully was not.
Isaac's story was about love, forgiveness, family, and coming of age for a Queer son. My heart ached for Isaac with his interactions with his father during his formative year. I found my self reading a passage and just sitting to reflect on my life and the interactions that I have had. We as parents, we as Black parents carry the baggage of our ancestors when we are raising our own children. Excess baggage weighs us down and oftentimes affects the way in which we govern ourselves. Identifying and releasing that baggage is the only way we can heal. Issacs's Song was about just that .

I would highly recommend this book and certainly purchase for my library.



While reading Isaac's Song I could hear the words of the author

Highly recommend Don’t Cry for Me by the same author, and it is a companion to this book, though each can be read as a stand alone.

I loved this story that felt more like a memoir (it’s at times truly surprising that it’s not). The author captures a lot of themes any young person might go through as they come of age: their thoughts on G-d, their sexuality, what they want to do in life, how they feel about their parents. I related to a lot to the way the main character pushes back on how he’s “supposed to be” and while he tries to suppress his true self, ultimately he embraces himself and his ancestry.

4.5 star rounded up to 5. Two main things. First, I would like Isaac’s therapist! Second, I would like to read Isaac’s book. I thought I was invested in Isaac’s Song before. However, once his book gets rolling, I couldn’t get enough.

Isaac’s Song is fiction, but feels like a memoir in ways. Isaac is sharing his experience, his story and the emotions and logic behind it all. He grows up a Black, gay, only child in Kansas City who knows who he is and only accepts living his truth, despite the costs.

This book is riveting and so emotionally aware and involved. I dove into the story and relationships and wanted to see where this would go. I found I loved where it led me.

Advanced reader copy provided by Hanover Square Press and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Isaac's Song has a unique and compelling structure, a great sense of place and often lyrical prose. I ended up listening to the audio and moved through it very quickly. To me, the core story is really about Isaac's relationship with his father more than anything and that part of the story is very moving with some unexpected twists. It also told some important history through Isaac's experience, education and exposure to elders and peers. Toward the end of the book, there was a shift to a bit of a spiritual perspective that didn't work as well for me. And while I was interested in the story within the story that also comes up later in the book, I feel like these two components really threw off the pacing for me, which is why I’m rounding down to four stars. But I'm definitely curious to check out more of the author's book.

As many reviewers have already stated, this novel seems to be a follow up to Don't Cry for Me, a novel told in hi father' Jacob's voice, which I haven't read, but will. This novel follows Isaac's family history as the narrative weaves from present to past and he speaks with his therapist, a person who shares his enthusiasm for understanding his relationship with his father, and at times, with God. Isaac's father was a hard-working postal worker, never missed one day of work in 30 years, and was hard on his on, wanting Isaac to understand why discipline was crucial for survival. Isaac was effeminate as a young boy, horrified his dad wearing one of his mother's dresses and make-up one day, and both his parents wanted him to marry a woman, have a family, not be gay. Isaac was an only son, and they eventually accepted him as he was, and little by little his parents shared stories from their past, their longings, their pain, and we learn the mother has problems with alcohol, but that aspect of the story seemed to disappear as more evolved around the father and son in the second half of the novel. Using the therapist as a means to reveal Isaac's reconciliation with his father was a good writer's tool, as was having Isaac write his novel as a means to learn more about his father, yet, having Isaac attend a family reunion and learning more about his now deceased mother was equally revealing, because over time, as Isaac attended a HBUC, he learned much about Black history and was upset his parents didn't say more about the racism they had lived with their entire lives, and he learned to understand why they tried to protect him as long as they could. This is a powerful novel of redemption and discovery..

This was a beautiful coming of age story and a great follow-up to Don't Cry for Me. The second half of the novel was breathtaking. I loved the alternating chapters of Isaac/his therapist with Isaac in real life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb: Isaac's Song follows a black and queer youth encouraged by his therapist to revisit his past in order to process his grief. It explores the (challenging) themes of growth and self-discovery, with an emphasis on identity, family and community.

Let me start by saying that, at first glance, I don’t have much in common with Isaac. I grew up as a white, straight-passing cis girl in rural Europe—basically the complete opposite of Isaac, a black youth struggling to hide his queerness in the American South. The contrast is so stark it’s almost funny.
And yet, the first half of this book turned out to be one of the most relatable things I’ve ever read in my life. I spent the entire time teary-eyed and went to bed emotionally exhausted. That’s how you know you’re holding a true gem in your hands.

The book starts off as a collection of memories—snapshots of Isaac’s formative years growing up—but it starts to lose its way around the time of (TW, content spoiler) his mom’s death.
I sometimes found myself scrambling to piece together the timeline, as some key events (eg. his parents’ deaths, Isaac trying to reconnect with his dad), seemed to happen off-page and were only mentioned in passing. It’s a classic case of "telling, not showing," which made it hard to follow at times.
This might be because I haven’t read the author’s previous book, Don’t Cry for Me, which is a collection of letters written by Isaac’s father before his death. Since Isaac’s Song isn’t marketed as a sequel, I went in with no prior knowledge, and while I get why the author may not have wanted to rehash events from the earlier book, and while Isaac’s Song also does a decent job as a standalone, I still think some of those important moments involving Isaac’s parents should’ve been explored on the page here too.

I think the issue I had with the narrative was exacerbated by the last third of the book, which left the ending feeling disconnected from the rest for me. After Isaac’s father dies, he’s inspired to work on his first full-length novel, and the narration starts jumping between Isaac in the present, angsty about his writing, and a historical timeline following the characters in his novel. While the events of this fictional novel still tie strongly to the book’s overarching themes, the back-and-forth shift felt jarring to me—like the two didn’t quite belong in the same story.

Those are pretty much my only complaints, though, and this book is still a solid five-star read for me. It’s beautifully written, a visceral portrayal of systemic racism and homophobia, and it handles delicate themes with such loving care. I’m so thankful I got to read it, and I'm sure this story will stay with me for a long time.

“Legacy isn’t just what we inherit; it’s what we choose to do with the inheritance.”

Daniel Black does it again with Isaac's Song, delivering a poignant exploration of Black manhood, family legacies, and the profound ways our perspectives shift as we grow and mature. This novel, rich in emotional depth and cultural resonance, is an unforgettable journey into the heart of what it means to reckon with our past while forging a path toward healing and self-discovery.

What makes Isaac's Song so compelling is how it tackles the complicated dynamics of Black manhood. Through Isaac’s eyes, we see the silent expectations placed on Black men, the ways they’re often denied vulnerability and the quiet strength it takes to confront those inherited beliefs. Black also masterfully examines the intricacies of family—the love that binds, the wounds that linger, and the healing that can come when we choose to see our parents and ourselves with clarity and compassion.

Reading this novel after Don’t Cry for Me by the same author adds a layered perspective. While Don’t Cry for Me focuses on a father’s regrets, Isaac's Song shifts the lens to the son’s reckoning, creating a beautiful, intergenerational dialogue that feels raw and redemptive.

Isaac's Song is a five-star must-read for anyone seeking a profound, soul-stirring story that explores the depths of family, identity, and healing. Daniel Black’s ability to craft characters that feel like family and stories that linger in your heart is unparalleled. Whether you’re new to his work or a longtime fan, this book will leave you reflecting on your own relationships, choices, and growth.

If you loved Don’t Cry for Me, you’ll find Isaac’s Song a perfect companion piece—two stories that sing in harmony about the complexities of love and the courage it takes to face the truths that shape us.

Daniel Black has done it again and should be expecting a bill from my therapist any day now.
The bill will request compensation for pain and suffering over the course of 2 years.
He has made me cry while simultaneous shifting my brain chemistry and I loved every second of it.

If you enjoyed Don't Cry for Me like I did, I highly recommend that you pick up Isaac's Song.
This is a companion novel that can be read as a stand alone but is best read after DCFM.

Isaac's Song is a journey is one of self discovery where he determines his worth and reconnects with his ancestry.
There is so much thought provoking discourse that occurs between the pages that demands your attention and requires an open mind.
Daniel tackles everything from masculinity being revered and femininity being lesser than to the possibility of the Bible being altered by white men who translated from Hebrew to King James. I loved that he praised the necessity of HBCUs and didn't shy away from show the main character's flaws.

Although I could have lived without Isaac's final story, this novel was near perfection!