4.5 ⭐️

Thank you to The Hive and Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC and HTP and Hanover Square Press for the gifted eARC.

Isaac’s Song
Daniel Black
Publishing Date: January 14, 2025

🎧 Narrator: JD Jackson 🎧

This book was a powerful companion to Daniel Black’s novel Don’t Cry For Me. Told from Isaac’s perspective, this reads very much like a memoir and I had to keep reminding myself that it wasn’t.

Once again the heart and empathy shine through in this novel. Isaac is coping with the death of his estranged father, and through therapy sessions and journaling he takes a look back at his childhood, his relationship with his parents, and his experience of navigating childhood and young adulthood as a gay black man. I loved seeing the therapy and mental health rep, let’s continue to normalize this and break down the stigma. This book is very much about healing, forgiveness, how our perceptions guide our thoughts and emotions, and how this can change over time.

With a stunning writing style, Daniel Black pulls at all the heartstrings as Isaac goes through this journey. I would highly recommend also reading the companion novel, Don’t Cry For Me, in order to get the full experience. A really stunning and impactful duet.

🎧 JD Jackson’s narration was nice! I will say, having listened to the two books back to back, I did prefer Daniel Black’s narration. However, seeing as though the books were written from two different perspectives, it was nice to have the differentiation.

When I requested this book I didn’t realize it was a follow up to Don’t Cry for Me. I read Don’t Cry for Me days before I read Isaac’s Song, and I am so glad I read them back to back like that.

Isaac’s Song is a book tackles identity, forgiveness, love, and grief from losing loved ones/not living up to your parent’s dreams/things left unsaid. In this book, Isaac not only begins to understand himself more clearly but also his father and his actions. I enjoyed the fact that his therapist wouldn’t just let him blame his father for how his life had turned out or continue to have his mother on a pedestal. He had to see, like most of us when we reach adulthood, that his parents were human too. And not only that, they were Black people doing the best that they could and what they thought was right when he came to raising a Black son in America.

This book was beautifully written, and like its counterpart, had me looking at my relationship with my own father through a different lens.

Daniel Black’s Isaac’s Song is more than a story; it’s a mirror for those who have ever wrestled with identity, love, and forgiveness. A poignant and poetic follow-up to Don’t Cry for Me, this novel ensnares the senses and delves deep into the complexities of family, loss, and self-discovery. As a Black queer man, this book spoke directly to my soul. I cried when Isaac cried. It took me six months to finish—not because it wasn’t gripping, but because, like Isaac, I’m also unpacking the layered trauma of being Black, gay, and raised in a fatherless home.

The story begins with Isaac seeking therapy to confront the loss of his father and to discover himself in the world. Daniel Black dives fearlessly into the complexities of love—what we feel, what we think happened, and how our perceptions of others are often shaped by pain. Through therapy, Isaac begins to reevaluate his tumultuous relationship with his father. As he reflects on the past, he discovers that he may have judged his father too harshly and placed his mother on a pedestal she didn’t always deserve.

One of the most moving moments in the book is the revelation of Isaac’s father’s letter. When I read those words, I felt an overwhelming sense of love. Every young Black gay man longs for that kind of affirmation—a love that radiates through sentences, offering connection and understanding. Black captures that yearning so authentically that it’s impossible not to feel it.

Isaac’s journey of self-reflection, healing, and forgiveness is beautifully told. Through the therapist’s observations and Isaac’s own introspection, we witness a profound transformation. The themes of intergenerational trauma, the weight of societal expectations, and the search for acceptance are universal, even as they are rooted in the specific experiences of Black queer identity.

Black’s prose is both lyrical and raw, painting vivid emotional landscapes that linger long after the final page. One line that particularly resonated with me was: “Healing isn’t about forgetting; it’s about making peace with the remembering.” It encapsulates Isaac’s journey and serves as a reminder for all of us navigating our own paths to forgiveness and self-discovery.

Isaac’s Song is my first five-star read of the year, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone—especially those exploring their own paths to healing, understanding, or simply seeking a beautifully told story. This book isn’t just a read; it’s an experience that challenges you to reflect on your own relationships, past and present. I’ll be urging all my friends to pick it up, knowing it has the power to touch hearts and change perspectives.

This book had all the feels. As a single mom raising a Black son I had the same questions of -Am I doing this right? And how much damage am I causing? I am so glad Isaac was finally able to get closure after his Dad died. I am so happy he decide early on to go to therapy. I needed to read this. Thank you Dr Black! I read this back to back after Don't Cry For Me so all the relevant characters were still fresh in my mind.

Daniel Black skillfully weaves together themes of identity, trauma, and resilience, highlighting the struggle to find one's place in the world while dealing with family and societal challenges. Isaac's emotional journey will connect with readers, encouraging them to reflect on their own paths to self-acceptance. This novel is a touching exploration of the human spirit, showing the power of writing, family, and the courage to face the past in order to create a better future. Well done, Mr. Black!

BOOK REVIEW 📖

Thank you #partners @htp_hive @hanoversquarepress for my #gifted copies of what was one of my most anticipated books of the year! I'm so grateful! 💕

Isaac's Song
Daniel Black
Available January 14th

"Generations of wounded, black hearts are waiting for my boldness. This is why I was born. This is why I was sitting there in the dark. Because our American story began in the dark, in the bottom of slave ships."

"...I have to tell this story. Because it's a love song, a black male ballad, a lullaby most brothers won't sing. But I will."

I LOVED THIS!!!

Is it too early in the year to say I have a 2025 favorite?

Isaac's Song is a captivating, soul-stirring exploration of the complicated relationship between a gay Black son and his domineering father. It's a story of love and legacy, of understanding and acceptance, and ultimately, healing. It's a gorgeous follow-up to Dr. Black's 2022 release, Don't Cry for Me. While Isaac's Song is not a sequel, it is a companion novel that can be read before or after its predecessor.

📌 A January @bookofthemonth pick!

📌 Available one week from today!

This sequel to Don't Cry For Me is brilliant and poignant. It's beautiful to read from the prospective of the son.
Once again, Dr. Daniel Black has managed to pull on my heart strings.

Daniel Black does it again. This book is an emotional roller coaster and it gave exactly what I knew it would. I read Dont Cry For Me by this author and was super excited when I got approved for this book. I knew it was gonna be a really good read based on what I had read in the first book. This book had a lot of ups and downs, and I want to explore black male writers more often and thus far this author is one of my favorites.

Before reading this novel, I told myself I am not going to cry but I did. Dr. Daniel Black writes this emotional tale that pulls on the reader’s heartstrings. It is a follow up to his previous novel, Don’t Cry for Me which was told from the perspective of Jacob, Isaac’s father. This novel gives readers Isaac’s perspective on his relationship with his father.

Isaac unveils his story through work he does with a therapist after the death of his father. What comes to light is surprising and leads Isaac to new experiences in his life. Based on the ending, I wonder if there will be a third book.

This book is so beautifully written. The story follows a queer black man in the 1980’s and a relationship between father and son as he is finding himself. It covers blackness in America, generational trauma and so much more. I highly recommend this book. The writing and storytelling is so powerful. Just WOW!

Read “Don’t Cry for Me” first; although it’s labeled as a companion book - I think it brings the story together beautifully.

Let’s just start with, I really wanted to see a happy ending with Matthew and Jessie Lee, I know it wasn’t about that, but I needed it 😂.

I have recommended Don’t Cry for Me to so many people, mostly men but everyone. It’s such a great novel. So when I found out Daniel was writing Isaac’s Song, I had to request it.

Without spoiling anything, this book goes through Isaac’s life from his POV. His relationship with his father wasn’t the best. Isaac was a gay man who had trouble identifying as such due to societal standards and his own inner challenges. He goes through this book from childhood to adulthood and eventually begins therapy (and my oh my do I want Isaac’s therapist). He is challenged to write to himself and he starts to uncover things he didn’t know how to acknowledge as a child, or even things that he thought he knew was true (we do that a lot as humans). As he dive into his roots, and after Jacob’s death, he uncovers letters and we get to see the letters from Isaac’s POV and that is where so much of Don’t Cry for Me brings this full circle. I want to read it again honestly.

All in all, Isaac discovers not only himself, but he’s able to forgive the man he thought his father was, he was able to understand his father’s childhood and what he had to sacrifice to allow for Isaac and his mom to live without working. He was harsh, hard, cruel at times - but now Isaac knew more behind the why. I would absolutely recommend this novel to anyone and Daniel has been an auto buy author for

Earlier this year I read Don't Cry for Me and was completely moved by Daniel Black's writing and the authenticity he captured within his story. When I saw that there would be a companion novel, I was thrilled.
This was such an insightful and meaningful follow up and I absolutely loved it. I loved the therapy aspect of the story and seeing Isaac confront his issues with his father, the reality of his mother, and the complexities of these relationships--all while doing so much self discovery and healing and coming to terms with his own desires and realities as a queer black man in America (especially coming up through the 80s and 90s). There is so much heart that is pouring through this story. I loved the complexity of the characters and seeing Isaac confront the differences between his feelings and his memories as he seeks to come to terms with his trauma and his past. Isaac is such a fully fleshed out and dimensional character that I felt so invested in throughout all of his storytelling and life. He is written in a way that really creates an urgency to his character as well as a realness to him that makes the story that much more compelling to read. There is a genuine honesty in this story that makes it so compelling; seeing Isaac brave his own past and start to see his parents (especially his father) for who they are and the intentions behind their actions was so heart wrenching and I loved the sort of visceral honesty that comes with it. I also really appreciated the willingness to confront the complexities of his relationship with God and religion and actually allowing Isaac to challenge and confront his struggles.
This was a beautiful and well done follow up to Don't Cry for Me that perfectly stands on its own and breathes so much life into Isaac and allows for the reader to see a more complete picture of the story. I loved getting to meet Isaac in his own POV and, in contrast, getting to see Jacob through Isaac's eyes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

I read Don’t Cry for Me in November and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this companion novel! This one was enjoyable, but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first one.

This was definitely a necessary companion novel. After reading Don’t Cry for Me, I was very excited to hear Issac’s point of view. The writing style flows so smoothly that it feels so easily readable and you can really fly through it. And this book called me out SEVERAL times! I highlighted a lot of impactful quotes. There were lots of important discussions had throughout the story. However, at times the story felt less character driven than the first one and more like a lesson. And the lessons were very important, but they felt less organic. Issac’s Song had less emotion than Don’t Cry For Me. The characters felt more flat because I think the author just assumes we remember them from the first book, so they felt as if there was less depth and personality to them. Also, the ending dragged on so long to me. I feel like the book should’ve ended 10-15% earlier than it did.

But, this was still an enjoyable read! If you enjoyed Don’t Cry For Me, this will be a great next read for you! (Though I wouldn’t recommend it as a standalone. Read Don’t Cry For Me first!)

Thank you HTP Hive and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.

content warnings: child abuse, homophobia, alcoholism, racism, racial & homophobic slurs, micro aggressions, graphic depictions of slavery, sexual assault, AIDS-related death

Thank you HTP and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies. I originally planned to listen to the audio, but grabbed the ebook so I could annotate the crap out of it!

I think this might be the best book I’ve ever read. It’s absolutely beautiful—heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful. It offers a poignant and profound exploration of the complex dynamics between a father and son, each a product of their generation and unique passions. Though I didn’t personally relate to their specific lived experiences as Black men and as a father navigating his relationship with a gay son, the writing is so beautiful and universal that I could easily empathize and connect with the characters.

The story itself is stunning, but I also really loved the unique narrative structure.. The protagonist, Isaac, is in therapy, and the story of his life unfolds through a series of short vignettes, written as part of his therapy “homework.” The therapist is such a standout — compassionate, empathetic, and overflowing with wisdom. We should all be so lucky to have a therapist like her!!

Narration Notes: The story is narrated by JD Jackson. While he’s not usually my favorite narrator (just personal preference), his performance here is phenomenal. He embodies Isaac so fully that I can still hear his voice in my head when I think back on the story.

Make sure to check this one out when it releases on January 14.

Wowowwowowow. What a beautiful story and book. I have been so excited about reading this since I read don’t cry for me last year by Dr. Daniel Black. Dr. Black is one of my favorite authors and I love nearly everything that he has written. I only say nearly because I haven’t read everything. lol

I don’t really have the most beautiful words to describe the story, but it is the perfect sequel to don’t cry for me. We get to understand and experience Isaac, after the passing of his father and the aftermath. I felt like this book did a good job of not leaning too much on the prequel while being its own entity in a book. I wish that Isaac’s therapist was my therapist because wow she really earned her money! So insightful. I feel like this is a book that I’m going to have to read every few years to get something else from it because I read for the first time and I feel like there’s so much more. I highlighted it so much and took so much from this book.

A sequel to Don’t Cry for Me, Issac’s Song is written from the perspective of Issac. Issac is a Young Black professional who is struggling to accept his queerness. Told through his therapy sessions, Issac is on a journey of self-love, acceptance, and forgivenes. He seeks to heal seeds of self-hatred he believes were planted by his judgmental and autocratic Father, but unearths so much more about his Father and himself than he imagined. Issac’s Song is an emotional read that emphasizes the powerful of words, both spoken and written.

After finishing Don't Cry For Me, I found myself wondering about Isaac’s perspective and his thoughts on his father’s letters. Lo and behold, Daniel Black has provided exactly that in Isaac’s Song. This narrative gives an intimate look into Isaac Swinton's journey from childhood to adulthood, exploring the complexities of identity, healing, and forgiveness. It offers deep insights into personal growth and the intricate nature of familial relationships.

The story unfolds through Isaac's therapy sessions and personal journals. I felt this gave a raw and authentic portrayal of his experiences and his processing of grief. This structure allowed me to witness Isaac's growth and self-discovery but also highlights the transformative power of therapy in addressing deep emotional wounds.

The book is raw and deeply emotional. I felt for Isaac throughout. But it is so much more than that—it’s a powerful work of literature that tackles heavy societal issues like racism, homophobia, and generational trauma that leaves an enduring impact.

After recently finishing Don’t Cry For Me, I had very high expectations for Isaac’s Song and Dr. Daniel Black did not disappoint. I was incredibly moved by Isaac’s journey from the first chapter. This novel discussed heavy topics from grief of parents, homophobia, and racial prejudice in a wide range of settings. Isaac will forever be embedded in my heart and will be a character I think about daily. The way his character was beautifully written and the way he evolved through the whole book touched me in ways I never imagined. Thank you NetGalley for my e-ARC!!

From the very beginning of this novel I felt as if I had known Isaac my entire life. We were first introduced to this character through the letters written to him by his father, Jacob, in the novel Don’t Cry For Me (a must read).

We witness as Isaac grows from a fragile boy to a man struggling with many insecurities and self-hatred. His volatile relationship with his father has left him with mountains of unsorted baggage. From that we get a story of someone pulling back the layers as he learns how to forgive his dead father, how to love himself, and what it means to truly live.

This was an absolutely incredible read. Don't Cry For Me is one of my favourite books of all time, so I was stoked to get an ARC of Isaac's Song. I loved hearing about some of the events in Don't Cry For Me from Isaac's perspective and I love how Daniel Black incorporated Isaac finding Jacob's letters. This was the most emotional part of the book for me and I can honestly say that I was moved to tears. The writing style was easy to read and follow, but was beautiful in its storytelling. This was also, most importantly, a realistic story - we all know a dad like Jacob and sons like Isaac who have had their lives turned upside because of their words and opinions. I think I've found a new favorite author - this was amazing.