This book had my emotions all over the place. I loved the humanization of Marcus and Seth after retuning home from the war. Seeing how Seth was able to get Marcus to open up about his trauma was beautiful. The relationship between Alicia and Katia was like a warm hug. They had their own struggles with motherhood but remained strong supports for each other. I was happy that Katia got out of her way to embrace Seth's love. This was my first read from Angela Jackson- Brown and I plan to read more from her catalog.

This historical novel centers around the proprietress of a halfway home for boys in the late 1960s. It centers around her life during a period of time where she's dealing with a brother missing in the Vietnam war, internal politics at the boys home and a romance with a man from her past. While I found the story interesting, the protagonist was a little too perfect to feel real to me, which stopped me from connecting to the book as much as I otherwise might have.

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus for an advance reading copy for an unbiased review.

If you love historical fiction that hits you right in the feels, you need to read this. It's a fictional story, but it shines a light on the very real struggles faced by African Americans—then and now. Katia's strength and kindness were so inspiring, even though I wished she'd fully embrace her own worth. This book stayed with me after my read. Love to see passionate stories a must read.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this complementary copy for my honest review.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown moved me in a way that I haven’t felt from a book in a while. Set in the 1960s, we meet Katia, an executive director in a group home for Black boys, has spent so much of her life caring for others and putting others first. From her family, to the boys in the group home, Katia has prioritized everyone and their feelings first while burying her own, especially around motherhood. In walks Seth, a high school crush who becomes someone Katia can finally lean on, even though she tries her best to push him away.

This novel has some really heavy themes, infertility, child abuse and trauma from war, but it is a read I’d recommend to any lover of historical fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Untethered does a good job of highlighting the often overlooked experience of the foster care system during a particularly volatile period of time. What the story does well: it sets a scene, provides historical context, and adds layers of lived experience to its protagonist’s narration. The insight it provides into anti-blackness and systemic failures of those programs we expect to do social good, from the perspective of someone with a personal investment in its success, is invaluable. I appreciate how it also creates realistic characters with their own unique and complex stories and personal histories. However, there are portions of the story which fall flat. As the story progresses, the story notes start to feel too loosely connected, providing a brief, almost entry-level view of very real systemic issues. The narration suffers in the face of the age-old adage - show, don’t tell. In general, there is a lot of “telling” happening in the story, particularly in terms of narrating to readers exactly how the characters (and the audience by extension) should feel in specific moments rather than guiding readers through a greater emotional investment in the plot. In addition, even as we are taken through Katia’s narration of events, it does not feel as though our protagonist, or really our audience overall, is being given a chance to explore the conflicts presented to them in a nuanced way. I would have liked to have seen a more critical analysis of her brothers’ military service, their unflinching patriotism in the face of their experience of the system; of Katia’s loneliness in a staunchly patriarchal setting, a further discussion of motherhood and the complexity of its existence in contrast with a professional setting… just to start. All in all, I think this is a good book for readers who may be unfamiliar with the realities of Katia’s position and the experiences of her community, but the story had a little too much going on and not enough time spent sitting with those ideas and the many questions they raise. Instead, the narration leans towards being repetitive and surface level.

Thank you NetGalley for the Ebook!

As someone who’s still new to historical fiction, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect stepping into this story—but I’m so glad I did. This was my first time reading anything by Angela Jackson-Brown, and her storytelling pulled me in completely. The setting—1967, Troy, Alabama—felt vivid and alive, but it was the characters, especially Katia, who truly stayed with me.

Katia’s life has always been about duty. After losing her father, she stepped into a caretaker role for her family without hesitation. Now, with her twin brothers off fighting in Vietnam and her mother still needing her, Katia pours everything she has into her role as the executive director of a group home for troubled boys. She’s strong, dependable, and endlessly committed—but there’s a quiet loneliness that runs beneath all that strength.

Then Seth, an old high school crush, comes back into her life. And suddenly, there’s this glimmer of something more—something tender, unfamiliar, and terrifying. Watching Katia wrestle with the idea of opening herself up, after a lifetime of always being the one others lean on, was both moving and relatable.

This book is absolutely a romance, but it’s also so much deeper. It’s about choosing softness when the world has only demanded strength. It’s about healing, about love in many forms—familial, romantic, self-love—and about the courage it takes to let someone see you when you’re used to being the one holding everything together.

Katia is easily one of the most memorable protagonists I’ve read this year. Her compassion, her grit, her vulnerability—it all felt so honest and raw. I found myself rooting for her not just in love, but in life.

And yes, a gentle warning: keep tissues nearby. This story got me more than once in the best way possible.

Thank you to Angela Jackson-Brown for this beautiful piece of art, also thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the copy. I’m so glad this was my introduction to both the author and this genre—and it certainly won’t be the last. 4.5 stars out of 5.

this was such a great read. I really enjoyed the characters and this story line was really good from start to finish. I was on a book tour for one of the author's other books so I read this one months later. I would recommend this one to my audience as well.
I really enjoyed the setting of this one as well. I would read other books by this author.

This book was a wonderful tear jerker. There were a few times in the book I wanted to jump in to save the two boys that had stolen Katia’s heart. Especially Chad. It is so sad to know things like this happens in real life. Brown did a fantastic job in giving Katia what she needed, even when Katia didn’t think she could have it.

A heavy, yet tender-hearted novel about our strong, established, assured protagonist. Katia is the executive director of a group home for boy’s, but also a romantic at heart with a love for Nina Simone.
This novel set in the 1960s, a time of uncertainty and fear; there are layers of complexity in terms of war, grief, and violent families. Angela Jackson-Brown touches about these dark issues with sensitivity, and shares how to keep moving when the unthinkable or irreparable happens. It’s truly difficult material to read through, on living in systems that don’t fight for you; but Jackson-Brown brings about hope and faith despite the brokenness of these situations. I love her writing of the boys, the brothers, and the romantic interest; despite the ever-present difficulties, they brought sweetness into every page. And most of all, I love our heroine and the amount of love she has for others.
Posted on Goodreads

I enjoyed how this book gave an intimate look in to the era of the Vietnam War, the 60s in a town like Alabama and the foster care system.

What an emotional rollercoaster this book was! While I am not always a fan of first person narratives as the release of information can seem clunky, the sheer force of Katia’s personality and heart made this utterly compelling. The individual tragedies are so well drawn yet the strength of this book is the way you understand each of these entirely from Katia’s perspective and feel your heart break alongside hers, feel the onslaught of overwhelming grief and share her torrential rage at the unfairness of the world. I feel bereft having finished it!

This book was so beautiful. It was raw and realistic to the life of young black boys in the foster care system. I got so attached to all these characters and seeing them in pain hurt me so deeply. I loved this book and I would love to read more from this author.

Sometimes family is found in the most unlikely of places..

Synopsis: Untethered is a historical fiction novel based in the south around the end of the civil rights movement. Katia Daniels a single woman, who is the Executive Director at the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys in Troy, Alabama. As she pours her everything into the struggles of the boys in the group home, she is also experiencing her own difficulties in her personal life from one of her twin brothers being lost in the Vietnam war to the realization that she will not be able to ever bear children of her own. The novel follows Katia as she selflessly pours into others and feelings of not being worthy of her own love and happiness..

My Thoughts: I enjoyed this book. Angela Jackson-Brown did a great job of taking you through all the emotions with her descriptive storytelling and great character development. The book covers topics of the negative side of foster care system, the fears and lack of empathy for black boys in this time, PTSD from war, and the struggles of women fertility struggles. The book is an emotional story that will have you feeling the pain of each struggle covered and empathy for the characters in the book. I rated this book 4 stars.

In the small college town of Troy, Alabama, amidst the backdrop of 1967, Katia Daniels lives a life steeped in responsibility. At the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, she pours her heart into nurturing the young lives under her care, harboring a longing for children of her own. Katia's romantic entanglement with an older man brings comfort but also stirs questions about the path she's chosen. The weight of her family's history bears down on her; a twin brother is missing in action in the heart of the Vietnam War. Having lost her father to cancer, Katia took up the mantle of caretaker, ensuring her mother and brothers were looked after. Her sense of duty extends to the boys at the group home, creating a web of obligations that stretches her emotional bandwidth thin.

Amidst a power struggle at work with the board, Katia finds solace in the pages of romance novels and the soothing melodies of Nina Simone. When Seth Taylor, a familiar face from her high school days, reenters Katia's life, he brings with him a breeze of nostalgia and a reminder of a time when her dreams felt less tethered. As their friendship rekindles, Katia grapples with the idea of making choices for herself, even as the realization that she can no longer have children weighs heavily on her.

Powerful. Emotional. Beautifully written story. The time and place are as much a character in this gem of a novel as the characters are. Very thought-provoking on a wide range of topics. This would be a great read for a book club. An easy 5⭐ rating from me!

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Angela Jackson-Brown's 'Untethered' is a masterfully crafted novel that solidifies her place among my favorite authors. Set against the backdrop of 1967 Troy, Alabama, the narrative explores the intricate interplay of love, duty, and self-discovery through the lens of Katia Daniels, a young woman navigating a racially charged and rapidly changing society.

Following her father's death, Katia takes care of her mother and twin brothers. Even after her brothers enlist in Vietnam, she remains tethered to her familial obligations, demonstrating a profound sense of duty. Jackson-Brown poignantly portrays Katia's journey, marked by personal loss and the enduring pursuit of individual happiness.

Katia's work at the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys underscores her remarkable compassion, even as it further binds her to a life of service. Her dedication to these boys, though inspiring, is depicted as another form of emotional tether, demanding significant physical and emotional sacrifice.

The rekindled connection with Seth, a former high school acquaintance, provides a catalyst for Katia's self-reflection, introducing a tender and hopeful romantic dimension to the narrative. This subplot enhances the exploration of personal fulfillment amidst societal and familial pressures.

Jackson-Brown adeptly navigates themes of familial responsibility, the yearning for autonomy, and the constraints of societal expectations. Her multidimensional characters foster a deep emotional connection, rendering the narrative both intimate and compelling. Katia's journey to 'untether' herself and discover her authentic self is profoundly resonant. 'Untethered' is a compelling and emotionally rich novel, earning a five-star recommendation.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. My teenagers enjoyed as well through audio during our morning commute and stayed engaged until the ending.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown is a captivating novel!
A well written story that was so hard to put down.
I loved everything about this novel!
Mesmerizing!

Katia was such a ray of light, despite the world crumbling around her. The passion that she had for her job, the boys, and her colleagues was beautiful to read through. I really enjoyed Chad and Pee Wee’s characters. They were both so young, but had the souls of little old men. Wise beyond their time. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this book.

Set in 1970s Alabama, Angela Jackson-Brown’s UNTETHERED follows Katia Daniels, the director of a group home for young Black boys. Katia is dealing with a lot: her younger brothers are missing in action in Vietnam, she aches to be a mother but recently underwent a hysterectomy, and her job at the group home brings constant heartbreak and struggle as both she and the boys in her care come up against a racist system.

The characters and relationships in UNTETHERED are easily its greatest strength. Pee Wee and Chad, two residents of the group home who become particularly special to Katia, highlight the many ways we as a society fail to protect young Black boys. The love and support Katia receives from her friends, family, and coworkers creates a sense of community in the story that I haven’t often seen on the page. There are dozens of characters in this book, but Angela Jackson-Brown juggles them well, and even those we don’t see often are richly drawn.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the writing. This book is written like a journal entry, with no attention to craft or storytelling (e.g., ‘this happened, then that happened, and this is how I’m feeling about it...”) It’s bogged down with unnecessary detail, often bringing otherwise interesting scenes to a grinding halt (like when Katia stops in the middle of a huge turn in the plot to explain why she knows someone’s phone number). Any time something of interest happens, it’s followed by several pages, sometimes entire chapters, of Katia informing everyone in her life what has happened. It made for a very tedious read.

While some of these characters will stick with me (Pee Wee, you have my heart), ultimately this was a miss.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus (Harper Muse) for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Heartfelt and haunting, delving deep into the complexities of personal and societal change during a turbulent era. Highly recommended.