This is an intense love story like no other.

It started with Davis and Everett getting married with the anticipation that this would be the best day of their lives. The emphasis was on Davis who was overjoyed to be with a strong man who appeared to be perfect for him: protective, passionate, charming and successful.

The wedding celebration in Montauk was huge although it was with mostly Everett’s family. At the last minute, Davis found out his sister, Olivia, would be there. However, not long after they said their vows, Olivia had sad news to share with Davis. Their father died that afternoon in a car accident and suddenly the excitement of the day was gone.

While it was tender and sweet, their love had a lot of complications from the past. They were a same-sex couple, Davis was Black and Everett was white and his brother at one point had a MAGA flyer in his bag. Davis had issues to resolve from his relationship with his father, the Reverend.

The reader also learned all about how Davis started playing a viola when he was young. After the wedding, Davis was on his way of becoming a famous musician with solo concerts and this was one of the highlights of the book.

The author put her heart and soul into this original story with picturesque writing. She made you feel the power of intimate love between Davis and Everett. However, I wish there was more background with Everett’s career and both of their fathers. The chapters were relatively short and easy to grasp. It had a lot of movement and joy with a satisfying ending.

My thanks to Random House and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of April 15, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book will be published in the US by Random House on April 15, 2025.

Full Rating: 4.25 stars rounded up

Denne Michele Norris’s When the Harvest Comes is a novel that aches with tenderness, loss, and the quiet resilience of becoming. It is a story of love—romantic, familial, and self—braided with the jagged edges of trauma and the suffocating expectations of Black masculinity. Through Davis, a Juilliard-trained violist navigating the eve of his wedding to his white fiancé Everett, Norris crafts an intimate portrait of a person searching for beauty and safety in a world that has too often denied both.

Davis’s life is a study in dualities—grace and violence, yearning and restraint, visibility and concealment. Music is his sanctuary, but it cannot shield him from the specter of his father, The Reverend, whose rigid notions of manhood and simmering alcoholism once fractured their family. The novel’s structure, winding between past and present, reflects Davis’s own internal looping—his longing to escape his origins and his inability to fully sever those roots. Norris withholds the specifics of Davis’s estrangement from his father until the novel’s close, a revelation that is devastating yet familiar: the brutality that often meets Black queer softness.

Davis’s fixation on beauty—his clean-shaven face, the femme jumpsuit he wears to his wedding—is not mere vanity but survival, an armor against a world that punishes difference. Yet, even in his relationship with Everett, which offers stability and acceptance, there are undercurrents of power. Everett’s whiteness, his family’s strained liberal tolerance, and his own role as the “masculine” partner subtly reinforce Davis’s vulnerability. The novel’s exploration of desire is thus inseparable from race, class, and gender—a sharp critique that cuts as deeply as it heals.

When Davis ultimately recognizes her transness and chooses the name Vivienne, a gift from her father’s final letter, it is both a rebirth and a reckoning. The Reverend’s flawed love, his need for a son, had been suffocating—but it had also held, however imperfectly, an aching awareness of who Davis truly was. The novel’s final act is not neat closure but a tender step toward wholeness.

If I had any reservations, it was that certain subplots—like Olivia’s abortion—felt underdeveloped, disrupting the novel’s otherwise fluid emotional arc. Yet, this is a minor flaw in a book that left me raw and breathless. Vivienne is a character I will carry with me—a reminder that survival is its own form of grace, and sometimes, becoming ourselves is the most radical act of love.

📖 Recommended For: Readers drawn to emotionally rich literary fiction exploring Black queer and trans identities; those who appreciatt character-driven stories about familial trauma and healing; fans of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong and Bellies by Nicola Dinan.

🔑 Key Themes: Race and Masculinity, Gender Identity and Self-Discovery, Familial Expectations and Inheritance, Queerness and Intimacy, Beauty as Survival.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Sexual Content (severe), Alcohol (minor), Alcoholism (minor), Homophobia (severe), Child Abuse (severe), Death of a Parent (moderate), Grief (moderate), Drug Use (minor), Blood (minor), Cancer (minor), Medical Content (minor), Suicide (minor).

This book is a sensual queer story full of love, acceptance, self-discovery and transformation! It has great commentary on the social dynamic of being a lone black man marrying into a white family and the feelings that accompany being a gay son wanting your father to be proud of you while not fitting into the standard, fatherly cis male expectations. There are also great notes surrounding sex that ring so true and aren’t spoken about enough in both books and life.
I believe that this was marketed as a story about grieving the loss of a father who is the root of a traumatic childhood. This is a heavy topic that many experience and anticipate but I didn’t feel like I was completely let into the mind of the main character and his turmoil as he moves through feelings of love, hate and fear. Because of his vague inner dialogue, I struggled to feel the full weight of his emotions or experience catharsis.
The story itself is small with few events and for this reason, I think it would read better as a short story or novella rather than 300 pages.

I am still reeling from the experience of reading this exquisite debut novel. The way it so painfully and beautifully holds both joy and grief together, with the same tenderness, is a marvel. One of the most emotionally evocative novels I can remember. And the stunning writing about music and fashion--both on the surface and in all that they represented to these characters--was an absolute delight to read. ALL THE STARS for When The Harvest Comes.

I really wanted to love this book. I think the storyline is so promising! However, I did not feel that the writing lived up to its premise. I found it a bit overlong and the characters besides Davis... sort of baffling? They were a little one-dimensional and their choices didn't make sense to me a lot of the time. The first hundred pages when we were at the wedding were by far and away the strongest section, after that I felt sort of lost.

my new comfort queer fiction this year. i hope nothing beats it.

this story, oh my god. so real, so raw, so heart-wrenching exploration of identity, love, and the enduring wounds of family trauma. it centers on Davis, a young Black gay man who has found freedom and success in New York City, far from the oppressive relationship with his conservative reverend father. Just as Davis is about to marry his partner, Everett, the sudden death of his father throws his world into turmoil, forcing him to face the unresolved pain and generational tensions that have shaped his life.

the writing!!! the writing is so immersive and visceral, pulling readers deep into Davis’s emotional landscape as he wrestles with the lasting scars of his father’s rejection. the big question here is—whether Davis can finally break free from his father’s shadow and embrace his true self—keeps you hooked, drawing you into a journey that’s as painful as it is powerful.

this debut is a MASTERPIECE. it highlights a lot of sexuality, self-discovery, and the difficult path to healing. the prose is described as “epic, intimate, brutal, and tender,” that is why i requested it in the first place. it perfectly captured the complexity of Davis’s inner turmoil as he navigates the clash between the man he’s been forced to be and the man he’s desperate to become. it's so bold, unforgettable, and brimming with emotional depth. i can't wait to see Denne Michele Norris takes us next. and you bet i will read it.

5/5! thank you Random House Publishing Group!

One of the most beautiful books I have ever read! The writing is tender but also fierce. This book should be getting a lot of buzz!

I requested and received an eARC of When the Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris via NetGalley. On the eve of Davis' wedding all he can think about his how beautiful he wants to look for his wedding to Everett. He won't have any family there — his mother died years ago, and his father's anger and intolerance have driven a wedge between them — but all Davis needs to be happy is Everett and the prospect of the life ahead of him. During the reception, however, Davis discovers his father has died in an accident, long buried emotions begin to resurface and must be confronted before it affects his present happiness.

The prose has an urgency that works very well with this particular story. It invites the reader to experience the feelings of each character throughout the novel and creates an intimacy that I think elevates the story. The story is presented in alternating POVs, which I was initially thrown by, but came to appreciate. It provides the story with a roundness that prods in every direction, making sense of the tension between Davis and his father, the Reverend, as well as exploring how the tumult of this relationship has affected others in their orbit.

The ensemble cast of characters and point-of-views serves When the Harvest Comes very well, but for me Davis remains the shining center piece. Although the other characters are certainly given nuanced existences on the page, the real beauty and complexity of this novel emerges in Davis’ character. He exists in this delicately balanced space of grief and bliss and I think this is very well represented in the story. There so many wonderful elements to this novel, but I also found that Norris does an incredible job of capturing a very particular family dynamic with Everett’s family. Each relationship, every reaction, seems to contain a hidden depth. There’s so much going on beneath the surface of this story and the ending was absolutely exquisite making When the Harvest Comes a very rewarding reading experience.

This was a beautiful book, I enjoyed the writing very much. However, there was a very big part of the story that dealt with discrimination/racism which was resolved in a very rushed, almost secretive way (we are never told how the resolution was reached). Being that this was such an impactful part of the story, I felt that it needed more attention.

The ending was not what I expected, even though it was hinted throughout the book that this is where Davis was heading, and I am glad I never saw it coming because it warmed my heart.

Excellent debut. Will definitely read this author again.

I was immediately drawn in by the beautiful cover. This was ultimately a very heartbreaking and heart warming journey. It has made my heart feel things some books trouble to do. I went through a wide range of emotions while reading.

Denne Michele Norris knows how to write a sentence, a paragraph, a page. I think I was most awe-struck by the prose in the book. And the sex writing! I felt I was in the hands of a master.

I agree with some of the other reviewers, about attention lagging and the POVs switching and maybe just a general sense of unattachment to the characters, but the sentences kept me going. Gorgeous.

This is a deeply moving story about identity, love, and the scars of family trauma. The novel follows Davis, a young Black gay man, who has found freedom and success in New York City after escaping his strained relationship with his father, a conservative reverend. On the eve of his wedding to his partner, Everett, Davis’s life is upended by the sudden death of his father, which forces him to confront the unresolved pain and generational tensions that still haunt him. This is very well written and you'll be drawn into the depths of Davis' despair and trauma at the hands of his religious father. Will Davis be able to break free and truly be his own self, separate from the grasps of his father? This is such a well written, amazing debut for a new author, and I look forward to seeing more from them.

Norris delves into themes of sexuality, self-discovery, and healing in the face of trauma. Her prose is described as "epic, intimate, brutal, and tender," beautifully capturing the inner battles Davis faces as he navigates the intersection of his own desires and the expectations that were imposed upon him.

Book Review When The Harvest Comes by Denne Michele Norris

Publication Date April 14/25

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the chance to read this book. The opinions are my own.

This novel is both heart breaking and heart warming with some spice. It’s a romantic story of a soul mate romance between Davis and Everett. When Davis is discovered by his father with his first boyfriend, as a teenager, he flees his father’s anger and makes a path for himself as a concert violaist. “The venerated Reverend Doctor John Freeman did not raise his son, Davis to be touched by any man, let alone a white man.” His father’s death on his wedding night sends Davis spiralling in his grief and past trauma.

Although Davis is a brilliant young musician his upbringing has left him insecure about his abilities and choices. He has not been in another relationship until he meets Everett. Their relationship is so passionate and loving. Everett has a large loving family but has also watched his father’s homophobic reaction to his uncle and then later himself when he informs his family of his bisexuality.

The exploration of the failures of both fathers and the resultant impact on their sons is wonderfully and painfully drawn out. The eventual transformation powered by regret and shame is inspiring. The story is about the importance of continual evolution in relationships and providing the space for growth and forgiveness. The relationships are all complex with hurt feelings, jealousy, misunderstandings and bad behaviour. Distance and cutoffs existing but trying to find your way back.

The exploration of Davis’s complicated grief for his father was so well done. It wasn’t rushed and quickly resolved and was allowed to meander the way grief and trauma do. His shutting down and pushing Everett away felt so realistic and natural.

Writes nuanced, well developed, flawed characters that you will love. Davis’ growth and burgeoning confidence in themselves unfolds slowly and poignantly. “I got tired of running away from what I should’ve been running toward.”

This book was absolutely phenomenal! It hooked me from the beginning and I was drawn so deeply to Davis and Everett’s story. As a Black woman married to a White man it felt personal in that way, and meeting Vivienne at the end was a beautiful moment. I was touched, angered, and amazed at how beautiful the writing and story line were. Truly cannot believe how stunning this book was.

i wanted to love this. from the description, i thought i was in for a novel about grief and all the mixed feelings that came with it, but that isnt the direction this book generally went to. it's more about a slow process of self-discovery, going all the way back into the past to understand the present etc., so this is sort of a misalignment of expectations for me.

i think the author is doing important work here, and she did start with a strong beginning and the story sort of just fell flat after. could be the seemingly crowded povs, could be the hazy focus, could be the awkwardness of some prose/dialogues.
still, im looking forward to reading other works from this author when she publishes another one.

thank you to netgalley and random house publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for sending me an e-ARC of this book.

The plot of this book was very good, and it's definitely the type of story I could like. However, I didn't really gel with the writing. I felt there were a few more POV's than entirely necessary. If it had stayed between Davis and the Reverend, with an occasional chapter for Olivia in there, I think the story would have been more impactful. I think, because of this jumping around, the characters weren't very dynamic either. There was a lot of dialogue that felt unnatural. It was like the author was trying to prod the conversation in a specific direction, but hadn't been able to think of a more organic way to get it there.

I also think the book just needed more. It didn't feel very satisfying or complete, even though the plot has a very definite end. I think part of this is that POV jumping I mentioned. For all the emotion and heart that's in this book, it still felt very flat to me.

This is a beautiful novel, but just did not resonate with me in terms of the way it was told. Definitely think that it is important that it exists!

The characters in this LGBTQ+ novel were well-formed and interesting. Davis and Everett were believable and motivated by parental backstories and family events. As the son of an alcoholic, some backstory scenes with Davis and The Reverend were triggering for me.
Davis's sister and Everett's brother seemed more like poorly drawn archetypes instead of true characters.
Plot-wise, the story advanced with the love affair and marriage but it seems that the Reverend's death would not have realistically been the 'trigger' for the conflict but rough play could have. I'm not sure what the author's purpose was in expanding that story line. I thought this was going to be more about survivor's of abuse and was less-prepared for a gender transition arc at the end. I think Norris has some great potential especially when it comes to characterization and dialogue. I'm not sure a full-formed story arc with multiple, well-developed characters is there yet.
Three stars.