How does someone who's always taken on the responsibility of caring for others begin to carve out a life where she can finally be cared for? This is a question our main character, Katia, grapples with, and it’s clear that her journey is just beginning. An unexpected event soon propels her toward someone she never anticipated needing—opening the door to a new chapter in her life that promises growth and discovery.

As I look ahead to my reading goals for 2025, I decided to delve deeper into Black historical fiction, and "Untethered" was a great opener into the genre, showcasing Katia's superwoman mentality and hinting at her transformation throughout the narrative. For anyone curious about getting more into this genre, Untethered is a great starting point.

I enjoyed this audiobook

4.5 stars rounded to 5.

In 1967 Troy, Alabama, Katia Daniels balances her role as the Executive Director at the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys and her family’s burdens, while longing for children of her own. Struggling with workplace tensions, a lost brother in Vietnam, and personal sacrifice, she finds comfort in romance novels and Nina Simone. When Seth Taylor, a high school acquaintance, reappears, Katia begins to question her choices and dreams amid the challenges of love, duty, and self-discovery in a changing South.

I was stuck in a major reading slump until I got lucky and received this ARC. I binged it in two days! Thankfully, I also received the audiobook, and I'm so glad I did! Karen Murray did an incredible job narrating and bringing each character and their unique traits to life! There was one spot in the book where I would've liked more information surrounding the incident, but other than that, the writing was phenomenal. And the epilogue and author's notes were brilliant!!!!

•𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲: Strong, dedicated FMC, coming of age, found family, and love.
This book made me feel: Sad, hopeful, angry, dedicated, and proud of the main character.
•𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟: Books by Charmaine Wilkerson (Black Cake)
What to listen to: Nina Simone and Dionne Warwick
•Gift/Little Free Libraries/Book Club: Yes on all 3!

This book left me in tears—Angela, Angela, Angela!

As an Alabama resident, I found myself immersed in the vivid settings and authentic atmosphere depicted throughout the story.

Karen Murray masterfully captured Katia's emotions as she navigated her understanding of womanhood and questioned her worth against the world's expectations. It was powerful to see her grapple with her self-image and discover what it truly means to be enough.

This book took me on an incredible emotional rollercoaster. I cried, laughed, cheered, and reflected deeply on its themes.

I wholeheartedly enjoyed this compelling audiobook!

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse, and Angela Jackson-Brown for the opportunity to share my honest thoughts on this remarkable book. I'm also grateful for the ALC provided.

A wonderful historical fiction with lots of big lessons to takeaway.
When I think of this book I think of all of my friends that work so closely with under serviced children and the emotional toll it takes on them.
I also think about the timing the books take place and how much Black folx had to navigate through.
There were a couple times some narratives felt a little too repetitive though, which took me out of the story just a bit.

I appreciated the DESERVED happily ever after that the main character gets, because she does struggle through so much in the book.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown is a deeply emotional and moving story centered on Ms. Katia, a kind, giving, and sweet woman who serves as the executive director of a group home for boys. Ms. Katia's life begins to unravel as she navigates the heartbreak of learning her brothers are missing in Vietnam, chaos at the group home, and the sudden reappearance of her high school crush, Seth. These elements weave together a story that is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

Angela Jackson-Brown proves once again why she is a queen of historical fiction. While this novel focuses more on the personal lives of its characters than on historical events, the emotional depth is unmatched. I cried through the final chapters and found myself completely invested in every character. The romance was a delightful addition, and I saw pieces of myself in so many moments throughout the book.

The audiobook narration was another highlight, bringing each character to life and making the story feel incredibly intimate. I cannot recommend Untethered enough—it’s a stunning work that will stay with you long after you finish.

Thank you to Angela Jackson-Brown, Hear Our Voices Tours, and NetGalley for providing the ARC and ALC.

CAWPILE Ratings:
Characters: 10
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 9
Plot: 9
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 9
Enjoyment: 10

Overall, Untethered is a must-read for fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories with a touch of romance and historical depth.

Untethered by Angela Jackson-Brown is a deeply emotional and moving story centered on Ms. Katia, a kind, giving, and sweet woman who serves as the executive director of a group home for boys. Ms. Katia's life begins to unravel as she navigates the heartbreak of learning her brothers are missing in Vietnam, chaos at the group home, and the sudden reappearance of her high school crush, Seth. These elements weave together a story that is both heart-wrenching and hopeful.

Angela Jackson-Brown proves once again why she is a queen of historical fiction. While this novel focuses more on the personal lives of its characters than on historical events, the emotional depth is unmatched. I cried through the final chapters and found myself completely invested in every character. The romance was a delightful addition, and I saw pieces of myself in so many moments throughout the book.

The audiobook narration was another highlight, bringing each character to life and making the story feel incredibly intimate. I cannot recommend Untethered enough—it’s a stunning work that will stay with you long after you finish.

Thank you to Angela Jackson-Brown, Hear Our Voices Tours, and NetGalley for providing the ARC and ALC.

CAWPILE Ratings:
Characters: 10
Atmosphere: 8
Writing: 9
Plot: 9
Intrigue: 8
Logic: 9
Enjoyment: 10

Overall, Untethered is a must-read for fans of heartfelt, character-driven stories with a touch of romance and historical depth.

I loved this.

I’m not necessarily a big Historical Fiction reader but this one really slapped. All the feelings… I teared up. I gasped in shock. I was angry and overall felt the love these humans had for one another.

Set in Alabama, 1967; this story follows Katia Daniels who runs Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys, is caretaker for her mother and younger twin brothers (who are currently fighting in the Vietnam war). Kind of read like life happening not necessarily super plot-y… overall a touching story of woman torn between immense responsibilities and choosing the dreams she longs for.

The audio was great.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Focua for an alc.

Untethered is author Angela Jackson-Brown's sixth novel and is a moving exploration of love, duty, and self-discovery in the late 1960's. Nineteen sixty-seven is a very pivotal year in Alabama and finds Katia Daniels, a devoted caretaker at a group home for boys. Katia shoulders immense responsibilities while grappling with loss, imposed burdens, and yearning for a life of her own. Jackson-Brown portrays Katia's journey as she reconnects with an old friend, and begins to consider for the first time what her own wants and needs are, as a complex Black woman are in a world that demands too much from her. Jackson-Brown presents a deeply moving tale of faith, love, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Audiobook Review 🎧 | NetGalley ALC

This is my favourite read this year!

The audiobook was perfect 👌🏾 Karen Murray did a great job with this book and had me sobbing at times.

I think it’s refreshing to have stories about women that are in their 40s and older. Women who don’t conform in what society envision women do be looking like or doing in their 40s.

The aspects around being the first born woman and the pressure that comes with it. Parentification of children who should’ve just stayed children a little longer.

The undeniably challenging aspect of working in the foster care system.

How with community, love and care things can change for the better.

How black women deserve love, black women deserve joy, black women deserve care, black women deserve support and rest.

Yes black people deal with a lot of trauma and challenges but we also experience joy and happily ever after.

This book is about hope.

“I learned from watching you with those boys at the group home that there are many ways to create a family but the first person I want to create a family with is you”

My rating system:
Narration: 5/5
Story: 5/5
Entertainment: 5/5
Emotions: 5/5
Overall: 5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Harpercollins focus for providing an advanced listener copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I was initially drawn by the beautiful cover of this book and after reading the synopsis requested the audio for review.
I enjoyed the storyline for the most part, the trials and heartbreak of working in a boys home and dealing with all the stories of the young residents was of interest to me.
Categorised as historical fiction, own voices and multicultural interest, I was disappointed to find the story quickly became more a romance with Christian themes, neither of which is of any interest to me. Had I known, I would never have requested this audiobook.
I did find it to be too wordy and repetitive at times, but was interested enough in the story to complete it.
With thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher.

There is a lot to like about this book. Themes of love, loss, fear, family, civil rights, etc. The main character is delightfully relatable, if occasionally a smidge sanctimonious. Many of the conflicts are resolved off the page, taking away some dramatic satisfaction. This was an ambitious endeavor that occasionally falls short yet somehow still kept my attention. The narrator delivers, carrying a complex story filled with a variety of characters.

A different kind of historical fiction, focusing solely on a group-home for black boys (USA 1967), it followed the director and 2 boys residing there.

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more!
The characters felt very authentic and believable.
The plot was engaging and very emotional.
The writing was solid and hooked me in right from the start.

The main character, Katia, was easy to root for. She balanced devastating personal events with the difficult job of being physically, mentally and emotionally present for the boys in her care.

The book highlighted the struggles of kids who ended up in the system combined for various reasons combined with racial issues.
As a non-american, I didn't know how prevalent segregation was still is that far into the 60s, that aspect of the book was very eye opening.


The story was heartbreaking yet full of hope.


The book is out 3rd of Dec 2024.
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the audio-arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


I truly identified with Katia, she was someone who truly to pride in and understood the responsibility of the work that she was doing with the young people. How she identified with those young people is how I identified with the young people I used to work with. She also was a person who was trying to figure out her family life and social life, and lets be honest who isn't! This book was all in all a great read and I loved this story line.

Wow! The narrator was wonderful. So natural. She really brought the story alive. Very tough subjects but interesting story. I would recommend.

This was such a precious and well narrated story! The narrator's portrayal of emotions were so intense and well communicated that I was almost brought to tears a few times throughout this book. Her voice was very well suited to this novel and made m reading experience exponentially better.

There's a particular storyline that broke my heart and I really REALLY don't get why authors need to go that route. Like, yes it pulls at the heartstrings but really? This is why I play in romance so much. Listen, the book is fine, just fine. Well written, complete story, good pacing, relatively satisfying ending. I just... that one storyline, man.
I got an audio ARC and it was very well performed.

I absolutely loved Katia's story and listening to the audio made it even better! the narrator made the story feel so real and I fell involve with the characters. It was heartbreaking and liberating all in one. The love Katia had for those boys was unmatched and the way she was so selfless while mentally dealing with her own emotions was eye opening. The Journey this book took me on I could not stop reading/listening to it I literally finished it within 2 days. I loved the way the story showed her endurance and perseverance in a time where it was not only hard for African Americans but for African American women especially. This is a story that needs to be read and I absolutely can not wait until it is published so I can purchase a copy. Thank you to the publishers and Neutrally for the opportunity to review this untethered and give my honest opinion. I finished this book yesterday and can not stop thinking about it!!!

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

A heartbreaking story about family, love and self discovery set in Alabama during 1967 and the height of the Vietnam War.

Kate serves as the director at the Pike County Group Home for Negro Boys when she learns her twin brother are MIA. As she grapples with the uncertainty of her brother's safety, she also struggles to care for and protect the boys in her care, especially Chad and Pewee.

My heart broke often while reading this novel but I think this is a powerful and moving reminder of the power of love and community.

Trigger Warnings: racism, child abuse, death, grief and loss, PTSD

Thank you Harper Muse for the ARC

This novel beautifully weaves together themes of good music, reproductive health issues faced by Black women, trauma, and the desire for family and love.