Rob Franklin's debut novel, Great Black Hope, delivers a full-throttle portrait of 21st-century New York City decadence and nihilism. Smart, promising people seem unable—or unwilling—to control their basest instincts. It’s a familiar story, practically a genre unto itself. And yet, somehow, the pathology keeps leading to ever darker outcomes. Is it the drugs, the apps, the surveillance, the pathogens, Late Stage Capitalism, the addiction to incarceration and retribution—or all of the above?

Our protagonist, Smith, is just one generation removed from Jim Crow. His parents, stalwarts of the New South, want only the best for their children. But Smith is convinced his future lies in the bright lights of New York City. We root for him to succeed, yet it’s clear early on that society is neither willing to give him the benefit of the doubt nor the tools he needs to survive.

Great Black Hope covers a lot of ground. We experience, viscerally, the drug-fueled, gender-neutral, anarchic NYC dance scene. We see how far we’ve come in accepting racial, gender, sexual, and identity diversity—and, more importantly, how far we still have to go.

Stylistically, Franklin’s poetic sensibility shines through, as does his top-tier training from NYU’s MFA program. He’s clearly a rising star.

Thank you to S&S/Summit Books and NetGalley for the eARC.

First of all, the writing was truly exquisite. Smith was an engaging character from start to finish and reading about all of the different layers of him held my attention. However. the pacing of the plot was a huge distraction and kept me from feeling fully engaged into the story overall. There are great little nuggets here-the south flashback and the quality of pulling it back towards the present. I just couldn't connect to the novel as a whole, but I can still see it for what it's meant to be.

Rob Franklin's debut hits you like a shot of espresso. His protagonist Smith – Black, queer, Stanford grad – seems to have it all figured out in his glossy New York life. Then comes a cocaine arrest in the Hamptons, and everything shatters.

The story grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go. Smith's wrestling with his best friend's death would be enough drama, but Franklin layers in something deeper: what happens when your carefully constructed identity starts to crack? When your fancy degree and Upper East Side apartment can't shield you from the reality of being Black in America?

Franklin writes like someone who's been doing this for decades. His sentences dance. They make you laugh, then punch you in the gut. Poet Kaveh Akbar wasn't exaggerating when he said this book has "sentences I want to cut out and glue to my forehead."

But here's what makes this novel special: it never feels like homework. Yes, it tackles heavy themes – privilege, class, the masks we wear to fit in. But Franklin wraps these ideas in a story so compelling you'll forget you're reading "important literature." The plot moves like a thriller, even as it asks uncomfortable questions about who gets to succeed in America – and at what cost.

Sure, some readers might wish for more plot and less introspection. But that's missing the point. This isn't a beach read (though ironically, part of it takes place on one). It's a mirror held up to our society, showing us truths we might not want to see.

Great Black Hope isn't just good – it's necessary. It's the kind of debut that makes you excited about the future of American literature. Franklin has arrived, and he's not playing it safe.

4.5/5 stars – A stunning debut that will have everyone talking.

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review on my Goodreads page. The book is set to release in June 2025.

This novel follows a young Black man through several months of his life in New York City as he grapples with profound tragedy, including the loss of a close friend and roommate, and battles his own drug addiction, which ultimately leads to a criminal charge. From the outset, I’ll admit this book wasn’t quite what I expected based on the summary. It deviated from the narrative I anticipated, and as a result, it was a departure from my usual reading experience. But that’s part of what made this book stand out to me.

What really struck me about this story was the language and depth of thought woven through the narrative. The author does an incredible job of capturing the main character’s internal world and the external forces that shape his journey. His struggles, his resilience, and his attempts to make sense of it all felt raw, honest, and deeply human. While this is the story of one person, it resonates with the broader experiences of many who find themselves in similar circumstances.

As someone who works in the criminal justice system, I found the portrayal of the main character’s experience in court to be particularly eye-opening and realistic. The nuances and emotions of those moments were captured with such authenticity that it felt as though I were witnessing real-life struggles unfold on the page. The author’s insights into the system were not only informative but also thought-provoking, shedding light on the harsh realities many face when entangled in the legal system.

Ultimately, while this book challenged my expectations, it also provided a thought-provoking and heartfelt exploration of resilience and loss. It was a real exploration of the human condition.

Race and privilege in New York City provide the backdrop for this debut novel. Rob Franklin balance’s the social expectation that comes with this against a queer young man’s self destructive tendencies.
David Smith is a Stanford graduate from a wealthy, established African American family. He has a life of drinking and drugging without much consequence. However his life begins to unravel after the mysterious death of his best friend Elle, due to her involvement in drugs, and his arrest for cocaine. Similarly, we see his friend Carolyn’s life begin a downward spiral due the issues.
Franklin’s prose are elegant. He critiques the societal entitlement Smith is given. At the same time he exposes the racism he is subjected to. However the pacing is slow and it is difficult to stay engaged. In addition some of the characters seem underdeveloped. Despite these flaws it is a compelling debut novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy of The Great Black Hope. These opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc. I really enjoyed this book. It was a really good story. Very moving and emotional.

I started this book expecting an incisive exploration of race, class, and identity, but what I found was a slow-moving narrative that never fully grounded itself in a clear premise. The novel follows Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, as he navigates the fallout of a cocaine possession arrest, the grief of losing his best friend, and the pressures of his privileged yet complicated family history.
The story had potential—touching on systemic injustices, the isolation of being caught between two worlds, and the seductive pull of self-destruction. However, the plot meanders through courtrooms, addiction meetings, and New York nightlife without ever landing a central driving force. While the writing is stylish and the themes are compelling, the story feels scattered rather than connected.
That said, it was a quick read, and I found myself engaged enough to finish it. If you’re seeking a book with rich atmosphere and a reflective protagonist, this could be a good choice. However, if you prefer a tightly crafted, suspenseful narrative, it might not fully satisfy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster | S&S/Summit Books for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

The premise of Great Black Hope was intriguing to me, but the execution was not. This is a slow read that doesn’t follow a typical story arc and it didn’t work for me. The writing is flowery, often using long and gorgeous descriptions that don’t actually say much and, at least for me, made the intention harder to follow. I am sure other readers will be taken with Dave Smith’s plight, but I was so lost and bored by the writing that the social dilemma lost its power.

Not recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was captivated by Franklin's hypnotic, assured prose in this literary fiction debut. It unravels a slow-burning mystery about a woman's unexpected death within the world of the Black elite.

Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, seems to have it all—until an arrest for cocaine possession at a Hampton's party shatters his carefully constructed life. Pulled into the court system and mandated to participate in a treatment program, he quickly learns that while his class may offer some protection, his race does not.

Just weeks earlier, Smith's glamorous roommate Elle, the daughter of a famous soul singer, was killed, attracting significant tabloid attention. The media has revealed details about her private life, highlighting just how little Smith knew about someone he spent time daily with. To escape everything, he returns home.

However, it's a complicated homecoming for a young man now facing drug charges and bringing shame to his family. The conversations are repetitive and focused on highlighting his foolishness. His mother, a practicing lawyer, has witnessed the disparities in drug possession charges between Black and white individuals. How can a well-educated man with financial stability be in the same situation as so many of her past clients?

When another close friend, Carolyn, spirals out of control, Smith returns to New York, desperately searching for answers, especially after his Atlanta homecoming doesn’t bring the comfort he seeks. Readers are taken on a parade of adventures through these city streets to unravel a mystery.

I swam in Franklin's writing, where a simple description of the weather spins out so elaborately that it takes your breath away. "Georgia's winter was a deciduous jumble-days oscillating between fifties and sixties in the illusion of other seasons. The trees kept their leaves; cheating death, they shed them slowly, until one night, they fell all at once."

The book contains primarily unhurried, heavy passages that made me long to write better. However, the plot is very thin, and the presence of two mysterious women feels excessive when the story could have focused more on the journey of Smith and Elle, which turned out to be the most captivating aspect.

Thank you Rob Franklin and NetGalley for the free eARC in exchange for my review.

Reading Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin was a moving and unforgettable experience. The story of Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate navigating the complexities of race, class, and identity, resonated deeply with me. Franklin’s writing is both gripping and elegant, pulling me into Smith’s journey through the court system, his hometown in Atlanta, and the glittering yet dark underworld of New York City. The exploration of what it means to exist between worlds—upwardly mobile yet spiraling downward—was both thought-provoking and emotional.

I especially appreciated the raw honesty in the narrative and the way it tackled heavy themes like systemic injustice, societal expectations, and personal redemption. Smith’s relationship with his family and the lingering mystery of his roommate Elle’s death added depth and poignancy to the story. While a few moments could have been more tightly woven, the book’s heart and compelling character arcs more than made up for it.

Great Black Hope is a powerful debut that left me reflecting on its themes long after I turned the final page. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys nuanced, character-driven stories with social commentary. I’d give it a solid 4 stars for its striking prose, layered storytelling, and emotional impact.

This was very disappointing. While the setting was well drawn, the characters were often one dimensional. Unfortunately, I will not be recommending this book to anyone.

Great Black Hope is a debut novel that immerses readers in the contradictions of privilege, race, and self-destruction. The novel follows Smith, a queer Black Stanford graduate, as he grapples with grief, addiction, and the realities of the criminal justice system. Arrested for cocaine possession just weeks after the death of his best friend Elle Smith finds himself in a precarious position. His education and social standing offer him a layer of protection, but his race ensures he is not immune to the consequences.

The novel moves fluidly between spaces—courtrooms, high-society gatherings in Atlanta, anonymous recovery meetings, and exclusive nightlife—painting a portrait of a man both trapped by and complicit in the world he inhabits. The exploration of race and class is particularly compelling, showing how privilege can provide a safety net for some.

Rather than relying on a traditional plot-driven structure, Great Black Hope leans into character, and the slow unraveling of Smith’s internal conflicts. While the mystery surrounding Elle’s death and Smith’s legal troubles provide intrigue, they are secondary to the novel’s deeper questions about identity and belonging.

#GreatBlackHope #RobFranklin #SimonAndSchuster

“Great Black Hope”, a debut novel from writer Rob Franklin, is billed as a sort of crime drama but really it’s character driven literary fiction about a young Black man in NYC grappling with the mysterious death of his best friend Elle and his recent arrest for cocaine possession.

In full transparency, I’m a biased reviewer because I went to high school with Rob! He has always had a big heart and tons of creative energy so I was thrilled when I heard he had a book coming out that is partially set in our hometown of Atlanta. I particularly enjoyed the parts of the book that were set there and gave me a deeper understanding of what it would have been like to live in our community as a young Black man.

I think if you come into this book expecting a fast paced mystery you may be disappointed, so I’d suggest this more for readers who enjoy character studies and literary style writing.

I read an advance copy of this book during Black History Month but it’s actually being released publicly in June and I think it’ll be one of the top reads of the summer for fans of literary fiction!

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel because Franklin’s writing here is truly that of a seasoned author, and this deserves to be a buzzy book this summer. It’s definitely a character-driven story (which in turn makes the narrative suffer a bit at times) following Smith in the aftermath of not only a drug arrest, but his best friend’s death. However, it’s not quite as dark and heavy of a book as the premise makes it sound. I also found it refreshing that although Smith is a gay character, the story doesn’t revolve around his sexuality.

Great Black Hope introduces us to Smith, a Black queer man living a great life in NYC until he is arrested for possession in the Hamptons.

This book explores how similar situations can take different turns depending on your class and race. The author does a great job in keeping you interested in the story even though there’s not much plot.

Really enjoyed my reading experience and will read this author in the future.

this was a good book ! I like how the thrill and twist and turns keep you on the edge of your seat all throughout reading this book. It was entertaining and I liked the way the author described everything!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I really wanted to love this novel but it didn't click all the way for me. There are many themes in this story that I felt could've been great in theory, we deal with classism, racism, drug use, grief, NYC nightlife and social scene. So much was going on but this book only scratched the surface, I don't feel like we really dug deep. The writing style was straightforward and the plot itself was easy to follow along. I think what shines in this book is the main character. Smith is deeply flawed, and infuriating at times, but I still found that I cared about the story and his ending.

This was such a strong debut from Rob Franklin and was engaged with the concept and characters. It was realistic and worked with the description that I was hoping for. I was never bored when reading this and thought it dealt with topics that were needed to. I never felt like this was one dimensional and though the characters and world felt based in reality.

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****