Daniel Black's Isaac's Song was a good listen, however I felt that the narrative structure unraveled about halfway through the book. I think I would have enjoyed this book better had I read Black's Don't Cry for Me, which tells the story of Isaac's father through a series of letters, before reading this book. (The collection of letters appear in Isaac's Song and change the trajectory of the novel.)

I felt towards the end of the story that the author was trying to tackle a whole lot, and it just felt the novel needed to be longer or some of the subjects needed to be saved to make it more cohesive.

Everything about this book is a yes. I loved watching this character develop and the dynamic between himself and his parents.. as a person who has complicated relationships with their own parents I really felt connected.

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequin_audio for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Daniel Black's "Isaac's Song" is a powerful and moving story that stays with you. It explores the complex grief of losing a parent, especially when that relationship was fraught and unfulfilled. Isaac's journey from childhood to adulthood poignantly portrays his struggle for identity under the weight of a controlling father.

Black's masterful storytelling brings Isaac's experiences to life. Growing up in the '70s and '80s, Isaac, a gay Black man, faced societal pressures and a father who struggled with his true self. While his mother offered support, his father tried to force him into a traditional masculine ideal. Eventually, his father came to appreciate Isaac's artistic talent (a particularly touching scene involves a painting of his father's Arkansas home). The novel beautifully depicts their difficult path to understanding and acceptance.

Through therapy and journaling after his semi-estranged father's death, Isaac unpacks his youth, confronting his identity and their complex relationship. The multi-layered story evokes a range of emotions, from the discovery of his sexuality and confiding in his mother, to witnessing the devastation of AIDS in his community. Isaac's journey is marked by sorrow, yet also by hope and resilience. The narrative, told from Isaac's intimate perspective, feels like a memoir. Its focus on therapy and mental health is commendable, contributing to destigmatization. "Isaac's Song" is a story of healing, forgiveness, and changing perceptions.

JD Jackson's narration is exceptional, capturing the depth and nuance of Isaac's emotions with remarkable skill.

5 stars

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⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is a special coming of age book about Isaac, a black man from Chicago who, after the death of his father, seeks out a therapist to help him cope with the loss of a man from whom he was estranged. In doing so, Isaac goes back through the memories of his childhood in Kansas City to better understand his parents and his identity as a gay boy in the 1970s.

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such a good book and such a sad book. This one tugged at the heart and really made you sit and think about what was happening. The familial trauma and issues that were going on and then the son finally being like, hey this is what I have learned, can you see and understand that. Love this so much. well worth the listen!

Thank you to the author and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listener copy of this book.

4.5

The writing and voice in the book is so beautiful, you forget you are reading fictional characters. The depth of complexity described in Isaac's relationship is heartbreaking and relatable. I'm not sure what else to say besides that this was a beautiful novel and it will leave an impression on you.

Amazing story telling and I love the way it all tied together in the end. The time he spent with the therapist and the reflections on friendships and family were all relatable. Dr. Black is an excellent story teller. This book was beautifully written and timeless.

This book is a follow-up to Daniel Black's "Don't Cry For Me," which is told from the POV of Isaac's father. I've not yet read that book (though I will be soon), but I never felt I was missing anything. In fact, I think it will be interesting to go back and read his father's letters after seeing how everything played out between the pages of this book.

This book begins after Isaac's father's death. Encouraged by his therapist to document his life story, Isaac embarks on a journey of reflection that takes him back to his roots. Through this process, he confronts the weight of generational pain, the expectations his family (in particular his father) placed upon him, and the cultural legacies that both shaped and constrained him.

At its core, this is a story of self-discovery, resilience, and a quest to find where you belong. Isaac is a character who feels heartbreakingly real. He carries the burdens of toxic masculinity, stifled creativity, and the weight of societal expectations of what it means to "be a man" - burdens that many gay men of the era can relate to.

As Isaac graduates and ventures out into the world and encounters other gay men like him, Black weaves Isaac's personal journey with other major events of the time. The AIDS crisis looms large in the narrative, casting a shadow of fear and loss over the gay community. For Isaac, just as he begins to embrace his true self and find a sense of community, the epidemic serves as a brutal reminder of the fragility of joy and the pervasive stigma that queer people endured. Similarly, the Rodney King beating and the subsequent racial tensions further underscore the harsh realities of systemic racism and an added layer of "otherness" that Isaac was made to feel.

For me, one of the most striking elements of the novel was the way it captured the inner emotional life of a queer man navigating an unforgiving world. Isaac's sensitivity, tenderness, and creative spirit are vividly portrayed, making him a character who feels achingly real. His struggle to claim his identity and find his place in a world that often rejects him is both deeply personal and universally relatable. There were moments when Isaac's experiences felt so eerily similar to my own that it was as though Daniel Black had peered into my childhood. I found myself deeply moved by Isaac's journey, often reflecting on how many of his struggles mirrored my own. Yet, while our experiences aligned in many ways, the added layer of Isaac's identity as a Black man highlights the intersectional challenges of racism and homophobia in ways that broadened my perspective. There was a lot to think about between these pages.

At just over 200 pages, this is a compact but potent book that grips readers from start to finish. Despite its brevity, the novel packs an emotional punch. I was so captivated by Isaac's story that I devoured the book in less than four hours, unable to tear myself away from his journey. A lot of this had to do with the fact that I also listened to an ALC of this while reading. JD Jackson is the perfect narrator for the audiobook. He captured all of the voices and emotions perfectly.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted novel that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt out of place in the world, but especially with gay men who grew up in an era marked by fear and rejection. It is a story of pain, resilience, and, ultimately, the transformative power of self-acceptance. If you're looking for a book that will move you, challenge you, and stay with you long after you've turned the last page, then this book is not to be missed.

Isaac’s Song is the best way to follow up Don’t Cry for Me. If you’ve read that, you most certainly must read this one to gain the perspective of Isaac, Jacob’s son. To read’s Isaac’s thoughts and how he navigates his feelings, his identity, and trials he has to go through from a young age to adulthood, including coming to an understanding of his father, it’s will tug at your heartstrings for sure.

I love that each of their thoughts are given in separate books as it captures the true feelings of each separately which I feel gives a deeper meaning and feeling of each story. Brilliant! I can sit and reflect on how both felt. This book allowed me to put it all together to get both sides of feelings and thoughts. It’s as if i knew a small piece of Isaac, but now I Know Isaac and can be in his mind and feel his feelings through his words! My only thing I wished is that I had reread Don’t Cry for me and went right into Isaac’s Song right after! I’m almost inclined to listen to both on audiobook now because I think it would really give a vivid picture and feeling as if they are actually telling me their story’s in person.

I’m rambling.. all i can say is if you’ve read have not read Don’t Cry for Me, do that first and most certainly pick this one up and read it right after. I most certainly had to have a copy for my shelves. Also, I’ve read 3 of Daniel Black’s books now, and they all have been 5⭐️!

I thought this book was really good, very interesting characters and a lot of detail and emotion. I sometimes wished for more depth instead of such a wide span of ideas.

Isaac, a young black gay man looks back at his relationship with his unsupportive and acerbic father. Through his therapeutic writing, the reader learns about Isaac, his parents and how he has been living since their death. His writing and discovery has him go back to his father's home where more of his past is learned.

I started this one at the beach and realized quickly it was the wrong vibe for me at that time, I also thought that the audio mixed with reading would be ideal for this novel so I waiting for the audio accompaniment. I was right, being in the right headspace and having the audio made the book a fantastic read. Experiencing the ways in which Isaac's father shut him out because of who Isaac is was painful to read but ultimately worth it. This is a really important story to read.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the ARC to review

This was an incredibly good read! The story was beautifully written and the characters were flushed out really well! Definitely worth the read!

Isaac’s Song is a beautifully written literary fiction book about a LGBTQ boy growing up in the 80s. It details personel struggles related to finding yourself and struggles related to how the outside world pereives you. There was also family dynamics that come into play in the main characters life. I went into this book blind without knowing what it was about and I enjoyed the audiobook and narrator. The story was heartfelt and tugs at all the feelings. Thank you to the publisher for the free ALC. All opinions are my own.

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I am thoroughly convinced that Dr Daniel Black is connected to the Divine, similar to our main character, Issac. His ability to craft stories like this showcases that power. Isaac’s story invites readers on a journey, encouraging them to open their hearts and minds to profound, lasting truths. The experiences he weaves resonate with us emotionally and leave a significant spiritual impact that changes us forever.

Narrator JD Jackson did an excellent job brining Issac to life. I would listen to anything he narrates.

Absolutely incredible book and story beautifully narrated by the author. The therapy moments are even better in the audio and I love this story SO much!

A LGBTQIAP+ story that I truly loved!!! I’ve had this galley for a minute and I am ashamed to admit it took me this long.

Isaac has learned his father has passed away. Struggling with his feelings, he starts his journey with his therapist. He claims he is happy he died but also struggles with conflicted feelings all around.

We take a dive into his childhood and what his life was like being raised by a tough black father. At an early age he shows signs of his identity that his father couldn’t accept.

This is a very powerful coming-of-age story that felt so real. I absolutely loved Isaac’s therapist and JD Jackson did a phenomenal job with narration!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved it. If you haven’t read dont cry for me i woul read this first before this one. The audio was a great addition. Narration was exceptional.

I flew through the first half. The therapy session setting was my favorite part. I highlighted so much from the early sessions. As that tapered off, I felt myself wanting to pick the book up less, but once I did I was still compelled to read. I think it’s because I didn’t expect his writing experience to become such an integral part of the book. The second half turns from him writing about his life to a fictional story influenced by family history and there were several moments where we’re in a book within a book. I like that setup when I know it’s happening, but when I don’t know ahead of time it can take me out of it. Generally speaking it was done really well and I appreciated how short that portion was so that it didn’t take away from Isaac’s overall story.

This is my second book that I have experienced of Dr. Daniel Black. I loved Don't Cry For Me so as soon as I heard about this book being told from Isaac's point of view, I was in! I tend to gravitate to books with complicated parental relationships. I appreciated that this one involved him dealing with his issues with his father in the setting of therapy. And his therapist? Chiiile, she got me together too at times! I felt like Isaac and I were working through this together. I found myself thinking maybe I've misrepresented some memories of my mother just like he did with his father. I loved seeing Jacob from this POV. The last book had me screaming at him but this one showed him in a more positive light with his wife having a more realistic representation. It made me long for the origins of why my elders are the way they are. Perhaps what I adored most was seeing Isaac finally embrace who he was as a queer, black man in spite of it all. Beautiful!

I was so excited to hear JD Jackson's voice as soon as I pressed play! I know he knew he wouldn't let me down with the narration and he never has! He doesn't miss... EVER!

Rounded up from 4.5 stars

JC Jackson brings Isaac's story to life in Isaac's Song. His depth of emotion while narrating masterfully added to the already beautifully written story. I would highly recommend the audiobook!

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC.