Kisha's Airb&b For Shy And Sensitive Black Men is a 5 star novella, hands down! I knew it was going to be good from the title alone - black men, shy & sensitive, paired together. Who would have dared? Because black men are not shy. Black men can not be sensitive. Black men do not need healing. As a society, that's what we are told to believe, but it's the furthest from the truth. In this novella, Owen Sieffre tapped into that, and he took it the extra yard by focusing on one touchy topic in particular - sex.
This book is what a lot of people, both men and women, need. The author made it as realistic and relatable as possible, which makes it easy to connect to from both a male and female's point of view.
This novella is good from the very first page. Tariq is dealing with some issues that have him feeling less than, and he finally works up the courage to admit that said situation is not for him. He will not take it anymore. I loved that he was able to be honest and transparent, hold his ground, and then turn to his long-time friends and be expressive and vulnerable. (Three black men, at a table, just speaking and sharing truths - absolutely loved it!)
I loved the setting of the airbnb - a former plantation house with a long history of women healers dating back to the late 1800s. And Kisha is one of those healers. By the time Tariq leaves the airbnb, he is a "new" man. New, not in the sense of being made over, but new in the sense of finally understanding himself and his worth.
This is a book that would speak to a lot of black men and women. Black men, because they are the main focus of this book - they deserve more, and black women, because we need to be the ones to give them more and understand that men can hurt and be wounded the same way we can.
I can go on forever about this short novella (which is wonderful because it shows the author did his job), but I'd just suggest you read it. You will be left with a lot of thoughts and even a different perspective after reading.
Thank you NetGalley, BuzzBooks, and Owen Sieffre for this wonderful novella!