whitneydaniell

by: Tracy Brown
published: February 27, 2024
genre: Contemporary, Fiction
320 Pages, E-Book
GoodReads | Amazon

Synopsis

Brooklyn Melody James has finally run out of time. As her life hangs in the balance, she reflects on the twisted path that led her here—one marked by lies, heartbreak, and calculated deception. Raised by parents who used the church as their personal hustle, Brooklyn learned early that survival meant manipulation. She idolized her father’s charm and loathed her mother’s weakness, vowing to forge her own path—no matter the cost.

When desperation strikes, Brooklyn turns her back on her family and flees with nothing but street smarts and fierce determination. In New York City, she quickly finds her footing among hustlers and thieves, using her beauty and cunning to rise through the ranks. Her charm catches the attention of Hassan, a major player in the drug world, and their fiery romance catapults her deeper into the game. Trusted and empowered, Brooklyn gains access to everything—money, power, influence. But with unchecked ambition and a heart hardened by survival, she betrays everyone who helped her, leaving a trail of destruction from D.C. to Maryland.

Bold, ruthless, and unforgettable, Brooklyn James was born in Brooklyn and raised on Staten Island, but she always knew she was destined for more. She wanted the finer things in life—and she’d stop at nothing to get them.

My Final Thoughts

For a good stretch, I honestly felt like this story dragged on way too long. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest in Brooklyn and all her shenanigans—but I stuck it out.

Early on, Brooklyn was giving very much The Coldest Winter Ever vibes, and because of that, it felt familiar—almost like something I’d already read. For what it’s worth, Goodreads has this listed as a “mystery” and “thriller,” but let me be clear: it’s neither. This is African-American urban fiction through and through.

Brooklyn James is the daughter of Reverend Elias James and First Lady Sabrina James. She’s the middle child of three and the one who just can’t seem to toe the line when it comes to their family values or community expectations. At a young age, Brooklyn experiences deep trauma at the hands of someone close to the family. When her mother chooses to sweep it under the rug to protect their image in the church, she unknowingly severs the relationship with her daughter in the process.

Brooklyn, unable to conform or cope, rebels at every turn—starting with dating a 24-year-old man at just 17. Lying, cheating, stealing—nothing is off limits if it means being with him. She throws away every ounce of moral guidance her parents tried to give her, even going as far as becoming a drug mule just to be in his world.

That summer, running drugs and money from Staten Island to Harlem, Brooklyn gets caught up with Stacy, another dealer, and is quickly pulled into her crew. Brooklyn wanted fast money and the flashy lifestyle, but when the lies start catching up with her at home, she makes one catastrophic choice that changes everything—not just for her, but for her entire family.

Like Winter Santiaga, Brooklyn thought she knew it all. She thought she had life figured out before the test was even given. But truth be told, she didn’t know her ass from a hole in the wall. Everything she had, everything she gained, was because someone else was running the show. She was never the boss—just the runner. A follower. And despite all the people who helped her, she never saw the value in loyalty or gratitude.

Accountability? Never heard of her.

After dropping out of high school at 17, Brooklyn is estranged from her family for what I’m guessing is about eight years. In that time, she convinces herself she has no family—that they never wanted her anyway. Naturally, she falls for another man (because of course she does). Hassan is good to her, all things considered. Sure, he’s in the game too, but so is she. Through Stacy, Brooklyn secures steady money and a place to stay—but she can’t get out of her own way. She’s desperate to be adored, envied, praised. And when people can’t give her that validation, she completely unravels.

She betrays Stacy, tries to steal from Hassan, and does the absolute unthinkable to Angel (listen… I would’ve ended up on Snapped if I were Angel). With no money, no friends, and nowhere left to go, she crawls back to Staten Island. Her family wants to believe she’s changed—but she hasn’t. At just the whiff of an inheritance, they realize that Brooklyn James is still the same self-centered, manipulative, reckless, rude 17-year-old she was when she left. She’s just older, not wiser.

For this to be a recently published book, the storytelling and plot were very much giving late ‘90s/early 2000s African American fiction—think Omar Tyree’s Flyy Girl, or as I said earlier, The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. It felt like a throwback, which isn’t a bad thing, but it also didn’t feel new.

I didn’t hate it… but I’ve definitely seen it before.

Also, I was sad to find out this was Tracy Brown’s final book before her passing in 2023. That added some weight and reflection to the experience.