No-holds-barred tale of the history - and generational trauma - of an extended family and the titular city that serves as the physical and spiritual setting of this sweeping narrative. Not always an easy read but beautifully written and told, even at its most unflinching,

I read this book amazed by the resilience of Black women as they resist the past shaping their futures. The writing captured the dreams of these women, their struggles and the lengths they'll go to to protect and uplift their families. It definitely made uncomfortable reading at times though, and I struggled with the decision to move a child into the home of their abuser. Regardless, I now want to visit Memphis and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A very gripping family story about three generations of women their love loss and strength . The characters jump off the page . There wasn’t a dull moment in this book .

Nothing I could say about this book would do it justice. It was absolutely stunning, it was gripping and so well written for a start and i went on a rollercoaster of emotions while reading it. The characters are so well developed and I have totally taken them to my heart where they will stay. I loved it and will definitely be wanting more from Tara Stringfellow

What a joyous celebration of Memphis black women this book is .The feeling of love sisterhood friendship and family bonds is immediately very strong as the book jumps into the middle of a family reunion the family seem invincibly beautiful and loving .As the book develops we are introduced to elements that are not quite right within the family and we learn of some horrors they have had to survive and how these episodes strongly test the family bond
I loved the multi generational stories all of women in this established family and the way their joys and sorrows were so skilfully intertwined
There were some elements of predictability in the story line which disappointed me somehow and made me rate the book 4 instead of 5 stars
I loved this book it left me with a warm feeling and a very Deep South steamy hot weather vibe

What a very powerful, well written and developed book. The descriptive, sometimes heart breaking narrative is compelling and sometimes upsetting. It shows the truth behind family relationships and what people need to do to survive. It depicts deep south American whites as biased and with tunnel vision. Loved it.

This was a very compelling book about 5 strong women. I love how the rich history, struggles, and joys of the city of Memphis are weaved into this narrative. Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for a copy of this book for an honest review.

This is glorious.

Rich. Powerful. Will pull you down in one sentence and bring you back up to air with the next.

I inhaled this book and feel like I could read it forever.

It sings straight to your heart.

Brilliant book exploring the struggles and triumphs of a family of strong black women. The narrative moves backwards and forwards and from one generation to the next but I really enjoyed the characterisation, the descriptions Memphis and how the book tackled strong subjects so deftly. An amazing debut by Tara M Stringfellow.

What a debut by Tara M Stringfellow!
I absolutely loved this book about the North family women of Memphis - Hazel, Miriam, August, Joan and Mya.
They are black, they are strong and they are proud.
Stretching over 60 years, they share their stories and we discover how past events shaped their future.
It felt so real - I cried at their pain and smiled at their joy.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This heady, sensual book is a slow burn to begin with, but when faced with writing this good, it's impossible to put it down. Covering similar subject matter and roughly the same time periods as Red at the Bone, Memphis was similarly compelling and I look forward to seeing more novels from Tara M. Stringfellow.

Hazel is nine months pregnant when her beloved husband Myron is lynched, and the neighbours stand guard over the house all night. Almost forty years later, their daughter Miriam returns to Memphis, with her two girls Joan and Mya in tow, to stay with her half-sister August, the best singer and hairdresser in town. August and Miriam have their private sorrows, particularly when it comes to money and August's son Derek, who assaulted Joan when she was three years old. Now a talented artist, obsessed by the beauty of the neighbourhood and its inhabitants, Joan is not in a hurry to forgive Derek, who slides further into a life of crime and gang killings.

This all sounds very serious (and, like Red at the Bone, there's a 9/11 subplot involving the girls' father Jax) but I found it a very life-affirming read, reminiscent of a young Alice Walker or Toni Morrison, and the author's ability to capture the humour and looks of these women, particularly the enigmatic Miss Dawn and the clever, quirky Mya, suggests good things for the future. I'd love to see a movie of Memphis.

Joan. Her sister Mya. Their mother Miriam. Her sister August.

All together in the North family house in Memphis.

The past can't be changed. But the future can....

The women of Memphis are absolutely wonderful. You'll care so much about them it hurts....