What a fantastic book and a must read for anyone ready to embark on an anti-racism journey.
Easy to read whilst at the same time dealing sensitively with issues of trauma in a way that focuses on self-care and interrogating your own beliefs, feelings and assumptions. A well balanced mix of factual information, storytelling and experience sharing, alongside thoughtful questions and practical advice.
Thank you Nova for this book.

Due to a family passing at the time, I was unable to download this in time before it was archived, and having only returned after several years away due to it severely affecting me, I am now working my way through those reviews I was unable to get to to detail the issue. Thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to working with you in the future.

EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK! After following Nova Reid's work online, I'm SO GLAD there's a book for us to continue our anti-racist journey. Thank you, Nova, and thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

‘I invite you to be courageous and get comfortable with being uncomfortable, because any discomfort you feel is temporary and pales in comparison to what black and brown people often have to experience on a daily basis.
Are you ready?
Let’s get started, we have work to do.’

The Good Ally is more than a book, it's a guided journey for anyone and everyone into the complex subject of fighting social injustice. It isn't a book about how to simply not be racist, but about being actively anti-racist, which is something we all need to learn how to do.

The writing style was easy, straightforward and structured in a helpful way, Nova Reid has nailed a perfect conversational style to her writing that makes even difficult subjects like this easy to follow and understand on a personal level.

Encouraging readers not to only fight against the blatant systemic racism that we can all see, but to reflect inwards and assess our own internal biases and microaggressions we may not even realise. Of course, this can get uncomfortable and painful, as we look at ourselves and realise we may have been harbouring unconscious racism or prejudice against others, or even ourselves.

The beauty of this book is Reids gentle focus on self-care - they acknowledge how painful this kind of reflection can be, and encourage the reader to be kind to themselves, to practice loving and caring for yourself, and to not allow your subconscious and taught behaviour to influence who you are and the choices you make.

A frustrating, painful read but something that should definitely be on your bookshelf regardless.

As a person of colour I applaud this book and its' emphasis on the uncomfortable feelings attached to racism for white people. I have recommended this book to at least three of my friends with a view to them spreading the word.

The Good Ally is a book for those who want to be better allies against racism. Reid recognises that we live in a society where we are surrounded by systemic racism, and so being anti-racist is a constant, and conscious act.

Occasionally the self-help tone gets a little patronising, but I really appreciated the straightforward, practical advice that Reid weaves throughout the book. Sure, we're all pretty good at spotting overt racism, but it's those subtler, though no less sinister kinds, like microagressions and implicit bias, that can often slip under the radar unopposed. Unlearning inherent racism is just as important as actively practising anti-racism.

While The Good Ally is not an easy read (and Reid's repeated reminders to self-care are helpful), it is a rewarding one. I learned a lot, and would recommend this to other readers looking for guidance in how to really practice the anti-racism you preach.