My favorite thing about this novel was the way it made me laugh aloud just as much as it caused me to tear up and reflect on my people’s history. I appreciated the discussion of lesser known historical figures in Black and LGBTQ+ history such as William Dorsey Swann. The main character, Darnell, was the perfect conduit for exploring the intersectionality of and challenges that come with being both Black and queer. I will never truly understand or live those experiences myself, so I’m always open to learning and hearing from those who do.

Personally, this book was a timely read for Juneteenth as its lead me to reflect on how much my ancestors endured for me to be where I am today. This is something that I can easily take for granted but, since finishing this book, there are moments where I just sit and think about all those who were courageous enough to fight and risk their lives for the freedom of themselves and future generations. As Darnell learned, there is power in sharing our stories with others who look and live like us. Once we make it to freedom ourselves, our stories could be instrumental in helping others make their way to freedom too.

There was a lot of build up in this novel just for it to lead to a whole bunch of nothing. With the way things ended, I just don’t know how this book could be categorized as a psychological thriller. I guess Jewell was going for a happy ending, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel happy for the characters. None of them were particularly likable or interesting. While I was initially drawn to the story and intrigued by the complex family dynamics, I eventually got bored and was tired of hearing about how self-absorbed Adrian was and Maya’s self pity. The plot twists and big reveals fell flat for me and I just kept waiting for there to be more. I was really disappointed in The Third Wife. Usually Jewell’s novels have me on the edge of my seat, but this felt like more of a drag.

The second installment of the Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series was a breath of fresh air compared to the first book. Tabitha got on my nerves a lot less because it was clear that she had grown a lot. I found her to be less shallow and self-centered, and she was a better friend. While she still had an idea of what she wanted her life to look like, this dream was centered on what would make her fulfilled and happy rather than attaining the “perfect” life.

All of this made Tabitha a lot more relatable to me this go around. I loved reading about her natural hair journey, her pregnancy, and the challenges she continued to face in her career despite her recent accomplishments. The descriptions of Tabitha wearing her natural hair were especially important to me in terms of representation because I saw myself in a lot of what Tabitha was experiencing. I could tell I was reading something for black women by another black woman.

The plot twist that came at the beginning of the novel was unexpected and added a layer of complexity, but I didn’t like all the relationship drama that came with it. My biggest bone to pick with this book was how Tabitha continues to follow the same tired relationship patterns despite all the growth she’d made in other areas. Her best friend Alexis did the same thing, and it was so frustrating watching these ladies give too much grace to men! I’m hoping they can stand on their tens and set firmer boundaries in the next book.

I couldn’t conclude this review without acknowledging how much of a gem Ms. Gretchen was. I smiled every time she entered the scene and considered how some of her words of wisdom to Tabitha could apply to my own life. We could all benefit from having a wise, vibrant old woman like Ms. Gretchen in our lives. I adored how she served as a voice of reason for Tabitha without making decisions for her or being judgmental.