I’ve always appreciated @beyonce's music, but wouldn’t call myself a superfan—which is exactly why Matriarch by @mstinaknowles intrigued me. I knew she played a role in her children’s careers, but I wasn’t prepared to be so blown away by her storytelling. The hurdles Tina and her family faced growing up Black in Galveston, Texas were eye-opening—especially learning that Beyoncé’s grandfather was illiterate due to systemic racism and lack of access to education. What moved me most was Tina’s deep reverence for God, the power of her faith, and the fierce love she poured into everything—from her salon Headliners (which doubled as a space of empowerment) to managing @destinyschild I had no idea how sharp her business instincts were or how often she stood up to racism in the industry—like refusing to let Beyoncé be the only one with her hair in a bun on a Vanity Fair shoot. I loved getting the behind-the-scenes of Destiny’s Child and Tina’s role as a mother figure to so many young women. Her kindness, strength, and creativity shine through every page. That said, the memoir felt about 100 pages too long—and I wished for more openness around things she chose to gloss over, like Jay-Z’s infidelity or the original Destiny’s Child split. Still, Matriarch is a powerful, moving memoir and a tribute to the women who lead families, shape culture, and make their own destiny.

Hands down, this is the best audiobook I've ever listened to. The voice narrators gave skilled, emotional performances. Equally as enjoyable was this novel about looking back on one's life, coming to terms with that with which cannot be changed, and embracing the future's unexpectedness with a hopeful vision. One of my favorites of 2025.

I was hooked from the start but I found that by the 50% mark I wanted the story to accelerate-- it felt a little too drawn out as we learned each characters' story. With that said, Backman offers such tenderhearted insights on humanity and his descriptions, zany at times, always entertain. Anxious People remains my favorite of his!