Thank you to Park Row Books for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Family. Faith. Secrets. Everything in this world comes full circle. When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it means she’ll be living alone with her violent father. The only person who understands the gravity of her situation is Ruby’s best friend, Layla. Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what are his true motives? And what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla comes to discover the murky loyalties and dark secrets tying their families together for three generations. A crucial pilgrimage through the racially divided landscape of Chicago, Saving Ruby King traces the way trauma is passed down through generations and the ways in which communities can come together to create sanctuary. Saving Ruby King is an emotional and revelatory story of race, family secrets, faith and redemption. This is an unforgettable debut novel from an exciting new voice in fiction and a powerful testament that history doesn’t determine the present, and that the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future. First review of an adult book! I’m so excited to expand the content of this blog and move into some new spaces. Saving Ruby King is a timely novel about family, friendship, and the ties that bind a community. Told in multiple perspectives, this emotional story is sure to affect many readers. The characters all have a a history with one another, and their intricate relationships pop off the page. Layla and Ruby’s friendship especially stood out to me as a favorite. They both process Ruby’s abuse by her father in different ways, which ends up affecting their relationship and changes the course of the book. I appreciated Layla’s loyalty, and how she constantly tried to connect and do right by her friend. As a reader coming from YA books, where ride-or-die friendship is common, it’s nice to see a relationship grow as the characters transition from childhood friends to adults with a more nuanced understanding of the world. Ruby and Layla's shared backgrounds and love for each other came across clearly in this novel. Second of all, this novel is partly autobiographical as West grew up on the South Side of Chicago. I loved how she brought the neighborhood and church community to life, and made readers feel like they were an extension of that family. Chapters from neighborhood POVs and that of the church building itself (which has been home to several generations in this story) further enhance this feeling. However, the book also deals with serious topics such as physical and emotional abuse, generational trauma, and death in a raw yet personable way. West’s nimble handling of this gave each character depth and importance, creating well-rounded characters who don’t fall into tropes or one-dimensionality. Humanizing characters who perpetuate harm, such as Ruby’s father, is difficult but added layers to the story. Overall, I give Saving Ruby King 4/5 stars, and recommend it to everyone seeking a thought-provoking, warm, but deep story about the ties that bind.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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