Jennifer Neal

"You have to feel out different spaces like they've got blood and bone of their own—and make yourself fit into them like a river."

Notes on Her Color by Jennifer Neal was quite an experience. It's one of those books that crawls under your skin and melts into you from the inside out. It's raw, emotional and dark and at times you want to look away because it feels brutal and you feel guilty for being a witness. Neal's writing is captivating. I loved how she wove the art of music into the story because it felt like a way to freedom for the protagonist, Gabrielle. The premise of being able to change skin color based on emotion and the environment was a unique aspect of the story. Neal tackles the heavy topics of colorism, respectability politics, family history, mother-daughter relationships, emotional abuse, misogyny and mental health in very interesting ways.

The speculative aspects really add flavor to an already layered story. At times I didn't know what I was reading because it was weird but it was beautiful. This is definitely a book for readers who love vibes rather than plot and enjoy being taken on a blind journey full of feelings. I'm still thinking about this one and trying to process it all. I can't say much more except this is one you have to experience for yourself.

Thank you to @catapult and @cocoachapters for the gifted copy and opportunity to review this one.… (meer)