Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
Book Review
Genre & Modality
Literary Romance
eBook
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Four generations of complex Black women contend with motherhood and daughterhood, generational trauma, and the deeply ingrained tensions and wounds that divide them as they redefine happiness and healing for themselves.
My Rating & Review
Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
Equal parts heartbreaking, reflective, and cautiously hopeful, Grown Women by Sarai Johnson explores the complicated relationships of mothers and daughters across 4 generations. Generational trauma is the main theme of the book, and you can see how the actions of the previous generation, including the limits placed on Black women, create harm in different ways for the next generation. Evelyn, Charlotte, Corinna, and Camille all struggle to become fully themselves, and this causes fractures that are not fully resolved when the novel ends. As they each try to move forward, they grapple with forgiveness, loss, and unmet expectations. This book will make you reflect on your relationship with your mother and potentially push you to consider her as a full person outside of your relationship.
Read This Next If You
enjoy complex character-driven narratives
are interested in exploring themes of generational trauma and healing
seek stories that grapple with family dynamics and reconciliation
are interested in stories that explore themes of identity and belonging
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