Homebodies

A Novel

De: Tembe Denton-Hurst

Narrado por: Marcella Cox

"[A] sharp, charming and passionate debut."—New York Times Book Review

A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Elle, USA Today, Bustle, Ebony, Harper’s Bazaar, PopSugar, New York Post, The Skimm, and The Millions.

A Best Book of 2023 by Marie Claire, Esquire, Vogue, them, Autostraddle, Betches, Gay Times, and Cosmopolitan.

An insightful, propulsive, and deeply sexy debut novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and pens a searing manifesto about racism in the industry.

Mickey Hayward dreams of writing stories that matter, but, for now, her days are filled with listicles about lip gloss and click-bait articles about celebrity haircare. Still, the job is flashy and her girlfriend is steady and supportive. The path may be long, but Mickey’s well on her way, and it’s far from the messy life she left behind in Maryland. Everything finally seems to be falling into place—until she finds out she’s being replaced.

Distraught and enraged, Mickey fires back with a detailed letter outlining the racism she’s endured as a Black woman in media, certain it will change the world for the better. But when her letter is met with overwhelming silence, even from her usually-encouraging girlfriend, Mickey is sent into a tailspin of self-doubt. Forced to reckon with just how fragile her life is, she flees to the last place she ever dreamed she would run: her hometown.

Back home, Mickey is seduced by the simplicity of her hometown—and the flirtation of a former flame—but she soon learns that you can’t outrun your past. In the newfound quiet, she is forced to reflect on the sacrifices she’d made for an industry that never loved her back and pick up the pieces of the life she thought she’d left behind for good. After all, when the walls of success you’ve carefully built around yourself come crumbling down, what—and who—are you left with?

A meditation on identity, self-worth and the toll of corporate racism, Homebodies is a portrait of modern Black womanhood with a protagonist you won’t soon forget.

©2023 Tembe Denton-Hurst (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Veracity in the Details; Smart First Novel; YUMMY!

This is a new writer for me, recommended by a (much) younger woman and Hollywood writer. I've strayed from novels of late; however, this wonderful first effort from Tembe Denton-Hurst has brought me BACK. This audiobook is fun Summer listen/read. On the surface, it's a story about the professional job woes of a struggling young corporate type, living in the fast lane of the corporate world and strivers, navigating the challenges of a live-in relationship that's fine but barely functional. Beneath the surface, however, there's so much more, as the novel plumbs the complexities of self-actualization while seeking success, self-acceptance, familial challenges, hubris, capitalism, cultural competency, and Loving (and Being Loved) While Lesbian. Oh, and race(!). Ms. Denton-Hurst''s details, unexpected gentle shifts, attention to detail, continuity, and nuance are fantastic. She knows the avenues, roads, and circles of two important American locales: the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC (home to the wealthiest concentration of African-Americans in the country) and NYC (the greatest and fiercest American city) and speaks of their unique qualities seamlessly, much like those of us who traverse these places as residents of the East Coast of the United States. Ms. Denton-Hurst writes much like an existentialist notwithstanding her fresh, topical, fun story of love, self-discovery (and self-denial/delusion!), family, love, and home. It truly captures and offers a glimpse into the lives of the modern American Young and Soon-to-be-Fabulous-But-Struggling-Now crowd. This is an excellent first novel from an INTERESTING new writer. Bonus points also for finding a pitch-perfect narrator in Marcella Cox; her rich voice brings the necessary texture and tones that infuse the story's performance/narration with veracity.

Looking forward to reading more!

I think Mickey's professional experience is relatable to so many BW. The direction of the story took a different turn than what I expected but I still found the journey relatable.

The narrator was engaging although she mispronounced New Carrollton and Bowie, MD!

Great story but left me wanting more

This story had me hooked. It was narrated well but I’m giving four starts for the story because I feel like Mickey never truly sorted herself out. There was no accountability for her actions and the ending left me with more questions than answers. I look forward more stories from this author.

Not Quite

The pieces were there (I enjoyed the themes and landmarks) but certain parts fell short. Where she could’ve went deeper the book was shallow. The last 5 chapters were the most interesting and even then it just ended. I think its more young adult fiction than anything else.

Great story want more!!!

I enjoyed the story, from start to finish, but I feel like I need more closure with Mickey and Lex. I have a some questions that went unanswered. Please tell me there’s gonna be another book.

More Stories Like This Are Needed

I felt seen and heard in this book. I really enjoyed the story and hope to find more like it. This is the first time I've come across a book that had a lesbian BLACK lead character. Our stories need to be told.

In this house we love black queer romance

Important story about racism, and micro-aggressions in the workplace, and finding yourself in hard times.

Better than I expected

I loved this book.I related so much to the main character and trying to find herself when everything seems to fall apart.The writing was brilliant and I can’t recommend this book enough.

Loved it !

This book is so deeply needed. The authentic illustration of Mikki’s coming of age story and queer love was well done !

This novel is incredibly shapeless.

The prose is bearable, but the story has no flaps in which i can bury myself. solid 2/5.