Recommended Reading | Rhythm & Muse by India Hill Brown

Rhythm & Muse, by India Hill Brown is described as "Cinderella meets Cyrano" in this pitch-perfect YA rom-com that is a celebration of Black joy, first crushes, and putting your heart on the line for love.

When a daydreamer falls for someone, it happens first in his head. Then, unfolds in a perfectly synchronized rhythm, if timed correctly. The only downside to this proverbial falling, is that the daydreamer may trip and fall with nothing substantial to catch him, if he doesn't wake up from his daydream. That's been the case for me and many other daydreamers I know. And I'm pretty sure Darren, our MC, can attest to this.

Rhythm and Muse by India Hill Brown introduces us to high-school overall good kid, Darren. Darren checks all the good-guy boxes and never colors outsides the lines. He thinks before he speaks or reacts, and often overthinks so much, he misses the opportunity to take action. But the thought of trying on a "love thang" with his crush Dillie D has him stepping outside his comfort zone in ways he wouldn't have imagined before.

Meet Delia, aka Dillie D, according to her podcast listeners. Delia is a free-spirited young woman who knows what she wants and doesn't hold her tongue when it comes to expressing those wants. She hosts a podcasts most teens & college students in the local area tune into each week without fail. But one thing that seems to elude her is that connection from a special someone, since her boyfriend broke her heart last year. Pouring all her time and energy into her podcast proves to be quite the distraction until she has the bright idea to run a contest for her listeners to find the perfect jingle for her show. This contest brings our MC Darren and Delia together in a serendipitous way that I'm gonna spare you the details for, because I need you to go read this for yourself! Will Darren be able to get out of his head long enough to get the girl of his dreams? Will he seize the opportunities laid before him to be recognized for his talent? 👀

I won't overshare here, but I will share one of my "musings" from Rhythm and Muse I wrote in my while reading: Beautiful things can happen when you get out of your head to enjoy the rhythm of the present moment around you every now and again. ❤ This quote personally conveys the message I received from this book, and I am grateful for the reminder.

I rated this one 4 stars only because teenage angst stresses me out sometimes. I think Darren being in his head so much affected his connections tremendously, and it started to wear on me a bit. I wish I could have seen his relationships develop more organically, outside of his thoughts & fantasies. Overall, I enjoyed the read and hope you check it out as well.

Major thanks to Netgalley and Quill Tree Books for the eARC!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

WILL YOU BE READING RHYTHM & MUSE?

WHAT'S THE LAST YOUNG ADULT ROMANCE YOU READ? 

Teenage Dream | A Playlist

The late 90s and early 2000s were an interesting time to be a teenager. Well at least for me, it was. This time, for me, was a culmination of trying on different personas, trying to figure out which one felt more comfortable-- switching hairstyles, accessories, and sometimes even peer groups, trying to find my way. The slightest newfound emotion would take over me in waves. Heartbreaks felt like the end of the world. The ending of friendships were (and still are) more heart-wrenching than break-ups. But finding new friends that shared similar interests and getting into my first choice school seemed to make things infinitely better, for the time back then. Ah, to be young. 

I've been reminiscing on teenage years a lot recently, especially with my daughter graduating high school and entering college this year.  Watching her navigate the high school/college transition, friendships, relationships, developing a school/work balance, and managing newfound emotions had me one part nervous, two parts nostalgic, and one part empathetic, to say the least. And while we are so very different, our glaring similarities show up almost every day, it seems.

In many ways, watching my children grow up reminds me of how much growing up I've done as their mother. I was practically a kid myself, learning how to properly care for them and nurture them the best way I knew how. Seeing them as human beings with their own unique personalities, perspectives, and attitudes towards certain things has taught me to parent them with grace. It wasn't that long ago that I was processing internal battles and braving the world as a misunderstood teen in similar ways. Paying attention to the way in which they define themselves takes me down memory lane quite a bit these days. So much so, that I've started making playlists to create a bit of a timestamp of what my teenage years felt like for me.

If you've been here for a while, you already know how much music colors everything I do. I have a playlist for every vibe, mood, experience, memory, and feeling, no matter how fleeting. Reminiscing on simpler times is no different. So for today's playlist, I'd like to share the musical time machine I hopped into, titled "Teenage Dream."

30" BUSS DOWN | FEATURING WOWANGEL HD LACE WIGS

If you're like me and love a good wig, you'll want to read all about this high-quality, HD Lace Frontal Wig I've been wearing as a protective style lately. While this post is a paid partnership with WOWANGEL Wigs, all thoughts and opinions about the hair + experience are my own. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.

It's no secret that we love a high-quality wig around here. Since growing out my natural tapered cut, I've been wearing braids and wigs to protect my natural hair from the elements. And as much as I love wearing lace front wigs, all of them are not created equally. Some don't have the parting space I need. Others don't have the density to rock the full look I usually go for. And I'm not always able to find a nice, HD lace that melts perfectly around my hairline with minimal effort. However, after rocking high-quality HD Lace Wigs from the likes of WOWANGEL Wigs, I have become hooked! Read below the jump to learn more about my experience with the latest 30-inch Buss Down I've been wearing lately.

Recommended Reading | Sisterhood Heals by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford

Sisterhood Heals, by creator of #TherapyforBlackGirls Joy Harden Bradford, Ph.D, is a beautiful testament to the power of sisterhood and what it means to Black Women. 

Publish Date: June 25, 2023

There is beauty, power, love, joy, and safety in the kinship we share. This book explores the various ways in which this community acts as a safe space and healing balm for us. It also illustrates how sisterhood is a means of survival for us all, as well. Covering topics such as cultivating friendships, finding our "place"  & "holding space" in groups, seeking community, and navigating the life stages of our friendship circles, reading Sisterhood Heals feels like listening to a good girlfriend. It is insightful, relatable, and lists reflections at the end of each chapter that readers can apply to their own lives. 

It would be love if all my sisters and those who love + support us check out Sisterhood Heals. Buy a copy for someone, even. This book is a celebration & poignant reminder that we are out here supporting each other, loving on each other, and making the world go round in the process. It also serves as a toolkit for optimum community within our own respective groups. Sisterhood Heals is an absolute must-read for me! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Books for the eBook! 

Have you read Sisterhood Heals yet?

If not, will you be adding it to your reading list? 

Sunday Nite at Dre's | A Playlist

It's a chill Sunday after dark, and the rain seems to have settled in for the night. The house is quiet, with the exception of my pacing back and forth, setting up the boys' things they need for school tomorrow. Everyone's left to their own devices, which is a plus for me. I can get so much done within the stillness. Sounds from someone's YouTube plays in the distance. Someone else's South Park reruns mutter every now and again in the background. And occasionally, I can hear my dog, Rocko, whimper for attention from his pillow in the center of the living room. It's during these times that I like to put a smooth tune or two on to match my productivity. Sure, I want to get all the things done, as I plan for the week on Sunday nights. But I want something nice and easy to listen to. I love when it's something I can move to, but it has to be something that keeps me vibing and getting things done at a steady pace. Tonight, I chose G-funk, y'all.

Like me and my two sides, G-funk seems like a bit of a dichotomy. On the one hand, you have your hardcore gangsta rap lyrics. On the other, you have this gangsta music laced with your favorite funk tune samples from the 70's. It's a genre I love to wrap myself up in when I want a little something different from my usual jazz and soul Sunday spins. And since I have a playlist or two queued up on my Spotify, I thought I'd share one here tonight with you guys! 

QUEUE THE "Sunday Nite at Dre's" PLAYLIST:  This is for those nights when you wanna vibe to some smooth 70's funk, but the "G" in you wants a little something heavier. Click the image above to open the playlist up in a new window.

  

  

Loving these Spotify playlists? Let me know in the comments if you want more here on the blog. And be sure to give me a follow if you're on Spotify, too. I love making mixtapes and sharing music with my good boos over there.

ARE YOU A G-FUNK FAN?

WHAT ARE YOU VIBING TO TONIGHT?

Five Ways to Read More for Less

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I receive commission if you make a purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. To read more about my disclosure policy, click here.

 

If you've been here for a while, you already know about my love of books. In fact, if you've been here since the beginning, you'll know that I used to maintain a book blog as well. So, knowing that I've been obsessed with books for my entire life will come as no surprise to you. The constant urge to purchase the latest release and the perpetual salivating over pretty book covers has plagued me for years. I'm definitely that reader that daydreams about subplots and colorful characters before I even crack open the hardcover.

I've also spread this love of reading on to my children and they have their own favorites to contend with: comics, graphic novels, manga, young adult fiction, science fiction, poetry, you name it. And with everyone loving to read, the amount we spend on books would get out of hand at times. Over time, I have found ways to remedy breaking our book budget. So, I've decided to share here some affordable ways to read more books if you can relate to any of the above. Also, if reading more is a goal you've created for yourself this year, here are some cost-effective ways to get more reading in!