Review: The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert
Thank you Balzar + Bray for my copy! All thoughts are my own.
I LOVED this book. It was such a surprise! It didn’t read as stereotypical YA (which I love) and i think that people of all ages will enjoy this multigenerational story of a legendary Hollywood family. If you are a fan of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I think you’ll enjoy this book. It is not the same at all, but it explores similar themes of fame and what you’re willing to do for success, while also adding in the difficulties of being a Black person in entertainment in the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Synopsis:
“The Blackwoods. Everyone knows their name.
Blossom Blackwood burst onto the silver screen in 1962, and in the decades that followed, she would become one of the most celebrated actors of our time—and the matriarch of the most famous Black family in Hollywood. To her great-granddaughters, Hollis and Ardith, she has always just been Bebe. And when she passes away, it changes everything.
Hollis Blackwood was never interested in fame. Still, she’s surrounded by it, whether at home with her family or at the prestigious Dupree Academy among Los Angeles’ elite. When private photos of Hollis are leaked in the wake of Blossom’s death, she is thrust into the spotlight she’s long avoided—and finds that trust may be a luxury even she can’t afford.
Ardith Blackwood has always lived in the public eye. A television star since childhood, she was perhaps closer with Blossom than anyone—especially after Ardith’s mother died in a drug overdose. Ever since, she has worked to be everything her family, her church, and the public want her to be. But as a family secret comes to light and the pressures from all sides begin to mount, she wonders what is left beneath the face she shows the world.” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
The Now and Then Timelines—I thought the timelines worked so well and truly enjoyed this book so much. I loved Hollis and Ardith so much. I loved their relationship as cousins but also their individual stories as well.
The Hollywood History—I love the golden age of Hollywood and Broadway so I LOVED that I got to have the perspective of a Black actress and then later, her family. It was so good.
The Writing—Honestly, I totally forgot this book was YA while reading it. It has the Hollywood glamour of books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and celebrity memoirs. I found it so juicy and delicious and didn’t feel dry like historical fiction at all.
What Didn’t Work:
Wanted a Bit More From the “Now” Timelines—I almost wish this was a series and that we could move through history with this family. I felt like we spent more time in the past with Blossom, but as the matriarch, that did make sense. But I wanted more from Hollis and Ardith too!
Character Authenticity: 5/5 Spice Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 5/5
Content Warnings:
loss of a parent, death of a family member, revenge porn