First published 2003
Jessica becomes intoxicated by Boy George, a young heroin dealer who has made millions on the streets. Their romance pulls her into a world of dangerous wealth where riches and ruin dance together. Meanwhile, her friend Coco falls in love with Jessica's younger brother Cesar, who stays closer to street level dealing. The DEA and FBI begin investigating Boy George's operation. Cesar goes into hiding as a fugitive. Jessica and Coco face homelessness and betrayal when the men in their lives disappear into the criminal justice system. Prison separates families and lovers. Friends die in street violence. Poverty damages everything it touches. The young women struggle to raise children while their partners serve time. Boys follow the path toward crime while girls become mothers too early. Each generation repeats the same cycle of survival and loss. Jessica and Coco fight to protect their families and maintain hope despite the forces working against them.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, crime, contemporary, social-issues, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, poverty
Setting: New York
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
408 pages · Paperback · Scribner
Content warnings: addiction, drug-use, violence