First published 2013
Betty Jean already juggles enough chaos. Her husband lies sick at home while she delivers room service at a hotel. Her adult children create endless drama. Two sharp-tongued sisters offer unwanted opinions about everything. Then her daughter Trinetta drops off two young grandsons and disappears without explanation. BJ never planned to raise children again at this stage of life. Her son Dexter will soon leave prison and need support. Her successful son Quentin refuses to help with family problems. The two energetic boys turn her structured world upside down. McMillan tells this story through multiple voices as each family member faces their own struggles. BJ must decide whether to follow her long-delayed dreams or sacrifice them again for family duty. The novel explores how families survive when people make selfish choices and leave others to clean up the mess.
Genres: fiction, african-american, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, sacrifice
383 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Publishing