The Girl at the Back of the Bus

"It was a belittling ballet played to the melody of racism." ~ 2%

Once upon a time (December 1955) in Montgomery, Alabama, a 16-year-old girl named Mattie Banks packs her suitcase and boards a city bus alone. To not disgrace her widowed mother, she heads across town to see a woman about her pregnant condition. On the bus ride, she witnesses an act of bravery by a woman named Rosa Parks. Being at the right place at the right time changes everything.

Fast forward to present-day Atlanta, Georgia, where a 32-year-old black woman named Ashlee Turner returns home to her beloved dying grandmother. Her relationship isn't sanguine, her career is held back by prejudice and her family is a safe haven. Of course she finds and reads a stack of old letters, uncovering a family secret. Ashlee can either protect her loved ones or honor her grandmother's wishes to reveal the truth.

"Exceptional prose and structure." ~ 62%

I wanted to pick a good book to get lost in for the first weekend of 2021. A book that would keep me up reading late into the night. An eBook that I would hurriedly turn the pages on my Kindle. A fresh story of hope, love and survival. The Girl at the Back of the Bus gave me all of this from the first lines to the last paragraph. It is simply amazing and a great introduction to Author Suzette D. Harrison's writing. (This author just came on my radar; I have catching up to do!)

This may very well be the best dollar you spend on a book this year! This new novel is for my Bookhearts that enjoy historical fiction and romance. Add it to your reading list and pre-order now (only $0.99). Be ready to laugh, cry and smile often. I recommend a tall glass of iced sweet tea and a comfortable spot to read in too. You'll be stationary for a while!

Happy Early Pub Day, Suzette D. Harrison! The Girl at the Back of the Bus will be available Monday, February 8.

Disclaimer: An advance copy was received directly from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The Girl at the Back of the Bus
Author: Suzette D. Harrison
Published: February 2021
Pages: 310
Edition: Galley
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤