Books like 'What the Fireflies Knew'
Readers who enjoyed What the Fireflies Knew by Kai Harris also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary coming-of-age literary-fiction family poc-mc grief historical-fiction realistic season-summer black-mc
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All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 14 ratings"Contains the following content: drug and alcohol addiction, physical abuse, Islamophobia, mentions of repressed sexual assault, tense exchange with law enforcement, death."--Preliminaries...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family grief historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc realistic abuse -
![Crank Trilogy by Ellen Hopkins]()
Crank Trilogy by Ellen Hopkins
Rated: 4.64 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsThe heart-wrenching bestselling Crank trilogy shows that addiction is never just one person’s problem. Crank Kristina is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. Then she meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild ride turns into a struggle for her mind, her soul—her life. Glass Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal... -
![Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow]()
Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrustrated by a day full of teachers and classmates mispronouncing her beautiful name, a little girl tells her mother she never wants to come back to school. In response, the girl's mother teaches her about the musicality of African, Asian, Black-American, Latinx, and Middle Eastern names on their lyrical walk home through the city... -
![Jabari salta by Gaia Cornwall]()
Jabari salta by Gaia Cornwall
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he's not scared at all. "Looks easy," says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back... -
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![I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley]()
I Love My Hair! by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA modern classic, this whimsical story has been celebrating the beauty of African-American hair for 20 years!In this imaginative, evocative story, a girl named Keyana discovers the beauty and magic of her special hair, encouraging black children to be proud of their heritage and enhancing self-confidence... -
![Ties That Bind by Brenda Jackson]()
Ties That Bind by Brenda Jackson
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt all started in college, in the turbulent sixties, when Randolph and Jenna became lovers. Randolph knew the moment he saw Jenna Haywood that he had to make her his. But the path to love is not an easy one. His wealthy Grandmother Julia disapproves of the match and unbeknowst to him, his brother's seemingly docile fiancee has a few plans of her own that she would like to set in motion... -
![God Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe]()
God Don't Like Ugly by Mary Monroe
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsIn this richly drawn novel set on the streets, porches and in the parlors of 1960s Ohio, Mary Monroe brings to life the bond between two girls from opposite sides of the tracks--and the shattering event that changes their lives forever. At the heart of the story is Annette Goode, a shy, awkward girl who keeps a terrible secret. Mr...Categorized as:
black-mc coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc realistic abuse -
![Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd]()
Bedtime Bonnet by Nancy Redd
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThis joyous and loving celebration of family is the first-ever picture book to highlight Black nighttime hair traditions--and is perfect for every little girl who knows what it's like to lose her bonnet just before bedtime. In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!My brother slips a durag over his locs.Sis swirls her hair in a wrap around her head... -
![Because by Mo Willems]()
Because by Mo Willems
Rated: 4.31 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsMo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture-book debut...Categorized as:
family historical-fiction poc-mc realistic book children children-books contemporary -
![All My Mothers by Joanna Glen]()
All My Mothers by Joanna Glen
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsFrom the author of the Costa shortlisted debut, The Other Half of Augusta Hope, comes the story of one girl’s journey to find her birth mother, and her realisation that mothers – and family – can be discovered in the most unexpected of places…London, 1980s. Though she has a comfortable, privileged life, Eva Martínez-Green is deeply unhappy...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction coming-of-age family fiction contemporary audiobook parenthood -
![Africa's Child (Dancing Soul Trilogy) by Maria Nhambu]()
Africa's Child (Dancing Soul Trilogy) by Maria Nhambu
Rated: 4.28 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFrom the Foreword by Marian Wright Edelman Africa’s Child is an unforgettable and searingly personal book….In the face of repeated obstacles and injustices, Nhambu continued to analyze the world around her with wit and a sharp sense of humor...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction realistic season-summer adult book contemporary drama -
![Official Girl by Charmanie Saquea]()
Official Girl by Charmanie Saquea
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsReneice “Neicey” Peake is a hardworking 18 year old that goes to school and works a 9 to 5. Losing her mother at a young age and never knowing who her father was forced her to be raised by her older brother, Ramone. Ramone did the best he could to keep his sister on the straight and narrow but, when he gets locked up, he leaves his sister to fend for herself... -
![A Part of Me and You: An empowering and incredibly moving novel that will make you laugh and cry by Emma Heatherington]()
A Part of Me and You: An empowering and incredibly moving novel that will make you laugh and cry by Emma Heatherington
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsYou always think you have more time… Juliette always thought she’d have more time. But as her fortieth birthday approaches she is dealt the deadliest of blows – she has just weeks to live. As the terrible news sinks in, Juliette’s only concern is for her fifteen-year-old daughter, Rosie... -
![Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah]()
Calling for a Blanket Dance by Oscar Hokeah
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA moving and deeply engaging debut novel about a young Native American man struggling to find strength in his familial identity, from a stellar new voice in literary fiction...Categorized as:
literary-fiction family poc-mc historical-fiction coming-of-age fiction contemporary indigenous-mc -
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![A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi, Hildegarde Serle]()
A Good Life by Virginie Grimaldi, Hildegarde Serle
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsLaughter, tears, the transformative power of love, unexpected revelations, and striking natural these are the ingredients that combine to make best-selling author Virginie Grimaldi’s English debut the feel-good read of 2024. Grimaldi is among France’s top ten contemporary authors and her uplifting, unputdownable literary novels have quickly garnered her millions of adoring fans...Categorized as:
literary-fiction family season-summer coming-of-age romance fiction contemporary audiobook -
![Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe]()
Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsThe Stephen Curry Underrated Literati Book Club Pick!"[A] powerful novel.... Tragic, hopeful, brimming with love, Wolfe's debut is a remarkable achievement."--New York Times Book ReviewNamed a Best Book of Summer by Good Housekeeping, Chicago Magazine, The St...Categorized as:
historical-fiction coming-of-age literary-fiction season-summer poc-mc realistic family black-mc -
![Prescription for Desire by Candace Shaw]()
Prescription for Desire by Candace Shaw
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSince the death of her husband three years ago, Dr. Raven Arrington has found herself in the same mundane routine. Needing a change of scenery, she escapes to a little town outside of Buenos Aries to temporarily work at a medical facility. Raven didn’t realize what prescription for medicine she needed until she meets Chief of Staff, Dr. Armand Phillips... -
![Awaken Me by Farrah Rochon]()
Awaken Me by Farrah Rochon
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAs the baby of his family, Reid Holmes has happily played the role of the Charming, Irresponsible One. But as his 30th birthday approaches, Reid wonders whether he should be doing more with his life than working as a plumber for Holmes Construction... -
![Chase Me by Farrah Rochon]()
Chase Me by Farrah Rochon
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe Holmes Brothers has always been, by far, my most popular series. I am thrilled to return the my beloved New Orleans and this family of sexy brothers. What was she thinking? The last thing Indina Holmes needs in her life is three days on the open seas with her loving but nosy family... -
![Royal by Tina Martin]()
Royal by Tina Martin
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRoyal St. Claire was drawn to Gemma Jacobsen from the start. It was an instant connection that he’d never had with another woman. When she was on her sickbed, he stayed by her side, helped to nurse her back to health and the two became the best of friends. Then that friendship grew into something deeper. Something Royal, the picky bachelor, couldn’t deny. Something he didn’t want to deny... -
![Her First Palestinian by Saeed Teebi]()
Her First Palestinian by Saeed Teebi
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsElegant, surprising stories about Palestinian immigrants in Canada navigating their identities in circumstances that push them to the emotional brink.Saeed Teebi’s intense, engrossing stories plunge into the lives of characters grappling with their experiences as Palestinian immigrants to Canada...Categorized as:
literary-fiction poc-mc realistic historical-fiction fiction contemporary anthologies poc-author -
![Grown Women by Sarai Johnson]()
Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIn this stunning debut novel, four generations of complex Black women contend with motherhood and daughterhood, generational trauma and the deeply ingrained tensions and wounds that divide them as they redefine happiness and healing for themselves. Erudite Evelyn, her cynical daughter Charlotte, and Charlotte’s optimistic daughter Corinna see the world very differently...Categorized as:
historical-fiction family literary-fiction coming-of-age poc-mc black-mc fiction audiobook -
![Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel]()
Tell Me How to Be by Neel Patel
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsRenu Amin always seemed perfect: doting husband, beautiful house, healthy sons. But as the one-year anniversary of her husband's death approaches, Renu is binge-watching soap operas and simmering with old resentments. She can't stop wondering if, thirty-five years ago, she chose the wrong life...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc realistic adult audiobook -
![Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club by Benjamin Alire Sáenz]()
Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsWinner of the 2013 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction!Benjamin Alire Sáenz's stories reveal how all borders—real, imagined, sexual, human, the line between dark and light, addict and straight—entangle those who live on either side. Take, for instance, the Kentucky Club on Avenida Juárez two blocks south of the Rio Grande. It's a touchstone for each of Sáenz's stories...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc realistic 21st-century anthologies -
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![Kisses Don't Lie by Tamika Newhouse]()
Kisses Don't Lie by Tamika Newhouse
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTheres Dean her first love and then theres Keith Mr. Right Now. Kyla struggles with her desires and her past when she makes a rare trip back home to Fort Worth. After leaving ten years ago Kyla comes to terms with the one who got away; Dean and their short lived romance comes into full swing... -
![A Family Affair - A Free Preview of the First 7 Chapters by ReShonda Tate Billingsley]()
A Family Affair - A Free Preview of the First 7 Chapters by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAward-winning author ReShonda Tate Billingsley, whose bestselling fiction "tackles some of life’s toughest situations" ( The Florida Times-Union ), unravels the secrets in a mother’s past that turn her daughter’s life upside down—by revealing the family she never knew existed... -
![Sing Your Pleasure by A.C. Arthur]()
Sing Your Pleasure by A.C. Arthur
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEnjoy the first two stories of the Love in the Limelight series, where four unstoppable women embark upon a quest in Hollywood to find fame, fortune and ultimately…true loveSTAR OF HIS HEART by BRENDA JACKSONDrop-dead gorgeous Ethan Chambers is Hollywood's most eligible bachelor. And he's just gotten an offer he can't refuse: a starring role on TV's newest hit drama... -
![The Color of Hope by Kim Cash Tate]()
The Color of Hope by Kim Cash Tate
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsHope shines brightest when all seems lost. Stephanie London led a life of comfort and ease in St. Louis before feeling inexplicably drawn back to her father’s roots in the tiny Southern town of Hope Springs. Charlotte Willoughby has lived there all her life and longs to make a new life somewhere else. Stephanie doesn’t know exactly what she’s doing there—or how to occupy her time...Categorized as:
black-mc historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc adult book christian contemporary -
![No Honour by Awais Khan]()
No Honour by Awais Khan
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA young woman defies convention in a small Pakistani village, with devastating results for her and her family. A stunning, immense beautiful novel about courage, family and the meaning of love, when everything seems lost… In sixteen-year-old Abida’s small Pakistani village, there are age-old rules to live by, and her family’s honour to protect... -
![Feeling the Heat by Brenda Jackson]()
Feeling the Heat by Brenda Jackson
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA brand-new Westmoreland novel from New York Times bestselling author Brenda JacksonTheir affair ended long ago. But when Dr. Micah Westmoreland must work with his old flame, the heat between them is undeniable. This time, he'll do whatever it takes to make her his.Plus a Brenda Jackson favorite—the second in the Steele Family series Night Heat... -
![Heartbreak of a Hustler's Wife by Nikki Turner]()
Heartbreak of a Hustler's Wife by Nikki Turner
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLong live the Queen of Hip Hop Lit! Nikki Turner is back with another explosive, page-turning sequel to her #1 bestselling novels A Hustler’s Wife and Forever a Hustler’s Wife. Yarni Taylor is a successful corporate attorney who wants nothing more than for her husband, Des, to renounce his hustlin’ ways and commit to his life as a pastor—especially after someone tries to kill him... -
![Wind in a Box by Terrance Hayes]()
Wind in a Box by Terrance Hayes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe third collection of poetry from the author of Lighthead , winner of the 2010 National Book AwardWatch for the new collection of poetry from Terrance Hayes, American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin , coming in June of 2018Terrance Hayes is an elegant and adventurous writer with disarming humor, grace, tenderness, and brilliant turns of phrase... -
![Imani All Mine by Connie Rose Porter]()
Imani All Mine by Connie Rose Porter
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"With authority and grace" (Essence), Imani All Mine tells the story of Tasha, a fourteen-year-old unwed mother of a baby girl. In her ghettoized world where poverty, racism, and danger are daily struggles, Tasha uses her savvy and humor to uncover the good hidden around her... -
![This Motherless Land by Nikki May]()
This Motherless Land by Nikki May
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsREAD WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAYFrom the acclaimed author of Wahala, a “vibrant” (Charmaine Wilkerson) decolonial retelling of Mansfield Park: Jane Austen meets The Vanishing HalfQuiet Funke is happy in Nigeria. She loves her art teacher mother, her professor father, and even her annoying little brother (most of the time)...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction family coming-of-age poc-mc grief black-mc fiction -
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![The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel]()
The Year of Chasing Dreams by Lurlene McDaniel
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings"Readers will swoon over this story of love despite impossible odds."--Romantic TimesFrom the author of Don't Die, My Love comes this young adult novel that intertwines a family saga with a grand love story. This novel stands alone or can be read as the companion to The Year of Luminous Love and Wishes and Dreams. For fans of Sarah Dessen's The Moon and More and Ann Brashares's Forever in Blue... -
![Honeybees and Distant Thunder by Riku Onda]()
Honeybees and Distant Thunder by Riku Onda
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTender and intense, Honeybees and Distant Thunder is the unflinching story of love, courage and rivalry as three young people come to understand what it means to truly be a friend.In a small coastal town just a stone's throw from Tokyo, a prestigious piano competition is underway...Categorized as:
literary-fiction realistic coming-of-age fiction contemporary 21st-century book adult -
![Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott]()
Jumped In by Patrick Flores-Scott
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSam has the rules of slackerhood down: Don't be late to class. Don't ever look the teacher in the eye. Develop your blank stare. Since his mom left, he has become an expert in the art of slacking, especially since no one at his new school gets his intense passion for the music of the Pacific Northwest—Nirvana, Hole, Sleater-Kinney...Categorized as:
realistic coming-of-age poc-mc family young-adult contemporary high-school friendship -
![Copperhead: A Novel by Alexi Zentner]()
Copperhead: A Novel by Alexi Zentner
Rated: 4.08 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhat do we do when the people we love hold beliefs that are fundamentally incompatible with who we are? All Jessup wants is to enjoy his senior year at Cortaca High and get a scholarship to attend college. It doesn’t seem impossible. He’s a standout varsity football player. A good student. He works at the local movie theater to help his mother make ends meet...Categorized as:
realistic family literary-fiction coming-of-age black-mc poc-mc fiction contemporary -
![Lessons by Ian McEwan]()
Lessons by Ian McEwan
Rated: 4.04 of 5 stars · 24 ratingsWhen the world is still counting the cost of the Second World War and the Iron Curtain has closed, eleven-year-old Roland Baines's life is turned upside down. Two thousand miles from his mother's protective love, stranded at an unusual boarding school, his vulnerability attracts piano teacher Miss Miriam Cornell, leaving scars as well as a memory of love that will never fade...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction family coming-of-age fiction audiobook contemporary book -
![Misophonia by Dana Vowinckel]()
Misophonia by Dana Vowinckel
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsPart coming-of-age tale, part family saga, an extraordinary debut novel set between Berlin, Chicago, and Jerusalem “about being Jewish and German, and all the awkwardness that entails” (The Guardian).It’s the hottest of summers in Chicago, and fifteen-year-old Margarita is spending her vacation as usual, under the not-so-watchful eyes of her aging maternal grandparents... -
![Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins]()
Appropriate by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsEvery estranged member of the Lafayette clan has descended upon the crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of the newly-dead patriarch. As his three adult children sort through a lifetime of hoarded mementos and junk, they collide over clutter, debt, and a contentious family history...Categorized as:
historical-fiction literary-fiction black-mc poc-mc drama fiction male-author contemporary -
![Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer, Karissa Vacker]()
Some Mistakes Were Made by Kristin Dwyer, Karissa Vacker
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 16 ratings"Heartbreaking, painfully romantic, and deeply human." --Stephanie Garber, #1 bestselling author of CaravalFrom bestselling authors to booksellers and librarians, early readers are obsessed with this debut YA romance pitched as Sarah Dessen meets Adam Silvera, told in alternate timelines and perfect for fans of messy, complicated relationships...Categorized as:
coming-of-age family realistic season-summer book contemporary fiction friends-to-lovers -
![The Wide Circumference of Love by Marita Golden]()
The Wide Circumference of Love by Marita Golden
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom an award-winning author, a moving story of acceptance, adaptation, and unconditional love in the face of Alzheimer’s disease.You just can’t plan for this kind of thing.Diane Tate certainly hasn’t. She never expected to slowly lose her talented husband to the debilitating effects of early-onset dementia...Categorized as:
family literary-fiction realistic poc-mc black-mc fiction contemporary mental-illness -
![Loving Donovan by Bernice L. McFadden]()
Loving Donovan by Bernice L. McFadden
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsThe first section of this unconventional love story belongs to Campbell. Despite being born to a broken-hearted mother and a faithless father, Campbell still believes in the power of love...if she can ever find it...Categorized as:
black-mc coming-of-age family historical-fiction literary-fiction poc-mc realistic adult -
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![Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski]()
Eddie's Bastard by William Kowalski
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratings"Eddie's Bastard" is William Amos Mann IV, known as Billy -- the son of a heroic pilot killed in Vietnam and an unknown woman. The last in a line of proud, individualistic Irish-American men, Billy is discovered in a basket at the door of the dilapidated mansion where his bitter, hard-drinking grandfather, Thomas Mann, has exiled himself... -
![Devil Is Fine by John Vercher]()
Devil Is Fine by John Vercher
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsFrom acclaimed novelist John Vercher, a profoundly moving novel of what it means to be a father, a son, a writer, and a biracial American fighting to reconcile the pastReeling from the sudden death of his teenage son, our narrator receives a letter from an he has just inherited a plot of land from his estranged grandfather...Categorized as:
literary-fiction historical-fiction family grief black-mc poc-mc fiction magical-realism -
![Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters by Anita Kushwaha]()
Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters by Anita Kushwaha
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFor readers of Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s "Secret Daughter" and Nancy Richler’s "The Imposter Bride", a breathtaking novel from Anita Kushwaha about the ties that bind mothers and daughters together and the secrets that tear them apartVeena, Mala and Nandini are three very different women with something in common...Categorized as:
literary-fiction realistic family coming-of-age fiction contemporary audiobook psychological -
![Postcards from Summer by Cynthia Platt]()
Postcards from Summer by Cynthia Platt
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThe Notebook meets Love & Gelato in this heart-wrenching novel about a teen girl who travels to her late mother’s majestic summertime home to learn of the romance—and the tragedy—that changed her life forever.Seventeen-year-old Lexi has always wanted to know more about the mother who passed away when she was only a child. But her dad will barely talk about her...Categorized as:
historical-fiction season-summer realistic family coming-of-age romance young-adult contemporary -
![Since I Laid My Burden Down by Brontez Purnell]()
Since I Laid My Burden Down by Brontez Purnell
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsWhiting Award winner Brontez Purnell’s debut novel is an uninhibited portrait of growing up gay in 1980s exploring art and sex with “more layered insight than the page count should allow” (Hanif Abdurraqib, MTV News ). DeShawn lives a high, creative, and promiscuous life in San Francisco... -
![Unbroken Threads by Jennifer Klepper]()
Unbroken Threads by Jennifer Klepper
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJessica Donnelly’s life is beginning to unravel. When the attorney turned stay-at-home mom tentatively volunteers to represent Amina Hamid, a woman seeking asylum, Jessica must learn an unfamiliar area of the law. Soon, rising opposition to Muslim immigration and unexpected prejudices put her relationships on shaky ground...
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