A review by heykellyjensen
The Blackwoods by Brandy Colbert

A slower paced, immersive story of the Blackwood family, a legacy of Black performers in Hollywood. Told through three voices–two contemporary teen cousins and the historical perspective of their recently-deceased great-grandmother–showcases how much and how little has changed in the world of Black celebrity and performance over nearly a century. This story has a little bit of everything, including romance, grief, and explorations of privilege, and it wrestles with big questions about the price and responsibility of fame itself. Both Ardith and Hollis, the two contemporary teens, become victims of the tabloids while grieving the loss of their great-grandmother Blossom and learning the truth of their grandfather's father. It also gives a powerful exploration of substance use and its impact.

Colbert's signature strong writing shines. 

Don't go into this one for juicy stuff. It's a character-driven family story and excels at just that. I'd pair this one with two different books: Kristina Forest's Now That I've Found You and Nic Stone's Chaos Theory.