About Truly Madly Royally:
IMHO: Truly Madly Royally
Zora is kicking ass and taking names at a prestigious educational white haven while commuting, do-gooding, and surviving the snobs. One cell phone mishap in a library leads to a confessional with a cutely accented stranger leads to Truly Madly Royally.
"This summer could've gone as I'd planned had I just walked away from Owen to begin with."
Snapshot:
- Quick breezy fun contemp
- Tight and snappy narrative
- Fantastic dialogue
- So adorable!
- Zora is amazing
- Full of black girl magic and black positivity
- Fundraising and community building
- Amazing library and bookstore hang outs
- Understandable mishaps & miscommunications.
- Love the bffs and the additional subplot romance.
- Divorced parents, one being remarried
- Yesssss my studious overachievers.
- Not all the students are awful & they find a place on campus
- I didn't even know there were classes in such things, though it makes total sense.
- It Girl Antagonist. Loved their conversation and interactions at the wedding.
- Happy ending that hits just right.
It's really hard to talk about Zora & Owen as so much revolves around their dynamic and events. But I love their dialogue, it sparks off the page. Owen also plans amazing dates. On one hand, I would like to see more of Owen & Zora time, but on the other, I love how tight and snappy the narrative is.
"Even though I failed the Dope Dress Test, this feels like a win."
Things happen, stuff goes sideways, and it's handled. There's no long drawn out melodrama or unnecessariness. They talk honestly and head-on. Life can be full and exciting and a whirlwind of domino effects without being unpleasant and full of villains.
"It's about joining hands with the families to safeguard children from one of society's greatest ills: apathy. This program models the idea that in the absence of your parents or guardian, your community is your family. You never walk alone."
I love how the community watch and support of fellow black women was included. Yes, media can be invasive and slanted and plain fatphobic trash in Emily's case, but throughout out it all, black women hold it down for each other. I don't care about white royalty or aristocracy, but watching black women support and enjoy Markle's wedding, was a thing of beauty.
"Zora, every day I pray my darkness didn't take away your light."
Zora's mom is remarried and they're a happy family with the step-dad. Her brother's gotten to the other side of rough patch and her father is quite the character. Him and Zora are so alike it's difficult since they use their talents in seemingly opposite ways.
I could see and understand her parents so well. This next bit it'll sound really weird-but I appreciate the included parental headbutting and disagreements. It's refreshing to see adults lovingly rendered with history, and baggage. So many kids deal with this and it's great to see Zora handle it with aplomb.
Perfect for fans of Kaisie West, and Not Now, Not Ever by Lily Anderson.
About the Author:
Giveaway:
Prize: Win (1) of (2) copies of TRULY MADLY ROYALLY by Debbie Rigaud (US Only)
Starts: 24th July 2019
Ends: 7th August 2019
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule:
This review was originally posted on The Layaway Dragon