Nookie
by Anieshea Dansby

Reviewed by: Delonya Conyers
Febuary 2009

Eighteen year old Joy Williams has a lot to deal with. Her family relocated to Philly and she's struggling with adjusting to her new high school. But what she misses the most is her boyfriend Joshua. Josh was her foundation and she relied on him heavily to block out her problems at home. Joy's mother, Deborah, is mentally ill and her father, Michael works long hours in an effort to avoid his emotionally imbalanced wife.

After one of her motherís episodes Joy attempts to reach out to Josh back in Brooklyn. But when his phone is answered by another woman Joy is forced to re-evaluate her relationship with Josh. Enters Kevin Jacobs into Joy's life and after being showered with real love and affection Joy finally realizes that Josh never truly loved her. Never being showed affection from either of her parents led Joy to mistake Joshís abusive tendencies for love.

Fearful of losing control over Joy, Josh comes to Philly in an attempt to reclaim her. Joy is caught up in a violent confrontation between both men that eventually leads to death for one and incarceration for the other. The heartache for Joy doesnít end there because her motherís instability eventually leads to the death of both of her parents. Turning Joy into a homeless, high school drop out.

With no one left to turn to how will Joy survive? Will she be forced to use Nookie to get ahead? Author Anieshea Dansby's Nookie explores just how much a naÔve teenager endure before transforming into a cold manipulator.

What did you like about the book?
I enjoyed the author's creativity in conjuring up a fresh storyline in regards to Joyís home life. Instead of the typical drug addicted or poor parents Ms. Dansby went against the norm with her venture into Deborah Williamsí mental illness.

What did you dislike about the book?
The book's main character Joy never experienced any personal growth. With all the dilemmas she faced she never learned from previous situations and continually made bad choices. Making her transformation into her cold-hearted personality totally unbelievable.

What could the author do to improve the book?
In the next installment (Ill Na Na) Joy's character needs to evolve into someone readers will enjoy rooting for. Definitely not the schemer she had turned into by the end of Nookie.

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elaine :

Posted 348 days ago

I would like to say hoorah for the author, I love my urban books but they are very "predicatble" "don't stand a chance" is the core of most of the reads due to our fams being lost in drug dealing,drug using, of killings that more times that not are drug related, it is a great deal of realitiy in all that but there are many fams that are suffering due to untreated, undiagnosed mental illnesses that have caused a horrific breakdown in fams. Job well done!!

meme :

Posted 366 days ago

this seem like it is a good book. well keep up the good work. best of luck!!!

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