Rated 5 stars ***** ARC. ebook. Roaring Book Press (Holtzbrinck Holdings Ltd.). To be published May 14, 2024.
Blake is getting ready to leave for college in a few months with her best friend Annetta and her girlfriend Ella. When she came out as a Lesbian four years ago her parents barely cared, though her father seemed disappointed. Though he’s Black her White mother never took an interest in Blake’s Blackness, leaving her to figure out how to manage her hair and find Black role models. When she was with Ella and her rich parents in their beautiful home, Blake could forget about her issues and pretend their wonderful life was hers.
Though she and Ella had been together for years Blake felt tremendous feelings of insecurity and doubt that had followed her since middle school. They only went away when she was drinking, so Blake drank a lot. When she was drunk, she became Big Bad Bee, loving how she became the life of the party.
The three of them are all pledging the Serena Society, an exclusive group of powerful women of color. Blake believes having them as role models will be her ticket to belonging. Unfortunately the more pressure she puts on herself to live up to Society standards during the pledging process, the more she drinks. Though others warn her she has a drinking problem, Blake assures them she’s fine. But is she really?
This story of a young woman’s struggles with alcohol, insecurity, doubt, and racial identity is why librarian S.R. Ranganathan once said many years ago “For every book there is a reader.” Thank you Jas Hammond for pouring your soul into “Thirsty”, opening up about your own struggles with alcohol through Blake’s actions. Young readers facing the same difficulties will know there is hope for them too.
Highly recommended for ages 15 and older.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
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