Ayana Mathis's second novel, The Unsettled, explores how poor Black people can build community in a white supremacist, capitalist United States that treats them with consistent hostility. The novel presents us with three different communities. It starts when Ava and her eleven-year-old son, Toussaint, find themselves homeless in Philadelphia in 1985 after Ava flees an abusive marriage, and are forced to enter a shelter in Glenn Avenue. The Glenn Avenue shelter functions as a distorted version of actual collective co-operation: it's meant to support mothers and children, but instead polices them, threatening them with eviction if they don't meet its rules. When Ava's ex-lover and Toussaint's father, Cass, re-emerges, he promises them a different kind of life: a former Black Panther, he's founding a commune which will also function as a neighbourhood health clinic and food bank. But Cass, too, is corrupted, happy to seize others' property in the name of the cause, and to enforce his own beliefs on others through brutal punishment. The third community serves as a contrast to these two punitive places: it's a Black-owned town, Bonaparte, in Alabama, which once was a centre of true communal living but is now in decay, with only four elderly residents left, including Dutchess, Ava's mother.

The Unsettled alternates between sections set in Philadelphia and narrated in third-person by Ava, Touissant and a sequence of other characters, and sections set in Bonaparte and narrated in first-person by Dutchess. For me, it was in Bonaparte that this novel was at its most powerful, although roach-infested Glenn Avenue is also vivid. Mathis's poetic prose deliberately recalls Toni Morrison's earlier novels (e.g. the repeated phrase 'quiet as it's kept') as she depicts the history of this once-enslaved Black community and how it continues in the present:

'Bonaparte is how the white people called this place on the banks of the Alabama River... The earth turned on them (told you they was cursed) and sent plagues of insects... First master drowned, washed up covered with leeches. Second master, smallpox. Third, tuberculosis. Fourth master's three sons all died on the same full-moon night. Shiiiit. The spirits don't play. Our mothers neither. Massa so shook up he came down to the cabins... Three weeks later he was dead too. Heartbreak, you reckon. After that there was a lull in masters.'

But the rest of The Unsettled drifts, seeming endless even though it's barely over three hundred pages: I both recognised that it had important things to say while having to admit that I rarely felt engaged with it. I honestly don't know why this didn't work as fiction, at least for me; it feels like it should! The three generations of this family are all complex protagonists, even Toussaint, which is important, as children are often just placeholders in multi-generational stories to express the fears and hopes of adults. Cass abuses power but has also done some good. This should be absorbing! My only reflection is that the sections set outside Bonaparte and Glenn Avenue felt directionless compared to the sharp bite of Mathis's critique of welfare or the mythology of the Black-owned town. They were much less distinctive, and so as the focus shifts towards the outside world after the midpoint, I found this increasingly generic. After the advance praise from Marilynne Robinson and Jesmyn Ward, I'd expected more consistent originality. 3.5 stars.

This may be a case of the wrong book at the wrong time for me, but this one was not able to hold my attention. While the premise is v much my sort of thing, I struggled to truly invested. I might consider picking it up again at a later date and giving it another go, I think the story is definitely worth telling and Mathis has an astute grasp on the topic. Thank you for the arc.

An moving story
A multi-generational novel set in the 1980s in racially and politically turbulent Philadelphia and in the tiny town of Bonaparte, Alabama.
It is about a mother, Ava and her son Toussant who reach rock bottom and end up in a pitiful family shelter.. Toussant is told many stories from his mothers past and in particular his Grandmother Duchess . Ava reunites with Toussants birth father who is a member of a radical commune Ark but that creates further turmoil in their lives
Themes of racial discrimination and segregation, poverty, homelessness and mental illness are all cleverly woven in
It is enlightening yet sad

This is a distressing description of a family descending into a chaotic lifestyle. Through a combination of poor personal choice, abusive relationships and oppressive treatment from the authorities people who could have been decent upstanding folk find themselves marginalised and desperate. A very salutary tale. However, there is an indication that even in difficult circumstances people are resourceful and manage to find ways to cope

It's powerful and intense, a book that makes you think and root for the characters. There's empathy for the characters and there's the sense of danger and violence.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have to admit, I’m finding this book particularly difficult to summarise. It’s one of those books where nothing happens and everything happens. It follows three characters in the main but switches between lots of different viewpoints. It’s a really well written book but it’s not one that I can say I thoroughly enjoyed. So there are lots of contradictions!

The three main characters are Ava, her son Toussaint and her mother, Dutchess. It’s mainly set in 1985 when Ava and Toussaint end up in a family shelter in Philadelphia. It’s a horrible place and Ava vows to get out as soon as possible. But all of her efforts are in vain and she clearly struggles with her mental health. However, when Toussaint’s father, Cass (the love of Ava’s life who seems to have a particular hold over everyone he meets) comes back into the picture, Ava sees her way out. However, it comes at a dangerous cost. Meanwhile, Dutchess is struggling to keep hold of her family home and land in Bonaparte, Alabama and this leads her to reminiscing about her life. She hopes to be able to pass on her home to Ava (if she can hold onto it) but they are largely estranged and Dutchess isn’t even aware of Toussaint. The young boy struggles with all of the changes and setbacks in his life but could his mysterious grandma provide the stability he needs if he can find his way there.

At times I found parts of the plot a little bit difficult to follow but I couldn’t tell exactly how the book was going to end (despite there being a flash forward at the beginning) and that is a positive in my mind. It was an interesting book to read and the themes suggested by other reviewers, particularly of survival, really shine through. I came to care for some of the characters, particularly Toussaint, but didn’t fully understand the behaviour of some of the others. But given their history, I guess some of the characters were bound to behave a little erratically.

Anyway, as I said, due to some of the themes covered, I can’t say I truly enjoyed the book but I still found it an interesting and important read and would recommend it to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a hard book to review in some ways because for me it’s the feelings of the characters that shone through and how it made me feel with many emotions capturing me. It’s the story of Ava and Toussaint mainly with other characters appearing on and off. Many issues are brought to the fore and the author deals with these extremely well. The way the book was written well crafted and I feel the author did a good job at getting the points across without breaking breaking my heart too much although in many ways this was a sad read but uplifting at the same time.
So a good read that I enjoyed and look forward to more from the author.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK,Cornerstone for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book centres around four main characters with others walking in and out of their lives. There is Ava and her son Toussant, her mother Dutchess and Toussant’s birth father Cass. All of them are complex, interesting, well-developed characters and each one of them has a compelling story to tell.

It is one of those books that reveals its end at the beginning: Toussant is on his way to meet his grandmother Dutchess in Alabama, where she lives in what used to be an all-Black-owned town, which has almost been taken over by white developers. Dutchess is one of the last original Black inhabitants and fights for her land to protect her family’s legacy. What happened to set Toussant on his way to his grandmother, is the story we are being told in The Unsettled – a story of destitution, the search for self-determination, survival, hope and hopelessness - essentially investigating the many challenges faced by Black Americans.

Having left a soulless and demeaning family shelter, Toussant and his mum become part of his father’s utopian project and join the Fellowship of Ark, which promises a safe haven and a better future. Over time however, Ava realises that its Manifesto and the many strict rules throttle her and she badly needs to find a way to get out. Cass loves to exercise his charismatic power over others and escaping his grasp becomes the only way to survive. All our hope is pinned on Toussant on his way to his gran Dutchess but we sense already, there is no happily ever after and there will be more trouble ahead.

This book is multi-layered, there are so many themes and facets in its stories that it is admirable how well they hang together and give meaning to its title, The Unsettled. It took me a while to get into it but I am ever so glad I persevered – it drew me in with great power left me wishing for a future for Toussant that is less unsettled.

I am grateful to NetGalley and Hutchinson Heinemann for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Carson has been running her entire life. Leaving an abusive marriage, she finds herself and her ten-year-old son Toussaint living in a horrendous family shelter. A place full of squalor, poverty and illicit happenings.

Determined to get out and better their lives, she makes the move for freedom. She plans to return to her childhood home in Bonaparte, Alabama and reunite with her estranged mother, Duchess. However, when reunited with her child’s biological father, Cass, her focus drifts.

Infatuated, she hesitantly welcomes communal living. She continues to follow the dreams of an increasingly maddening Cass, a former Black Panther, rebel and nefarious con man.

Things go from bad to worse as police interest in the property drives further paranoia.

As Ava falls deeper, Toussaint does too. He begins to lose himself and his childhood innocence amidst the unsettled madness.

An emotionally charged story, The Unsettled is brimming with turmoil. Though the writing is vivid and descriptive, many characters are unlikable.

I particularly disliked Ava. Never truly satisfied, she’s selfish, weak and delusional. Her own needs come before her son too often, damaging him greatly.

Interestingly, it’s told in multiple narratives from the perspective of three generations. Ava and Toussaint in Philadelphia and Duchess in fictional Bonaparte, Alabama. This is a nice touch, giving a thorough background of generational trauma.

A heavy read, the novel explores difficult themes including poverty, racism, abandonment and abuse.

Really enjoyed this book. The book as a whole is different from what I have read before - in a good way! Interesting plot and story is told against different timescales and locations. The book begins with Toussaint who is making his way to his Grandmas. The story takes us through different black generations and lives lived in Bonaparte a remote wilderness in Alabama and also Philadelphia in the 1980s. The book explores relationships between parents and children as well as an almost cult like family Ava and Toussaint find themselves a part of. I really felt for young Toussaint and all he has to deal with in his early life. I will be recommending and looking out for more from this author

Dealing with many themes (homelessness, racism, trauma, just to mention some), the aptly titled novel is a difficult and disturbing read. Memorable multigenerational characters and an indefinite underlying sadness.

I found this book difficult to read and luckily I am not in that position of the characters. Would not say it was Christmas reading.

You had to feel empathy with Toussaint and Ava his mother. The struggle they had seem turbulent, but they were personable all the same.

I cannot say this book thrilled me, but I stayed with it to the end.

Thank you for letting me read this Netgalley.

I found this book a hard read and as such I didn't finish it. Thank you for the ARC all the same but this was not for me. I wish the author well when it's published

A chaotic tale of the unsettled lives of Ava and Toussaint. Lack of means, poor decisions, mental health problems and increasing control and violence at the hands of a cult leader until crisis point is reached.

Not a novel that engaged me due, in no small measure, to the lack of empathy I had with the principal characters with the exception, of course, of Toussaint.

What an emotional read! There were times when I couldn't put this book down but also times when I felt I needed to. It's a truly gripping read but be aware that it covers some heavy themes which doesn’t always make it a pleasant read.

This book is the story of a woman and her young son as they move to escape a bad relationship to live in a shelter for abused women in Philadelphia USA, in the 1980s.
The story flips back and forwards between her past, and her future relationship with an equally abusive partner, who starts a commune of sorts and further restricts her behaviour and lifestyle.
Whilst I felt early sections in the novel were realistic and painted a clear picture of the families who find themselves living in these battered women shelters. Once she has got together with her partner Cass and they moved to his commune. I found the story less realistic and less enjoyable to read about. The relationship between the woman and his son is carefully drawn and feels real, but once Cass supposedly, the father of the young boy is introduced, I found a relationship is less believable.
I got a bit confused particularly in the beginning about which character is narrating, which section .
The author has a clear easily read writing style, and the book was an enjoyable read . The description of extreme poverty in late, 20th century, America is stark and brutally realistic
I read an early copy on NetGalley UK. The book is published on the 4th of April 2024 by Random House UK Cornerstone.

This review will appear on Goodreads, NetGalley, UK. And my book blog Bionicsarahsbooks.Wordpress.com.

I really enjoyed this novel, having gone in wih very few expectations. I'e read multiple novels this year told from the perspective of three generations and it works really well here, focusing on the story of a 10 year old boy called Touissant in 1980s Philadephia, his mother Ava, fleeing the results of her poor romantic choices, and her mother Dutchess, struggling to keep her small rural community alive after the exodus of all the young people. It's gripping, emotive and a very satisying read. Recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Quite a depressing book really. Well written and hard hitting, you do feel like you are immersed in the period and the setting. Apart from Toussaint though, none of the characters were particularly likeable which makes it difficult to feel for them.

Oh is this a heavy book!!

We meet Toussaint and his mother Ava, fleeing a bad situation and just about to move into a women's shelter. Ava is clearly suffering from some kind of mental health difficulty as she has very fragmented and scattered thoughts and largely ignores Toussaint. Toussaint is afraid and just wants to go home. He soon starts skipping school and investigating the city on his own, soon befriending Zeek, a homeless man who lives under the bridge. Soon, Toussaint and his mum bump into Cass, Ava's old sweetheart and the man she believes is Toussaint's father....but what is he planning? And why is he so keen on them moving into 'The Ark'?

In parallel with this story, we get the story of Duchess. She is Toussaint's grandmother, living in the Alabama town of Bonapart. Obsessed with fighting off the invading 'white town', Duchess spends her days patrolling the Bonapart and reminiscing about her life. Lamenting the loss of her husband, and wondering is she will ever see Ava again, Duchess's chapters largely fill in Ava's backstory.

This is a book of heavy themes and heavy content. It was a proper slog to get through it and I almost abandoned it several times but wanted to get to the end in case it got better, sadly it didn't. The title is perfect because every is unsettled and that includes the reader.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Relentlessly devastating.
It may be due to my own personal position at the moment but I couldn’t bear another page of heartache. I’m afraid I put this aside 100 pages in.