Never Too Soon by Tamika Christy

Never Too Soon Tamika Christy
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Things are looking up for Anaya Goode after the deaths of her brother and mother. She is the youngest (and highest paid) executive in Alameda County. She is in an adoring relationship with the love of her life, her natural twists are on point, and she runs a six-minute mile. What else matters?

When Anaya is tasked with leading negotiations for the most significant development agreement in County history, her world unravels. If the antics of inept officials and her micromanaging boss aren't enough to drive Anaya mad, she discovers that her ex-boyfriend Jeff is commissioned as a consultant on the development agreement. Anaya hasn't had contact with Jeff since their messy break-up six years ago.

As negotiations for the development agreement intensify, an internal scandal threatens Anaya's reputation—and her job. Amid bureaucratic indecision and public outrage, Anaya leans on Jeff for support, and unresolved feelings resurface.

As Anaya questions her steady relationship, her extended family's perception of her as Goode matriarch puts her in the middle of every aunt's and cousin's problem. She is tired of serving as supplemental income to her scripture-quoting, ever-pregnant sister, and would love to burn the imaginary pedestal her family has perched her on. Can she see her work and family commitments through and still maintain her love life---and more importantly, her sense of self?

Ripe with witty dialogue and relatable characters, Never Too Soon offers a look into complicated relationships and haunting pasts, and shows the importance of the familial ties that bind.

(I neglected to post this on release day, sorry!) A special thanks to the author for the supplied review copy. This is no way has swayed my opinion. All thoughts are my own.

Women’s fiction for black girls.

Never Too Soon is a heavily character-driven novel that dives into the lives of its characters with fervor. It doesn’t spend a lot of time worrying about romance but digs in to give the characters life. 

The story follows Anaya’s life but it gives time to each of her friend's stories, presenting realistic life situations that many readers will relate to. Each woman is walking a different path, but in a lot of ways, their situations are comparable. Their separate journeys will touch different readers in different ways.

I liked the way the character arcs played out across the book, however, towards the very end it felt like the story held on for just a bit too long. There’s no true resolution or aha moment by the end, though the ending is satisfactory and didn’t feel cliff-hanger-y. Though, it feels like there’s more to explore. 

I won’t get into each character, as there are a few of them but I enjoyed each of them to a degree, with partial feelings toward Carl and Sophie. Towards the end of the book, there was a funny in your face scene with Sophie. 

Carl is the dedicated, loving, but oblivious love interest to Anaya. He was everything Anaya should have wanted, but couldn’t appreciate. And if I’m being honest, I still don’t understand her feelings or slight distaste towards her relationship with Carl. I just wonder why can’t the strong, take care of every one type, be happy?

But, I digress. The book is entertaining, and what I’d expect from a woman’s fiction novel. It’s focused on its characters and their ultimate goals. I wasn’t as invested as I would have liked, but I was pleased with the book.

There are a character and a story for every reader, and it’s contemporary enough to feel very current. I won’t be going nuts to get the word out, but it would make a nice addition to the shelves of book lovers, who like authors like Terry  McMillan, etc.

It's not a series I would run for,  but it is one I would pay attention to.