The Best Books That Were from my TBR List
While I might seem like the sort of person who adds books to their TBR and then promptly reads everything but those titles, I do make the effort now and then. So, I thought it was time to circle back and share my thoughts on some of the books I actually did read from my list — and whether they managed to live up to (or surpass) my expectations.
This post is a mix of recommendations and reviews. You’ve probably seen these books mentioned on my blog before — either in my original TBR or in my monthly round-ups, where I talk about the stories that stood out the most. I’ll be sharing my ratings, my overall impressions, and why I think each one is genuinely worth picking up.
Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
After their mother’s death, two estranged siblings uncover a mysterious inheritance: a Caribbean black cake and a voice recording revealing long-buried family secrets. As they listen, they’re forced to confront their past and redefine what family truly means.
I really enjoyed Black Cake. I listened to it on audiobook and found it engaging for the most part, though I do think I would have taken more from the story if I’d read it instead. Without giving too much away, I loved the idea at its core, the possibility of starting over, again and again, despite the odds stacked against you. I also appreciated the quiet romance that runs through the story, even though it isn’t a love story in the traditional sense.
The non-linear storytelling could be a bit tricky to follow at times, especially in audio format, I occasionally lost track of which part of the story we were in. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it and the many layers of identity and history it explored. From the immigrant experience during the British Windrush era to Jamaica’s complex cultural roots, the novel delves into themes of race, belonging, and heritage with remarkable depth. It examines the nuances of Black identity in America, highlighting how Caribbean immigrants, though descendants of slavery, often experience race differently from African Americans. Black Cake offers so many teachable moments, weaving together history and family legacy, into a beautifully told narrative.
The Attic Child by Lola Jaye
A dual-timeline tale follows two children, separated by decades, who are both locked away in the same attic. Their stories of loss, identity, and resilience gradually intertwine, uncovering dark truths about race, history, and forgotten lives.
The Attic Child absolutely devastated me. Stories that delve into the colonial experience of African countries always make my blood boil, and this one was no exception. The story touches on the lives of African children brought to Britain as ‘companions’ for the aristocracy — a practice that was tragically common. The book also offers a chilling glimpse into the atrocities King Leopold inflicted on the Congo.
I’ll be honest: I didn’t care much for Lowra’s story. While I could empathise with her trauma, centring a white woman in such a deeply painful racial narrative didn’t sit right with me. Her chapters often felt too light, almost trivialising the weight of what the book was trying to confront.
Dikembe’s story, however, completely swept me away, raw, moving, and full of depth. I loved the portrayal of pre-Windrush Britain and how it challenged the myth that Black presence in this country began only with that generation. Black people were here long before, living and thriving, and the Windrush era simply marked a turning point. Without giving anything away, I thought the ending was perfect. A beautiful, heart-breaking read — five stars for Dikembe, three for Lowra.
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff
A sweeping four-generation family saga centred on Ryan and Lillian Bright, whose marriage is forged amid art, secrets and addiction, and their daughter Georgette (“Jet”), who must navigate the legacy of their love and pain.
Oh my word — what a story. When I first added this book to my TBR, I stumbled across it on Goodreads; it was a debut novel that hadn’t even been released yet. I picked it up at a time when I wasn’t reading much (especially not from my TBR), and my goodness — what a book .
I love stories about life, and this one spans around sixty years which might seem like a really extensive time period to cover in less than 300 pages but Sarah Damoff handles it all with such poise and grace. I cried reading this book, my heart ached because I simply couldn’t believe what I was taking in. It captures so much of the human experience: love, loss, the quiet strength it takes to survive life’s hardest moments.
The Bright family felt completely real to me. Even the title resonated more deeply after finishing — it really is about The Bright Years, the turbulent nature of life and the contrast between the light and dark seasons of life, when you’re not sure if the brightness will ever return.
I went into this book completely blind, and I’d recommend you do the same. I will say, though, that the writing took a little while to settle into, it felt slightly detached at first, and the supposed “meet-cute” which starts and anchors the story didn’t quite hit home. But as the story unfolded, it was as if Damoff relaxed and began to pour her emotions onto the page. By the end, the writing was raw, moving, and utterly alive.
An honourable mention has to go to Carrie Soto Is Back, which I was originally going to include here — until I remembered I already wrote a full review for it (definitely give that a read!). It’s also one of my favourite picks from my TBR. Taylor Jenkins Reid is an absolute powerhouse, and I loved Daisy Jones & The Six too — I’m now thinking to watch the adaptation so I can do a Book vs Screen comparison. That said, keeping up with TV shows isn’t exactly my strong suit, so we’ll see how that goes!
Anyway, I hope you’ve enjoyed these mini reviews and recommendations. Would love to hear your thoughts if you have read any of these books!
Thanks as always for stopping by, and I’ll see you again on on my next post! As always follow me on GoodReads and Fable to keep up to date with what I’m Reading and Wanting to Read!
Thank you so much for being here!
Signed,
