Score: 5/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Harper Audio For gifting me the audiobook of Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson.

I finished this one a few days ago and I’m still processing it. I’ll add more to this review after some time has passed, but I just had to share some preliminary thoughts right away and encourage you to grab your own copy.

The events that take place in this story are an absolute nightmare. And I mean truly, truly horrific. As a parent I think I felt the pain of them even more acutely than I might have otherwise.

But the story itself is masterfully woven and told. I don’t want to give too much away but it will have you on the edge of your seat, dying to know how it ends while simultaneously screaming at the main character to get out, get away, to save herself.

The book opens with a horrific murder scene—blood everywhere—and our leading lady, Enchanted Jones, waking up and having no idea what happened. We then go back to the beginning and watch the whole horror story unfold.

In the author’s note Jackson states that this book is not a true story, but loosely based on pieces of her own life and inspired in-part by a court case. She does specifically call out that it’s not about R. Kelly, but rather, it is about the abuse of power and how grown men never seem to be held accountable for their actions, but young girls are always discounted, not believed, or victim-shamed in these situations. It’s also about corporations covering up horrific crimes if it means the cash keeps rolling in.

Of course, after hearing all of that I had to go look up the whole R. Kelly story. I knew bits and pieces from more recent press, but really hadn’t heard the whole story, in part because I was pretty young when it first came to light, but I was also living in Australia and I doubt it was as big in the news there as I’m sure it was here in the USA. I also had no idea about the rumor that he married Aaliyah (illegally since she was only 15 at the time). I adored her.

Anyway, back to the book. I couldn’t put it down. The characters were wonderfully developed, the emotions real and complex, and the story was fast-paced and gripping.

The audiobook was narrated wonderfully by Joniece Abbott-Pratt and comes in at 8 hours and 18 minutes at 1x speed. She gave Enchanted even more of a voice and really brought her to life for me. I definitely recommend you grab this one. You can get the audiobook via the button below, or click here for a physical copy.

Synopsis:

Korey Fields is dead.

When Enchanted Jones wakes with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night, no one—the police and Korey’s fans included—has more questions than she does. All she really knows is that this isn't how things are supposed to be. Korey was Enchanted’s ticket to stardom.

Before there was a dead body, Enchanted was an aspiring singer, struggling with her tight knit family’s recent move to the suburbs while trying to find her place as the lone Black girl in high school. But then legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots her at an audition. And suddenly her dream of being a professional singer takes flight.

Enchanted is dazzled by Korey’s luxurious life but soon her dream turns into a nightmare. Behind Korey’s charm and star power hides a dark side, one that wants to control her every move, with rage and consequences. Except now he’s dead and the police are at the door. Who killed Korey Fields?

All signs point to Enchanted.