I really wanted to like this book. Right from the start the main characters were insufferable. I wanted to quit but convinced myself that it was intentional groundwork for a growth arc. And I do think that was the intent, but the author stopped at 80% to goal.
One character sort of recognized the racism in her community, but never quite owns it or makes any effort to change anything.
One character is so cringe as a white adoptive mother of a black child. Per usual, the adoption narrative is centered on in the parents and the child dealing with layers of trauma is merely an accessory.
One character actually acknowledged the many, many instances of blatant hypocrisy among the “good Christians” in her life, but then just shrugs it off because they’re flawed and she’s a “better” Christian.
Zero discussion of the aftermath of a boy being shot, except to learn that the white boy who shot him got counseling instead of jail time, or the fact that the gun came from his white mom’s purse and not from the black community that everyone was clutching their pearls about sharing schools with.
There was a lot of potential for provoking thought and discussion around some BIG social issues, but it fell flat and nothing had changed at all from page 1 to the end.