Title: Songs of Lost Things
Author: Monica McCollough
Genre: Coming of Age
Publisher: The Writing Tree LLC
Publication Date: September 11, 2023
Rating: 💥💥💥💥💥
About the Book
The summer Lavender turned twelve, she was eager to dip her toes into the world of make-out sessions with her school crush and late-night misdeeds with her best friend in their raucous Newark, NJ neighborhood. Instead, her father had other plans…musical plans. He wanted to continue cultivating her gifted melodic mind and nudge her to begin preparing to apply to the local Arts Magnet High School.
Lavender suddenly finds herself cast into an unrecognizable and dispiriting world where she fights to maintain her sense of self, connection to her musical gifts, and footing inside her own family dynamics.
Years later, as a woman in her thirties who never reckoned with how much of herself she’d relinquished in her tumultuous adolescence, Lavender meets a younger man who reminds her of what she’s lost…and what she’s surrendered. Captivated by his charm, yet apprehensive of his interest, she’s upended in unexpected ways. The mental health struggles she’s managed to mildly overcome is ever present as ghosts from her past continuously appear. Love tries to find her as she finds herself.
- Will she reemerge from it all with her full self: stable, whole, and accepting of the love she deserves?
- Or will she fall back into the cycle of old habits and questionable choices that persisted and framed her reality for decades?
If you’re looking for a coming of age story focused on self-acceptance, overcoming trauma, and letting go of the past to move forward to the future, then this is the book for you!
My Thoughts:
This book was beautifully written and heartbreaking. Lavender had to go through so much, and I think It truly stunted her. And unfortunately this happens to a lot of black girls, especially if they are the oldest/only daughter. Many times throughout the story, she had to be older than she really was, and some of her childhood was taken away from her, although it wasn't her fault. I felt like I was going along the journey with Lavender. Many parts of the story made me sad and teary. I could not put this book down. I engulfed it in one day. If you're looking for an emotionally charged read, then this is the book for you
About the Author:
Monica "MG" McCollough is a visual artist and emerging author. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, and a native of Alabama, Monica enjoys steeping much of her fiction writing and artwork in Black southern heritage and its ties to modern culture. As a student of history, she aspires to convey the connecting fibers of the past and the present and how they coexist within the contemporary human condition. Whether in a spirit of rebellion against systems or reflected in the psychological struggles we carry and struggle with daily. “Songs of Lost Things...” is her first novel and will also feature a series of original art pieces to accompany the story and its themes.
Instagram: @moni_shywriter
TikTok: @moni_shywriter
Facebook: @moni.shywriter
Website: www.monicamccollough.com
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