Starred review from September 27, 2021
With this stellar debut, de Cadenet thoughtfully explores the complexities of interracial dating and the impact of mental health on relationships. When Black app developer Vanessa Noble walks into white, Algerian-French-American Khalil Sarda’s Detroit barbershop looking for a shape-up, neither is ready for the instant connection or lingering attraction that arises between them. Khalil’s been off his dating game while dealing with mental health issues and doesn’t know if he’s ready to get back out there, while Vanessa’s sworn off dating white guys following a string of misfires with men who performed wokeness but still committed microaggressions and othered her. Despite their doubts, Vanessa and Khalil’s friendship slowly develops into a romance born of mutual desire and clear communication. Their bond is put to the test, however, when Khalil’s depression flares up again and he pushes Vanessa away. If they want to weather the bad times as well as the good, they’ll both have to decide what’s truly important. De Cadenet sensitively tackles some heavy subject matter, which will hit close to home for some readers, but she never loses sight of the romance. Khalil and Vanessa set a high standard for couples with their patience, support, and respect for one another—combined with sizzling chemistry. The result is a thoroughly satisfying love story with a big, beating heart. Agent: Léonicka Valcius, Transatlantic Agency.
May 1, 2022
Khalil Sarda owns a group of trendy Detroit barbershops with his best friend Darius. He has a large, loving family, and friends who share his interests in sports and partying. Vanessa Noble is a tech phenom at the height of her career when the two meet. Khalil is gorgeous, but Vanessa, who is Black, has reservations about dating a white man after having felt fetishized in the past. As things heat up, Khalil starts spiraling into a severe depression. He's going to therapy but stopped taking his antidepressants when things were looking up for him, in business and romance. When he crashes, he pushes everyone away, including Vanessa, who was not aware of his condition. Vanessa, who has her own trust issues, must find a way to get through to Khalil when he is at his most vulnerable and show him he can trust her to help him through his mental health struggle. Jonathan Horvath is a wonderful narrator but this novel would have been more enjoyable with a cast of different voices truer to the varied cultural characters in the book. VERDICT De Cadenet's debut romance is a great listen as a sympathetic, inspiring, encouraging story of how far compassion and patience can go to helping depression.--Laura Brosie
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