Elle's Reviews > The Blueprint

Wow. This one is both captivating and thought-provoking. It deserves every one of its five stars. I can always tell when a story really grabbed me when I'm still thinking about it days later.

Set in a near-future United States, the story revolves around Solenne, a young Black woman struggling through a life with no personal agency. The strength of the story is in the structure.
The three timelines provide a multilayered narrative that draws haunting parallels between the lives of Solenne and her ancestor Henriette, both entangled with powerful white men. Reading Solenne's perspective as a teen alongside her perspective as an adult helps you feel for and understand this complex character. The author tackles what it's like being a girl navigating a world that wasn't created for you. Where do you go, who do you trust, and who do you love in a bleak world? The author leaned into the mental side of forced bondage by examining the lengths some men will travel to maintain control of another person. It scared me, pissed me off, and shocked me. I kept reading because I wanted for these women what I wanted for anyone: freedom and choice. I was rooting for these women to win, even in a world where that is nearly impossible. My heart!!

I think I went into it expecting it to be more genre/upmarket, but this is definitely literary. There are no easy answers, and nothing is spelled out for you. It is a beautifully written but heavy story. Some parts were difficult to read, but I love it when authors push boundaries to tell a story.
It is a must-read for anyone who appreciates powerful storytelling and a searing commentary on the human condition. I double-checked because I couldn't believe this was a debut. I'm looking forward to what this author does next.