Review of Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson (earc)

 

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

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.

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: September 15th 2020 by Katherine Tegen Books

 

 

 

 

I absolutely love Tiffany Jackson’s books. She’s become an autobuy author.

Grown has some really tough subject matter. There is an content warning (at the beginning of the earc). Warnings for sexual abuse, talk of suicide, rape, assault, addiction, kidnapping, being held/controlled, blood, and relationships with adults and teens.

Enchanted is a seventeen year old girl that loves to swim and has a dream of becoming a singer. She has younger siblings that she has to help watch and that takes time away she could be using. Her parents can’t afford singing lessons. Chanty manipulates her mom into an audition. When she looked, Korey Fields, a famous musician was there. Chanty wasn’t chosen, but Korey chose her. He flirted and complimented her, calling her Bright Eyes. He shows up to perform at her school and sends her texts with romantic songs. Korey Fields is twenty eight. He even gave her family VIP tickets to his concert. After awhile, Chanty shows that she’s interested and he doesn’t even hesitate. He convinces her parents to let her tour with him. During this time, he starts to slowly control her. He drugs her and uses her. Chanty thinks he loves her and excuses his behavior. Then he starts to hit her. Chanty is isolated and kept from her phone. She feels lost and addicted. To drugs, but also to Korey.

In the beginning of the book, Chanty wakes up surrounded by “beet juice” and we know that Korey was murdered. Everything points to Enchanted, but she swears she didn’t do it.

I can’t really say too much more. The pacing is great and Tiffany always writes these stories where things aren’t as they seem. I gave this book 5 stars. Thank you to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for my review copy.

 

 

Have you read Grown?  Is it on your TBR?