I did something I almost never do when I read a book - I read some of the review about it. Not too many, and not those with a lot of detail. I also heard a lot of friends and fellow bibliophiles talking about it and decided it was time for me to bite the bullet and read it.

I enjoyed the story and the relationship between Holder and Sky. And while I did figure out some of the plot there were still some surprises in there that tugged at my heartstrings. The character that I connected with the most was Holder, although Sky was extremely well written and very believable. And I wish Breckin was in the book more as I think he is a character that has quite a bit of depth and could easily carry a storyline on his own.

I would recommend this book and hope you enjoy it if you pick it up to read.

How do I describe A Good Neighborhood? I have to admit that I felt it started a little slow. White family with wealth moves into a new neighborhood where they have built a large home with a pool...something that isn't seen in this particular neighborhood but Brad Whitman feels that this is the new up and coming location and wants to get in while the price is right. The presence of the Whitman family if met with mixed emotions, but their immediate neighbor Valerie, and her son Xavier, have had an issue with the fact that they have infringed on the large oak tree in the backyard (well, Valerie mostly).

Is this your standard white vs black book? Not necessarily. Valerie was married to a white man and that is Xavier's father. He is dead and his family had bigotry for sure, and some people just didn't seem to care one way or another. So, does Valerie have bias? Maybe. What about the Whitman's? Are they against blacks? The first thing Brad insinuates is that Xavier is a worker for the landscaping, instead of thinking he could be the neighbor. Does that make him a bigot? I'll leave that for you to decide.

The story centers mainly around Juniper and Xavier - the two teens that are drawn to each other, even though Juniper has taken a purity vow, something that makes her mother Julia and step-dad Brad beyond thrilled. One less thing they have to worry about. But, Juniper feels differently when she is around Xavier, and a relationship unfolds.

This is where things take a turn. About show more halfway through the book I was unable to put it down. The lawsuit fuels something that can't be slowed, and the book races to a shocking conclusion...one I didn't see coming.

Overall a good read and one I would tell you to hang in there on. Was it earth shattering? No, just a solid book with a good plot and well rounded characters, and one that tackles racial problems as they still exist today. show less