Review of Kalayla
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Review of Kalayla
Lena Manero Barzetti has spent the latter part of her life living alone in a fourth-floor flat in one of the apartment buildings owned by Manzetti Properties (her family business). After the hand that life has dealt her, Lena's life has become as bare as her apartment, with its white walls and minimal furnishing. Until one day, a young lady named Maureen and her daughter, Kalayla, move in across the hall. Something about Kalayla catches Lena’s attention. She watches Kalayla come and go while her mother works long shifts at a restaurant, and she finds herself being drawn to look after Kalayla and make sure she stays out of trouble. Maureen is trying to overcome her past and make it on her own so that she can be a good mother to Kalayla. Kalayla is independent for her age, sassy, sharp-tongued, lonely, and in need of a support system. Maybe, together, the three ladies can become the family they always wanted.
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is a beautifully written story that explores themes of family, overcoming trauma, racism, loss, and love. I was impressed by how Nicholas managed to write about such heavy subject matter throughout the story in a way that didn’t feel too heavy or hard to read. The tone was hopeful overall. Each chapter is written from the point of view of one of the three main characters. Nicholas did a fantastic job of developing the characters and giving each character a unique voice. I understood the characters' motives and why they made the choices they made. The story was believable, and I was emotionally involved. This story made me cry more than once! Nicholas told a story about overcoming the painful parts of life, the complexities of family, the feelings of loss and trauma that most of us can relate to, and she did it in a way that left me with feelings of hopefulness and appreciation of life.
There is nothing I dislike about this book. I thought it was well written, and it seemed professionally edited. I only noticed one or two minor errors, but nothing that would hinder the reading experience in any way.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written with only a couple of minor errors. The characters are extremely well developed. The subject matter is important. I was invested in the story and rooting for each of the characters. Certain parts of the story brought me to tears, and other parts made me giggle. I have nothing bad to say about this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading stories about complex family dynamics, rebuilding after loss, and finding friends in unlikely places. There are some sensitive subjects in this book. If you are triggered by topics such as abuse or marital abuse, then maybe skip this one. Other than that, I think this book is suited for most adults, especially mothers and women, or anyone who would enjoy a story about strong females.
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Kalayla
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Yes, the open ending seemed to work because of the hopeful tone, I think. Thank you for your comment!
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The hopeful tone made it an enjoyable read, in my opinion. Thank you for your response!