Sometimes I Trip On How Happy We Could Be by Nichole Perkins

 

I bought this collection of essays a little while ago when it went on sale on Kindle. A lot of the reviews were complaining that this book was too sexy-heavy (I know, curse the U.S. market and their prudishly puritanical sensibilities). It's true that sex is a huge focus of this memoir, but it's so much more than that. It's a deconstruction of the stereotypes that Black women face in all facets of their life; it's a coming of age story; it's a #MeToo story, and a story of taking back one's sexual agency and empowerment and learning to love oneself while setting boundaries and not giving a fig for other people's egos.

Some sections of this book were a little cyclical or repetitive but overall, I really liked SOMETIMES I TRIP ON HOW HAPPY WE COULD BE. I think Ms. Perkins's voice comes across as really authentic and she has a lot of really great things to say. She actually reminds me a lot of Grace Victory's memoir (only geared for an adult, rather than a teen, audience.) I read the two books back to back and I recommend you do, too, if you can. The overlaps and the parallels make for some great reinforcement and comparisons.

3.5 out of 5 stars