Customer Reviews

Uptown: A Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Uptown by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant takes readers to the new Harlem and it also makes us look at family dynamics and relationships in a fresh, new light. Avery Lyons left Harlem years ago. Since then, she has spent all that time globe-trotting for her job and traveling light. Her mother visits her in lovely places, such as Paris, France and her love life occurs on her own terms. Everything seems good, on the surface, but, a tragedy forces Avery to return home and to open up wounds from a well-buried past.

Dwight Dixon is very successful; however, he has never been able to get from under the thumb of his tyrannical father, the self-named King. King is a walking stereotype of the old-school Harlemite who has done well and always wants things his way. Dwight has never been able to please his father or gain his approval. There is a real estate deal that could make or break the Dixon family's business and Avery Lyons return will determine whether the Dixon Kingdom thrives or fails. The relationship between Avery and the Lyons, especially Dwight, is filled with bad history and she might not be as willing a participant as they would like. The question becomes will she play by their rules or will she upset the whole game?

DeBerry and Grant have written a timely novel that allows readers to become enmeshed in the lives of the main characters. Though, at times, I absolutely knew where the authors were taking me, there were other times when I was in for a surprise and I enjoyed the experience. The story is entertaining and told in a leisurely manner to allow the reader time to get caught up in the dynamics of the story. I recommend Uptown to all readers who enjoy, mature, well-told stories, filled with the culture of a community and what goes on in the lives of its inhabitants.

The novel was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

I would like to start off by saying that I've loved all of the books by these two authors. They are usually very entertaining, the story line is easy to follow & you truly get to know the characters. I was so anxious for this new release but I was truly disappointed. The story was very hard to follow & I constantly skipped paragraphs because there was way too much detail. Normally detail adds to the storyline & helps you to visualize the characters, get to know their background, visualize the location & how it all ties into the storyline. I just didn't find that to be true with this book. The writing doesn't seem like the authors that I'm used to reading...

I have enjoyed many of the books by these co-authors. Their book "Sleeping in the bed you made" is one of my favorite books. I was very disappointed with this book. My head spun as I tried to keep up with the numerous characters introduced in the first "chapter". There were no subtle intros, just more info and no plot. I tried skipping pages, again this book is clumsy.

Avery Lyons left New York twenty years ago after a family inquisition placed her directly in the firing zone. With no one to protect her from the very people she assumed would have her back or at least one person; she walks away only to return when her mom is in a terrible accident. With no choice but to return to New York and face old hurts and family secret Avery tries her best to settle her mother's affairs. While in New York Avery re-connects with her childhood friend Alicia who helps her through the tough times ahead.
Avery's cousin Dwight is one of the wealthiest black men in New York with a thriving real estate empire. He wasn't always in the position that he's in today; he was once the back that Avery needed many years ago. However Dwight forgets about family loyalties and remembers his friends and power. As times passes Dwight is stuck in that night many years ago in the same way that Avery is. The secret that binds them and the parents that manipulated their lives is in fact the very thing that frees them.
Uptown is the story of old hurts, greed, power and family mixed up in the world of real estate. It's the story of a family finding out that being naked is much better than having on a layer of clothing. The characters in Uptown are strong and have a voice that resonates with the reader long after you close the book. As I was reading Uptown I wished the authors had let the characters tell their own story instead of it being narrated. Though I have this wish it didn't take from the story at all, I enjoyed Uptown it was a good adult read.

Missy 4 bookmarks
Reader's Paradise

This is a good look at gentrification and real estate in New York, Harlem to be specific.It is also a sign of the economic times. Who can one trust, if not family. The twists and turns will surprise you It moved slowly at times but is a good read.

D. Williams

Uptown by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant is about the family and the relationships that are involved. Avery is a very successful female that has finally come back home. She has been around the world for her job and has think of her life to be ok. But everything that looks good on the outside is not what it seems to be. Dwight is just like his father King; a very successful man, but could never get the approval of his father. The business is what makes the family who it is and the deal that is in the making now can make or break this family. Will this family get over the get over the bad past that they have or will the Lyon family lose everything that that have and no because they can not forgive and forget.

Favorite Character(s): Avery... She has it all going on for her and on the side she has my dream job.

Least Favorite Character(s): King: He just gets on my nerves... He does not make many appearances in the book but when he does come around he is so stuck on himself.

What did you like about the book? It went in the area where most families do not go. It explored the family in part to money, past hurt/ pain, and relationships.

What did you NOT like about the book? It is such a slow read. This book would have gotten the 50-page rule but I struggled through it.. It does not have the drive to make someone continue it.

Rate the book: 2.0

Did you learn anything from this book? Family is family and will always be that and never less.

Reviewed by Patrice Smith
www.readersinmotionbookclub.ning.com"

These authors have always written great books, have a large following, and get some good marketing, considering...I've always enjoyed their stories, and have purchased all of them so it wasn't a stretch that I'd read Uptown. But as I struggle to even finish the book I have to ask what happened? This book is just boring, and too much is going on with nothing happening at the same time. There are very few books that I don't finish, and luckily I have a Kindle, so maybe I'll go back and finish it one day. Hopefully I'm all wrong and that it just explodes in the ending. I doubt it, but I'll give these authors another chance. Everyone is entitled to one mess up, and Uptown is theirs.

i've read all of their books and this was a disappoinment and a slow read.

Sometimes our expectations of family members exceed their character and the result is disappointment and frustration. Such is the case in "Uptown." Cousins Avery and Dwight are both interested in a piece of property but for very different reasons. Dwight wants to use the property to fulfill his father's dream of building a high-rise development. Avery is ready to sell her portion of the property until she learns unsettling information. The old adage "blood is thicker than water" is undone when finances are put in the equation revealing some disillusionment.

DeBerry and Grant's "Uptown" attests to the necessity to forgive for personal growth, especially when errors and disappointments are not confronted when they occur. It tells what could be an emotionally complex story in a simple, straightforward way. The writing is sometimes lax. However, the storyline holds enough intrigue to keep readers' attention. I would recommend "Uptown" for its timeliness, content and plot development.

Reviewed by: Gail

BFF's for more than 25 years and New York Times bestselling author Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant have graciously brought us another authentic and heart-wrenching novel filled with truth, lies, demons, secrets and family. Uptown, their seventh novel will be available for purchase March 2nd and is sure to be a New York Times bestseller and at the top of many wish lists.

Uptown tells the story of Dwight Dixon, the perfect man for any woman or so she thinks. On first look, Dwight fits the bill. He has an Ivy League education, a beautiful wife and daughter, is a former city councilman and U.S. Congressman and is now making a name for himself in the real estate realm as a power broker and heir of The Dixon Group. What many won't see at first sight is his constant battle to Trump his father's legacy, the self-named King, or his struggle to discontinue living in his father's shadow. Unfortunately, Dwight will do anything to get where he deserves to be, at the top, looking down on the Trumps, the Kennedys and King.

Then there is Dwight's cousin, Ms. Avery Lyons and his former BFF. For those on the outside looking in, Avery appears to have it all together and is living the life. She has no children, no husband and her boyfriend Van plays on her terms. Traveling from continent to continent tending to world peace, Avery also thinks she has it all together but when she returns to New York after 20 years she is forced to face the demons and juggle around with truth, forgiveness and love.

After reading this novel all I can say is, "Ladies (Deberry & Grant) take a bow because you have done it again!" The author never fails to bring "real" issues that "real" people can relate to. They also introduce the world to the "new-Harlem." I appreciate how the author strategically uses Harlem and Manhattan as the setting for Uptown, but unfortunately, they address issues facing so many Americans around the country. Again and again, media outlets cover the stories of so many people that have been hit hard by the recession resulting in foreclosures that force many to bring up the g-word, gentrification. Gentrification usually takes place in downtown and uptown areas in cities throughout the country that were once homes of African Americans and other economically disadvantaged people that can no longer afford to live in their homes. This conversation is continually leading to debates in cities all around the country including Harlem, which is known for its rich African American culture and history that opened doors for authors, musicians and artists.

My favorite character:

My favorite character is Dwight. Yea I know what you are going to think and say after you read this novel, "Why Dwight?" Well I will tell you now. In most cases, I always cheer for the underdog. I like Dwight because like so many of us we are our parent's children. No matter whether we love or hate them we want them to acknowledge and love us and most of all be proud of us. In spite of Dwight wanting to out-do his dad, he wanted his dad's love and acceptance. So no matter what you think of Dwight after you read this novel, he is my favorite character, yep, my guy. I must add, we all have that piece of us that wants to succeed by any means necessary and some of us may even be willing to go to the extremes he did. The only difference between him, you and me is that his transgressions are in black and white for the world to see and ours are hid away in a little box that we hide when company comes. Ha Ha Ha. :)