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Candace Mason navigated adolescence as a full-figured Black teen lacking the light skin and long hair perpetuated as the standard of beauty. Initially shy and insecure, she emerged as a no-nonsense, outspoken young woman focused on her academic pursuits and goals. When her collegiate career was disrupted, Candi had to acclimate to a new normal and adjust her life plan. Despite countless red flags and glaring warning signs, she married Trey—a dissatisfying one-night stand with an affinity for partying. After enduring twenty-eight years in an unhealthy marriage, Candace had to face the harsh reality that she had settled for way less than she deserved.
This novel is a first-person account of the many factors involved in determining one’s sense of self-worth. King portrays a strong, intelligent Black woman who overcame challenges and setbacks to complete her education and fulfill her dream of an engineering career. This strength provides a stark contrast to the insecurity that resulted in the main character inexplicably remaining in a horribly dysfunctional marriage for nearly three decades. However, as the story unfolds, King reveals how each fiber in the tapestry of Candi’s life contributed to her settling. Because she received no positive male attention in high school and did not meet society’s toxic standards of beauty, Candace married the first man who showed an interest in her, thinking she couldn’t do any better. Traumatic, formative years witnessing her alcoholic father’s physical violence against her mother led to the acceptance of her own husband’s alcoholism and abusive treatment of their children. The author also explores the role that religion and the need to keep up appearances play in encouraging women to remain in unhealthy relationships. King delivers an insightful and profound look at life and love from a Black woman’s perspective, leaving readers with an uplifting message of hope.