What readers think of This Here Is Love, plus links to write your own review.

A beautiful written story about the enslaved in America in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The book writes about the courage, perseverance and love of people who were treated in inhumane and despicable ways and because of their human capacity to think and to love, they had a will to survive in the hope for something better for themselves and future generations.

As a High School English teacher, I try to get my hands on all genres of books to share with my students, colleagues, and friends. This is one of those books I cannot stop thinking about. The characters are rich and developed with such depth that you feel you have stepped back in time to share their pain. Without giving anything away, I found myself rooting for the unlikeliest of characters. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Wow. Just wow. I am still thinking about this one days after finishing.

Three intertwined stories of slaves, indentured servants, and masters in Virginia in the late 1600s-early 1700s. We travel through the years with the main characters of Bless (slave), David (slave of a freed father), and Jack (white indentured servant turned slave master) who face impossible situations and irreparable decisions.

The characters were honest and true, and the events so very real. And oh boy, the author did not hold back in her depiction of slavery in the U.S. - rightfully so and to all our benefit. Now more than ever, we need to be reminded of the brutality and devastation that laid waste to individuals and families of Black slaves.

This was not a light read;
instead was full of brutal and gut-wrenching storytelling with harsh but so beautiful writing. Each betrayal was met with another character showing deep love and care, even in the face of unfathomable circumstances.

Needless to say, the book was deep and thought-provoking. Through her writing, the author seemed to be asking the reader, what would you do? How would you survive? What lengths would you go to for the people you love?

I struggled with Part I of the book, as the characters had not yet come together and their stories seemed disjointed. Then Part II, the author hit her groove, everything came together and I was completely invested in the rest of the book.

TY BookBrowse for the ARC!

This Here is Love is an incredible novel. If you are a cryer get out a box of tissues. If you anger easily hold on to a stress ball. Ms Perry relates the story of the lives of an enslaved mother and daughter, an enslaved family whose father is free, and an indentured European family. The style of writing is easy reading; comes across as straight forward and matter-of-fact. Since there is no sugar coating some events may shock you.

The sad truth is that in this fictional tale everything that takes place is factual in the history of slavery and indentured servitude. The meaning behind the title is revealed about two thirds into the novel. What the characters in the book did for love was incredible. There was one character in the book that ended up with "skin in the game" that caused him to see what was most important in his life. There were a few times when I was able to smile and one opportunity to laugh out loud, but all in all the book was sobering and should be read by anyone interested in understanding what slavery was really like in America.

I've struggled with how to summarize this book in few words. It's a book filled with heartbreak and suffering. Yet, at its core this is a story of love and of hope, which shines above all the rest. I found myself awed at the author's beautiful writing - the people, the emotion, the landscape and world building. While the people and stores are fiction, we know the heartbreak and injustices told in this book are seeded from a reality not so distant from today. It's a powerful story, one I would encourage everyone to read. Without a doubt a 5 star read.

This Here Is Love brought me to a picture of the enslaved that I had not viewed before. Writing about both slavery and indenture was a very interesting juxtaposition. An outstanding book that I will be thinking about for a long time to come.

This Here Is Love is a story that will linger with you. Many stories tell about slavery, but this book is largely told from the viewpoint of the enslaved. You can feel their pain and watch how different people cope with the experience of loss, abuse, dehumanization, and powerlessness. It is set early in the settlement of the United States and also includes people coming to America as indentured servants. It is inconceivable that people can be persuaded to treat others as less than and with no hesitation to subject them to cruelty. As always, the wealthy and powerful rule the land. History should not be hidden or erased. I will recommend this book to all of my friends.

This Here Is Love is not an easy book to read. The author helps us by giving short chapters and being terse about the violence.

After finishing the novel I had to reflect before writing my review. The book is set in the late 1600's, mainly in Virginia, where I now live. The novel follows an indentured Irish servant, Jack, as well as several slave families and one notable free slave as they survive in the harsh conditions of the day.

The characters and the author's understanding of the human characteristics are what make this novel remarkable. You will not forget David, Bless, Cassie or any of the strong, long suffering characters in this novel.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who is a fan of realistic historical fiction. It is an important reminder of the pain and suffering that built our country. There are many themes for book clubs to discuss.