Another thought provoking read from Bennett. She beautifully captures how life, and the choices you have in life, are different based on your skin color- not just in the 1960’s but in present day too. Bennett did a wonderful job addressing what we give up (and what we get) by the choices we make in our life. This book will stick with me for awhile.

Interesting premise, but fell into HBO miniseries tropes. Would only recommend as a paperback purchase in the airport before a long flight.

I related to this book on many levels. I am an African American with a sister who looked very different than me, although we were "Irish twins" born one year apart. African Americans come in many shades of brown including white chocolate. In many homes of color including Latinx, this is a topic discussed often. This is a good story and well told.

HBO and Brit Bennett made a 7 figure deal for the adaptation of the book into limited series.
It is a complex novel that easily could have been 2 or 3 novels, but not complicated to follow.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this book being taught in schools as part of the English curriculum in a few years or so. Bennett is a strong writer, and her book will definitely spark meaningful discussions among students. The story of the Vignes twins is embedded in colorism and race, but Bennet simultaneously comments on other heavy topics such as motherhood, domestic violence, loneliness, identity, and the struggles of being part of the LGBTQ+ community. Aside from this novel being really thought-provoking and important during this time, the story of the twins and their family was captivating from start to finish- the characters were complex and fun to read, and the plot was gripping. I would totally recommend this to anyone and everyone!

A very quick read which kept my interest right from the start. This is a story about the importance of being yourself and the unhappiness that can follow when you're not true to this. Of course, it is not always that simple and that is the underlying current here. The author writes about identical twin sisters who take different paths in life; not always by choice. The subject matter includes societal issues such as race and gender which allows the author to develop the characters and make them believable. I would recommend this book to friends. Another indicator of a decent read is when I place a hold on the author's other novels. Done.

I very highly recommend this book! Not only does it tackle racial and gender identity issues, it is also a unique story about family, relationships, and the consequences of our choices in life.

THE VANISHING HALF is a difficult book for me to rate. It’s an engrossing, ambitious novel that tackles many hot-button topics. Set mostly in the 1960s-1980s America, this generational drama plays out against the backdrop of key events from this period (the Civil Rights Movement, the King/Kennedy Assassinations, and the AIDS Epidemic). It’s easy to see why so many book groups are discussing it. But the more I got into it, I wondered whether author Brit Bennett took on too much (racism, colorism, domestic violence, lynching, transgender issues, class, etc.), leaving little depth. I enjoyed the thoughtful exploration of identity and mother-daughter / sister relationships, especially in the first half when the story focused on identical twins, Desiree and Stella. Though as the plot progressed, it took on a soap opera quality with dramatic reunions and contrived coincidences appealing to some readers, but not me. While I found many interesting quotes in Brit Bennett’s writing (see Quotes), ultimately, for me, THE VANISHING HALF didn't quite live up to its hype.

4 1/2 star. I really enjoyed this book. In Mallard, Louisiana, twin girls live in the town established for light black people. Stella and Desiree Vignes see their father lynched by white men. When they are teens, they disappear from Mallard and reappear in New Orleans. One decides to live her life as a white woman and lives a very different life than her twin, who marries a black man who brutalizes her and she flees with her black daughter. Years later, the two young cousins meet and discover the long kept family secrets. A very interesting and thoughtful book.

Bennett delivers a thought provoking story built upon the act of passing, but touching on issues of family and identity (race, gender, community) in complex and meaningful ways. The tale spans the 1940s through the 80s and is told from a variety of narrative voices, each compelling and nuanced. This really isn't my typical read, but I found the story to be captivating and rich; highly recommended.