Homebodies A Novel
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst is a debut novel published by HarperCollins Publishers on July 2, 2024. This 320-page book explores the life of Mickey Hayward, a young Black writer whose aspirations are challenged when she loses her job in media. As she grapples with the fallout from her dismissal, Mickey pens a manifesto addressing the racism she has faced in her career, only to be met with silence. This pivotal moment forces her to confront her identity and the fragility of her life, leading her back to her hometown.
In this narrative, readers will find a deep exploration of themes such as self-worth and the impact of corporate racism. As Mickey navigates her past and the complexities of her relationships, including a rekindled connection with a former flame, she reflects on the sacrifices made for an industry that has not reciprocated her dedication. Homebodies presents a nuanced portrait of modern Black womanhood, inviting readers to consider the intersections of identity and ambition within the context of contemporary challenges.
Official synopsis Publisher
“[A] sharp, charming and passionate debut.” –New York Times Book Review
A Most Anticipated Book of 2023 by Elle, USA Today, Bustle, Ebony, Harper’s Bazaar, PopSugar, New York Post, The Skimm, and The Millions.
A Best Book of 2023 by Marie Claire, Esquire, Vogue, them, Autostraddle, Betches, Gay Times, and Cosmopolitan.
An insightful, propulsive, and deeply sexy debut novel about a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and pens a searing manifesto about racism in the industry.
Mickey Hayward dreams of writing stories that matter, but, for now, her days are filled with listicles about lip gloss and click-bait articles about celebrity haircare. Still, the job is flashy and her girlfriend is steady and supportive. The path may be long, but Mickey’s well on her way, and it’s far from the messy life she left behind in Maryland. Everything finally seems to be falling into place–until she finds out she’s being replaced.
Distraught and enraged, Mickey fires back with a detailed letter outlining the racism she’s endured as a Black woman in media, certain it will change the world for the better. But when her letter is met with overwhelming silence, even from her usually-encouraging girlfriend, Mickey is sent into a tailspin of self-doubt. Forced to reckon with just how fragile her life is, she flees to the last place she ever dreamed she would run: her hometown.
Back home, Mickey is seduced by the simplicity of her hometown–and the flirtation of a former flame–but she soon learns that you can’t outrun your past. In the newfound quiet, she is forced to reflect on the sacrifices she’d made for an industry that never loved her back and pick up the pieces of the life she thought she’d left behind for good. After all, when the walls of success you’ve carefully built around yourself come crumbling down, what–and who–are you left with?
A meditation on identity, self-worth and the toll of corporate racism, Homebodies is a portrait of modern Black womanhood with a protagonist you won’t soon forget.
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