My Week with Him

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from the beginning, it’s clear that nikki has feelings for mal, but unfortunately he just started dating someone else. I'm not the target audience for a book like this and unfortunately I found some things predictable while others I found a little unbelievable.

The author has taken very real experiences that often breed hopelessness and resentment, and instead of ignoring the reality of that, which she could have for the sake of a cute romance, she used the romantic plot as a vehicle for gaining self-awareness, empathy, and giving the MC a safe-base to touch back whenever she needed a breather. both in past memories and the current story, nikki feels like she’s getting closer to her mom and their relationship is healing, then BOOM, something happens that lets nikki know her mom doesn’t feel the same. Joya is so great at writing authentic friendships and relationships, you’ll even laugh out loud during some scenes. After a painful betrayal by her sister and a heated argument with their mother, Nikki is kicked out of her home.A beautifully written, coming of age YA that explores complex relationships, family drama and the healing power of love— in all its many forms. The author says this is the first book she wrote since becoming a full-time author, I hope that means she'll have quicker turnover, although she stated that wasn't the case for this one. I kept swiping the page (reading on the Netgalley shelf app) to go to the next page and it was like nope, this is it. She was allowed to grow and take steps forward and take steps back, but she never sacrificed her dream, herself, what she knew she needed.

A big part of Mal’s and Nikki’s friendship happens before this story and that sort of already established relationship is always tricky to pull off, but I thought it was done well. Nikki’s mom was super strict and the fact that she changed the locks on her and cut her phone service off is wild! I haven't read books set in Texas before and found it a good setting for a story about a promising singer. After finding this out her best friend, Malachai, tries to convince her to stay and spend the rest of spring break with him.This book handled that topic so well, because I despised Nikki’s mom until they finally had that conversation. I really wish I could perfectly articulate the way Joya Goffney makes me feel with her book but I literally can’t. This was so beautiful - that she could acknowledge that her sister needs to un/learn the same things she does and that when she hurt her it was just an attempt to protect herself. Without spoiling, there were bumps in the road with the way some reveals were done but I can’t complain as everything got addressed and wrapped up nicely. But when Nikki's little sister goes missing their plans are interrupted, and Nikki is forced to face her feelings about both her mum and Mal.

It was such a simple question but the weight it held- it felt like a very pivotal moment for all the characters, it was an acknowledgment that she didn't deserve the abuse, it was the heart-breaking realisation that she still on some level blames herself, but it also felt like an answer - there was no reason, there never is a valid one. Overall, the book is a solid read that explores the impact of neglectful parenting on a person's life.My Week With Him follows Nikki, a young Black girl who, after being thrown out by her mother, decides to flee to California to pursue her music career.