Nappily Ever After

Nappily Ever After is the debut novel of Author Trisha R. Thomas. Thomas tells the compelling and endearing story of a woman, Venus Johnston, who is struggling to define herself by her own standards.Nappily Ever After opens with Venus in a hair salon getting her mane cut to a close cropped natural style. While sitting in the stylist's chair, Venus reflects back on her lifelong struggle with her hair. Cutting her hair is the beginning of Venus' quest for self-defintion. After shedding her hair, Venus is forced to face herself without the frills that she has become accustomed to hiding behind. She learns the true meaning of beauty in the process.Dealing with her new hairstyle is only one of Venus' problems. Readers also meet an engaging cast of characters including Clint, her former live-in boyfriend and Kandi, the new woman in Clint's life. Clint begins a relationship with Kandi on the rebound from his split with Venus. Kandi openly accepts Clint in her life, but has a few skeletons in her closet as well.Nappily Ever After deals with the issue of self perception and how it influences one's interactions with others. It also gives the reader a view of what can happen when one is truly happy with oneself.

I have to agree with everyone who've reviewed this book thus far, it's a great story. What distinguishes this author's first novel from others is the fact that it's a refreshing look at the male/female relationships that is a step above the other novels that are saturating the market. This means is not only about two people but a group whose loves are carefully intertwined. It's about their emotions and passions and about getting to know themselves and what they want out of life. After I finished, I too took a look at myself in the mirror and decided that I needed to reconsider different aspects in my life. I have to start with myself first then everything else will fall into place. Of course we should all do this, but how many of us practice it?

It is so good to see the vast African American talent that we have among us. Trisha Thomas has written a novel that a lot of us don't really tackle about. Our hair. She takes a real brave sister, Venus Johnston, who cuts off her hair, sends her boyfriend out of her life, and then embarks on one of her own. It is not all happy stuff here. Most of the folks she encounter are either trying to put her down,stalking her with crazy notes, and just plain being simple. Combined with the pressures of the corporate world and how she handles that, has the makings of a great debut novel. I feel the author wants to let us know that we are unique in our own way and don't need no one else to validate or tell us who we are. Brava!! or You go Girl!!!