The Care And Feeding Of Ravenously Hungry Girls

(Paperback)

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The Mothers meets An American Marriage in this dazzling debut novel about mothers and daughters, identity and family, and how the relationships that sustain you can also be the ones that consume you. The Butler family has had their share of trials-as sisters Althea, Viola, and Lillian can attest-but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives. Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with, and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband, Proctor, are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from being one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. The worst part is, not even her sisters are sure exactly what happened. As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister's teenage daughters. What unfolds is a stunning portrait of the heart and core of an American family in a story that is as gripping as it is important.

Reviews

"The inequities of the justice system, the fortitude of women of color, and the bittersweet struggle to connect are rendered ravishly in this bighearted novel."Oprah Magazine

"Gray's nuanced, lyrical debut is a moving examination of the ties that bind andnearly as oftenbless."People

[An] intimate family saga sure to appeal to fans of Tayari Jones and Celeste Ng.Entertainment Weekly

"Masterful debut...a poetically written story.Delia Owens, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofWhere the Crawdads Sing

I was immediately taken by the power and honesty of Anissa Grays voice. She is a writer to watch, and this debut is not to be missed!
Terry McMillan,New York Timesbestselling author ofI Almost Forgot About YouandWaiting to Exhale

If you enjoyedAn American Marriage, readThe Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls...an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness.TheWashington Post

As in Tayari Joness best-sellingAn American Marriage,Gray uses imprisonment as the backdrop for a disarmingly compelling story that skirts easy answers and sentimentality. Conversational in tone and difficult in subject,Care and Feedingtells not just an American story but several important ones. Vogue

Grays absorbing novel is about family and the things we hunger for.Real Simple

Anissa Grays debut is heralded as The MothersmeetsAn American Marriage. If thats not enough to sell you on this stunning novel about family and relationships, we dont know what will. HelloGiggles

[A] stark, emotional story you don't want to miss.Bustle

A trio of sisters navigate the tricky waters of forgiveness in Grays heartfelt, beautifully written debut...Get an extra copy for your best friend or your own sister; this is one youre going to want to talk about.Joshilyn Jackson,New York TimesandUSA Todaybestselling author

Gray beautifully captures the way strong women can piece a community back together, taking care of their loved ones while still figuring out how to care for themselves.A graceful debut that feels timely and important.Karin Tanabe, author ofThe Gilded Years

This is perfect for fans of Brit BennettsThe Mothers; readers will be deeply affected by this story of a family wrestling to support itself.Publisher's Weekly

Grays engrossing and moving debut novel considers secrets and lies and their effect on the families of three sisters.Booklist

Gray manages a large cast of characters with ease, sharply differentiating between the voices of hardheaded Althea, shrewd Viola, and hesitating Lillian, who narrate the novel in alternating chapters.Kirkus

[A] moving portrait of a troubled family that would be an excellent book club pick.PureWow

Author Bio

Anissa Gray is a senior editor at CNN Worldwide and a contributor to Emmy and duPont-Columbia award-winning coverage of some of the most consequential stories of our time. She began her career at Reuters as a reporter, based in New York, covering business news and international finance. Born in St. Joseph, Michigan, Gray studied English and American literature at New York University. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her wife.