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Isaac's Song
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9 days and 00:42:48
10 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
The beloved author of Don’t Cry for Me and Perfect Peace returns with a poignant, emotionally exuberant novel about a young queer Black man finding his voice in 1980s Chicago—a novel of family, forgiveness and perseverance, for fans of The Great Believers and On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous Isaac is at a crossroads in his young life. Growing up in Missouri, the son of a caustic, hard-driving father, he was conditioned to suppress his artistic pursuits and physical desires, notions that didn’t align with a traditional view of masculinity. But now, in late ’80s Chicago, Isaac has finally carved out a life of his own. He is sensitive and tenderhearted and has built up the courage to seek out a community. Yet just as he begins to embrace who he is, two social catalysts—the AIDS crisis and Rodney King’s attack—collectively extinguish his hard-earned joy. At a therapist’s encouragement, Isaac begins to write down his story. In the process, he taps into a creative energy that will send him on a journey back to his family, his ancestral home in Arkansas and the inherited trauma of the nation’s dark past. But a surprise discovery will either unlock the truths he’s seeking or threaten to derail the life he’s fought so hard to claim. Poignant, sweeping and luminously told, Isaac's Song is a return to the beloved characters of Don’t Cry for Me and a high-water mark in the career of an award-winning author.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 14, 2025
About the author
Daniel Black
11 books1,095 followersDaniel Black is a native of Kansas City, Kansas, yet spent the majority of his childhood years in Blackwell, Arkansas. He is an associate professor at his alma mater, Clark Atlanta University, where he now aims to provide an example to young Americans of the importance of self-knowledge and communal commitment. He is the author of "They Tell Me of a Home" and "The Sacred Place".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
January 3, 2025
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
I want Isaac’s therapist! I highlighted so many of her observations! Isaac’s Song is a beautifully written story, that almost reads like a biography.
The first pages took my breath away. The story starts when Isaac’s father dies and Isaac cries to his surprise. Weeks later, he visits a therapist because he loses weight and hardly sleeps. Isaac’s meetings with his therapist are the bones of this book and with her he goes back to his childhood and how he perceived his parents, his Blackness, and his sexuality.
”Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.”
This story digs deep. It’s about love and what we feel and what we think happened. Isaac’s relationship with his dad was always difficult. But while he rethinks what happened, he finds out he might have judged his father too harshly. And might put his mother on a pedestal she didn’t always deserve.
”Some of the truths you discover, Isaac, are going to conflict with what you feel in your heart. Still, don’t back away from them. This is what you’re looking for. It comes to make us reconsider what we think we know.”
I flew through the pages and through Isaac’s life. His childhood, his time at university, when he started working and still didn’t feel comfortable as a Black gay man.
”You become an agent of your own existence the minute you stop blaming others for what they did to you. Those who hurt us cannot heal us. That’s our job.”
When I read his father’s letter, tears leaped into my eyes. The love that shone through those sentences. The fact that his father tried, even though he called his son a sissy and girly. I really need to read Daniel Black’s Don’t Cry for Me. I think it will make me bawl my eyes out.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this beautiful ARC!
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I want Isaac’s therapist! I highlighted so many of her observations! Isaac’s Song is a beautifully written story, that almost reads like a biography.
The first pages took my breath away. The story starts when Isaac’s father dies and Isaac cries to his surprise. Weeks later, he visits a therapist because he loses weight and hardly sleeps. Isaac’s meetings with his therapist are the bones of this book and with her he goes back to his childhood and how he perceived his parents, his Blackness, and his sexuality.
”Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.”
This story digs deep. It’s about love and what we feel and what we think happened. Isaac’s relationship with his dad was always difficult. But while he rethinks what happened, he finds out he might have judged his father too harshly. And might put his mother on a pedestal she didn’t always deserve.
”Some of the truths you discover, Isaac, are going to conflict with what you feel in your heart. Still, don’t back away from them. This is what you’re looking for. It comes to make us reconsider what we think we know.”
I flew through the pages and through Isaac’s life. His childhood, his time at university, when he started working and still didn’t feel comfortable as a Black gay man.
”You become an agent of your own existence the minute you stop blaming others for what they did to you. Those who hurt us cannot heal us. That’s our job.”
When I read his father’s letter, tears leaped into my eyes. The love that shone through those sentences. The fact that his father tried, even though he called his son a sissy and girly. I really need to read Daniel Black’s Don’t Cry for Me. I think it will make me bawl my eyes out.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this beautiful ARC!
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December 30, 2024Why I Love It
By Gabrielle Viner
If you read Don’t Cry for Me, you know that Daniel Black’s writing is visceral, vulnerable, and deeply touching. His expertise shines once again in Isaac’s Song. I was captivated by this novel from prose to plot, and I felt embedded in the story as I grieved, laughed, and cried alongside its characters.
After his father passes away, Isaac goes to therapy and writes down his life story to unpack his complicated relationship with his dad. He begins with his earliest memory and takes us through the difficulties and triumphs of growing up as a gay Black boy in Missouri. Isaac grapples with sexuality, race, and ancestry on his own terms when he moves to Chicago. As he embraces the healing nature of creative expression, Isaac reframes his understanding of his family and of himself.
As we ring in the new year, many of us will take time to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. I have always turned to books, especially coming-of-age novels, for inspiration, comfort, and guidance in my own self-discovery. That is why I highly recommend Isaac’s Song for a contemplative, raw, and moving start to your 2025.
By Gabrielle Viner
If you read Don’t Cry for Me, you know that Daniel Black’s writing is visceral, vulnerable, and deeply touching. His expertise shines once again in Isaac’s Song. I was captivated by this novel from prose to plot, and I felt embedded in the story as I grieved, laughed, and cried alongside its characters.
After his father passes away, Isaac goes to therapy and writes down his life story to unpack his complicated relationship with his dad. He begins with his earliest memory and takes us through the difficulties and triumphs of growing up as a gay Black boy in Missouri. Isaac grapples with sexuality, race, and ancestry on his own terms when he moves to Chicago. As he embraces the healing nature of creative expression, Isaac reframes his understanding of his family and of himself.
As we ring in the new year, many of us will take time to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. I have always turned to books, especially coming-of-age novels, for inspiration, comfort, and guidance in my own self-discovery. That is why I highly recommend Isaac’s Song for a contemplative, raw, and moving start to your 2025.
December 29, 2024
Isaac’s Song reads like a memoir, but is fiction. We follow along as a gay Black man delves into his youth at the prompting of his therapist, not long after his semi-estranged father has died. Along the way, he confronts his identity and his fraught relationship with his father.
Isaac’s therapist has a lot of good thoughts. One that stuck with me is this one: “Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.” As a Jewish person, I’m familiar with the tradition of personally apologizing to people you have hurt, specifically every year before Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). I agree that it’s definitely for the apologizer.
Isaac grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, in a world where people still referred to young men with effeminate aspects as “sissies.” His mother was his defender but his father tried very hard to mold Isaac into what he thought a man should be: made him play baseball, when Isaac hated it, and so forth. Eventually, though, his father saw Isaac’s creative gifts and appreciated them. (There’s a lovely recollection about a painting Isaac did, of his father’s home area in Arkansas.) But it was a hard road for the two of them to travel.
Apparently, this is a companion book (not a sequel) to Don’t Cry For Me, which was written from the POV of the father, Jacob. (I haven’t read it and wasn’t aware of it before reading/listening to Isaac’s Song). This could be a very interesting read, either before or after reading Isaac’s Song.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. (The print book will be published by Hanover Square Press.) JD Jackson did a great job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
Isaac’s therapist has a lot of good thoughts. One that stuck with me is this one: “Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.” As a Jewish person, I’m familiar with the tradition of personally apologizing to people you have hurt, specifically every year before Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). I agree that it’s definitely for the apologizer.
Isaac grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, in a world where people still referred to young men with effeminate aspects as “sissies.” His mother was his defender but his father tried very hard to mold Isaac into what he thought a man should be: made him play baseball, when Isaac hated it, and so forth. Eventually, though, his father saw Isaac’s creative gifts and appreciated them. (There’s a lovely recollection about a painting Isaac did, of his father’s home area in Arkansas.) But it was a hard road for the two of them to travel.
Apparently, this is a companion book (not a sequel) to Don’t Cry For Me, which was written from the POV of the father, Jacob. (I haven’t read it and wasn’t aware of it before reading/listening to Isaac’s Song). This could be a very interesting read, either before or after reading Isaac’s Song.
Thank you to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. (The print book will be published by Hanover Square Press.) JD Jackson did a great job with the narration. All opinions are my own.
June 17, 2024
A beautiful and heartbreaking novel about the complicated relationships that often exist between a gay son and his father. As a foil to Daniel Black’s previous novel Don’t Cry for Me, we follow Isaac, a gay man, as he confronts his complicated relationship with his now deceased father. In therapy, Isaac relives memories from childhood through adulthood, reflecting on how he never felt free to be himself as a gay person. He grapples with his father’s expectations and homophobia, trying to understand his father and his life experiences, but struggling to come to terms with his own culpability in their relationship and the idea that his father was his own person and had his own history and story. There’s commentary on racism, internalized homophobia, religious trauma, generational trauma, parental expectations, and gay culture. The conversations were nuanced but plainly written and understood. I found this so moving and beautiful. 10/10
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2024
This book was absolutely incredible. Reading from the perspective of Isaac, the son of Jacob from Don't Cry for Me, was an amazing follow up. Seeing the parallels of the father and son's complicated relationship made me so emotional. Isaac faced a lot of hardship of trying to figure out what he wants out of life and who he wants to be. He spent a lot of his life trying to please others instead of really accepting himself for who he is. He’s mad at his father and resents him, but with a lot of self-reflection after the passing of his father his perspective changes and allows him to realize how much his father tried in his life. This story is the journey of self-reflection, healing, acceptance, and forgiveness. Daniel Black told a beautiful story through Isaac. This is one of my favorite reads of the year.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this e-Arc.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for this e-Arc.
January 20, 2025
masterful.
"Part of me wished we could’ve gotten Isaac’s perspective when he finds and reads the letter, but even without that, the novel feels seamless and complete. But, Dr. Black, if you want to give us an epilogue from Isaac’s POV, I would definitely appreciate it." – Me, February 2022.
Enter Isaac's Song!!! My prayers were answered. Isaac's Song is the follow-up (or companion novel) to Don’t Cry For Me (and despite the title, I definitely cried). The story revolves around Jacob, the main character, who is sharing his secrets, grief, and regrets with his son as he faces his impending death. Just a couple generations removed from slavery, Jacob grew up with clear ideas about what a man, a woman, and especially a son should be. Jacob is a flawed character, but above all, he wants Isaac to understand that he tried his best.
Reading Isaac's story was everything I had hoped for. Dr. Black continues to tackle themes of racism (in all its forms) and homophobia, and while I can’t say this book is "better" than Don’t Cry For Me—they’re just so different—I found a lot of overlap between my life and Isaac’s, particularly in the world of academia, where sometimes it feels like a game of picking your moments to engage in order to ultimately get the degree.
I also need Isaac’s therapist. Every time she was on the page, I was highlighting everything because she was dropping so many gems. This book was healing—literally and metaphorically. It felt like the embodiment of ending generational curses, and I’m so thankful we got this story.
"Part of me wished we could’ve gotten Isaac’s perspective when he finds and reads the letter, but even without that, the novel feels seamless and complete. But, Dr. Black, if you want to give us an epilogue from Isaac’s POV, I would definitely appreciate it." – Me, February 2022.
Enter Isaac's Song!!! My prayers were answered. Isaac's Song is the follow-up (or companion novel) to Don’t Cry For Me (and despite the title, I definitely cried). The story revolves around Jacob, the main character, who is sharing his secrets, grief, and regrets with his son as he faces his impending death. Just a couple generations removed from slavery, Jacob grew up with clear ideas about what a man, a woman, and especially a son should be. Jacob is a flawed character, but above all, he wants Isaac to understand that he tried his best.
Reading Isaac's story was everything I had hoped for. Dr. Black continues to tackle themes of racism (in all its forms) and homophobia, and while I can’t say this book is "better" than Don’t Cry For Me—they’re just so different—I found a lot of overlap between my life and Isaac’s, particularly in the world of academia, where sometimes it feels like a game of picking your moments to engage in order to ultimately get the degree.
I also need Isaac’s therapist. Every time she was on the page, I was highlighting everything because she was dropping so many gems. This book was healing—literally and metaphorically. It felt like the embodiment of ending generational curses, and I’m so thankful we got this story.
January 19, 2025
A lyrical, moving and beautiful coming of age story about a young gay Black man growing up in America in the 80s. This was extremely well-written and amazingly narrated on audio by JD Jackson. I almost skipped this book and I'm so glad I didn't!! The book explores race, identity, intergenerational trauma and microagressions in the workplace in nuanced and at times heartbreaking ways. It's also a story within a story and has a number of sessions with the protagonist's therapist interspersed throughout. HIGHLY recommended especially for fans of authors like Colson Whitehead.
January 10, 2025
BOOK REVIEW 📖
Thank you #partners @htp_hive @hanoversquarepress & @harlequin_audio for my #gifted copies of what was one of my most anticipated books of the year! I'm so grateful! 💕
Isaac's Song
Daniel Black
Available January 14th
"Generations of wounded, black hearts are waiting for my boldness. This is why I was born. This is why I was sitting there in the dark. Because our American story began in the dark, in the bottom of slave ships."
"...I have to tell this story. Because it's a love song, a black male ballad, a lullaby most brothers won't sing. But I will."
I LOVED THIS!!!
Is it too early in the year to say I have a 2025 favorite?
Isaac's Song is a captivating, soul-stirring exploration of the complicated relationship between a gay Black son and his domineering father. It's a story of love and legacy, of understanding and acceptance, and ultimately, healing. It's a gorgeous follow-up to Dr. Black's 2022 release, Don't Cry for Me. While Isaac's Song is not a sequel, it is a companion novel that can be read before or after its predecessor.
I read this one in alltheways™️, alternating between print, ebook, and audiobook. I enjoyed each format immensely. The audiobook is narrated by the talented JD Jackson, who breathes so much life into Isaac and his story. A wonderful performance from Mr. Jackson, as always.
📌 A January @bookofthemonth pick!
📌 Available 1/14
Thank you #partners @htp_hive @hanoversquarepress & @harlequin_audio for my #gifted copies of what was one of my most anticipated books of the year! I'm so grateful! 💕
Isaac's Song
Daniel Black
Available January 14th
"Generations of wounded, black hearts are waiting for my boldness. This is why I was born. This is why I was sitting there in the dark. Because our American story began in the dark, in the bottom of slave ships."
"...I have to tell this story. Because it's a love song, a black male ballad, a lullaby most brothers won't sing. But I will."
I LOVED THIS!!!
Is it too early in the year to say I have a 2025 favorite?
Isaac's Song is a captivating, soul-stirring exploration of the complicated relationship between a gay Black son and his domineering father. It's a story of love and legacy, of understanding and acceptance, and ultimately, healing. It's a gorgeous follow-up to Dr. Black's 2022 release, Don't Cry for Me. While Isaac's Song is not a sequel, it is a companion novel that can be read before or after its predecessor.
I read this one in alltheways™️, alternating between print, ebook, and audiobook. I enjoyed each format immensely. The audiobook is narrated by the talented JD Jackson, who breathes so much life into Isaac and his story. A wonderful performance from Mr. Jackson, as always.
📌 A January @bookofthemonth pick!
📌 Available 1/14
January 22, 2025
Another deeply reflective piece for readers to sit with and learn from. I’ll preface this by saying I completely understand why some readers might not love this as much as Don’t Cry For Me. But the love is still there! The story feels familiar, yet we’re given even more insight and angles to approach it from. It’s like experiencing a series that’s done in such an artful, poetic, and touching way. The layering and connectedness of it all—that’s the sweet spot of this read. It makes me hopeful to finally hear from Isaac’s mother.
As someone with older parents, some of the lessons and conversations in this book hit close to home. Once again, Daniel Black has delivered a work that’s stunningly self-aware in its exploration of change, generational trauma, unpacking, and readdressing the realities of our past selves and childhood through a lens of forgiveness and honesty.
I personally found the storytelling masterful. Black’s decision to revisit elements of Isaac’s history through therapy adds so much depth to this book. We witness how Isaac’s memories and connections are challenged as he unveils so much of himself to his therapist. And just like Isaac, we as readers are drawn into this process, reassessing who Isaac’s father was to him. This is done so beautifully that you don’t just feel for Isaac—you feel alongside him.
I loved the depth of Isaac’s pain and growth. He’s a character that, like many, seeks acceptance and acknowledgment from his parents while also fighting to give it to himself. We see his struggle to become the truest version of himself that he’s been told he could never be. This truly brought the ending home for me, with its sense of relief—Isaac finally lets go of the weight of his father’s approval.
The therapist’s commentary throughout the book is another highlight. Time and again, a mirror is held up to Isaac, showing how his inability to love himself affects his ability to love others. The narrative emphasizes the importance of forgiving oneself as a means to forgive others—particularly one’s parents—and to see them as whole, flawed individuals outside of one’s expectations.
There’s so much in this book that doesn’t just appeal but deeply resonates. Whether it’s the journey of self-discovery, grappling with sexual identity and acceptance, or the continued lessons of forgiveness and generational healing, Black captures emotions with stunning clarity. Readers can feel pain, compassion, disappointment, hope, and so much more!
I particularly appreciated that the forgiveness in this book doesn’t absolve Jacob of how he treated Isaac. Instead, it’s a grace and insight that fosters connection and growth—even posthumously. By the end, we see a bridge built and the recognition that Isaac is, in many ways, his father’s son.
Now I’m really hoping we don’t just hear from Isaac’s mother, but also get a book set during the time of his parents’ youth.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin for this e-galley!
As someone with older parents, some of the lessons and conversations in this book hit close to home. Once again, Daniel Black has delivered a work that’s stunningly self-aware in its exploration of change, generational trauma, unpacking, and readdressing the realities of our past selves and childhood through a lens of forgiveness and honesty.
I personally found the storytelling masterful. Black’s decision to revisit elements of Isaac’s history through therapy adds so much depth to this book. We witness how Isaac’s memories and connections are challenged as he unveils so much of himself to his therapist. And just like Isaac, we as readers are drawn into this process, reassessing who Isaac’s father was to him. This is done so beautifully that you don’t just feel for Isaac—you feel alongside him.
I loved the depth of Isaac’s pain and growth. He’s a character that, like many, seeks acceptance and acknowledgment from his parents while also fighting to give it to himself. We see his struggle to become the truest version of himself that he’s been told he could never be. This truly brought the ending home for me, with its sense of relief—Isaac finally lets go of the weight of his father’s approval.
The therapist’s commentary throughout the book is another highlight. Time and again, a mirror is held up to Isaac, showing how his inability to love himself affects his ability to love others. The narrative emphasizes the importance of forgiving oneself as a means to forgive others—particularly one’s parents—and to see them as whole, flawed individuals outside of one’s expectations.
There’s so much in this book that doesn’t just appeal but deeply resonates. Whether it’s the journey of self-discovery, grappling with sexual identity and acceptance, or the continued lessons of forgiveness and generational healing, Black captures emotions with stunning clarity. Readers can feel pain, compassion, disappointment, hope, and so much more!
I particularly appreciated that the forgiveness in this book doesn’t absolve Jacob of how he treated Isaac. Instead, it’s a grace and insight that fosters connection and growth—even posthumously. By the end, we see a bridge built and the recognition that Isaac is, in many ways, his father’s son.
Now I’m really hoping we don’t just hear from Isaac’s mother, but also get a book set during the time of his parents’ youth.
Thank you to NetGalley & Harlequin for this e-galley!
January 1, 2025
Earlier this year I read Don't Cry for Me and was completely moved by Daniel Black's writing and the authenticity he captured within his story. When I saw that there would be a companion novel, I was thrilled.
This was such an insightful and meaningful follow up and I absolutely loved it. I loved the therapy aspect of the story and seeing Isaac confront his issues with his father, the reality of his mother, and the complexities of these relationships--all while doing so much self discovery and healing and coming to terms with his own desires and realities as a queer black man in America (especially coming up through the 80s and 90s). There is so much heart that is pouring through this story. I loved the complexity of the characters and seeing Isaac confront the differences between his feelings and his memories as he seeks to come to terms with his trauma and his past. Isaac is such a fully fleshed out and dimensional character that I felt so invested in throughout all of his storytelling and life. He is written in a way that really creates an urgency to his character as well as a realness to him that makes the story that much more compelling to read. There is a genuine honesty in this story that makes it so compelling; seeing Isaac brave his own past and start to see his parents (especially his father) for who they are and the intentions behind their actions was so heart wrenching and I loved the sort of visceral honesty that comes with it. I also really appreciated the willingness to confront the complexities of his relationship with God and religion and actually allowing Isaac to challenge and confront his struggles.
This was a beautiful and well done follow up to Don't Cry for Me that perfectly stands on its own and breathes so much life into Isaac and allows for the reader to see a more complete picture of the story. I loved getting to meet Isaac in his own POV and, in contrast, getting to see Jacob through Isaac's eyes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an insightful and meaningful follow up and I absolutely loved it. I loved the therapy aspect of the story and seeing Isaac confront his issues with his father, the reality of his mother, and the complexities of these relationships--all while doing so much self discovery and healing and coming to terms with his own desires and realities as a queer black man in America (especially coming up through the 80s and 90s). There is so much heart that is pouring through this story. I loved the complexity of the characters and seeing Isaac confront the differences between his feelings and his memories as he seeks to come to terms with his trauma and his past. Isaac is such a fully fleshed out and dimensional character that I felt so invested in throughout all of his storytelling and life. He is written in a way that really creates an urgency to his character as well as a realness to him that makes the story that much more compelling to read. There is a genuine honesty in this story that makes it so compelling; seeing Isaac brave his own past and start to see his parents (especially his father) for who they are and the intentions behind their actions was so heart wrenching and I loved the sort of visceral honesty that comes with it. I also really appreciated the willingness to confront the complexities of his relationship with God and religion and actually allowing Isaac to challenge and confront his struggles.
This was a beautiful and well done follow up to Don't Cry for Me that perfectly stands on its own and breathes so much life into Isaac and allows for the reader to see a more complete picture of the story. I loved getting to meet Isaac in his own POV and, in contrast, getting to see Jacob through Isaac's eyes.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
January 13, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When I read Don’t Cry For Me back in 2023, I was amazed by the story, its flow, and hoped that we would eventually hear Isaac’s respond. I soon learned that Isaac’s Song was coming and could not wait to delve into this story.
Like its predecessor, Isaac’s Song reads like a memoir, beginning shortly after Jacob’s death. Ultimately, I had a lot of expectations about what I would experience in this story, some were met and others were surprises. I was sadly surprised by how lonely Isaac was throughout his life - even in his adult years. I’d hoped that he would grow into a life of freedom after he struggled so much in his youth.
There were moments when I felt disconnected from this story because some parts felt contrived and not meaningful to the overall story. The second storyline felt a little weird to me and although it contributed to the overall story, it felt somewhat out of place.
However, I loved the ending which fulfilled every hope I’d held for Isaac’s response when I read Don’t Cry For Me.
My true rating is: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
TW: tragic death, AIDS epidemic, homophobia, racism, descriptions of slavery
When I read Don’t Cry For Me back in 2023, I was amazed by the story, its flow, and hoped that we would eventually hear Isaac’s respond. I soon learned that Isaac’s Song was coming and could not wait to delve into this story.
Like its predecessor, Isaac’s Song reads like a memoir, beginning shortly after Jacob’s death. Ultimately, I had a lot of expectations about what I would experience in this story, some were met and others were surprises. I was sadly surprised by how lonely Isaac was throughout his life - even in his adult years. I’d hoped that he would grow into a life of freedom after he struggled so much in his youth.
There were moments when I felt disconnected from this story because some parts felt contrived and not meaningful to the overall story. The second storyline felt a little weird to me and although it contributed to the overall story, it felt somewhat out of place.
However, I loved the ending which fulfilled every hope I’d held for Isaac’s response when I read Don’t Cry For Me.
My true rating is: 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
TW: tragic death, AIDS epidemic, homophobia, racism, descriptions of slavery
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2025
“Then, one night, I asked for a story, and she sat with me and started turning pages of an invisible book she called Isaac's Song. She created a whole narrative about a brilliant black boy who had every gift in the world. He was smart, creative, musical, and mystical. He could time travel and read people's minds.” 🤎
🥹 Daniel Black blessed us with this one. If you thought Don’t Cry for Me was healing- wait until you experience Issac’s song.
It’s so hard to articulate how I feel about this book. I loved Issac’s therapy sessions. They were placed perfectly to help Issac and the reader make sense of it all.
I loved exploring Issac’s perspective, the beauty and complexity of his mind, his experience is deeply relatable.
After his father dies and he’s deeply impacted this book unpacks the nuance of complicated and deeply wounded parent child relationships, the denial black LGBTQ youth face and how it morphs into self denial in adulthood, race, black masculinity, gender expression, and resilience.
I would HIGHLY recommend. If you haven’t already, please read Don’t Cry For Me first (for the full experience).
🥹 Daniel Black blessed us with this one. If you thought Don’t Cry for Me was healing- wait until you experience Issac’s song.
It’s so hard to articulate how I feel about this book. I loved Issac’s therapy sessions. They were placed perfectly to help Issac and the reader make sense of it all.
I loved exploring Issac’s perspective, the beauty and complexity of his mind, his experience is deeply relatable.
After his father dies and he’s deeply impacted this book unpacks the nuance of complicated and deeply wounded parent child relationships, the denial black LGBTQ youth face and how it morphs into self denial in adulthood, race, black masculinity, gender expression, and resilience.
I would HIGHLY recommend. If you haven’t already, please read Don’t Cry For Me first (for the full experience).
July 30, 2024
Deep
The first time that I read Don’t Cry for Me in 2022, I was desperate to get Isaac’s side of the story. I was overjoyed when I found out about this book. Isaac was such a lovable character for me in both books. This time we get to hear how his father’s failures and successes shaped him. We also learn how his mother left her mark on his world. This was a touching coming of age story that felt like it spoke for so many men. I loved that both Isaac and his father were able to reflect and celebrate the love that they had for each other.
While I really enjoyed this book, it didn’t give me the story that I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear Isaac’s response to his father’s letters. I wanted it to be a direct reply. Instead, I got to hear how Isaac perceived the events that were presented in the previous book. There was no back and forth dialogue. In Isaac’s retelling of his experience as a writer, a few of his stories were woven into this book. They were interesting, but I felt like Black wanted to share more of his own work. He just passed it off as Isaac’s work. The final piece that he presented was a slave story that Isaac was working on. I don’t read slave books. I understood what he was trying to do with that element, but it’s not what I wanted to read.
I feel like this book gave me closure. It tied up the loose ends from Don’t Cry for Me. I think fans of historical fiction will really enjoy this story. Thank you to NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, and Daniel Black for the advanced copy for me to review.
The first time that I read Don’t Cry for Me in 2022, I was desperate to get Isaac’s side of the story. I was overjoyed when I found out about this book. Isaac was such a lovable character for me in both books. This time we get to hear how his father’s failures and successes shaped him. We also learn how his mother left her mark on his world. This was a touching coming of age story that felt like it spoke for so many men. I loved that both Isaac and his father were able to reflect and celebrate the love that they had for each other.
While I really enjoyed this book, it didn’t give me the story that I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear Isaac’s response to his father’s letters. I wanted it to be a direct reply. Instead, I got to hear how Isaac perceived the events that were presented in the previous book. There was no back and forth dialogue. In Isaac’s retelling of his experience as a writer, a few of his stories were woven into this book. They were interesting, but I felt like Black wanted to share more of his own work. He just passed it off as Isaac’s work. The final piece that he presented was a slave story that Isaac was working on. I don’t read slave books. I understood what he was trying to do with that element, but it’s not what I wanted to read.
I feel like this book gave me closure. It tied up the loose ends from Don’t Cry for Me. I think fans of historical fiction will really enjoy this story. Thank you to NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, and Daniel Black for the advanced copy for me to review.
September 30, 2024
I LOVED ‘Don’t Cry For Me’ (the first book). It made me think about what Jacob was writing and who he was writing for. It allowed me to feel pity for Issac as he was just a young boy wanting to soar into his life. But with this book, it’s allowing me to see Jacob as a person instead of a villian as I initially did. I believe that villians are not curated overnight and to see Jacob in a different light and see the relationship he and Issac had from a different perspective definitely left my mind wondering. We do things because that was how we were brought up but we also have the power to change our dynamics and functions if we can see and understand how our actions and choice are affecting those around us.
January 15, 2025
What a beautiful story of forgiveness, acceptance, hard truths, and what feels like a raw telling of the universal experience of being Black in America. This book is about Isaac, a black gay man who has recently lost his estranged father. As part of therapy he takes us on a journey through his childhood and while we travel along with him we see him realize that what he thought was not reality. I don’t know if I can truly express how this book made me feel. I feel seen in a way, which is weird as I’m a cis-het woman who has really great relationships with her parents. I think watching Isaac see his parent as people and realize that though they made many mistakes, they did the best with what they had and his father especially did it all so that he could be successful and have opportunities he never could of dreamed of himself resonated with me the most. Journeying through the racism, homophobia, AIDS crisis, Rodney King beating and LA Riots through Isaac’s eyes felt different. Almost like I understand what living through those times felt like. There was such a level of emotional intelligence present throughout this story,there was purpose with every sentence and while this may sound dramatic, I feel better after reading this. I haven’t read Don’t Cry For Me yet but it’s next up on my list. This was just an amazing story and I’m grateful I read it.
Thank you Net Galley and HTP Books for the ARC. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
Thank you Net Galley and HTP Books for the ARC. All thoughts and feelings are my own.
January 20, 2025
Isaac's Song has a unique and compelling structure, a great sense of place and often lyrical prose. I ended up listening to the audio and moved through it very quickly. To me, the core story is really about Isaac's relationship with his father more than anything and that part of the story is very moving with some unexpected twists. It also told some important history through Isaac's experience, education and exposure to elders and peers. Toward the end of the book, there was a shift to a bit of a spiritual perspective that didn't work as well for me. And while I was interested in the story within the story that also comes up later in the book, I feel like these two components really threw off the pacing for me, which is why I’m rounding down to four stars. But I'm definitely curious to check out more of the author's book.
Also, sensitive readers should seek out content warnings. There is a lot of heavy stuff covered.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
Also, sensitive readers should seek out content warnings. There is a lot of heavy stuff covered.
I received a digital Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2025
3.5 rounding up
This is one of those books that feels like it tugs at your heart strings. The story follows Isaac, a gay Black man, as he works through his past with his therapist after his father’s death. The way it’s told—in these short vignettes from his therapy “homework”—makes it feel so intimate, like reading someone’s diary. His childhood in the 1970s and 1980s was so vividly painted, from his mother fiercely defending him to his father trying to mold him into this version of masculinity that Isaac didn’t fit.
Isaac’s therapist might be my favorite character. She’s warm, wise, and everything you’d want in a therapist. One thing she said stuck with me: “Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.” It made me think about how we approach apologies—it’s so much for the person apologizing. I also need to mention the audiobook because JD Jackson’s narration was incredible. His voice became Isaac’s for me. It’s heartbreaking, hopeful, and completely stunning.
This is one of those books that feels like it tugs at your heart strings. The story follows Isaac, a gay Black man, as he works through his past with his therapist after his father’s death. The way it’s told—in these short vignettes from his therapy “homework”—makes it feel so intimate, like reading someone’s diary. His childhood in the 1970s and 1980s was so vividly painted, from his mother fiercely defending him to his father trying to mold him into this version of masculinity that Isaac didn’t fit.
Isaac’s therapist might be my favorite character. She’s warm, wise, and everything you’d want in a therapist. One thing she said stuck with me: “Apologies don’t heal the wounded. They’re for the perpetrator.” It made me think about how we approach apologies—it’s so much for the person apologizing. I also need to mention the audiobook because JD Jackson’s narration was incredible. His voice became Isaac’s for me. It’s heartbreaking, hopeful, and completely stunning.
January 20, 2025
It was beautiful to follow Isaac’s journey as he discovers his authentic self. He acknowledges the pain caused by others while learning to extend grace, find understanding, and forgive those who hurt him.
This story brought me to tears more than once and gave me a lot to reflect on. I loved the short chapters and how readable the tone was throughout most of the book, but I felt the ending dragged a bit. Overall, it’s an impactful and healing book. Its themes will resonate with anyone who has struggled with confidence, dealt with challenging family dynamics, or felt the weight of social injustices.
This story brought me to tears more than once and gave me a lot to reflect on. I loved the short chapters and how readable the tone was throughout most of the book, but I felt the ending dragged a bit. Overall, it’s an impactful and healing book. Its themes will resonate with anyone who has struggled with confidence, dealt with challenging family dynamics, or felt the weight of social injustices.
September 7, 2024
A beautiful story about healing, forgiveness and the realization that our parents and the people who raised us were human too and sometimes just doing the best with the tools they were given.
Daniel Black is an artist with his words and storytelling. This was an amazing follow up to Don’t Cry For Me. Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC!
Daniel Black is an artist with his words and storytelling. This was an amazing follow up to Don’t Cry For Me. Thank you Net Galley, Harlequin Trade Publishing for the e-ARC!
January 15, 2025
Daniel Black is ALWAYS a five star read. Intense, profound and beautiful. But my heart needs to know what happened to Matthew and Jesse Lee. Preparation for the next book? Only Mr. Black knows. Thank you for another story I couldn't put down.
January 15, 2025
Happy PuB Day Dr. Daniel 🎉
I lovveeee Dr. Daniel Black down !! I had the pleasure of meeting him with my book club ( IG BWRT.BOOKCLUB) !!
Isaac’s Song was highly anticipated after reading Don’t Cry for Me !! We all wanted to know Isaac’s thoughts after reading his father’s letters. This man pen game so legit it’s crazy.
I felt really sad for Issac because he was so lonely even in his adult life. This book gave me everything I wanted in closure from the Don’t Cry for Me!! I would definitely recommend this one if you’ve read it.
I need Isaac’s Therapist asap. I was highlighting sooooo much. She ATE DOWN.
TW: Racism, HIV/AIDS Epidemic, slavery, homophobia
Thank you so much to The Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC. 🥲
I lovveeee Dr. Daniel Black down !! I had the pleasure of meeting him with my book club ( IG BWRT.BOOKCLUB) !!
Isaac’s Song was highly anticipated after reading Don’t Cry for Me !! We all wanted to know Isaac’s thoughts after reading his father’s letters. This man pen game so legit it’s crazy.
I felt really sad for Issac because he was so lonely even in his adult life. This book gave me everything I wanted in closure from the Don’t Cry for Me!! I would definitely recommend this one if you’ve read it.
I need Isaac’s Therapist asap. I was highlighting sooooo much. She ATE DOWN.
TW: Racism, HIV/AIDS Epidemic, slavery, homophobia
Thank you so much to The Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC. 🥲
December 26, 2024
There is beauty in understanding that you may have been wrong. In Don’t Cry For Me we get to know Isaac’s father, Jacob Swinton, and feel the regret in how he may have failed his son. He pours those emotions into his letters, attempting to explain his life. Trying to explain how he did love his son though he did not always show it. That novel did an amazing job of exploring Black masculinity and fatherhood— and Isaac’s Song continues that journey. This time from the perspective of Isaac, whilst in therapy, trying to unpack his relationship with his father, and understanding that even our memories can be flawed. Isaac’s path to reconciling the past whole grieving is not without its bumps, nor does not end with this novel— but we see what it looks like to at least try.
January 15, 2025
Published yesterday, this novel is nothing short of a masterpiece. It's profound and deeply emotional and navigates the human experience with grace. The narrative is imbued with wisdom, empathy, and raw authenticity. For anyone seeking a story that resonates on a deeply personal level, Isaac’s Song is an absolute must-read.
The story follows Isaac, a man burdened by the weight of generational trauma and personal struggles, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Central to his transformation is his relationship with a compassionate and insightful therapist, who becomes a guiding light through his darkest moments. As Isaac confronts painful memories and seeks forgiveness, both for himself and others, he begins to uncover the strength to rebuild his life.
One of the most compelling elements of Isaac’s Song is the relationship between Isaac and his therapist. I don't know if I have ever encountered a literary depiction of therapy so tender, insightful, and authentic. The therapist’s empathy and wisdom provide a beacon of hope, guiding Isaac through his struggles with unwavering support. Reading their sessions felt like a gift... like I was witnessing the kind of transformative care we all deserve. It’s a reminder of how important mental health support can be and the impact a truly compassionate professional can have on someone’s life.
Daniel Black’s prose is perfect, blending lyrical beauty with honesty. The dialogue is sharp, driving home the emotional weight of Isaac’s experiences. The themes of generational trauma, self-discovery, and forgiveness are handled with sensitivity, creating a narrative that is as universal as it is personal.
I felt this book to be not just a story but also an experience. It invites readers to reflect on their own lives, relationships, and the importance of seeking help when needed. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for growth and renewal, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable pain.
I can't recommend Isaac’s Song enough. It's a gorgeous read that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt broken and longed for healing.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book - we are just 14 days into the year but I anticipate this being one of my favorite reads of the year!
The story follows Isaac, a man burdened by the weight of generational trauma and personal struggles, as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Central to his transformation is his relationship with a compassionate and insightful therapist, who becomes a guiding light through his darkest moments. As Isaac confronts painful memories and seeks forgiveness, both for himself and others, he begins to uncover the strength to rebuild his life.
One of the most compelling elements of Isaac’s Song is the relationship between Isaac and his therapist. I don't know if I have ever encountered a literary depiction of therapy so tender, insightful, and authentic. The therapist’s empathy and wisdom provide a beacon of hope, guiding Isaac through his struggles with unwavering support. Reading their sessions felt like a gift... like I was witnessing the kind of transformative care we all deserve. It’s a reminder of how important mental health support can be and the impact a truly compassionate professional can have on someone’s life.
Daniel Black’s prose is perfect, blending lyrical beauty with honesty. The dialogue is sharp, driving home the emotional weight of Isaac’s experiences. The themes of generational trauma, self-discovery, and forgiveness are handled with sensitivity, creating a narrative that is as universal as it is personal.
I felt this book to be not just a story but also an experience. It invites readers to reflect on their own lives, relationships, and the importance of seeking help when needed. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s capacity for growth and renewal, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable pain.
I can't recommend Isaac’s Song enough. It's a gorgeous read that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt broken and longed for healing.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book - we are just 14 days into the year but I anticipate this being one of my favorite reads of the year!
January 13, 2025
Wow. This book is a stunner. Review to come.
Thank you to @htp_hive @htpbooks for a digital copy of this book for review!
A poignant, emotionally exuberant novel about a young queer Black man finding his voice in 1980s Chicago.
^from the publisher!
This book was an absolute STUNNER of a novel. I actually only few a few chapters at a time until tonight because I was savoring it. I loved reading about Isaac and his family. The interludes with his therapist were so enlightening, smart, and intriguing. I felt just as shocked by some of the personal revelations as Isaac did.
I highlighted so many passages, especially when it came to the therapy sessions. But I also related to Isaac’s loneliness and longing for companionship. I feel that longing in my heart and soul and I just wanted to hug him. He tried so hard to be what everyone else wanted him to be, and it exhausted him. Seeing him in that relationship in his twenties - oof. Far too close to home.
I was incredibly bought in to his desire to be a storyteller and as he was working on his novel I was cheering for him (and I’d totally read the book he was writing, wow!).
I loved how deep we dove into the relationships with his parents and how our memories can be tangled up in how we feel about someone or something. Really made me think.
This one is out on Tuesday and I’d fully recommend it! I’m going to pick up Don’t Cry For Me for sure.
Thank you to @htp_hive @htpbooks for a digital copy of this book for review!
A poignant, emotionally exuberant novel about a young queer Black man finding his voice in 1980s Chicago.
^from the publisher!
This book was an absolute STUNNER of a novel. I actually only few a few chapters at a time until tonight because I was savoring it. I loved reading about Isaac and his family. The interludes with his therapist were so enlightening, smart, and intriguing. I felt just as shocked by some of the personal revelations as Isaac did.
I highlighted so many passages, especially when it came to the therapy sessions. But I also related to Isaac’s loneliness and longing for companionship. I feel that longing in my heart and soul and I just wanted to hug him. He tried so hard to be what everyone else wanted him to be, and it exhausted him. Seeing him in that relationship in his twenties - oof. Far too close to home.
I was incredibly bought in to his desire to be a storyteller and as he was working on his novel I was cheering for him (and I’d totally read the book he was writing, wow!).
I loved how deep we dove into the relationships with his parents and how our memories can be tangled up in how we feel about someone or something. Really made me think.
This one is out on Tuesday and I’d fully recommend it! I’m going to pick up Don’t Cry For Me for sure.
December 21, 2024
4.5/5 stars - I absolutely loved this book. Issac's Song is a follow-up to Don't Cry For Me and shares Issac Swinton's perspective from childhood to adulthood. This book was beautiful, emotional, and poetic! Similar to Don't Cry For Me, I was captivated from the first page. Dr. Daniel Black did an excellent job of addressing masculinity within the black community and tackling other topics such as race, gender, and sexual identity. These characters truly felt like real people! This is a must-read if you were a fan of Don't Cry For Me. I also think fans of historical fiction will also like this as well. Thank you to The Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e-ARC!
January 20, 2025
Highly recommend Don’t Cry for Me by the same author, and it is a companion to this book, though each can be read as a stand alone.
I loved this story that felt more like a memoir (it’s at times truly surprising that it’s not). The author captures a lot of themes any young person might go through as they come of age: their thoughts on G-d, their sexuality, what they want to do in life, how they feel about their parents. I related to the way the main character pushes back on how he’s “supposed to be” and while he tries to suppress his true self, ultimately he embraces himself and his ancestry.
I loved this story that felt more like a memoir (it’s at times truly surprising that it’s not). The author captures a lot of themes any young person might go through as they come of age: their thoughts on G-d, their sexuality, what they want to do in life, how they feel about their parents. I related to the way the main character pushes back on how he’s “supposed to be” and while he tries to suppress his true self, ultimately he embraces himself and his ancestry.
January 13, 2025
I’d give this book a well-deserved 4.5 out of 5 stars. It’s a deeply affecting novel that lingers with you long after you’ve finished reading. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories of resilience, transformation, and the human spirit’s enduring strength.
If I had one critique, it would be the pacing, which lags slightly in the middle. However, the richness of the characters and the emotional weight of the story kept me engaged throughout.
If I had one critique, it would be the pacing, which lags slightly in the middle. However, the richness of the characters and the emotional weight of the story kept me engaged throughout.
July 1, 2024
ISAAC'S SONG tells the life journey of a black gay man named Isaac Swinton, from his childhood in the 1970's to his adulthood in the 2000's.
We first learn, in the present days timeline, that Isaac's father passed away recently and he goes to therapy seeking comfort and healing. His therapist advices him to write his memories, ever since childhood, in order to heal and re-think what and how he thinks everything happened to him since he was a boy. To re-evaluate all the events from his upbringing, at home, at school, everywhere.
By doing so, Isaac starts to learn and realise that many of his memories failed him.
Isaac has always had a bumpy and complicated relationship with his father. His father wouldn't accept a son that wasn't a 'real man' or a quitter, so he pushed Isaac in many ways, confronted him, sometimes hit him and ignored him, too. Isaac, on the other hand, would desperately seek his father's approval and respect all the time. In the meantime, he would go to his mother for refuge, love, comfort and tolerance.
While Isaac writes his memories in chronological order, we, the readers, follow his struggles and his tough journey as a closeted gay boy, bullied and despised all the time for not being 'too manly', to a bullied gay teenager, and later during his time in college - where he had his happiest moments feeling more free and comfortable in his own skin (both from being black and queer). As a fully grown adult we follow Isaac's growth and self-awareness into the human being he wants to be: a free black gay artist, as he aspires to be a novelist
In the last 25% of this book we actually read ideas and some passages of the novel Isaac is working on (which, personally, I loved it - I do love the idea of 'a book inside a book').
Well, what can I say about this book? I loved it! Daniel Black did it again!
This is beautifully written, poetic, emotional, painful to read sometimes, for sure (for any gay person who struggled to get their father's approval and acceptance this book might be triggering), and the social commentaries and racism the author dissects here help to make this story even more raw and realistic. It surely could have been a real life person's memoir.
One of my favourite parts of this novel was the moment Isaac, as part of his healing process, goes back home after his father died and when he gets there he finds several letters that his dad left him. That reminded me a lot of Daniel Black's last novel Don't Cry For Me - which is still a favourite of mine.
Not gonna lie: I sobbed like a little kid. Again.
Isaac Swinton has become easily my favourite character of 2024. Probably because even though Isaac Swinton is a fictional character, I'm sure there have been many REAL Isaac Swintons out there before (and maybe still are), and that is just heart-breaking.
I highly recommend this book to every single reader who likes character-driven stories and drama and...well, everyone. I cannot narrow down my recommendations of this novel. Sure, if you have read a Daniel Black novel before and enjoyed, this new one is a must!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
We first learn, in the present days timeline, that Isaac's father passed away recently and he goes to therapy seeking comfort and healing. His therapist advices him to write his memories, ever since childhood, in order to heal and re-think what and how he thinks everything happened to him since he was a boy. To re-evaluate all the events from his upbringing, at home, at school, everywhere.
By doing so, Isaac starts to learn and realise that many of his memories failed him.
Isaac has always had a bumpy and complicated relationship with his father. His father wouldn't accept a son that wasn't a 'real man' or a quitter, so he pushed Isaac in many ways, confronted him, sometimes hit him and ignored him, too. Isaac, on the other hand, would desperately seek his father's approval and respect all the time. In the meantime, he would go to his mother for refuge, love, comfort and tolerance.
While Isaac writes his memories in chronological order, we, the readers, follow his struggles and his tough journey as a closeted gay boy, bullied and despised all the time for not being 'too manly', to a bullied gay teenager, and later during his time in college - where he had his happiest moments feeling more free and comfortable in his own skin (both from being black and queer). As a fully grown adult we follow Isaac's growth and self-awareness into the human being he wants to be: a free black gay artist, as he aspires to be a novelist
In the last 25% of this book we actually read ideas and some passages of the novel Isaac is working on (which, personally, I loved it - I do love the idea of 'a book inside a book').
Well, what can I say about this book? I loved it! Daniel Black did it again!
This is beautifully written, poetic, emotional, painful to read sometimes, for sure (for any gay person who struggled to get their father's approval and acceptance this book might be triggering), and the social commentaries and racism the author dissects here help to make this story even more raw and realistic. It surely could have been a real life person's memoir.
One of my favourite parts of this novel was the moment Isaac, as part of his healing process, goes back home after his father died and when he gets there he finds several letters that his dad left him. That reminded me a lot of Daniel Black's last novel Don't Cry For Me - which is still a favourite of mine.
Not gonna lie: I sobbed like a little kid. Again.
Isaac Swinton has become easily my favourite character of 2024. Probably because even though Isaac Swinton is a fictional character, I'm sure there have been many REAL Isaac Swintons out there before (and maybe still are), and that is just heart-breaking.
I highly recommend this book to every single reader who likes character-driven stories and drama and...well, everyone. I cannot narrow down my recommendations of this novel. Sure, if you have read a Daniel Black novel before and enjoyed, this new one is a must!
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
January 20, 2025
Firstly, thank you, The Hive and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the eARC of this incredible work. Wow, just wow! I don’t know how I’m only now discovering the writing of @drdanielblack, but if *Isaac’s Song* is any indication of his talent, I will definitely be adding more of his books to my collection. This novel has such a sense of authenticity; I was captivated from the first page and felt compelled to continue on this journey of healing with Isaac.
Dr. Black did a fantastic job of addressing many underlying issues in the community concerning masculinity and sexual identity. I honestly I’m still at a loss for words. I cried multiple times and felt the healing in the final pages of the novel.
Dr. Black did a fantastic job of addressing many underlying issues in the community concerning masculinity and sexual identity. I honestly I’m still at a loss for words. I cried multiple times and felt the healing in the final pages of the novel.
January 19, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start by saying that, at first glance, I don’t have much in common with Isaac. I grew up as a white, straight-passing cis girl in rural Europe—basically the complete opposite of Isaac, a black youth struggling to hide his queerness in the American South. The contrast is so stark it’s almost funny.
And yet, the first half of this book turned out to be one of the most relatable things I’ve ever read in my life. I spent the entire time teary-eyed and went to bed emotionally exhausted. That’s how you know you’re holding a true gem in your hands.
The book starts off as a collection of memories—snapshots of Isaac’s formative years growing up—but it starts to lose its way around the time of (TW, content spoiler)
I sometimes found myself scrambling to piece together the timeline, as some key events seemed to happen off-page and were only mentioned in passing. It’s a classic case of "telling, not showing," which made it hard to follow at times.
This might be because I haven’t read the author’s previous book, Don’t Cry for Me , which is a collection of letters written by Isaac’s father before his death. Since Isaac’s Song isn’t marketed as a sequel, I went in with no prior knowledge, and while I get why the author may not have wanted to rehash events from the earlier book, and while Isaac’s Song also does a decent job as a standalone, I still think some of those important moments involving Isaac’s parents should’ve been explored on the page here too.
I think the issue I had with the narrative was exacerbated by the last third of the book, which left the ending feeling disconnected from the rest for me. After
Those are pretty much my only complaints, though, and this book is still a solid five-star read for me. It’s beautifully written, a visceral portrayal of systemic (TW) , and it handles delicate themes with such loving care. I’m so thankful I got to read it, and I'm sure this story will stay with me for a long time.
Let me start by saying that, at first glance, I don’t have much in common with Isaac. I grew up as a white, straight-passing cis girl in rural Europe—basically the complete opposite of Isaac, a black youth struggling to hide his queerness in the American South. The contrast is so stark it’s almost funny.
And yet, the first half of this book turned out to be one of the most relatable things I’ve ever read in my life. I spent the entire time teary-eyed and went to bed emotionally exhausted. That’s how you know you’re holding a true gem in your hands.
The book starts off as a collection of memories—snapshots of Isaac’s formative years growing up—but it starts to lose its way around the time of (TW, content spoiler)
I sometimes found myself scrambling to piece together the timeline, as some key events seemed to happen off-page and were only mentioned in passing. It’s a classic case of "telling, not showing," which made it hard to follow at times.
This might be because I haven’t read the author’s previous book, Don’t Cry for Me , which is a collection of letters written by Isaac’s father before his death. Since Isaac’s Song isn’t marketed as a sequel, I went in with no prior knowledge, and while I get why the author may not have wanted to rehash events from the earlier book, and while Isaac’s Song also does a decent job as a standalone, I still think some of those important moments involving Isaac’s parents should’ve been explored on the page here too.
I think the issue I had with the narrative was exacerbated by the last third of the book, which left the ending feeling disconnected from the rest for me. After
Those are pretty much my only complaints, though, and this book is still a solid five-star read for me. It’s beautifully written, a visceral portrayal of systemic (TW) , and it handles delicate themes with such loving care. I’m so thankful I got to read it, and I'm sure this story will stay with me for a long time.
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