I'm a huge fan of Charmaine Wilkerson’s "Black Cake", so I immediately requested "Heirloom of Secrets" from the library—and I was not disappointed. As in "Black Cake", Wilkerson explores the enduring legacies of family history. In "Black Cake", that legacy takes the form of a generational, deeply rooted tradition: the making of a richly symbolic cake, steeped in time, effort, and ancestral memory. In "Heirloom of Secrets", the inheritance is a stoneware jar crafted by an enslaved potter—an obje...

I’ve given a 5-star rating to every historical fiction book I've ever picked up. Does this make me a secret historical fiction fanatic?????? OMG??? Absolutely loved "Heirloom of Secrets" by Charmaine Wilkerson, learned so much, and I'm totally in love with Ebby🫶🏾. If you're looking for compelling historical fiction, look no further!

Charmaine Wilkerson is an author whose prose grabs you by the heart with one hand and by the throat with the other, holding you captive until the very last word, unable to look away and completely enthralled. *Heirloom of Secrets*, the author's second novel, is a heart-wrenching exploration of history and legacy, from family lineage and the Black community within the context of American history, to how a single object passed down for generations can make the small and individual symbolic of some...

I enjoyed this so much—the author sure knows how to craft a captivating family drama 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼Read if you like: generational stories, genre-bending stories, multiple POVs and timelines, family drama, quick reads, books that grab you right awayI also highly recommend this audiobook! The narrator was new to me, but I will 1000000% be looking into other work of hers; I was captivated from the start 🎧I liked so much about this book, especially in the first half! It grabs you right away—you have ...

This is our February 2025 selection for Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and a 2025 Spring Book Preview Spotlight title. I cannot wait for the author to join us for a live discussion on February 27!In her follow-up to her blockbuster debut *Black Cake*, Charmaine Wilkerson once again delves into themes of grief, trauma, and social justice through the intimate story of one family and their cherished artifact in *Heirloom of Secrets*. Ebony “Ebby” Freeman, the twenty-nine-year-old daughter of a well-to-...

It's honestly a shame everyone's still side-eyeing me for that half-hearted joke I made about the cover, because I genuinely enjoyed "Heirloom of Secrets" by Charmaine Wilkerson.While I adore generational family sagas, I usually prefer them to unfold chronologically—there's just something about jumping between perspectives that rubs me the wrong way.But in "Heirloom of Secrets", it worked flawlessly. I loved delving into Ebby and her parents, their ancestors, and everyone in between. Their emoti...

Unfortunately, I don’t think Charmaine Wilkerson’s writing style is for me. One thing I absolutely loathe is being pulled away from an immersive narrative to hear a story I couldn’t care less about. She does just that! She tells so many stories in one book, which, for me, feels a bit distracting and overwhelming. As far as book reviews go, this one is mixed.Nonetheless, I think she’s a great storyteller, and there were many parts of the book I enjoyed. I loved following the storyline with Ebby a...

Sigh… I hate to say it, but *Heirloom of Secrets* was a disappointing 2-star read for me. As some of you know, *Black Cake* was my favorite book of 2022, so naturally, I was thrilled when I saw Charmaine Wilkerson had another release. Unfortunately, sophomore novels are tough—and this one didn’t quite hit the mark, in my opinion. My biggest issue was the overreliance on miscommunication and the so-called “secrets” each family member was hiding. When these were eventually revealed, they felt und...

I flew through this story!

Heartbreak, family legacy, history, redemption, forgiveness. "Heirloom of Secrets" has it all! I will say, it’s a slow burn but so wonderful. Also—don’t skip out on the author's note at the end. Charmaine Wilkerson has crafted a truly unforgettable tale. Definitely a must-read if you're looking for compelling family drama!

A tragedy reshapes the Freeman family's history, influencing their paths with the resulting perceptions, traumas, resentments, and redemptions that define their future. Ten-year-old Ebby Freeman only wanted to play hide and seek one last time with her brother, even though they were in a hurry to leave the house. Her brother Baz never denied her request. From her hiding spot, she overheard two masked men threatening her brother, followed by a gunshot that froze time. Ebby remained still for a fe...