Megan Giddings

"A stunning debut novel that delves fearlessly into the taboo subject of modern-day medical experimentation on African Americans"--

A Novel

Lakewood

nothing we do can ever quell these fears 

“And if Lena works twice as hard and goes to a top law program, she might not get hired at any good law firms because she’s black. Or she might get hired somewhere, but she can’t do her job the way she wants because all people see is their own racism, not her.”

Cody Degen

Not sure what to think. I like it, but feel like it's the kind of book where the blurb promises more intrigue than the book itself delivered. I did enjoy it, just maybe wish it was a little longer, I guess.

It wasn’t my favorite read, but I think it was a good read in terms of subtly explaining the horror of intent vs action. 

C. J. Daley 

Had this on the shelf for a while and kept meaning to get to it. Finally did! 

This is a slow burn about a young woman that is pulled into what she thinks is a trial experiment that pays way too well. She just wants to make enough to take care of her mother and pay off their debts. It’s not too much to ask, although the pay and benefits seem to good to be true. A deep dive about government experiments that deals with class, race, and whether or not you can continue to have control/consent while in a situation filled with unknowns. 

I made the mistake of reading this while also reading The Twisted Ones by T. Kingfisher for the book club I’m in. So it was sadly just two slow burns at the same time. Honestly why it took me most of the month to read a 300 page book. I could see a reread for this one one day, I enjoyed it, but it was just a lot of nothing for a long period time across two books. 

I really enjoyed the concepts and themes this book was jumping into, I just didn’t grasp it as much as I would have if I read it faster/with no other book. Personally a 3/5*.

NPR Book of the Year 2020 Electric Literature: One of 55 Books by Women and Nonbinary Writers of Color to Read in 2020 | Lit Hub & The Millions: Most Anticipated Books of 2020 | Ms. Magazine: Anticipated 2020 Feminist Books | Refinery29: Books by Black Women We are Looking Forward To Reading | One of The Millions’ Most Anticipated Reads of 2020 | Amazon Book of the Month Pick | Audible Editor’s Pick | Essence’s Pick| Glamour’s Must Read | Ms. Magazine’s Anticipated Read of 2020 A startling debut about class and race, Lakewood evokes a terrifying world of medical experimentation—part The Handmaid’s Tale, part The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. When Lena Johnson’s beloved grandmother dies, and the full extent of the family debt is revealed, the black millennial drops out of college to support her family and takes a job in the mysterious and remote town of Lakewood, Michigan. On paper, her new job is too good to be true. High paying. No out of pocket medical expenses. A free place to live. All Lena has to do is participate in a secret program—and lie to her friends and family about the research being done in Lakewood. An eye drop that makes brown eyes blue, a medication that could be a cure for dementia, golden pills promised to make all bad thoughts go away. The discoveries made in Lakewood, Lena is told, will change the world—but the consequences for the subjects involved could be devastating. As the truths of the program reveal themselves, Lena learns how much she’s willing to sacrifice for the sake of her family. Provocative and thrilling, Lakewood is a breathtaking novel that takes an unflinching look at the moral dilemmas many working-class families face, and the horror that has been forced on black bodies in the name of science.

Taylor

I will definitely need to reread this book because I flew through it. The story is compelling, albeit horrifying, and so well-written that the dread almost sneaks up on you. I've already recommended it to several people and I will definitely be buying a copy when it comes out!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

Jayme Bosio

I liked how Lena was written - I could really empathize with her desperation and fear. But the ending felt rushed.

Lauren Attaway

Lakewood is the kind of black horror I want more of-an awareness of the past and present with enough tension to keep you engaged. 

Lakewood required me to remember my early twenties, the fierce "I can do it on my own" energy. When you remember what it's like, or empathize with how it feels to have no options, you can understand Lena's resolve to push through and keep your own eyes on the end of the story.

Katrina White

Chelsey

3.5/5 ⭐️ creepy and atmospheric and weird. but at the same time, thought provoking on issues of race and social class. as far as the horror factor goes (this book was recommended to me as one), i would say it’s not really a horror. it’s definitely creepy but in a greater social context way. in light of recent events, i feel like this book gave me a little bit more perspective.

b.andherbooks

Well, Lakewood truly and utterly compelled and disturbed me. What a book to happen to be published in 2020. Giddings is truly masterful at making you doubt, second guess, and feel so anxious, and if you are searching for something to challenge you in these ways please read! 

The horror in this tale is that Lena "consents" to a medical experiment without actually knowing what she is consenting to. She does it to help her mother, who is disabled and needs health insurance and care more than anything. As part of the experiment Lena needs to move to "Lakewood" where she is given a fake job at a bland and nondescript corporate office. She has to pretend to work this cube job while also undergoing the various experiments, some of which she is aware of and some who knows! juxtaposing this fake job so many folks work at in real life and the medical experiments is a real ride.

Throughout the story you are with Lena's thoughts as she tries maintain a steady calm. Lena is a Black woman, and we see how her ever day life outside of this awful experience is also fraught and dangerous. All of the doctors/staff of Lakewood are white.

There is a lot of excellent work going on in this story, and I'm glad I read it even though it seriously creeped me out.

CW for violence, gruesome/gross physical violence and side effects described, gas lighting, anxiety

Tori Shamlian

3.5 stars

I enjoyed this book because of its unique plot and eerie atmosphere. I kept trying to figure out exactly what was going on, which made it very compelling for me. 

I wish that more was elaborated on at the end, which is part of the reason why this is 3.5 stars for me. However, I acknowledge that this was realistic and intentional that we don’t really figure out what’s going on, so it did support the overall message of the book. 

If you want a mysterious read that incorporates elements of social justice and also some quite horrifying scenes, you’ll likely enjoy this!

Teresa Schultz

This was a pretty interesting read that uses the history of Black people being abused by science supposedly in the name of the greater good. There was a lot to like about this book - great lead character, good writing, some really scary scenes. But it did leave a LOT of questions open. Like, I'm good with books that don't have tidy endings, but this just felt like it forgot about a lot of the threads. Overall enjoyed it and would recommend.

Ana Couto

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book, but what I can say is that several days after finishing it, I still can’t stop thinking about it.

LAKEWOOD by Megan Giddings follows Lena, a young black college student with an ill mother to take care of, and whose beloved grandmother has recently passed away. Lena decides to take part in a secret medical experiment to pay off her family’s debts, and so that she can afford better healthcare for her mother. But what Lena thinks will be a harmless sacrifice on her part turns out to be her worst nightmare: she is treated as a human guinea pig, and her body is abused in the process.

Although a work of fiction, LAKEWOOD recalls certain real-life medical research studies that were performed on marginalized groups, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study and the case of Henrietta Lacks. I had to remind myself at times that I was reading a work of fiction, because that’s how immersive and realistic this book is in depicting the torture and racism that Lena endures. Ultimately, LAKEWOOD questions how much it takes to completely disregard basic human rights, and that we’re perhaps not as progressive a society as we like to think. This book is a brutal look at the racism and classicism embedded in US history, and it’s unlike any medical thriller out there. 

Thank you to Amistad and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Lakewood A Novel

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