Let It Shine

Alyssa Cole — 2016

*2016 RITA Award finalist for Best Novella* Sofronia Wallis knows that proper Black women don’t court trouble by upending the status quo, but it’s 1961 and the Civil Rights movement is in full swing. Sofie’s spent half her life being prim, proper, and reserved—as if that could bring her mother back—but the nonviolent protests happening across the South bring out her inner agitator. Ivan Friedman has devoted his life to boxing, loving the finesse of a well-delivered punch and the penance of receiving one. His family escaped from Europe before the horrors of WWII, and Ivan decides to help fight injustice in their new country, even if it goes against all his instincts as a fighter. When Ivan and Sofie meet, they realize that their pasts are intertwined and—with the sparks that fly between them—perhaps their futures will be too. With everything in their society lined up against them, will Sofie and Ivan be able to beat the odds? Or will their chance at love be destroyed by the tumultuous times they live in?

Reviews

Becky@afoolsingenuity

Jan 25, 2022

This was spectacular. I should have known to expect nothing less from Alyssa Cole. It was a beautiful romance set in a time of so much impending change but that was also so hard for so many. She didn’t she away from the very real history of the freedom riders and she also showed that although a lot has changed there are conversations still happening today which are not too dissimilar to the struggles of then. It’s why history is so important. You’d hope we would have managed to learn from it.

b.andherbooks@bandherbooks

Oct 9, 2021

I just finished Let it Shine by Alyssa Cole and wow. All the stars! I listened to the entire story today (around 3.5 hours) because I could not wait to see how this couple, who faced so many challenges, would get their HEA. Set in the 1960s during the lunch counter sit-ins, Let it Shine is a childhood friends to adult lovers interracial romance between a Black Christian university student and a White Jewish Boxer who reconnect during a non-violent protest training. While their story is fraught with unflinching portrayals of racism and violence, Cole makes you believe these two deserve their hard won HEA. Highly recommend!!!

Samantha@starlessreader

Dec 6, 2021

Jo H@psyche_eros

Aug 27, 2021