Audiobook Review: ‘Blackout’

Blackout is the perfect summer anthology to read ASAP. With 6 big name authors, you know this is going to be good. Blackout features 6 separate stories that are all subtlety connected about Black love – some of it queer, some of it straight, some of it…well, you’ll have to find that out for yourself.

Title: Blackout
Authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, Nicola Yoon
Series: Standalone
Genres: Contemporary, Anthology

Goodreads Summary

I’ve been excited for Blackout ever since it was announced – so many authors I love! Writing an anthology about Black love during a Blackout in NYC in the summer! Right now is the perfect season to read this – you feel the heat of the summer, the feel of a Blackout with no A/C, living in the moment.

Blackout features 6 stories and 6 couples. I loved that the sexuality of the couples was spread out over the spectrum and nearly every story mentioned a queer person, even if the main couple themselves weren’t queer. This story takes place in the present time when being queer in NYC is generally accepted, and I love that these stories showed that it was ok – or it was ok to be questioning your sexual identity as well.

These stories also don’t shy away from mental health including anxiety and panic attacks which is important for young readers to be aware of. Its ok to not be ok and to ask for help.

I had my favorite stories (and favorite authors prior to even starting this) but I don’t want to give too much away, and will let you judge for yourself.

I’ll fully admit, I don’t usually like anthologies – they’re too brief for me to fully get a feel of a character and story like, and they’re over before I know it. Sadly I did feel that with this one – I enjoyed all the stories, but they ended just as they were getting good. The connection of each story was a little confusing in the beginning and it was hard to keep all the names and people straight as to how they were connected. Its not a big issue and maybe in print its easier to keep track of, as I listened to the audio, but I almost want a map of how everyone is connected!

New York City is a big city, but at the same time, its also very small and all connected.

Each story had it’s own narrator (or set of narrators, as the last story had 2 POVs) and I really appreciated that about this audiobook! I love when there are distinct voices for each story, and this one literally had different narrators. Highly recommend this as an audiobook if that’s your thing.

I ended up on 2.5x speed by the end.

My Rating:

If you’re looking for a quick summer read that takes place during the summer in NYC and features Black love between 6 young adult couples – you found the right book! These are 6 big name authors and they don’t disappoint. Each story was too short for my liking, but I know, thats the point fo an anthology – short stories. I love how each of them are subtly connected. Would recommend!

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