I’ve never read Brenda Jackson, though she’s been on my radar as a Black romance author and a well-loved author by many, and this sounded like exactly the kind of book I would enjoy with lots of family history and secrets. I did really enjoy the story and the family elements, and a part of me wants to go through the backlist for more about the Madaris family, but I also feel like I’m not the right audience for these books (and I’m sure a big reason I was able to finish this was because of the audio format). Spilling the Tea is extremely cis-heteronormative and I didn’t feel like there was any space for queer people in the world. Which is *fine* but not exactly the stories I want to read. What truly bothered me, and the biggest reason this is a three-star read for me, is the ableism prevalent throughout the story. When Chance was younger, he was enlisted in the military and ended up injured to the point he was in a wheelchair and told he’d never walk again. It was frustrating to read about how with the help of Mama Laverne, God, and physical therapy he no longer needs any kind of mobility aid. I understand this is a fantasy, because that’s what all romances are, but this particular fantasy is harmful to people who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, and there is no “cure.” Again, I enjoyed a lot of the familial elements of the story and the world Brenda Jackson has created, but this is not a world I feel like I can be a part of.
Again, I do think a large part of why I was able to read the whole book and not DNF is audio (I struggle with not getting bored with contemporary romances these days), and Ron Butler is a very good narrator. He had distinct voices, and even his intonation outside dialogue would change depending on whose perspective the story was focused on. I might check out more of his work because I really enjoyed the narration.
Overall this is a book I enjoyed, but wouldn’t necessarily recommend without prefacing the ableism and cis-heteronormativity. I can see why Brenda Jackson is a beloved author and her story telling skills are strong. And the family elements of this book were so good and intrigued me and make me want to try more books following the Madaris family, though I doubt it will be a priority in my TBR. I believe this is a book that will find its audience, but I’m not the best audience for it.