Bennett is clearly a gifted writer, using age-old literary conventions for her own thematic purposes with freshness and originality. This novel spans decades and generations, centering on the twins, Stella and Desiree Vignes, living in the fictional small town of Mallard, Louisiana, a post-slavery town started by their ancestor for light-skinned free blacks. Their mother cleans houses for rich white people, raising the daughters alone after their father was brutally murdered by white men. The girls grow up to make radically different choices, in response to their characters and reactions to that traumatic experience. Escaping the limits of small-town life for New Orleans as teenagers, Desiree chooses marriage to the blackest man she can find, while Stella see an opportunity to marry a white man and “pass” as white. Each has a daughter, whose histories become entwined.

We see the effects of trauma on world view and life choices; the grief of losing a twin; the choices people of color must make to escape bigotry; and the consequences of deception, both of self and others. Bennett handles so many rich thematic strands in one book, it is a marvel that she pulls it off with such grace. Characters are fully realized, and profound life choices with their resulting tragic circumstances feel painful and genuine. Deception has its consequences for the next generation, as does authenticity.

It is no wonder that this book shot to prominence on the New York Times bestseller list last year. This is an excellent choice for book discussion groups, or for any thoughtful reader. Highly recommend.