Release: October 2, 2018
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Stephanie Guerilus
Source: Rockstar Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle
__
__
Control, whose title is lifted from the iconic Janet Jackson song, embodies its name. Theresa Marie Jenkins is a 17-year-old who thinks she knows it all. As the saying goes, a hard head makes for a soft ass and Reesa learns the hard way that she doesn’t really know much about life.
Reesa quickly becomes an It girl after speaking up at a Black Lives Matter protest but her activism gets in the way of her career. She wants to be the next pop diva on the charts. For that to happen, Reesa will have to be packaged; smile and wave as though she’s at a beauty pageant. She’ll have to give control to advisers who want her to sing on cue, tap dance on command, no throwing shoes at parties and keeping her mouth shut on the culture. If only Reesa had just sat there and ate her food.
Control is a novel that addresses the political climate, #MeToo, identity and what it means when you are a young woman of color who the world doesn’t automatically think to protect.
About the Author:
Stephanie Guerilus is a multimedia journalist and social media expert.
She is a native of Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of Haitian immigrants. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Temple University and is the secretary of the New York Association of Black Journalists.
Prior to joining the chapter board, she has volunteered with the National Association of Black Journalists. In this role, she helped in functions related to the annual convention, media and organizing various panels that have featured April Reign and Vann R. Newkirk II.
Stephanie previously worked as a reporter at The Philadelphia Tribune, the oldest African American newspaper in the country. Through this position, she was assigned late breaking news coverage in addition to the community, religion and obituary beats. She interviewed such notable names as Rev. Al Sharpton, actress Victoria Rowell, Sen. Pat Toomey, Olympian Dawn Staley, gospel artist Mary Mary, Democratic Strategist Donna Brazile and TV Personality and Professor Melissa Harris-Perry.
Control Review:
There is a LOT that happens in this story, and many parts which I enjoyed. The author writes Reesa’s journey in a dramatic manner where you don’t know what trouble she would find herself in.
In fact, the author wrote all the characters in a dynamic manner. Reesa is confident and bold to speak her mind. I loved her relationship with her mom and Steph. Steph is a wonderful best friend. Brad is also interesting as a gay character. Chante is memorable as a snarky somewhat negative character. On the other side, Calvin is a character who is calculative, sleazy, and a person you just love to despise. I also liked Marisol, Roger, and Ice.
Moreover, I enjoyed the author’s style of writing. The dialogues are down to earth, and the storyline has some surprising twists. Some of the scenes which stood out for me were when Reesa converses with Deena Carter and her toxic scenes with Calvin. Similarly, I laughed so much when Missy walks in on Jay and Reesa in a compromising situation. At the same time, I loved the turbulent relationship Reesa has with Brad, and how they try to work out a family relationship.
While I appreciate the author for covering so many topics, at times it felt like there was too much and the story digressed. Don’t get me wrong. The story is very entertaining as we see Reesa progress with her career and personal conflicts. But the story sidetracks with Missy and Allen’s drama, Chante, and others. Also, the story ends with a big cliffhanger in an abrupt manner that makes you go ‘that’s it?’ I hope there is a sequel because I need to know what happens!
Overall, this was entertaining, interesting, and relevant to whatever has happened in the last year.
Giveaway:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of CONTROL, US Only.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Control by Stephanie Guerilus Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Book Tour Schedule
Week One:
Two Chicks on Books-Interview-10-1-2020
Bookhounds YA-Interview-10-2-2020
Week Two:
What A Nerd Girl Says-Excerpt-10-5-2020
Oh Hey! Books-Guest Post-10-6-2020
Books A-Brewin’-Excerpt-10-7-2020
Lisa-Queen of Random-Guest Post-10-8-2020
Bri’s Book Nook-Review-10-9-2020
Week Three:
The Phantom Paragrapher-Review-10-12-2020
Pine Enshrined Reviews-Review-10-13-2020
Nays Pink Bookshelf-Review-10-14-2020
Abbott Can’t Write-Review-10-15-2020
A Dream Within A Dream -Guest Post-10-16-2020
Week Four:
YABooksCentral-Guest Post-10-19-2020
Rajiv’s Reviews-Review-10-20-2020
tmbacorbett-Excerpt-10-21-2020
Gimme The Scoop Reviews-Excerpt-10-22-2020
Bookswithpaulak-Review-10-23-2020
Week Five:
Rockstar Book Tours-Excerpt-10-26-2020
JaimeRockstarBookTours-Instagram Post-10-27-2020
Jaime’s World-Excerpt-10-28-2020
The Bookwyrm’s Den-Review-10-29-2020
Onepageatatime88 -Review-10-30-2020
