Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson opens just after the death of Mama Joy, owner of Harlem institution Strong Knits. Not only are her four adopted sons grieving, they’re flailing over what to do with the shop.
Kerry Fuller’s been a part-timer at the shop for years, and practically grew up with the boys. She’s had a thing for Jesse Strong forever, but Jesse’s not known for commitment — to anything. He convinces the brothers they can save the shop, but he knows he’s gonna need more than a little of Kerry’s help.
On the romance side, Real Men Knit is a slooooow burn. I blew past 67% and just like Kerry’s bestie Val, I was thinking, are Kerry and Jesse getting together or what?
But here’s the thing, the synopsis only tells you the plot. Real Men Knit is about more than Kerry and Jesse finally admitting they’ve had a thing for each other for a loooong time. It’s about family, it’s about community, it’s about nosy neighborhood ladies looking out for everyone. It’s about brothers giving each other sh-t and being up in each other’s business. And, at the risk of sounding corny, it’s about love blossoming when a community grows.
Real Men Knit also has some funny as hell lines. The brothers get some solid digs in on each other, and someone describes another character as a “broke-down Blair Underwood.” Bahahahahahahahaha. There’s more, but I don’t want to ruin it for you. If RMK is any indication, there’s some K.M. Jackson back catalog I need to catch up on.
Anytime you’re setting up a series, there’s always the question of who comes out needing their own story. For me, it’s Val. And maybe Lucas. But definitely Val. She’s the bestie who pushes Kerry, but always has her back.
Approach this one as contemporary fiction with a romance and you won’t be disappointed.
4 stars
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