⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Berta’s Bounceback
Malt Shop Milestones Book #2
Nadine C. Keels
Berta’s Bounceback is book two of the Malt Shop Milestones books — a spin on malt shop fiction centering Black representation, which the genre was lacking. (Read my full review of Book 1, Vicky’s Victory, here.)
Berta is your average high school girl — and that’s the problem. With her best friend achieving straight A’s, a claim to fame with a column in the school newspaper, and a popular athlete boyfriend, Berta’s life and schoolwork struggles lead to her feeling exceptionally average. This is further emphasized with the arrival of a new girl at school, who catches everyone’s interest, possibly including Berta’s long-term boyfriend.
This is a fantastic YA novel. Berta’s jealousy and inner struggles are completely relatable for every good girl who has ever felt like she’s not enough. It also provides a wonderful commentary into Black community, segregation, and culture in the 1950s.
I wouldn’t say it’s 100% necessary to read Vicky’s Victory first, but it will provide you with character and dialogue context throughout the book. Nadine Keels does a good job of summing up the events of book one without overexplaining.
I definitely recommend this book for any teenager who likes a heartfelt coming of age story and clean romance. I also recommend it for adults who just need a hug in book form.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you, Nadine C Keels for the complimentary ebook! All opinions are my own.
You can find more information about Berta’s Bounceback here.
To read book 1, start here.
The Midnight Review 