Homebodies : a novel
(Book)

"A young Black woman contends with New York media culture."--Kirkusreviews.com.

Mickey Hayward dreams of writing stories that matter. She has a flashy media job that makes her feel successful and a devoted girlfriend who takes care of her when she comes home exhausted and demoralized. Its not all A-list parties and steamy romance, but Mickeys on her way, and its far from the messy life she left behind in Maryland. Despite being overlooked and mistreated at work, it seems like she might finally get the chance to prove herselfuntil she finds out shes being replaced. Distraught and enraged, Mickey fires back with a detailed letter outlining the racism and sexism shes endured as a Black woman in media, certain it will change the world for the better. But when her letter is met with overwhelming silence, Mickey is sent into a tailspin of self-doubt. Forced to reckon with just how fragile her life isincluding the uncertainty of her relationshipshe flees to the last place she ever dreamed she would run to, her hometown, desperate for a break from her troubles. Back home, Mickey is seduced by the simplicity of her old lifeand the flirtation of a former flamebut her life in New York refuses to be forgotten. When a media scandal catapults Mickeys forgotten letter into the public zeitgeist, suddenly everyone wants to hear what Mickey has to say. Its what shes always wantedisnt it?