These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Twin sisters Stella and Desiree Vignes are Black but could pass as white: They come from the fictional Black town of Mallard, where the residents pride themselves on the lightness of their skin. One day, Stella decides to fully cross over into the white world, abandoning her past and her family in search of a discrimination-free life. Brit Bennett’s epic multigenerational tale follows both sisters and their daughters as they deal with the repercussions of this choice, and traces the unpredictable ways that personal decisions and societal rules interact.
Buy Now: The Vanishing Half on Bookshop | Amazon
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision