Nookie
Anieshea Dansby
ISBN: 9780976806127
Art Official Media
Reviewed By Daria Miles
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Joy
is a high school senior just looking for a little stability, but the
unpredictability of her life provides her with anything but that…
Fresh
off a broken heart, her daily life is thrown into further turmoil when
her parents decide to make a sudden move from Brooklyn to Philadelphia.
The unfamiliar nature of her new environment leaves Joy with little
comfort, and the lingering sting of her failed relationship with
ex-boyfriend Josh only adds to the emotionally chaotic state of her
life. Worst of all, her father is almost never around, leaving her to
deal with the deranged antics of her mother – who is borderline insane.
Even
in the darkest of times, though, the light of hope always manages to
shine through, and for Joy that light comes in the form of Kevin, a
young, upstart entrepreneur who takes a liking to Joy upon first
glance. The two of them soon form an unbreakable bond, and Kevin
becomes the rock of support that Joy needs following her parents'
untimely deaths and the fallout that ensues.
Things start to get
shaky for the new couple, though, when Josh muscles his way back into
the picture. Refusing to let Joy be with anyone other than him, he
haunts her every move, threatening her very freedom – until he's
suddenly murdered, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain
suspicious. As Joy and Kevin begin to feel the heat, the strength of
their bond is tested, and Joy ultimately finds herself having to fend
for herself in order to survive. Then and only then does she realize
the true power of "nookie" in flipping the script on adversity.
A cleverly crafted quick read, Nookie
takes the reader into a world of deception, intrigue, and ultimate
danger that most people only experience vicariously, via TV or the
movies. Anieshea Dansby does a convincing job of presenting the
characters – and the situations they find themselves in – in a very
realistic light, shedding valuable insight on everyday scenarios that
shape the lives of numerous individuals who often find themselves boxed
in with nowhere to turn. Trapped within the confines of their
ever-shrinking worlds, they're forced to rely on their instincts to get
them through, and, in Joy's case, her natural knack for the hustle
cannot be denied – just ask the men who only learn about her true
nature when it's much too late to do anything about it.
Slick and engaging, Nookie is a handy how-to guide on gettin' your game tight. Read and enjoy.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Anieshea Dansby (Nookie)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Anieshea. We're looking forward to learning more about your book.
Anieshea Dansby: Thank You.
AR: Is Joy's character based on anyone you know?
AD: No, Joy's character isn't based on anyone I know.
AR: When Joy first meets Kevin, how is it so easy for her to open up to him so quickly?
AD: Joy opens up to Kevin so easily because she's just had her heart broken by Josh and Kevin is there for her. Joy is still naïve and believes that because he's there when she needs someone that he can provide the love she's been yearning for.
AR: Joy's relationship with Josh is a rather abusive one. Do you think many Black couples - young and old - find themselves in similarly abusive situations, yet refuse to acknowledge that they're suffering from domestic violence?
AD: Yes, I think that many people do. In Joy's case, there isn't any guidance from her parents. She watched her parents go through their dysfunction, and neither did anything to change their situation. Also, I believe that many people, especially young black women, allow themselves to be abused in one form or another because they want to be in love so bad and believe they have no other options.
AR: In that same vein, Joy struggles constantly with her mother, who is obviously mentally ill. Do you think mental illness is a common problem in the Black community, the severity of which goes largely unreported?
AD: Yes, I believe that mental illness in Black communities gets overlooked. As with many other illnesses, such as HIV, people are just in denial or they ignore the symptoms. When I was younger, there were many people in my neighborhood like Joy's mother, but the kids on the block were just told to stay away from them as they walked up and down the street.
AR: Without giving too much away, how were you able to conceal Joy's true hustler nature for so long until the surprising ending?
AD: Joy's background story is different from the lifestyle that she has by the end of the book. I tried to make it so that she could go either way so that no one knows exactly what to expect from her character.
AR: If there's one piece of advice that you could give to any young Black females currently struggling with the same adverse conditions that confront Joy, what would it be?
AD: Stay strong. Love yourself. Try to make positive decisions because in real life every action has consequences. If you have no one close to you to turn to, there are so many programs, like support groups, that can help.
AR: Please share more with us about your experience thus far with your publisher, Art Official Media.
AD: My experience with my publisher has been great. He has helped me make my dream a reality and made it possible for me to be a successful author one day.
AR: What's next for you?
AD: Currently, I'm working on the sequel to Nookie.
AR: Where can people learn more about your writings and other efforts?
AD: At myspace.com/AniesheaDansby or ArtOfficialMedia.com.
AR: Also, how can our readers contact you directly?
AD: They can email me at Ndan924@aol.com.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
AD: Thank you for this opportunity to express myself.
AR: Thanks again, Anieshea, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
AD: You're welcome, and thank you.