The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

This novel could not have come out at a more opportune time.  By the same author that wrote The Mothers, Brit Bennett hits it out of the park with this one. This novel spans at least three generations and takes on a whole of complicated topics: racial identity, bigotry, sexual identity, gender identity, passing.  Nothing is off topic here and it was amazing. 

The book spans a number of decades as well - from the 1940's to the 1990's -and follows Stella and Desiree Vignes.  Desiree and Stella are twins that were born and raised in Mallard, Louisiana, a town founded by their great grandfather, who wanted an oasis for light skinned black people like him. I think he conceived it as a place where he could be safe and successful; however, it doesn't help. The twins see their father beaten and lynched, their mother struggling in poverty and their own futures becoming more and more impoverished if they stay in Mallard. The twins, within the few pages, take off to New Orleans together, but then split apart - Desiree marries the darkest man she can find and Stella lives as a white woman. 

I absolutely loved this book and the issues that it took on. It's well written and kept me curious, not only about the characters, but about the issues that it presented - including issues of passing, racism, sexuality and class.  Highly recommended.