The New Naturals

This book is a quick read and escape.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

I enjoyed Bump's debut Everywhere You Don't Belong. It wasn't a perfect book, but it showed so much potential that when I saw the author's sophomore effort was on the way, I had to snag a copy.

The premise of a young Black couple starting an isolated utopian community really pulled me in. Like Everywhere You Don't Belong, The New Naturals highlights Bump's knack for language, clever turns of phrases tucked between melodic prose that consistently move the story forward. One of my favorite things about Bump's debut was the characters. Unfortunately, none of these characters stuck with me the way that Nugget, Paul, or Claude's grandmother did, but that's not to say that these characters are not also well-crafted. They just can't compare to their predecessors.

The New Naturals is a novel that seems to brush against something wonderful, but never really digs down into it. Perhaps this just comes with the satirical nature of the writing, but even the satire seems underdeveloped in this story. I feel like there's a nugget of brilliance here that doesn't quite develop. This is most evident, in my opinion, in all the various threads that are introduced and just seem to dangle loosely–entire storylines that just end, connections that aren't quite made.

Though I didn't love The New Naturals, I see some of that same potential I saw in Everywhere.... I'm hopeful that the next book will be the one that really brings all the magic together.

In my other review of Bump's work, I compared Everywhere You Don't Belong heavily to the writing of Adam Levin. I don't see that as much here, but now that I've read more Percival Everett, I'm beginning to see a comparison there. Now, it might be worth taking note that Levin provided a glowing piece of praise for Bump's debut, and Everett provided a blurb for The New Naturals. So I think it's evident to me, if not to everyone else reading this by now, that I'm apparently a terribly lazy reviewer who cannot think for himself. So take this review for what it's worth.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for feedback.