Nappily Ever After: A Novel - Hardcover

Thomas, Trisha R.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0609605836 ISBN 13: 9780609605837

Publisher: Crown, 2000

Synopsis

What happens when you toss tradition out the window and really start living for yourself?

Venus Johnston has a great job, a beautiful home, and a loving live-in boyfriend named Clint, who happens to be a drop-dead gorgeous doctor. She has a weekly beauty-parlor date with Tina, who keeps Venus's long, processed hair slick and straight.  Ever since childhood, the tedious hours in the salon and the harsh, burning chemicals have grated on Venus, and increasingly she dreams of cutting off her beautiful "good" hair. When her boyfriend keeps balking at commitment, and the thought of another hour at the salon is just too much, Venus decides to give it up -- all of it. She trades in the long hair for a dramatically short, natural cut and sends Clint packing. It's a bold declaration of independence -- and one that has effects she never could have imagined. Reactions from friends and coworkers range from concern to contempt to outright condemnation. When Clint moves on and starts dating a voluptuous, long-haired beauty, Venus is forced to question what she really wants out of life. With wit, resilience, and a lot of determination, she finally learns what true happiness is . . . on her own terms.

In the bestselling style of Eric Jerome Dickey, Bebe Moore Campbell, and Terry McMillan, Nappily Ever After captures the hopes, dreams, and conflicts of the contemporary African-American woman. It's a delicious story told with style, savvy, and humor -- a novel that marks the debut of a fresh new voice in fiction.

About this title

From the Back Cover

"Nappily Ever After is not only a witty look at the trials and punishment of the singles scene, but it's also a smart examination of how much African-American women often define themselves by the appearance of their hair. With snappy dialogue and characters readers will recognize from their own lives, Nappily Ever After is unapologetically all natural -- a fun, thought-provoking read."
-- Tananarive Due, author of The Black Rose

"From the moment I started reading Nappily Ever After, I couldn't put it down! Trisha Thomas gives us a stellar first novel that gives new depth to the age-old relationship that we sistahs have with our hair. This is a jazzy, hip must-read!"
-- Debrena Jackson Gandy, author of All the Joy You Can Stand

"Trisha Thomas's debut novel is a fusion of humor, a fast-paced plot, and characters we care about. Venus Johnston's journey is a familiar and compelling one that will have satisfied readers craving an encore from Trisha Thomas."        
-- Patricia Elam, author of Breathing Room

"Nappily Ever After is a vibrant tale of a young woman's journey to independence. The characters are real and emerge from this novel as people you actually know. It's an exquisitely passionate novel from an immensely gifted new author."        
-- Pamela Walker-Williams, The Page-Turner Network

About the Author

TRISHA R. THOMAS was born in San Diego and now lives in the beautiful Northwest, happily ever after, with her husband and two children. She is working on her second novel.

About this edition

• Publisher: Crown
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0609605836
• ISBN 13: 9780609605837
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288