“Because nothing is really yours. Everything has an expiration date.” – Ladii Nesha, Losin Control
Book Details
Author: Ladii Nesha
Genre: Urban Fiction/ Contemporary Romance
Pages: 617
Author Instagram: Author_Nesha
Author Facebook: Nesha Williams
Author TikTok: Author_Ladii_Nesha
Website: www.authorladiinesha.com
Synopsis
Czar, Detroit’s bad boy and chart-topping rapper puts on a hard exterior as a disguise for the demons of his childhood. Marley, a broken hearted shadow, fights day in and day out to outrun the trauma that haunts her. Together, they’re forced to navigate the highs and lows of a passionate, volatile connection, industry secrets, and the deep wounds that refuse to stay buried. As love and pain intertwine, Czar and Marley must decide whether healing is possible or if some scars are meant to last forever.
Content Warnings
- Gun Violence
- Grief and loss
- Mental health struggles
- Sexual Content
My Take on The Book
What I Loved
- Character Depth: Both Marley and Czar are richly developed characters. They both exhibit growth and resilience across the developing plot. Czar is very emotionally intelligent, but lacks the ability to understand other’s perspectives. Marley is not as emotionally in tuned as Czar, but that is a result of her trauma. She has taught herself to shut everyone out. The two balance one another out by Czar teaching Marley to open up again, and Marley teaching Czar how to listen and understand things that aren’t his norm.
- Authentic Dialogue: The banter and conversations felt genuine, adding layers to their relationship. We definitely see each character’s personalities peak throughout the different conversations, even with the side characters. Every conversation was meaningful and gave something new to the plot.
- Emotional Resonance: The portrayal of grief, love, and healing was heartfelt and relatable. It wasn’t a cliche or an over dramatic narrative or trauma dump. I understood where both characters’ emotions stemmed from and why they made the decisions that they made.
- Cultural Representation: The Detroit setting and cultural nuances added a touch of authenticity to the story. Being from Ohio, I felt this story gave something to the Black literature genre that we don’t often see. Many stories often take place in the major cities and have unrealistic lifestyles.
What Didn’t Quite Work for Me
- Marley….. Marley folded too quickly for my comfort. As soon as Benny returned, it was like she forgot all about Czar and his feelings. Considering Benny should have been dead 3 years prior and had no intention of reaching out to Marley until seeing her in the media with Czar, speaks to her disloyal character. The way that she went straight back to him felt unrealistic. Realistically, one wouldn’t immediately go back and lay with their ex who lied about being dead for 3 years. There would have been more questions asked and a slight bit of discomfort. I understand that Benny was her first love, but Benny should have been a ghost. When a ghost comes knocking at your door, you don’t answer. I mean that could just be me.
“If be my peace was a person,” – Ladii Nesha, Losin Control
Final Thoughts
Losin Control is a wonderfully written and compelling urban romance novel that stands out in the genre. Ladii Nesha easily intertwines humor, love, and trauma into one interesting narrative that wraps you up and doesn’t let you go until you reach the end. I heard many people say that it took them less than a week to finish! Still, I can’t wait to read what happens next in Marley and Czar’s journey because there is no way the story ends there.
Rating
4.5 out 5
Have you read Losin Control? Share your thoughts in the comments. For more reviews and discussions on Black Literature, film, and culture, follow my instagram at @Litnlovely and my Tiktok @luvlaurynb.