BLURB:

On a rainy day in May 1964, history professor Cecily Bridge-Davis begins to search for the sixty-five acres of land she inherited from her father’s family. The quest leads her to uncover a dark secret: In every generation, one offspring from each Bridge family unit vanishes—and is mysteriously whisked back in time. Rules have been established that must be followed to prevent dire consequences:

Never interfere with past events.

Always carry your free Negro papers.

Search for the survival family packs in the orchard and surrounding forest. The ribbon on the pack designates the decade the pack was made to orient you in time.

Do not speak to strangers unless absolutely necessary.

With only a family Bible and a map marked with the locations of mysterious containers to aid her, Cecily heads to the library, hoping to discover the truth of how this curse began, and how it might be ended. As she moves through time, she encounters a circle of ancestors, including Sabrina Humbles, a free Black woman who must find the courage to seize an opportunity—or lose her heart; Luke Bridge, who traverses battlefields, slavery, and time itself to reunite with his family; Rebecca Bridge, a mother tested by an ominous threat; and Amelia Bridge, a young woman burdened with survivor’s guilt who will face the challenge of a lifetime—and change Cecily’s life forever. It is a race through time and against the clock to find the answers that will free her family forever.

MY THOUGHTS:

I just finished The Fallen Fruit by Shawntelle Madison, and wow—what a ride! This book felt like it was meant to cross my path. As I turned the pages, I couldn’t help but notice the uncanny similarities between the characters’ names and my own ancestors. With names like Aunt Hilda and Winfred, they matched my grandmother and grandfather. How strange is that? Almost as if this book was calling out to me, especially since I’ve been diving into my family’s lineage through ancestry.com. The inclusion of a family tree at the front of the book was just the cherry on top—it made me feel like I was reading a piece of my own history.

The time travel element in The Fallen Fruit absolutely blew my mind. It was fascinating to see how each member of the Bridge family fell back in time, especially with the surname “Bridge.” Isn’t it poetic? They truly were the bridge between times. I also loved the idea of a “family curse.” Honestly, I believe there’s truth to that in real life, too—families carry burdens until someone in a generation decides to break the cycle.

Now, as much as I loved the story, I found myself wishing for more of Cecil’s perspective. Her research was so intriguing, and I felt like it deserved more space. While I adored the flashbacks with the Bridges, they were so immersive that I found myself yearning for a bit more balance.

One thing to note: this is a thicc book. At 430 pages (excluding the author’s note), it’s not a casual afternoon read. You have to commit to it and really let yourself sink into the world Shawntelle created. I did find the nicknames—like Emily being Milly and then Mel—a little confusing at times. And yes, I’ll admit I occasionally peeked at the back to see how much farther I had to go. Not because the story wasn’t engaging—it was!—but because the sheer length was daunting.

That ending though… it felt like such a cliffhanger! I wanted more because it didn’t feel tied up enough for me. Honestly, this story could have gone beyond 430 pages and still kept going with no clear end in sight. It’s almost like Shawntelle could write another book to keep it going forever, and honestly, I wouldn’t mind that.

Shawntelle Madison’s debut is nothing short of brilliant, despite the pacing challenges. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, family curses, and time travel, this book will immerse you in its world and leave you thinking long after you’ve finished.