Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole

Let Us Dream by Alyssa Cole

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I attempted and failed my first time to read this book. Though, to be fair, it was more of a glance to see if I'd read this one right then and there or something else. So I hadn't really gotten that far before turning to something else. Despite that initial failure, I did find that first attempt to tease me with potential. And, once I actually came back to this book, I found the book addictive, unexpected, and quite good and fun.

It is interesting to read a multi-racial book that contains not a single main character of the pale (underside of a orca - as one woman described her skin in a different book) race. The lead female character, and yes the leads did alternate POV between a lead female and a lead male, is/was a dark skin woman. Not 100% sure what exactly a woman of her background would be termed in 1917 Harlem, but she was called, at least once or thrice, 'Colored'. The man? Why, he also had dark skin. But of a different hue (though the woman was close enough to 'fake it' for years, but that's a story to be found in the book), for he was/is an Indian. At least that's what they would have called him in 1917. Today? Why, they'd call him . . . an Indian. Since he is from India (which, at the time, was controlled by the British). Bengal to be more exact - some small village, though he came to America by way of years in Calcutta, then years on a British ship before leaping off to try his luck in New York.

Bertha Hines, the female lead, owns and operates the Cashmire when the story opens. An entertainment type place, a cabaret type place. A place that serves food, alcohol, and offers up entertainment. And rents rooms to their staff, who, per chance, might use said rooms to offer more services. Bertha, when the story opens (I repeat myself), has two main missions in life - operate her place, and try to help women get the vote - it's coming up as an option for the men to vote on in the next election. She's a strong independent woman, and isn't one to 'play with' any man, especially since they'd try to control her. And stuff.

Amir Chowdhury opens the story being examined by Bertha for a possible position in her kitchen. She needs help in there. Specifically for a dish washer. Amir reluctantly accepts the job, for he needs the money, but it isn't really what he came to America to do. It should be noted somewhere along the way that Amir is quite good at cooking - though that is not immediately made known to anyone since he was hired to be a dish washer and Bertha already had a cook (albeit a heavily pregnant cook).

Amir and Bertha slow burn their way to a romance. Through boss/employee, to trading favors to . . I don't know how to continue this line. The trading favors involves the part where Bertha, as part of her lifting up her workers, is teaching her female staff politics - and Amir gets to be a somewhat hidden student himself in exchange for dance lessons (there's a story there about that as well).

I rather enjoyed and had fun devouring this short novel.

Rating: 4.8

January 24 2018



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