Silver Lake Awakening is a sweeping, emotionally charged novel that follows Lena, a young Black woman navigating a whirlwind marriage, grief, cultural alienation, and the mysteries of a rural Kansas town in the late 1980s. Told through alternating perspectives, mainly Lena’s and Robert’s, the story digs into themes of love, betrayal, identity, and the hidden histories we inherit. As Lena adjusts to life far from her familiar Washington, D.C., she grapples with loss, a strained new marriage, and the uncanny happenings surrounding a peculiar lake that seems to know more than it should. What starts as a romantic journey soon becomes a tangle of family secrets, cultural ghosts, and dangerous awakenings.

I found Franklin’s voice bold and intimate. The writing is vivid, full of heart, and brutally honest in its portrayal of Black womanhood, sexuality, and grief. Lena’s character is layered and raw, and her inner monologues were some of my favorite parts. They were biting, smart, and vulnerable. The dialogue felt natural, sometimes messy, but always real. Franklin knows how to write people who feel alive, even if you don’t always like them. The pacing had its dips, but when it surged, especially during Lena’s psychological unraveling or Robert’s haunted reckonings, I was glued to the page. The lake as a character, almost alive and sentient, added a surreal layer I wasn’t expecting, and I really liked how that magical realism crept in slowly without overwhelming the story.

The book tackles big themes like colorism, sexual trauma, and mental health, and I admire its boldness. At times, though, I found myself wanting a little more subtlety. Some characters, like Saleen, leaned toward extremes that made them feel less grounded, and a few of the more intimate scenes felt a bit overwhelming. But even when I didn’t fully connect with a choice, Franklin’s storytelling kept me engaged and curious about what would happen next.

I’d recommend Silver Lake Awakening to readers who like their fiction brave, messy, and packed with emotion. It’s a good pick for fans of multicultural dramas, Southern gothic, and books that mix family secrets with just a touch of the uncanny. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s honest, and sometimes, that’s more powerful than perfect.

Pages: 348 | ISBN 979-8-89395-167-7