Black Widow

December 16, 2019
Palm Beach Post columnist Streeter discusses losing her husband and adopting her son in a bittersweet memoir that approaches heavy subjects with lightness and humor. When Streeter was 44, her husband, Scott, died from a heart attack while they were “making out” as their nearly two-year-old son, Brooks, whom they were in the process of adopting, slept in another room. The book opens on the day of the funeral, as Streeter, who is African-American and Baptist, tries to plan a religiously and culturally inclusive send-off for Scott, who was white and Jewish. The author fondly remembers when she and Scott first met, their quest to adopt, and the joy they felt when Brooks was placed with them as a foster child. She is forthright in discussing her life as a widow: she eats and drinks too much as a way of coping, moves in with her mother for support, has to tell Brooks that his dad is dead, and adopts him as a single parent. “I’ve climbed out of hell by the tips of my raggedy fingertips,” Streeter writes. This hopeful account will appeal to readers who enjoy stories of resiliency and new life chapters.

Starred review from March 1, 2020

In 2015, when she was 44, Palm Beach Post columnist Streeter became widowed following husband Scott's unexpected death. This, after being married for only a few years and in the process of adopting a toddler. Streeter writes about having to care for their son while figuring out how to live without Scott in smooth, conversational prose that carries readers through stories of good and bad times in their lives, including the trials and tribulations they faced as an interracial and interreligious couple. Readers who have experienced loss will recognize the tumble of emotions Streeter describes, as she responds to inappropriate bereavement comments and the stress of suddenly negotiating burial details for one's 40-something spouse with a mix of indignation and black humor. VERDICT A deep reflection on young widowhood, foster care and adoption, and the persistence of love, this work is recommended to fans of Nora McInerny (The Hot Young Widows Club), and anyone interested in stories of love, friendship, family, and loss, bound together with a wide, sparkly ribbon of humor. [See Prepub Alert, 8/25/19.]--Monica Howell, Northwestern Health Sciences Univ. Lib., Bloomington, MN

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2020
A memoir about how the author coped with her husband's sudden death. In her seriocomic debut, Palm Beach Post entertainment columnist Streeter pays tribute to her husband, Scott, by sharing detailed stories about their life together and her many struggles dealing with his death. Because Scott was white and Jewish and the author is black and Baptist, religion, racism, integration, and acceptance are significant topics throughout the narrative. For the first few months after his death, Streeter was overcome by grief as she had to pick Scott's coffin (a "lovely, Jewish-law-compliant pine box"), choose the appropriate spot to bury him and which dress to wear to the funeral, and, most importantly, figure out how to tell their son, almost-2-year-old Brooks, whose adoption was nearly complete, that "Daddy's not actually working late." The author also shares her insecurities about weight and overeating, the intense exercise program she endured to get back in shape after binging, how she drank to avoid the pain, and the necessity of relying on her mother, who had also recently lost her husband. Although Streeter's humor occasionally feels forced, her grief, lucidly portrayed, is tangible, and it's clear writing about her difficult experiences proved cathartic to her and to those who know her and Scott and their relationship. The most moving part of the book, divided into chapters such as "Grief Cake," "Healing: It's Like Putting Eyeliner on a Baby," and "You're Gonna Make it After All," concerns the author's continued hopes and fears regarding the final adoption of their son, a narrative thread that culminates in a heartwarming verdict by the judge. Her resilience in the face of devastating loss is commendable, and while the book isn't a top-shelf memoir about grief, Streeter's candid exploration will resonate with those who have dealt with similar circumstances. A love-filled eulogy to a beloved husband and the special times the couple shared before he died.

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