A Coat of Yellow Paint

March 12, 2021

Parenting influencer Davis puts a fresh coat of paint on her mommy blogger lifestyle to bring readers a new perspective on her whirlwind life as a wife and mother of five. Painted as a feel-good self-help book, A Coat of Yellow Paint is, unfortunately, a whitewashed account of privileged motherhood. Her seemingly intentional omission of any mention of her privilege until the last chapter invalidates any sense of honesty in the memoir. She skates over significant details of living in an expensive Manhattan neighborhood; being able to afford numerous IVF treatments in New York and Washington, DC; international jet-setting with toddlers in tow; and casually abandoning her Juilliard education. The meaningful mantras and philosophies Davis has scattered throughout the book offer some empowering feel-goodness, but they lack depth and almost seem out of place, as do her accounts of hairstyles and favorite foods at the beginning of each chapter. Some readers may get tired of the author referring to herself as mama and her children as littles. VERDICT A self-serving view of white motherhood that will primarily interest Davis's loyal Instagram followers; readers who aren't already dazzled by this social media darling can probably sit this one out.--Alana Quarles, Fairfax County P.L., Alexandria, VA

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