Brooklyn, 1939. Nineteen-year-old Marie Young dreams of a life beyond the limits others have set for her. As she balances family obligations, first love, and a job in a hospital kitchen, heartbreak and the approach of war force her to confront difficult truths about race, class, loyalty, and the sacrifices expected of women.
Warm, witty, and deeply moving, With Your Bad Self captures a vibrant Black Brooklyn rarely seen in fiction, introducing a heroine readers will not soon forget.
Praise for With Your Bad Self
“A vivid and immersive story that speaks to the centre of human desire.”
— Jendella Benson, author of Hope & Glory
“If you are a fan of larger known writers like James Baldwin, or lesser-known heavyweights like Ann Petry, you will become enraptured with Fields' prose, which floats from page to page like cigarette smoke.”
— Mateo Askaripour, author of Black Buck and This Great Hemisphere
“With a tone reminiscent of Nella Larsen's Quicksand, With Your Bad Self leaves everything on the page; hope, regret, and commitment to the choices we make, good or bad. A witty, heartfelt, and sometimes gut-wrenching read from Fields—definitely a writer to watch.”
— Maame Blue, author of Bad Love