The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls - by Anissa Gray (Paperback)

About the Book

Includes a readers guide (Behind the book: an essay from the author; Questions for discussion; Further reading).

Book Synopsis

"If you enjoyed An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls...an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness."--The Washington Post

"A fast-paced, intriguing story...the novel's real achievement is its uncommon perceptiveness on the origins and variations of addiction."--The New York Times Book Review

One of the most anticipated reads of 2019 from Vogue, Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Buzzfeed, Essence, Bustle, HelloGiggles and Cosmo!

"The Mothers meets An American Marriage" (HelloGiggles) in this dazzling debut novel about mothers and daughters, identity and family, and how the relationships that sustain you can also be the ones that consume you.

The Butler family has had their share of trials--as sisters Althea, Viola, and Lillian can attest--but nothing prepared them for the literal trial that will upend their lives.

Althea, the eldest sister and substitute matriarch, is a force to be reckoned with and her younger sisters have alternately appreciated and chafed at her strong will. They are as stunned as the rest of the small community when she and her husband, Proctor, are arrested, and in a heartbeat the family goes from one of the most respected in town to utter disgrace. The worst part is, not even her sisters are sure exactly what happened.

As Althea awaits her fate, Lillian and Viola must come together in the house they grew up in to care for their sister's teenage daughters. What unfolds is a stunning portrait of the heart and core of an American family in a story that is as page-turning as it is important.

Review Quotes

"The inequities of the justice system, the fortitude of women of color, and the bittersweet struggle to connect are rendered ravishly in this bighearted novel." --Oprah Magazine

"Gray's nuanced, lyrical debut is a moving examination of the ties that bind and--nearly as often--bless."--People

"[An] intimate family saga sure to appeal to fans of Tayari Jones and Celeste Ng."--Entertainment Weekly

"Masterful debut...a poetically written story."--Delia Owens, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Where the Crawdads Sing

"I was immediately taken by the power and honesty of Anissa Gray's voice. She is a writer to watch, and this debut is not to be missed!"
--Terry McMillan, New York Times bestselling author of I Almost Forgot About You and Waiting to Exhale

"If you enjoyed An American Marriage, read The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls...an absorbing commentary on love, family and forgiveness."--The Washington Post

"As in Tayari Jones's best-selling An American Marriage, Gray uses imprisonment as the backdrop for a disarmingly compelling story that skirts easy answers and sentimentality. Conversational in tone and difficult in subject, Care and Feeding tells not just an American story but several important ones." --Vogue

"Gray's absorbing novel is about family and the things we hunger for."--Real Simple

"Anissa Gray's debut is heralded as "The Mothers meets An American Marriage." If that's not enough to sell you on this stunning novel about family and relationships, we don't know what will." -HelloGiggles

"[A] stark, emotional story you don't want to miss."--Bustle

"A trio of sisters navigate the tricky waters of forgiveness in Gray's heartfelt, beautifully written debut...Get an extra copy for your best friend or your own sister; this is one you're going to want to talk about."--Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"Gray beautifully captures the way strong women can piece a community back together, taking care of their loved ones while still figuring out how to care for themselves. A graceful debut that feels timely and important."--Karin Tanabe, author of The Gilded Years

"This is perfect for fans of Brit Bennett's The Mothers; readers will be deeply affected by this story of a family wrestling to support itself."--Publisher's Weekly

"Gray's engrossing and moving debut novel considers secrets and lies and their effect on the families of three sisters."--Booklist

"Gray manages a large cast of characters with ease, sharply differentiating between the voices of hardheaded Althea, shrewd Viola, and hesitating Lillian, who narrate the novel in alternating chapters."--Kirkus

"[A] moving portrait of a troubled family that would be an excellent book club pick."--PureWow

About the Author

Anissa Gray is a Senior Editor at CNN Worldwide and a contributor to Emmy and DuPont-Columbia award-winning coverage of some of the most consequential stories of our time. She began her career at Reuters as a reporter, based in New York, covering business news and international finance. Born in St. Joseph, Michigan, Gray studied English and American literature at New York University. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her wife.