Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Confession: I added Real Men Knit by Kwana Jackson to my TBR because of the cover. Timbs & that title? C’mon! How could I not be intrigued? I also added it because my niece likes to knit. I was sure she either read it or would want to read it, and we’d be able to chat and bond over it. Sure enough, when I forwarded it to her, she had already read it. #ProudAuntie

Real Men Knit follows Jesse Strong and his fellow adopted brothers in the aftermath of the unexpected death of their mother Mama Joy, as she was known around the neighborhood and to her customers. The older brothers, settled into their own careers, want to either sell or shut down their mother’s Harlem-based shop Strong Knits, set in building whose upper floors double as their childhood home. Playboy Jesse pleads his case to let him run it. In his corner: childhood crush and Mama Joy’s long-time employee Kerry, who agrees to help him learn the ropes of running the shop. Of course, an “entanglement” ensues.

Kerry’s best friend and co-worker knows that she’s also had a longtime crush on Jesse, while Jesse’s brothers, who feel protective over Kerry, worry that Jesse’s non-committal ways could backfire on him and the shop. Jesse’s ladies’ man reputation is cause for pause on both their parts.

If not for the case that the story is told from Kerry and Jesse’s perspectives, I half expected a curve ball to be thrown and for Kerry to fall for one of the other brothers. The characters knew each other for years. It wasn’t heavy on the romance, courtship or relationship aspect. Matter of fact, it seems to gloss over that with a quick mention of time lapse before the shop’s grand re-opening.

It’s a cute story. The novel could be a stand-alone. I didn’t finish it lamenting the fact that I wanted more, but there is sequel. My Libby audiobook hold for Knot Againhappened to come in a few days after finishing Real Men Knit, so I dove right in.

View all my reviews