Synopses & Reviews
A stunning, contemporary Black southern gothic novel about what it means to be a poor woman in the God- fearing south. Perfect for readers of Mexican Gothic and Luster
"Every page, every scene, every sentence of Monica Brashears's debut novel House of Cotton dazzles and surprises. An intense, enthralling, and deeply satisfying read!" Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
"A new, dazzling, and essential American voice." George Saunders, author of Lincoln in the Bardo
Magnolia Brown is nineteen years old, broke, and effectively an orphan. She feels stuck and haunted: by her overdrawn bank account, her predatory landlord, and the ghost of her late grandmother Mama Brown.
One night, while working at her dead-end gas station job, a mysterious, slick stranger named Cotton walks in and offers to turn Magnolia's luck around with a lucrative "modeling" job at his family's funeral home. She accepts. But despite things looking up, Magnolia's problems fatten along with her wallet. When Cotton's requests become increasingly weird, Magnolia discovers there's a lot more at stake than just her rent.
Sharp as a belted knife, this sly social commentary cuts straight to the bone. House of Cotton will keep you mesmerized until the very last page.
Review
"A lyrical fever dream of a novel." Kirkus
Review
"[A] haunting and macabre debut... Magnolia is a wonderfully complex character." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Startling, vivid, and impressive...Brashears has written a lush, pictorial, and often steamy novel with an indelible heroine…The novel's many strengths culminate in a powerful and original story that will appeal to a variety of readers across fiction genres." Booklist (Starred Review)
About the Author
Monica Brashears is an Affrilachian writer from Tennessee. She is a graduate of Syracuse University's MFA program. Her work has appeared in Nashville Review, Split Lip Magazine, Appalachian Review, The Masters Review, and more. House of Cotton is her first novel.