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House of Cotton
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 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.
“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 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.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,223 reviews
March 26, 2023
TW: rape, sexual abuse
Magnolia is nineteen years old, works at a gas station on the night shift, and is out of money. But things get worse when her grandma dies, leaving her struggling to pay rent to a predatory landlord. So when a man named Cotton sees her and offers her a lucrative modeling job, it’s not long before she accepts. She finds out she’ll be based out of Cotton’s family’s funeral home and while modeling isn’t technically an incorrect term for what she’ll be doing, it doesn’t even begin to describe the oddness of her gigs. As her jobs become stranger, other odd things begin happening to her, making her question what’s real and what she should be most afraid of.
I finished this book and had no idea what I’d just read or what I should think of it. This work of fiction had darker themes and didn’t shy away from addressing the dangers of being a young Black woman on her own in the southern United States. However, the way the author incorporated these painful experiences was tastefully done and never got more graphic than necessary, though there were several instances of graphic sex (consensual). While it did dip its toes into the mystery, supernatural, and horror genres, this was more of an introspective character study that looked at grief, loss, race, class, patriarchal societies, and sexuality.
The premise of Cotton’s scheme/job was a bit far-fetched, but people in real life are into some weird things so it’s not outside the realm of possibility. While I enjoyed how many of the darker events were left to the reader’s imagination or incorporated subtly, I felt that the author also did this with many other parts of the book that should have been explored more or at least made more concrete. A few examples include there being no discussion of the supernatural aspects of the work (though those were some of the best parts) and not much context provided for the characters’ backgrounds (would have liked some explanation of Magnolia’s Tinder flings and her very specific needs from them). The plot also suffers from feeling a little vague and underdeveloped throughout the work. The ending was also a letdown in its vagueness and left me wanting more especially relating to Magnolia’s character growth (or lack thereof).
This read was so bizarre that I ended up liking it overall despite feeling like it was lacking in some areas. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re a “Why?” person. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 4 April 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Magnolia is nineteen years old, works at a gas station on the night shift, and is out of money. But things get worse when her grandma dies, leaving her struggling to pay rent to a predatory landlord. So when a man named Cotton sees her and offers her a lucrative modeling job, it’s not long before she accepts. She finds out she’ll be based out of Cotton’s family’s funeral home and while modeling isn’t technically an incorrect term for what she’ll be doing, it doesn’t even begin to describe the oddness of her gigs. As her jobs become stranger, other odd things begin happening to her, making her question what’s real and what she should be most afraid of.
I finished this book and had no idea what I’d just read or what I should think of it. This work of fiction had darker themes and didn’t shy away from addressing the dangers of being a young Black woman on her own in the southern United States. However, the way the author incorporated these painful experiences was tastefully done and never got more graphic than necessary, though there were several instances of graphic sex (consensual). While it did dip its toes into the mystery, supernatural, and horror genres, this was more of an introspective character study that looked at grief, loss, race, class, patriarchal societies, and sexuality.
The premise of Cotton’s scheme/job was a bit far-fetched, but people in real life are into some weird things so it’s not outside the realm of possibility. While I enjoyed how many of the darker events were left to the reader’s imagination or incorporated subtly, I felt that the author also did this with many other parts of the book that should have been explored more or at least made more concrete. A few examples include there being no discussion of the supernatural aspects of the work (though those were some of the best parts) and not much context provided for the characters’ backgrounds (would have liked some explanation of Magnolia’s Tinder flings and her very specific needs from them). The plot also suffers from feeling a little vague and underdeveloped throughout the work. The ending was also a letdown in its vagueness and left me wanting more especially relating to Magnolia’s character growth (or lack thereof).
This read was so bizarre that I ended up liking it overall despite feeling like it was lacking in some areas. It won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you’re a “Why?” person. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 4 April 2023. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 2, 2023
House of Cotton by Monica Brashears will be in the running for my worst read of 2023. Why?
1. I kept forgetting that this book was set in modern times. Maybe it was the southern drawl with which the narrator read this story. Maybe it was the old-timey names like Magnolia and Cotton and Eden. Maybe it was the lack of references to modern culture and comforts. Maybe it was the flimsy, ridiculous plot.
I'm not sure, but this book felt like it should have taken place in the late 1800's/early 1900's.
2. The plot was incredibly hard to believe. So our protagonist, Magnolia, is randomly offered a modeling gig AT A MORTUARY. They want her to dress up like the dead, you see, so that people can say goodbye better or whatever.
First of all, I don't care that Magnolia is 19-years-old, what modern woman wouldn't see this as the biggest red flag on the planet? Second of all, I just don't buy it. Who in modern times would literally buy into that idea??
Maybe if this story had been set just a short while after like, the invention of the photograph, I could have believed that people would be interested in someone dressing up like the dead or being paid to dress up like the dead. But certainly not now when we have deep fakes and holograms and modern technology to use instead.
3. The graphic, gratuitous sex. So I would be reading along, forgetting totally that we were in modern times, when Magnolia would turn to Tinder and jarringly remind me that we weren't in 1892. I didn't keep count, but there are many graphic sex scenes in this book that I get the impression the author is very proud of.
I also felt that the author was trying to use Magnolia's many Tinder hook ups and other sexual encounters as, like, an empowerment thing and that just didn't sit right with me in this context. There's not really a clear, purposeful message behind all the sex in this book, so at a certain point, it felt like it was there for the shock value.
Also, pretty early on in the narrative, Magnolia finds out she's pregnant and I thought the way it was handled in this narrative was just SO bad. There's like a sentence at the end with a little detail that I think is supposed to justify/explain Magnolia's sexual endeavors, but without any further discussion, I'm left with feeling it was all for the sake of shock.
Also, it was gross!!! There's a scene where the mortuary people apply a merkin (aka a pubic hair wig) to Magnolia and I just... like... again, are we in modern times???
4. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I won't spoil it, but the end of this book just wasn't it. I can't really say more than that.
I'm rating House of Cotton by Monica Brashears 1 out of 5 stars. I wanted out a little over the halfway mark, but decided I'd push through since I had already come so far.
I want to end this by saying that I would try another book by Brashears. I think she has potential. She just needs to focus less on the graphic sex and way more on plot and purpose.
You might like this if you like: southern gothic vibes, graphic sex, and... yeah, that's all I got.
1. I kept forgetting that this book was set in modern times. Maybe it was the southern drawl with which the narrator read this story. Maybe it was the old-timey names like Magnolia and Cotton and Eden. Maybe it was the lack of references to modern culture and comforts. Maybe it was the flimsy, ridiculous plot.
I'm not sure, but this book felt like it should have taken place in the late 1800's/early 1900's.
2. The plot was incredibly hard to believe. So our protagonist, Magnolia, is randomly offered a modeling gig AT A MORTUARY. They want her to dress up like the dead, you see, so that people can say goodbye better or whatever.
First of all, I don't care that Magnolia is 19-years-old, what modern woman wouldn't see this as the biggest red flag on the planet? Second of all, I just don't buy it. Who in modern times would literally buy into that idea??
Maybe if this story had been set just a short while after like, the invention of the photograph, I could have believed that people would be interested in someone dressing up like the dead or being paid to dress up like the dead. But certainly not now when we have deep fakes and holograms and modern technology to use instead.
3. The graphic, gratuitous sex. So I would be reading along, forgetting totally that we were in modern times, when Magnolia would turn to Tinder and jarringly remind me that we weren't in 1892. I didn't keep count, but there are many graphic sex scenes in this book that I get the impression the author is very proud of.
I also felt that the author was trying to use Magnolia's many Tinder hook ups and other sexual encounters as, like, an empowerment thing and that just didn't sit right with me in this context. There's not really a clear, purposeful message behind all the sex in this book, so at a certain point, it felt like it was there for the shock value.
Also, pretty early on in the narrative, Magnolia finds out she's pregnant and I thought the way it was handled in this narrative was just SO bad. There's like a sentence at the end with a little detail that I think is supposed to justify/explain Magnolia's sexual endeavors, but without any further discussion, I'm left with feeling it was all for the sake of shock.
Also, it was gross!!! There's a scene where the mortuary people apply a merkin (aka a pubic hair wig) to Magnolia and I just... like... again, are we in modern times???
4. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. I won't spoil it, but the end of this book just wasn't it. I can't really say more than that.
I'm rating House of Cotton by Monica Brashears 1 out of 5 stars. I wanted out a little over the halfway mark, but decided I'd push through since I had already come so far.
I want to end this by saying that I would try another book by Brashears. I think she has potential. She just needs to focus less on the graphic sex and way more on plot and purpose.
You might like this if you like: southern gothic vibes, graphic sex, and... yeah, that's all I got.
June 17, 2023
https://instagram.com/p/CpxXJ1yriJV/
A beguiling and electric commentary on class, race, and trauma. With sensual and gritty prose, this tale of grief and control expertly mounts unease and anger, mirroring the stages of grief and transformation with haunting ease. Magnolia’s journey from vulnerable and uncertain, to ensnared in webs of deception and desire, to independent and self assured, is one that readers will quickly become invested in; she is a champion of women who bloom at night, who know the call of the wind in the trees, who are nurturing their wings to soar. An amazingly strong and enchanting debut.
Thank you so much to Goodreads and to Monica Brashears for this ARC, please look for House of Cotton in April 2023!
A beguiling and electric commentary on class, race, and trauma. With sensual and gritty prose, this tale of grief and control expertly mounts unease and anger, mirroring the stages of grief and transformation with haunting ease. Magnolia’s journey from vulnerable and uncertain, to ensnared in webs of deception and desire, to independent and self assured, is one that readers will quickly become invested in; she is a champion of women who bloom at night, who know the call of the wind in the trees, who are nurturing their wings to soar. An amazingly strong and enchanting debut.
Thank you so much to Goodreads and to Monica Brashears for this ARC, please look for House of Cotton in April 2023!
December 13, 2024
This was a surprisingly weird and unique book that I found myself getting into. The story was great and that characters drew me in. It’s not something I would have picked for myself but it something Goodreads recommended for me. Thanks Goodreads for suggesting something I never would have chosen!
If this book were a song it would be Hard Knock Life (ghetto anthem) by Jay Z
If this book were a song it would be Hard Knock Life (ghetto anthem) by Jay Z
March 12, 2023
Very strange book - I can’t say I ENJOYED it exactly, but the weird storyline and offbeat characters made it hard to put down. Quite imaginative with good writing; I’ll be interested to read what Brashears writes next.
Thanks to Flatiron Books for an ARC of this novel.
Thanks to Flatiron Books for an ARC of this novel.
August 2, 2023
whatever you do, don't model for a funeral home.
this has it all — thoughts on sex, class, race, desire, women's rights, magic, ghosts, religion, death. when magnolia gets the opportunity to work for cotton and eden, a nephew-aunt team who run a funeral home, she sees big money in her future. her grandmother is dead, haunting her, and magnolia needs the money to pay rent and buy whatever food she can. she starts living in the home, but cotton is a strange man with a penchant for necrophilia. eden can change the way she looks with makeup, making her indistinguishable from the likes of dolly parton, meryl streep, etc. the cases magnolia takes on are odd, demanding, and almost cruel, yet she does it anyway, letting herself be possessed by the dead.
beautifully written, shocking, hazy urban horror. i couldn't put this novel down, and it will stick with me for a long, long time.
this has it all — thoughts on sex, class, race, desire, women's rights, magic, ghosts, religion, death. when magnolia gets the opportunity to work for cotton and eden, a nephew-aunt team who run a funeral home, she sees big money in her future. her grandmother is dead, haunting her, and magnolia needs the money to pay rent and buy whatever food she can. she starts living in the home, but cotton is a strange man with a penchant for necrophilia. eden can change the way she looks with makeup, making her indistinguishable from the likes of dolly parton, meryl streep, etc. the cases magnolia takes on are odd, demanding, and almost cruel, yet she does it anyway, letting herself be possessed by the dead.
beautifully written, shocking, hazy urban horror. i couldn't put this novel down, and it will stick with me for a long, long time.
July 30, 2022
Gritty, moving and impeccably written. Magnolia’s story is one that I will sit with for a long time, which is always the mark of a good book for me. It’s so different than anything I’ve personally read and gave me so much to think about. The topic and trajectory of the main character is undoubtedly weird, but I still found so many themes relatable. The writing was so captivating that I found myself re-reading passages. I will buy and devour anything this author ever publishes! Run, don’t walk to buy this book when it comes out!
July 16, 2023
Petition to take the word "Gothic" away from authors until they prove they have more to say than just "creepy old houses are creepy and skinny white guys are kind of sexy"
April 12, 2023
Special thanks to Goodreads for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan haha.
⭐⭐ stars.
Have you ever heard a song on the radio and recognized that the artist can sing, but you don't like their style of music? That's how I felt about this book. It's obvious that Monica Brashears has talent, but this story was just strange!
I used to work in a mortuary, so the mention of a funeral home in the synopsis made me want to read this book. I ended up disappointed. It's worth noting that this book has a lot of triggers - abortion, and *very* detailed promiscuity being a few. That aside, the story itself was creative, but boring at the same time. I felt like a lot of the details didn't make sense, and I was left with some unanswered questions. I know unanswered questions are sometimes expected in a book because the author wants you to interpret the meaning on your own. It's hard to explain, but I didn't feel like that was the case with this book. It seemed choppy in some areas, which made the book very confusing and flat.
Although I'm grateful I got the opportunity to review this, I'm sad to say that I wouldn't recommend it. I repeat; Monica Brashears is TALENTED (and the cover is gorgeous!) but this novel was a huge dud for me.
⭐⭐ stars.
Have you ever heard a song on the radio and recognized that the artist can sing, but you don't like their style of music? That's how I felt about this book. It's obvious that Monica Brashears has talent, but this story was just strange!
I used to work in a mortuary, so the mention of a funeral home in the synopsis made me want to read this book. I ended up disappointed. It's worth noting that this book has a lot of triggers - abortion, and *very* detailed promiscuity being a few. That aside, the story itself was creative, but boring at the same time. I felt like a lot of the details didn't make sense, and I was left with some unanswered questions. I know unanswered questions are sometimes expected in a book because the author wants you to interpret the meaning on your own. It's hard to explain, but I didn't feel like that was the case with this book. It seemed choppy in some areas, which made the book very confusing and flat.
Although I'm grateful I got the opportunity to review this, I'm sad to say that I wouldn't recommend it. I repeat; Monica Brashears is TALENTED (and the cover is gorgeous!) but this novel was a huge dud for me.
December 30, 2022
Quite possibly one of the worst books I've ever read. The story was so far fetched. Who the hell dresses up like dead people?
April 10, 2023
This book has that Southern Gothic vague and hazy horror mixed with the kind of blatant thoughts and feelings that only a teenager can feel.
Magnolia is a nineteen year old whose grandmother has just died. From the first pages of the book we are introduced to the struggles that Magnolia will now face without her grandmother around to protect her.
While on her night shift at the local gas station, Magnolia encounters a strange white man who comes in with hands covered in blood. She decides to keep her distance, as any reasonable person would, but he end up being odd but harmless, and offers her a modeling job at his business.
Now Magnolia knows better than to go to that white man's place of business but as the day stretches on and the predatory presence of all those no longer culled by her Mama Brown protection Magnolia gives in and makes her way to the location on the business card.
The business is not a modeling studio but a funeral parlor, and the job? Pretending to be loved one's dearly departed. Odd, but it pays well. And more importantly it has gotten Magnolia out of her living situation. As Magnolia becomes more and more tied up with Cotton and his aunt in the funeral parlor the more her living situation changes and yet her financial and even physical independence stay the same. Magnolia continues to be plagued by her past and copes with her issues by distancing herself mentally by imagining herself as something else, but her reality is now coming down hard on her in the form of her grandmother, who has returned as a ghost on this plane to help her granddaughter.
This story takes the fear and suffering of being impoverished, young, and Black for a woman in the American South. Magnolia's experiences from others in and around her community show the stark reality of her situation, and the way that she is perceived by others plays a focal point in how she behaves. There are parts of this book that are difficult to read because of this, but the progress of Magnolia's characterization and she learns to process her trauma and grief, both of which have come too soon and too hard for someone her age, is really well done.
Magnolia is a nineteen year old whose grandmother has just died. From the first pages of the book we are introduced to the struggles that Magnolia will now face without her grandmother around to protect her.
While on her night shift at the local gas station, Magnolia encounters a strange white man who comes in with hands covered in blood. She decides to keep her distance, as any reasonable person would, but he end up being odd but harmless, and offers her a modeling job at his business.
Now Magnolia knows better than to go to that white man's place of business but as the day stretches on and the predatory presence of all those no longer culled by her Mama Brown protection Magnolia gives in and makes her way to the location on the business card.
The business is not a modeling studio but a funeral parlor, and the job? Pretending to be loved one's dearly departed. Odd, but it pays well. And more importantly it has gotten Magnolia out of her living situation. As Magnolia becomes more and more tied up with Cotton and his aunt in the funeral parlor the more her living situation changes and yet her financial and even physical independence stay the same. Magnolia continues to be plagued by her past and copes with her issues by distancing herself mentally by imagining herself as something else, but her reality is now coming down hard on her in the form of her grandmother, who has returned as a ghost on this plane to help her granddaughter.
This story takes the fear and suffering of being impoverished, young, and Black for a woman in the American South. Magnolia's experiences from others in and around her community show the stark reality of her situation, and the way that she is perceived by others plays a focal point in how she behaves. There are parts of this book that are difficult to read because of this, but the progress of Magnolia's characterization and she learns to process her trauma and grief, both of which have come too soon and too hard for someone her age, is really well done.
October 27, 2022
I did not enjoy this book, and I really tried to. The author is a talented writer indeed, but this story was not my cup of tea and I just couldn’t grab onto any aspect to be interested in. I love books with little plot, but here the characters also fell so flat for me. They are so one-dimensional, and this sadly contrasts starkly with the warm, rich descriptions of setting the author provides throughout. Thanks to the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy.
May 18, 2025
Jedna z dziwniejszych książek, które przeczytałam.
Obrzydliwa, seksualna, ale bez poczucia spełnienia w tej intymności, wzbudza gniew wobec niesprawiedliwości do losu Magnolii, same zaś wydarzenia wydają się naciągane, choć jednocześnie pasują do tej cholernie dziwnej historii. Jest też tak bardzo smutna...
Stwierdzić, że mi się się podobało, to jednak złe słowo, bo ciężko i nieprzyjemnie się to czytało.
Jest jednak angażująca, klimatyczna i nie można jej odmówić, że wywołuje emocje oraz zmusza do przemyśleń.
Nie każdy wątek został wprost wyjaśniony i odpowiednio zamknięty. Zwykle tego nie lubię, ale są takie książki, gdzie ten zabieg po prostu pasuje i nie męczy mnie brakiem odpowiedzi - Dom pogrzebowy jest tego przykładem.
Obrzydliwa, seksualna, ale bez poczucia spełnienia w tej intymności, wzbudza gniew wobec niesprawiedliwości do losu Magnolii, same zaś wydarzenia wydają się naciągane, choć jednocześnie pasują do tej cholernie dziwnej historii. Jest też tak bardzo smutna...
Stwierdzić, że mi się się podobało, to jednak złe słowo, bo ciężko i nieprzyjemnie się to czytało.
Jest jednak angażująca, klimatyczna i nie można jej odmówić, że wywołuje emocje oraz zmusza do przemyśleń.
Nie każdy wątek został wprost wyjaśniony i odpowiednio zamknięty. Zwykle tego nie lubię, ale są takie książki, gdzie ten zabieg po prostu pasuje i nie męczy mnie brakiem odpowiedzi - Dom pogrzebowy jest tego przykładem.
August 13, 2023
i was advertised southern gothic horror but this is really just a bunch of terrible people having boring sex
April 7, 2023
House of Cotton will lurk in the back of your mind for a long time. It is beautifully written, almost like reading a song. It is honest, raw, upsetting and almost sensual. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop.
Magnolia is consumed with grief, and trying to find herself. She takes on many identities, some for her job and some in her mind. She tries each one on, fully immersing herself as someone else, hoping to come out of it as a whole person. It is heartbreaking and empowering at the same time.
I felt like Magnolia was stuck in a sort of purgatory for grief and trauma. It’s the place we go to when we don’t want to face our horrible realities.
The book covers several triggering topics such as rape, abortion, abuse and addiction. So prepare yourself to be uncomfortable, but aware. You will leave this book feeling like you were finally released from its grip.
May 21, 2023
Six chapters in, and I still can't understand what it's about. Mission aborted.
February 26, 2024
House of Cotton is a very strange book. Part social horror, part Southern Gothic literary fiction, it's narrated by 19-year-old Magnolia, whose grandmother has recently passed away, leaving her penniless and squarely in the sights of a predatory landlord. When a stranger named Cotton offers her a lucrative "modeling" job at his family's funeral home, Magnolia jumps at the chance to turn her luck around. But as she becomes more enmeshed in Cotton's world, and as his requests become increasingly bizarre, Magnolia realizes she may be in over her head.
Monica Brashears' writing is incredible, sinuous and sensual, with a cadence to the prose that reads almost like poetry. Although House of Cotton is set in the present day, there's a quality to the writing that makes it feel timeless, like a bygone era, making the thoroughly modern moments (Magnolia's Tinder hook-ups; Skype sessions with clients) feel jarring in a way that I think is probably intentional. With haunting, startling imagery, Brashears explores themes surrounding race, class, sexuality, trauma, and grief and loss, set against the backdrop of a modern South that refuses to let go of the old ways.
House of Cotton has many uncomfortable moments as it unflinchingly addresses topics like rape, abortion, racism, addiction, and abuse, but never in a way that feels gratuitous. What Brashears does most successfully in her debut is paint a devastating portrait of what it's like to be lost in grief through the complicated Magnolia, who, desperate to find a way through her heartbreak and loss, seeks to become whole by becoming someone else. More than anything, the book reads like a character study as we watch a young woman attempt to navigate through her grief and troubling life circumstances.
There are some supernatural and horror elements that feel a bit hazy, and the plot likewise feels a bit vague and not fully formed. House of Cotton is a bizarre book that kind of just proceeds from one scene to the next, saying a lot but also not really going anywhere, until it just ends. There are lots of important insights in its pages, but it may leave some readers unsatisfied due to the ephemeral nature of the plot and the lack of a strong resolution. I definitely found value in it and I'm glad I read it, even though I think it lacked in some areas. Monica Brashears is clearly an ambitious, talented writer, and I'll be eager to read whatever she writes next.
Monica Brashears' writing is incredible, sinuous and sensual, with a cadence to the prose that reads almost like poetry. Although House of Cotton is set in the present day, there's a quality to the writing that makes it feel timeless, like a bygone era, making the thoroughly modern moments (Magnolia's Tinder hook-ups; Skype sessions with clients) feel jarring in a way that I think is probably intentional. With haunting, startling imagery, Brashears explores themes surrounding race, class, sexuality, trauma, and grief and loss, set against the backdrop of a modern South that refuses to let go of the old ways.
House of Cotton has many uncomfortable moments as it unflinchingly addresses topics like rape, abortion, racism, addiction, and abuse, but never in a way that feels gratuitous. What Brashears does most successfully in her debut is paint a devastating portrait of what it's like to be lost in grief through the complicated Magnolia, who, desperate to find a way through her heartbreak and loss, seeks to become whole by becoming someone else. More than anything, the book reads like a character study as we watch a young woman attempt to navigate through her grief and troubling life circumstances.
There are some supernatural and horror elements that feel a bit hazy, and the plot likewise feels a bit vague and not fully formed. House of Cotton is a bizarre book that kind of just proceeds from one scene to the next, saying a lot but also not really going anywhere, until it just ends. There are lots of important insights in its pages, but it may leave some readers unsatisfied due to the ephemeral nature of the plot and the lack of a strong resolution. I definitely found value in it and I'm glad I read it, even though I think it lacked in some areas. Monica Brashears is clearly an ambitious, talented writer, and I'll be eager to read whatever she writes next.
nope-dnf
May 26, 2023Okay dnfing at 64%. It's just too much for me. I really liked the writing so I'll probably pick up from this author in the future but this one is a no. Like I've been reading too many books back to back that I'm not enjoying and I need to protect my mental health.
I did really enjoy the magical realism and the audio narrator was great. Also, a lot of the content felt very real around the social issues explored. Like unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, abortion, the trap and desperation of living in poverty and having so few options you can be manipulated and forced into doing really sketchy stuff to just get by.
The issue I had was there was far too much gratuitous sex scenes for my taste. The juxtaposition of the sexual abuse the main character is facing with the constant graphic hookups she goes on was really nauseating to me personally. There's some truly nasty descriptions that I want to go in to but don't want to trigger anyone else who is like me that does not like graphic sex in their books. Just trust me when I tell you it is disturbing at times.
I don't think this book was terrible at all and I think a lot of people will like it a lot but it just was not for me.
I also reviewed this book on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DUzN1KGjRYc
I did really enjoy the magical realism and the audio narrator was great. Also, a lot of the content felt very real around the social issues explored. Like unplanned pregnancy, sexual assault, abortion, the trap and desperation of living in poverty and having so few options you can be manipulated and forced into doing really sketchy stuff to just get by.
The issue I had was there was far too much gratuitous sex scenes for my taste. The juxtaposition of the sexual abuse the main character is facing with the constant graphic hookups she goes on was really nauseating to me personally. There's some truly nasty descriptions that I want to go in to but don't want to trigger anyone else who is like me that does not like graphic sex in their books. Just trust me when I tell you it is disturbing at times.
I don't think this book was terrible at all and I think a lot of people will like it a lot but it just was not for me.
I also reviewed this book on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/DUzN1KGjRYc
October 11, 2022
I won this in a goodreads giveaway and while I did enjoy the book, I felt as though there was quite a bit of detail to certain parts but many of the very important parts were just slipped in. The summary mentions that "the social commentary cuts straight to the bone" and while yes, it does in a sense, much of it seems to be just thrown in. There was too much time spent developing seemingly unimportant aspects when what should have been the main plot points are treated as an after thought.
That said, it is a very good book, I just think it could use some more editing.
That said, it is a very good book, I just think it could use some more editing.
July 23, 2023
?????
the only reason im not giving this a 1 is because i think it was completely mis-marketed, and if i had known what this book was actually going to be about (literary fiction) i wouldnt have picked it up in the first place. because that’s what this book is: literary fiction. it doesnt matter that there are a few supernatural elements to it, this is not a thriller, not a horror, not a gothic book. it’s not even written badly (although i did find it boring at times, and there wasnt a lot of plot) but i am just so confused as to why it was advertised as something it clearly isnt
the only reason im not giving this a 1 is because i think it was completely mis-marketed, and if i had known what this book was actually going to be about (literary fiction) i wouldnt have picked it up in the first place. because that’s what this book is: literary fiction. it doesnt matter that there are a few supernatural elements to it, this is not a thriller, not a horror, not a gothic book. it’s not even written badly (although i did find it boring at times, and there wasnt a lot of plot) but i am just so confused as to why it was advertised as something it clearly isnt
October 21, 2022
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and was excited to receive it in the mail!
Firstly, this book explores serious issues such as racism, patriarchal/religious societies, a skewed power dynamic between an older man and a younger woman, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and grief/death. While certainly pervasive themes within the story, I found that these topics weren't incorporated seamlessly. At times, I felt that there was a disconnection between the world building and the actual plot.
I thought that Magnolia was a nuanced character with complex emotions and conflicted motivations; however, it was the plot that I found at times confusing and underdeveloped. Consequently, this book wasn't my personal cup of tea.
Firstly, this book explores serious issues such as racism, patriarchal/religious societies, a skewed power dynamic between an older man and a younger woman, unhealthy coping mechanisms, and grief/death. While certainly pervasive themes within the story, I found that these topics weren't incorporated seamlessly. At times, I felt that there was a disconnection between the world building and the actual plot.
I thought that Magnolia was a nuanced character with complex emotions and conflicted motivations; however, it was the plot that I found at times confusing and underdeveloped. Consequently, this book wasn't my personal cup of tea.
April 15, 2023
I am sorry, but this was forgettable and boring
March 17, 2023
1.75/5
House of Cotton introduces us to Magnolia, a young woman struggling financially and emotionally after the death of her grandmother when she is offered the opportunity to “model” for a funeral home.
As intriguing (if far-fetched) as the concept of a woman modeling as the deceased/missing to give loved ones a chance to say goodbye is, unfortunately, this book just wasn’t the right fit for me. There were several scenes that were meant to be unsettling but quickly lost whatever shock value they might have had because they kept recurring. At least three quarters of this book seems to consist of Magnolia having unsatisfying sex with a Tinder hook-up, encountering the rapidly decaying ghost of her grandmother, and checking in on a presumably homeless man. It gets old after a while. Even initially interesting concepts like Eden’s ability to transform into various actresses through make-up alone wore out their welcome because she only had so many faces in her repertoire. Again, the overarching storyline was intriguing, but there wasn’t enough escalation for my liking and the scenes in-between were rendered boring by repetition.
I think Brashears wanted to address a lot of difficult topics in this novel, including abortion and sexual assault, but the exploration and commentary fell flat as did the novel’s resolution. The blurb's claim that "this sly social commentary cuts straight to the bone" is a bit of an exaggeration. Hey, I’ll admit that maybe I’m just not one for quote-unquote weird books. Or maybe there is work to be done here. That being said, there are good bones in this novel and I’m sure Brashears has a lot of other interesting ideas and observations in her. I’ll keep an eye out for her future releases.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Goodreads for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
House of Cotton introduces us to Magnolia, a young woman struggling financially and emotionally after the death of her grandmother when she is offered the opportunity to “model” for a funeral home.
As intriguing (if far-fetched) as the concept of a woman modeling as the deceased/missing to give loved ones a chance to say goodbye is, unfortunately, this book just wasn’t the right fit for me. There were several scenes that were meant to be unsettling but quickly lost whatever shock value they might have had because they kept recurring. At least three quarters of this book seems to consist of Magnolia having unsatisfying sex with a Tinder hook-up, encountering the rapidly decaying ghost of her grandmother, and checking in on a presumably homeless man. It gets old after a while. Even initially interesting concepts like Eden’s ability to transform into various actresses through make-up alone wore out their welcome because she only had so many faces in her repertoire. Again, the overarching storyline was intriguing, but there wasn’t enough escalation for my liking and the scenes in-between were rendered boring by repetition.
I think Brashears wanted to address a lot of difficult topics in this novel, including abortion and sexual assault, but the exploration and commentary fell flat as did the novel’s resolution. The blurb's claim that "this sly social commentary cuts straight to the bone" is a bit of an exaggeration. Hey, I’ll admit that maybe I’m just not one for quote-unquote weird books. Or maybe there is work to be done here. That being said, there are good bones in this novel and I’m sure Brashears has a lot of other interesting ideas and observations in her. I’ll keep an eye out for her future releases.
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Goodreads for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
June 16, 2024
House of Cotton is a first novel. There are a lot of almosts.
Magnolia, the main character, is almost understandable. Her sexual choices are almost consistent. Her job playing dead people with a pouty, white, man-child named Cotton almost makes sense. Eden’s gift of turning a mixed-race woman into dead white people almost seems plausible. Magnolia’s dalliances with the dead are almost believable. The plot structure and poeticism is almost that of a seasoned writer. The story is almost situated in a particular place and time. Almost. I persisted with the novel because I wanted to learn something about the people of Affrilacia, but I finished the novel mostly confused about what the author wanted to say.
The book could have been about race and racial exploitation but we don’t learn the main character is mixed until a third of the way through the book, and it’s a passing sentence. Her race is a non-factor until the one time she surprisingly makes it a big deal. Otherwise, she’s super content to pass for white as her job.
The book could have been about sexual trauma, but the first assault is a plot device and the second is an explanation that should have come so much earlier in the book. The assaults definitely could explain Magnolia’s sexual behaviors. I’d also like to give her more agency that that, but the author doesn’t create any nuance.
The book could have been about the living’s relationship with the dead, but it’s so made-for-tv gruesome that the exploration loses its potency. It feels trite, and when Magnolia conjures the wrong ghost, there’s such an insignificant interaction that I wondered why the author introduced the ghost at all.
This is the book’s most poignant conversation. “But when you put roles on to somebody else, it’s too heavy for them. You get that, don’t you?” (235) AndI can read each of the desperate, disturbing, unlikeable characters in the book as living this experience—trapped in roles that someone else created for them and trying to drink, drug, sex, and profit their way out. Heavy on character. Light on plot. Not what I was looking for, but if you’re into spending a couple of hours in that darkness with a book where nothing really happens then House of Cotton is for you.
Magnolia, the main character, is almost understandable. Her sexual choices are almost consistent. Her job playing dead people with a pouty, white, man-child named Cotton almost makes sense. Eden’s gift of turning a mixed-race woman into dead white people almost seems plausible. Magnolia’s dalliances with the dead are almost believable. The plot structure and poeticism is almost that of a seasoned writer. The story is almost situated in a particular place and time. Almost. I persisted with the novel because I wanted to learn something about the people of Affrilacia, but I finished the novel mostly confused about what the author wanted to say.
The book could have been about race and racial exploitation but we don’t learn the main character is mixed until a third of the way through the book, and it’s a passing sentence. Her race is a non-factor until the one time she surprisingly makes it a big deal. Otherwise, she’s super content to pass for white as her job.
The book could have been about sexual trauma, but the first assault is a plot device and the second is an explanation that should have come so much earlier in the book. The assaults definitely could explain Magnolia’s sexual behaviors. I’d also like to give her more agency that that, but the author doesn’t create any nuance.
The book could have been about the living’s relationship with the dead, but it’s so made-for-tv gruesome that the exploration loses its potency. It feels trite, and when Magnolia conjures the wrong ghost, there’s such an insignificant interaction that I wondered why the author introduced the ghost at all.
This is the book’s most poignant conversation. “But when you put roles on to somebody else, it’s too heavy for them. You get that, don’t you?” (235) AndI can read each of the desperate, disturbing, unlikeable characters in the book as living this experience—trapped in roles that someone else created for them and trying to drink, drug, sex, and profit their way out. Heavy on character. Light on plot. Not what I was looking for, but if you’re into spending a couple of hours in that darkness with a book where nothing really happens then House of Cotton is for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2023
This is going to be one of those books that sticks with me for a long time as I pick apart all of its layers. I have taken a few days since finishing the novel just to collect my thoughts on it and my thoughts are still scattered...
House of Cotton centers on 19 year old Magnolia Brown, just after her grandmothers death. She is all alone in the world with $19 in the bank, a bad job working the night shift at a gas station, and an unsavory landlord breathing down her neck about rent. On the night of her grandmother's funeral she encounters a strange white man who fluffs her up with compliments and offers her a job as a model. With financial tensions building she decides to take a job with the stranger, which offers a chance to save everything, but at what cost...
Monica Brashear's slowly takes the reader on a gothic mystery tour of the south but not in the way most people would expect. There is not cold case or crime to solve, the mystery for the reader is simply in what will happen next and where all of this is going. She skirts the line between sexuality and the macabre with a fine toothed comb, that makes this book truly unexpected and exceptional. Overall, you have a story of grief, and coping with loss, but under its skin you have social commentary on race, class, sexuality and coercive control.
Thank you to Flatiron books for an ARC of this book as well as some Carolina Nettle lipstick. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. This book is set to be released April 4th 2023.
House of Cotton centers on 19 year old Magnolia Brown, just after her grandmothers death. She is all alone in the world with $19 in the bank, a bad job working the night shift at a gas station, and an unsavory landlord breathing down her neck about rent. On the night of her grandmother's funeral she encounters a strange white man who fluffs her up with compliments and offers her a job as a model. With financial tensions building she decides to take a job with the stranger, which offers a chance to save everything, but at what cost...
Monica Brashear's slowly takes the reader on a gothic mystery tour of the south but not in the way most people would expect. There is not cold case or crime to solve, the mystery for the reader is simply in what will happen next and where all of this is going. She skirts the line between sexuality and the macabre with a fine toothed comb, that makes this book truly unexpected and exceptional. Overall, you have a story of grief, and coping with loss, but under its skin you have social commentary on race, class, sexuality and coercive control.
Thank you to Flatiron books for an ARC of this book as well as some Carolina Nettle lipstick. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. This book is set to be released April 4th 2023.
January 24, 2023
I received an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway. I really wanted to like this, but just couldn't. The plot wasn't well developed and could have used more context to flesh out the main characters life. This was a very dark book, full of sex and every form of abuse, but I don't think it was handled well. It seemed to draw on those aspects more for shock and grit, I don't think it did a good job making a point with it all. Those aspects don't bother me if the story does them justice, I don't think this story did. I felt the ending was very rushed and didn't give the main character any real growth. I didn't like the supernatural natural aspects or the subtext those aspects seemed to impart. Overall, it kind of reminded me of Bukowski's writing, which I strongly dislike, but if you like that you might actually love this book. It's just not my personal preference. I think this was actually better, since it comes from a more compelling perspective at least. There were some aspects of the writing I found beautiful, the premise was intriguing, but was ultimately disappointed.
August 19, 2023
Dnf at 32%. It's promising but incredibly flat
dnf
October 8, 2023Dnf 25% in. I haven’t wanted to pick this up for 3 days 😭😭😭
November 8, 2023
3 stars--I liked the book. I really loved Magnolia and her voice, and enjoyed the surreal plot. I thought the ending was a bit abrupt--I wanted more weirdness!
Read
November 19, 2025No
A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Cool cover
Ok rec by a writer on yt who went on about how great this is!
Ok why it’s not
1. GR score 3.0
2. I hate it when a writer tries to be authentic using southern dialect in every sentence w words like ain’t every five seconds. I don’t mind it in convo occasionally but it’s the whole book. Loses its flow.
3. Um her job is to dress up for dead people that’s dumb
4. Reviewers c/o multiple graphic sex scenes
5. It’s too bizarre - one reviewer says they make her wear a wig of pubic hair (wtf)
Just no not for me
A book I borrowed from the library to try before I buy (tired buying hundreds books and hating half)
I do not rate these “tested”
books. This is really for me. I will not be buying, reading borrowing this book.
I read first ch or more -first 10-100 pages skim around at times. I read many of my GR friend’s reviews. This is what I did and didn’t like:
Cool cover
Ok rec by a writer on yt who went on about how great this is!
Ok why it’s not
1. GR score 3.0
2. I hate it when a writer tries to be authentic using southern dialect in every sentence w words like ain’t every five seconds. I don’t mind it in convo occasionally but it’s the whole book. Loses its flow.
3. Um her job is to dress up for dead people that’s dumb
4. Reviewers c/o multiple graphic sex scenes
5. It’s too bizarre - one reviewer says they make her wear a wig of pubic hair (wtf)
Just no not for me
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