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Love in a Carry-On Bag
Can a long distance love affair really survive? Erica Shaw spends her week babysitting the country’s bestselling authors for one of the top publishing companies in New York City. But on Friday nights she escapes to DC, where her sexy-lipped musician boyfriend, Warren Prince, works and performs. Their connection is fierce, and the couple promises to never miss a weekend together. But when real life walks in—an overbearing father, an alcoholic mother, office politics, and a lucrative job contract—the couple starts unraveling at the seam. Tempers flare, violence breaks, while new lovers eagerly wait in the wings—to claim both of them. Drenched in the perils of passion and the sweet-sounds of jazz, Johnson dives deep into the world of ambition and the stumbling blocks of family. Clever, fast-paced and sexy, Love in a Carry-on Bag is a modern day love story that marks the healing power of forgiveness and begs the question, how much baggage is really too heavy to carry. 2012 USA Best Book Award for African-American Fiction 2013 Phillis Wheatley Award for Best Fiction 2013 OOSA Best Book Award for Fiction Black Expressions Book Club Alternate selection for May 2012
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2012
113 people are currently reading
2251 people want to read
About the author
Sadeqa Johnson
9 books6,148 followersSadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens.
website: www.sadeqa.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasays
https://linktr.ee/Sadeqasays
website: www.sadeqa.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasays
https://linktr.ee/Sadeqasays
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
August 6, 2012
I really liked this book, partly because it struck a lot of familiar chords of being in love, and being in difficult-to-be-devoted relationships. I heartily offer a 5-star review for this debut work by Sadeqa Johnson. It is not perfect, but it is close enough, and at 336 pages, just long enough. Any more back story or character development would have been a bit too much and might have weighed down this nicely paced book. As is, it is a well told, well edited, well played (pun intended) story of a young ambitious book publicist and her long distance relationship with her devoted-but-divided, pitch-perfect, trumpet-playing boyfriend. "Love in a Carry on Bag" is a love story to slow dance to. It's an easy, engaging read that I look forward to reading again.
August 30, 2014
This novel is about long-distance relationships, can people survive it, or is there a way to survive it, or is it really a complete failure. "Love in a Carry-on Bag" is one book which will definitely fascinate almost every body who had been in love or is in love. Although it's a debut novel for Sadeqa Johnson, still its gripping enough to make a mark in your mind and the story will be forever etched in your hearts.
It's about Erica, working in a top-shot New York publishing company, who's in love with her long distance boyfriend, Warren, a businessman-by-day-cum-musician-by-night. Although Erica manages to find time to fly to DC in the weekends to be with her boyfriend, but as they both grew on their ladder of success, work started interfering their love-life. Not to mention, both their families had different expectations from them, as a result Erica stopped seeing her boyfriend in the weekends, and Warren, on the other hand, seems to face similar problems because of his father's upcoming nuptials. With too many baggage between them, can they really survive their love-life and their cutest romantic relationship?
Grab a copy and find it out by yourself. The characters have been molded in a very beautiful way. The challenges that are faced by these two characters are mentioned in their own perspective, and how they cope with their every-day crises. Their past, their childhood history, everything grasps it's readers. In a nutshell, this novel is highly engrossing from its first page. Well I'm definitely vouching for the sequel to this book.
It's about Erica, working in a top-shot New York publishing company, who's in love with her long distance boyfriend, Warren, a businessman-by-day-cum-musician-by-night. Although Erica manages to find time to fly to DC in the weekends to be with her boyfriend, but as they both grew on their ladder of success, work started interfering their love-life. Not to mention, both their families had different expectations from them, as a result Erica stopped seeing her boyfriend in the weekends, and Warren, on the other hand, seems to face similar problems because of his father's upcoming nuptials. With too many baggage between them, can they really survive their love-life and their cutest romantic relationship?
Grab a copy and find it out by yourself. The characters have been molded in a very beautiful way. The challenges that are faced by these two characters are mentioned in their own perspective, and how they cope with their every-day crises. Their past, their childhood history, everything grasps it's readers. In a nutshell, this novel is highly engrossing from its first page. Well I'm definitely vouching for the sequel to this book.
February 9, 2017
Very quick and simple story. There was a little too much foreshadowing and the characters were not as complex and developed as I like, nor was the story line (again, very simple). Despite that, I am a sucker for love stories and happily ever afters, so it kept my attention and led to an interesting and enjoyable discussion with my club.
Her second release, "Second House from the Corner", was a lot more complex, engaging and entertaining, and is a testament to her growth as a writer. I'm very happy I read that one first.
Her second release, "Second House from the Corner", was a lot more complex, engaging and entertaining, and is a testament to her growth as a writer. I'm very happy I read that one first.
May 25, 2015
I really like this book. I loved the characters and I'm glad it came to the end as it did. V.G.R.
March 6, 2012
I truly enjoyed this book. I felt a connection with Erica & even Warren (surprisingly because although he was a "good" man, he fell prey to things a typical man would - exposing his flaws in a way that made you understand men more in general).
Through the author's writing I was able to relate to every character in the book and identify with their personal struggles. When nearing the end of this book, I found myself wanting to read more about where Erica & Warren's relationship will go next. I hope that Sadeqa is working on a sequel to this book because I will definitely buy it.
Great first novel!!!!!
Through the author's writing I was able to relate to every character in the book and identify with their personal struggles. When nearing the end of this book, I found myself wanting to read more about where Erica & Warren's relationship will go next. I hope that Sadeqa is working on a sequel to this book because I will definitely buy it.
Great first novel!!!!!
April 18, 2012
I enjoyed this book and it got better as it went along.
September 1, 2012
Read my full review at http://www.dreamworldbooks.com/2012/0...!
Love in a Carry-On Bag is an engaging read because it's real, and incredibly easy to relate to. Although this novel falls into the contemporary/urban romance genre, there are no goofy sub-plots or melodrama that appear outlandishly fiction, and this is why I think the book is charming and sweet. Any reader who has experience with relationships, regardless of whether they have been long-distance or not, will understand and relate to the problems Erica and Warren each face regarding their emotional, and physical, distances from one another.
Johnson switches between Erica and Warren's point of views throughout Love in a Carry-On Bag, providing us with an up-close and personal perspective on the challenges each character faces. What I enjoy most about Love in a Carry-On Bag is the way each character feels familiar, and the way each handles their very real-life series of crises to the best of their ability. Neither character is perfect and mature 100% of the time, which makes them even more real and endearing.
Johnson's writing really comes to life in chapter 3, entitled "Publicity 101," which is about 20 or so pages into Love in a Carry-On Bag. This particular chapter describes a full day's work for Erica at her publishing company, and in addition to revealing much about Erica's background and interests, reveals Johnson's enthusiasm for her own craft - reading and writing. With the major change in Johnson's flow beginning in chapter 3, you'll most likely be indefinitely hooked from that point forward.
Given that Love in a Carry-On Bag primarily focuses on the tribulations of long-distance romance, Johnson writes the settings of D.C. and New York appropriately vivid and descriptive, which magnifies the intensity of Erica and Warren's convincing story. Johnson also makes great use of pop-culture, jazz, and literary references throughout the novel to please and entertain a wide array of readers.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
Love in a Carry-On Bag is an engaging read because it's real, and incredibly easy to relate to. Although this novel falls into the contemporary/urban romance genre, there are no goofy sub-plots or melodrama that appear outlandishly fiction, and this is why I think the book is charming and sweet. Any reader who has experience with relationships, regardless of whether they have been long-distance or not, will understand and relate to the problems Erica and Warren each face regarding their emotional, and physical, distances from one another.
Johnson switches between Erica and Warren's point of views throughout Love in a Carry-On Bag, providing us with an up-close and personal perspective on the challenges each character faces. What I enjoy most about Love in a Carry-On Bag is the way each character feels familiar, and the way each handles their very real-life series of crises to the best of their ability. Neither character is perfect and mature 100% of the time, which makes them even more real and endearing.
Johnson's writing really comes to life in chapter 3, entitled "Publicity 101," which is about 20 or so pages into Love in a Carry-On Bag. This particular chapter describes a full day's work for Erica at her publishing company, and in addition to revealing much about Erica's background and interests, reveals Johnson's enthusiasm for her own craft - reading and writing. With the major change in Johnson's flow beginning in chapter 3, you'll most likely be indefinitely hooked from that point forward.
Given that Love in a Carry-On Bag primarily focuses on the tribulations of long-distance romance, Johnson writes the settings of D.C. and New York appropriately vivid and descriptive, which magnifies the intensity of Erica and Warren's convincing story. Johnson also makes great use of pop-culture, jazz, and literary references throughout the novel to please and entertain a wide array of readers.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
November 25, 2012
Love in a Carry-on Bag by Sadeqa Johnson is a fabulous debut novel.
Erica Shaw is an up & coming star at a publishing company. She has a lot of issues from her childhood that she is dealing with as well as a needy mother that is always in trouble some form and asking for money. She is a tough girl that is holding it all together & trying to keep her life on track.
Warren Prince is a business man by day and a musician by night. He also has a lot going on that he is dealing with. Like the very sudden wedding of his father.
Erica & Warren have been in a long distance relationship for a while. Things are going great until work starts to interfere with their personal life. Erica is unable to be with Warren when he needs her the most. There is a woman in Warren's office that is out to steal him away from Erica.
I really enjoyed Love in a Carry-on Bag and look forward to reading more by Sadeqa Johnson. She did a fabulous job on her debut novel!
Erica Shaw is an up & coming star at a publishing company. She has a lot of issues from her childhood that she is dealing with as well as a needy mother that is always in trouble some form and asking for money. She is a tough girl that is holding it all together & trying to keep her life on track.
Warren Prince is a business man by day and a musician by night. He also has a lot going on that he is dealing with. Like the very sudden wedding of his father.
Erica & Warren have been in a long distance relationship for a while. Things are going great until work starts to interfere with their personal life. Erica is unable to be with Warren when he needs her the most. There is a woman in Warren's office that is out to steal him away from Erica.
I really enjoyed Love in a Carry-on Bag and look forward to reading more by Sadeqa Johnson. She did a fabulous job on her debut novel!
April 20, 2012
Erica loves her job at the publicity firm but the weekly trips from NYC to DC are starting to wear her down, Warren cared for her as much as he loved blowing his trumpet but keeping his corporate job earned him more money then he knew how to spend. However, their parents had them locked in a continuous circle of self-doubt and unreasonable family expectations. The story developed at a steady pace but it was difficult to make a connection with Erica or Warren. Their issues were invovled and the answers semed just out of reach. I so wanted to love or hate the characters but it just didn't happen.
March 5, 2012
I have not finished the book as of yet, but I wanted men out there to know this is a read for both genders. So far, so very good.
December 28, 2012
Excellent book for a book club discussion. Mature and complicated long distant relationship and the toll it takes on the psych .
June 27, 2014
Love in a Carry on bag was the book of the month for my bookclub. I was excited to read this novel especially after all of the wonderful reviews. Erica is a publicist for a literary agency in the big apple and in between trying to climb the corporate ladder, she 's trying to maintain a relationship with her beau Warren. Warren is a sports fan whom splits his time between his office cubicle and pursing his passion in music. Immediately when you begin the novel the author drops you into the urgency of Erica getting to her man and seeing his performance. The novel gives you an immediate sexy low key vibes of a sexual nature. I could hear the jazz flowing in the background helping to create the scenes. Right off the back I felt like it was 1999 and I was watching a classic rom comedy. The characters come off as flawed but human. The author paints a portrait of the trials, tribulations, and sacrifices we make to keep love constant in our lives. I could relate to Erica and Warren love for each other in the crisp yet sensual way they made love and thought of each in the distance. This novel stands against the rest because the author paints a powerful picture of pathology and how we our parents choices impact our lives. I was moved by Erica's devotion to her mother. However, I rooted for her to stand up and get her mother the help she needed. You saw the opposite with Warren and his relationship with his father. I want give too much of the plot away but the author did a great job. There are only a few things that I did not like about this novel. I felt over informed with all of the back story. For too many chapters I felt like the author rambled on too long. The book is forty three chapters long...geesh! The chapters are short but I felt like the author stretched the story for way too long. It was as if she didn't delete anything from the first draft. The dialogue was too lengthy at times and the reference to real world facts was a snooze fest. Sometimes while reading I felt like the book lacked the pace of a good read. The little drama that Erica and Warren experienced were over by the next chapter. I hated when they argued, especially when Warren curses. The arguments were trivial and petty. But, I felt like the author was did a poor job trying to create a dramatic scene. Even in moments of weakness like Warren smoking weed...it made me wonder like why was this important. I almost wanted one of them to go off in the deep end and never return. There wasn't enough punch for me to want to finish. This was a slow read overall. The ending was plausible and suffices to the expectations of a typical love story. Overall, this book was beautifully written, descriptive, and has all the makings love two people fighting for love despite the distance. Good read w/o fireworks!
June 26, 2012
There is nothing like the delectable pleasure of getting lost in a book. Sadeqa Johnson’s beguiling debut novel, Love in a Carry-On Bag, is a soulful portrait of a modern relationship. Career-minded Erica Shaw is an upcoming publicist at a first-rate, New York publishing firm, who is determined to break the cycle of women in her family who rely on welfare programs for survival. Warren Phillips is a talented software developer by day, and a gifted jazz musician after hours. Shortly after meeting, at a jazz club in New York, Erica and Warren became an item – she is his muse, and he is her rock. Not wanting to skip a beat in their relationship, when Warren signs on to a potentially lucrative software project in Washington, D.C., the couple vows to spend every weekend together. But, as other life events keep interrupting their vow – an uncaring alcoholic mother, pressing weekend business commitments, a secretive hardhearted father – the relationship feels the wear and tear the distance puts between them. The question neither wants to face – is their love strong enough to carry all of the additional baggage?
Johnson pulls the reader in at the beginning with fairy tale flair peppered with heartbreaking realism, and does not let them go until the last page. Her language is hauntingly intimate underlying the couple’s passion, “The music soaked into Erica’s pores, as she stored him up like she did every weekend; his scent sound, and touch. It was the only way she made it through the week without him.” One of the book’s strengths is the journey and growth of the characters as individuals and through their relationship. Each will have to confront deep hidden emotions from the past to understand who they are in the present. From Erica’s need to be in control to Warren’s grieving for his mother are all lessons in exposing one’s self to vulnerability which is the precursor to the necessary sweetness of love. I enjoyed how the characters came alive and stole my heart. But, it is the music that you will hear in your head and heart while reading that elevates this book beyond the ordinary.
Sensuous, fun, dramatic, serious, sweet, and sophisticated this love story will leave readers breathless and cheering for love to conquer all, but also wondering if the fuzzy edges of truth will stand up to the test of time. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a first-class love story.
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO Literary Book Review
Johnson pulls the reader in at the beginning with fairy tale flair peppered with heartbreaking realism, and does not let them go until the last page. Her language is hauntingly intimate underlying the couple’s passion, “The music soaked into Erica’s pores, as she stored him up like she did every weekend; his scent sound, and touch. It was the only way she made it through the week without him.” One of the book’s strengths is the journey and growth of the characters as individuals and through their relationship. Each will have to confront deep hidden emotions from the past to understand who they are in the present. From Erica’s need to be in control to Warren’s grieving for his mother are all lessons in exposing one’s self to vulnerability which is the precursor to the necessary sweetness of love. I enjoyed how the characters came alive and stole my heart. But, it is the music that you will hear in your head and heart while reading that elevates this book beyond the ordinary.
Sensuous, fun, dramatic, serious, sweet, and sophisticated this love story will leave readers breathless and cheering for love to conquer all, but also wondering if the fuzzy edges of truth will stand up to the test of time. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy a first-class love story.
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by Beverly
APOOO Literary Book Review
June 3, 2012
First Round Draft Pick
Erica Shaw and Warren Prince are in love. The proof is the care that they give to their relationship as well as how they spend their time together. Unfortunately for these two love birds, Erica lives in New York and Warren lives in D.C. So how can you make love at a distance? Keep the weekends hot and spicy while accumulating frequent miles. It seems that they are coping, though they are both still tense from time to time. Their love is enough to make it work, isn’t it?
Erica, a publicist, often finds herself babysitting an eclectic group of authors. Sometimes this cuts into her special time for her and Warren. Though she’s committed to making their love work, Erica is dependent to a fault and bent on climbing the corporate ladder. When you add her family drama to the already shortened weekends, soon Erica is skipping her weekend love.
Warren is a musician at heart, but he works a 9 to 5 in order to pay the bills. As an artist, he’s conflicted because he would love nothing more than to be a full-time musician. It just so happens his job, that pays him very well, is in D.C. While he’s 100% invested in them, he hates having to share his time with Erica’s work. Things get more trying as he learns of his father’s upcoming nuptials.
With so much baggage between them, can Erica and Warren make their love last?
LOVE IN A CARRY-ON BAG by Sedeqa Johnson seduces readers from page one. You find yourself enjoying the uniqueness of Erica and Warren’s relationship. The music not only takes you back in time, but it helps to further lull you into the pages as you come to understand what’s ailing them as individuals and their relationship. I’m not into ‘typical’ romance books, but I am definitely a sucker for love. This is a book worthy of a recommendation. I’m looking forward to seeing what Johnson offers readers next.
Reviewed by Crystal
4.5
Erica Shaw and Warren Prince are in love. The proof is the care that they give to their relationship as well as how they spend their time together. Unfortunately for these two love birds, Erica lives in New York and Warren lives in D.C. So how can you make love at a distance? Keep the weekends hot and spicy while accumulating frequent miles. It seems that they are coping, though they are both still tense from time to time. Their love is enough to make it work, isn’t it?
Erica, a publicist, often finds herself babysitting an eclectic group of authors. Sometimes this cuts into her special time for her and Warren. Though she’s committed to making their love work, Erica is dependent to a fault and bent on climbing the corporate ladder. When you add her family drama to the already shortened weekends, soon Erica is skipping her weekend love.
Warren is a musician at heart, but he works a 9 to 5 in order to pay the bills. As an artist, he’s conflicted because he would love nothing more than to be a full-time musician. It just so happens his job, that pays him very well, is in D.C. While he’s 100% invested in them, he hates having to share his time with Erica’s work. Things get more trying as he learns of his father’s upcoming nuptials.
With so much baggage between them, can Erica and Warren make their love last?
LOVE IN A CARRY-ON BAG by Sedeqa Johnson seduces readers from page one. You find yourself enjoying the uniqueness of Erica and Warren’s relationship. The music not only takes you back in time, but it helps to further lull you into the pages as you come to understand what’s ailing them as individuals and their relationship. I’m not into ‘typical’ romance books, but I am definitely a sucker for love. This is a book worthy of a recommendation. I’m looking forward to seeing what Johnson offers readers next.
Reviewed by Crystal
4.5
December 4, 2013
Love in a Carry on Bag came to me as a review request by Ms. Sadeqa Johnson herself. I was excited to get my hands on it after reading the synopsis. My interest came because I always wanted to know if long-distance relationships could actually work and wanted to know how Erica and Warren would end up. From the beginning of the book I thought they had the cutest relationship and was glad when it started getting into their personal lives and introduced the drama, who doesn't like good drama lol. Erica is a very successful publicist who lives in NY and Warren is in the IT Field and is a very passionate trumpet player from DC. These 2 had a weekend love affair and never missed a weekend spending time with each other, alternating homes. That is until their individual lives become more demanding. Sadeqa took us through their trials, upsets and let downs, and introduced us to their childhood history. You get so consumed and take on Erica's emotions through the book and begin to despise her mother as much as she does and can't help but love her neighbor/best friend Tess. At times, I wanted to knock both Warren and Erica upside their heads and yell "COMMUNICATE" if only they had done that sooner then they could've avoided so much. I loved the ending and hated it at the same time lol. I hated that it had to end but it was a great way to end it. Maybe book 2 will start with Erica being pregnant O_o. All in all this was a GREAT read! Thank you for asking Exquisite Ladies Book Club to review this for you. I definitely see this as a book of the month in the coming months. I gave this a 4 star rating because I had the unedited copy, so hopefully the necessary edits were made.
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September 1, 2015
Passion, Love and Jazz.
Publicist, Erica Shaw and software developer, Warren Prince who by night doubles as a jazz musician, enjoy a passionate love affair that unfortunately has major drawbacks.
Erica is the ultimate career woman that strives to move up in her profession and hopefully take a side serving of love along for the ride.
Warren is willing to be her one and only but he too has been offered a lucrative contract that will put more distance between them than there already is.
Erica resides in New York, while Warren lives in D.C. Neither of them are willing to relocate but the passion that they share has kept their weekends together, spontaneous, romantic and sexy. Both are tormented that they are united within their love for each other but are divided and even more so, selfish, as to who will make sacrifices for them to become a committed couple.
Along with this turmoil that has already left scars on their relationship, factor in office politics and family drama that have tensions bubbling over and threatening to spill searing rocks into their carry-on bag of love. When Erica and Warren realize that their emotional baggage has become a heavy burden, tempers flare, weekends are missed and the hot steam is reduced to luke- warm phone calls, as each sort out their emotions. It soon becomes clear that in order to move forward making peace with the past is the only answer to their future.
Author Sedeqa Johnson has penned an emotionally driven novel shining the light on a tormented long distance relationship. Her writing is intense as her characters catch the pages on fire while they unleash their love for each other. Recommended reading.
Locksie August 23, 2015.
ARC Book Club Inc. Star Rating 4.5
Publicist, Erica Shaw and software developer, Warren Prince who by night doubles as a jazz musician, enjoy a passionate love affair that unfortunately has major drawbacks.
Erica is the ultimate career woman that strives to move up in her profession and hopefully take a side serving of love along for the ride.
Warren is willing to be her one and only but he too has been offered a lucrative contract that will put more distance between them than there already is.
Erica resides in New York, while Warren lives in D.C. Neither of them are willing to relocate but the passion that they share has kept their weekends together, spontaneous, romantic and sexy. Both are tormented that they are united within their love for each other but are divided and even more so, selfish, as to who will make sacrifices for them to become a committed couple.
Along with this turmoil that has already left scars on their relationship, factor in office politics and family drama that have tensions bubbling over and threatening to spill searing rocks into their carry-on bag of love. When Erica and Warren realize that their emotional baggage has become a heavy burden, tempers flare, weekends are missed and the hot steam is reduced to luke- warm phone calls, as each sort out their emotions. It soon becomes clear that in order to move forward making peace with the past is the only answer to their future.
Author Sedeqa Johnson has penned an emotionally driven novel shining the light on a tormented long distance relationship. Her writing is intense as her characters catch the pages on fire while they unleash their love for each other. Recommended reading.
Locksie August 23, 2015.
ARC Book Club Inc. Star Rating 4.5
March 10, 2018
I could’ve done without
Although I started out being super excited to read this book I was let down with the storyline. Of course all relationships have high and lows but this was just too much. I was a little confused by the author providing background stories on warren and the female but at the end it made sense for why they had the problems they had in their relationship. The end really annoyed me because instead of warren finally telling the truth about what happened with him and his coworker he still lied saying nothing happened. The more I read this book the more I thought or could guess what would happen next but what I thought never happened lol. The story also dragged on to me. Some of the little details I felt were unnecessary which is why i struggled to finish this book. Overall it was ok just not what I expected.
Although I started out being super excited to read this book I was let down with the storyline. Of course all relationships have high and lows but this was just too much. I was a little confused by the author providing background stories on warren and the female but at the end it made sense for why they had the problems they had in their relationship. The end really annoyed me because instead of warren finally telling the truth about what happened with him and his coworker he still lied saying nothing happened. The more I read this book the more I thought or could guess what would happen next but what I thought never happened lol. The story also dragged on to me. Some of the little details I felt were unnecessary which is why i struggled to finish this book. Overall it was ok just not what I expected.
March 11, 2012
I just wanted to say that I absolutely loved this book! I am also in a long distance relationship, though I don't get to see him every weekend like the book characters, so this really touched home with me. Everything about the characters seemed real. Their arguments, issues, it was all very well written.
My one critique of this book was Blanche. While I truly believe there are women around there that are like that, I felt like the way Warren essentially told her "not going to happen" was too easy. This woman has been hinting and chasing him for months. Then she just suddenly gives up in a huff? I was expecting a little more fanfare or fight from her.
Nonetheless, this was a very good book. Once I started I didn't want to put it down. Very good job!
My one critique of this book was Blanche. While I truly believe there are women around there that are like that, I felt like the way Warren essentially told her "not going to happen" was too easy. This woman has been hinting and chasing him for months. Then she just suddenly gives up in a huff? I was expecting a little more fanfare or fight from her.
Nonetheless, this was a very good book. Once I started I didn't want to put it down. Very good job!
August 2, 2012
I love a old school romance and this didn't do it for me. The writing was good, I liked the story idea. The characters I just didn't really feel or root for, not the main characters or any of the charcters. The ending, I wish could have been a little more, but then again that could be an opening for a sequal. Also, the last scence with warren father had me shaking the book and saying "That's it?" I wanted a little more to be said or done in that moment and it ended just on a low note for me. I really wanted to like this book but it just was not happening.
September 3, 2016
What could go wrong in a long distance relationship? I love Erica and Warren. I truly rooted for them. The book is fast-paced. I like that it features African-American characters without making them stereotypes or atypical.
March 2, 2012
I thought it was clever and well written. Many tearful moments of joy and pain and of love. Very good read!!!
February 14, 2016
Very good first novel!! I absolutely adore my friend's writing style. She has a true gift. Can't wait to dig into your newly released novel, Second House from the Corner, Sadeqa!!
July 25, 2016
A super quick read they kept you engaged. I love "chick-li" so the story was a enjoyable and relatable. Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
March 14, 2022
Read 3/14/2022.
April 17, 2020
I read and enjoyed Second House from the Corner by Sadeqa Johnson but Love In A Carry on Bag was a story that was right up my alley! The kind of books I enjoy reading and the type I write about as an author.
Erica and Warren are trying to make a long-distance relationship work (she’s in New York, he’s in D.C.) but their commitments to their burgeoning careers and their families throw a serious wrench in their plans.
I personally don’t know that I could sustain a long-distance relationship if there wasn’t some definite date or time that the distance would come to an end. But I liked how Johnson allowed Erica and Warren’s separation to only be weekly (they saw each other every weekend). But even that proved to be challenging.
I think a lot of their issues (distance notwithstanding) was their lack of communication. She just wanted him to move to New York without understanding his need to be in D.C. I loved the pacing of the story and the fact that Warren was genuinely a good guy who loved Erica without a hidden agenda. I hate when the men are dogs and the women have to end up forgiving all of their trifling transgressions to get a HEA.
That was not the case with this story. (SPOILER) The couple does eventually work it out (after taking a short break) and a simple heart to heart conversation was all they needed to get on the same page....oh, and someone did make the move to be in the same city!
I loved the story and would definitely recommend it if you like romance with a bit of realism and angst that ends with a happily ever after!
Erica and Warren are trying to make a long-distance relationship work (she’s in New York, he’s in D.C.) but their commitments to their burgeoning careers and their families throw a serious wrench in their plans.
I personally don’t know that I could sustain a long-distance relationship if there wasn’t some definite date or time that the distance would come to an end. But I liked how Johnson allowed Erica and Warren’s separation to only be weekly (they saw each other every weekend). But even that proved to be challenging.
I think a lot of their issues (distance notwithstanding) was their lack of communication. She just wanted him to move to New York without understanding his need to be in D.C. I loved the pacing of the story and the fact that Warren was genuinely a good guy who loved Erica without a hidden agenda. I hate when the men are dogs and the women have to end up forgiving all of their trifling transgressions to get a HEA.
That was not the case with this story. (SPOILER) The couple does eventually work it out (after taking a short break) and a simple heart to heart conversation was all they needed to get on the same page....oh, and someone did make the move to be in the same city!
I loved the story and would definitely recommend it if you like romance with a bit of realism and angst that ends with a happily ever after!
December 14, 2017
Erica excels as a publicist in NYC. Her love Warren is under contract in DC, while pursuing his true love of jazz whenever he can. They vow their weekends to each other in good faith, but family and work overspill their boundaries. Erica’s alcoholic mother is an emotional vampire, constantly requesting her time and money. Warren’s father is an emotionally inaccessible, strict disciplinarian, whose second marriage exposes a family secret that rips Warren out of time and space. As Erica tries to move up the ladder in her company, special projects snatch her away from her special time with Warren, who renews his contract in DC without discussing it with her. He breaks up with her, setting Erica on a downward spiral. She confronts her mother about her childhood, prompting her mother to reveal her own tragic background. She and Warren must come to terms with the families that they have and find their way back to each other.
This is so much more than a long-distance romance novel. Both main characters are well-developed, complex individuals placed in impossible situations with no clear resolutions. They learn more about their families than they wanted to know, but this helps them to evolve and move toward each other.
This is so much more than a long-distance romance novel. Both main characters are well-developed, complex individuals placed in impossible situations with no clear resolutions. They learn more about their families than they wanted to know, but this helps them to evolve and move toward each other.
March 7, 2024
Work Triangle
This was a good read. The "triangle" in this book is work. Both the main characters struggle with what's more important. Finacial and professional secuirty or their relationship. They are struggling to have it all, and their relationship suffers for it. The story was good! There were a lot of details about things that I found irrelevant and that detracted from the story IMHO. Overall it was a good read. The ending was predictable but this isn't some deep dive reading. It's a good pick me up story and knowing how the story was going to end was ok. It wasn't about the ending it was about the healing that needed to taks place so that both people could move forward and leave their baggage behind.
This was a good read. The "triangle" in this book is work. Both the main characters struggle with what's more important. Finacial and professional secuirty or their relationship. They are struggling to have it all, and their relationship suffers for it. The story was good! There were a lot of details about things that I found irrelevant and that detracted from the story IMHO. Overall it was a good read. The ending was predictable but this isn't some deep dive reading. It's a good pick me up story and knowing how the story was going to end was ok. It wasn't about the ending it was about the healing that needed to taks place so that both people could move forward and leave their baggage behind.
February 14, 2026
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April 5, 2020
In this book, Erica is a strong career Woman, Daughter, Girlfriend, and friend. Her life was nothing but juggles and stress. But somehow, she was able to take on a long-distance relationship with a faithful and caring Man. How we deal with stress, work, relationship and disappointment in life reveals how our character defines us as a person. Erica, like most Strong Black Women, is resilient and resourceful. Her pride almost got the best of her, but true love all ways win. We all carry baggage, but the bigger question to answer is how much are you willing to accept or hide in a relationship for Love? In the end, everything will be revealed.
November 5, 2016
I have been on a roll for the past couple weeks reading one "quick read" after another. I thought I was picking up books with no real substance, but I must admit I have enjoyed all of them. I have never read a book by Johnson, and while I wouldn't put her at the top of my list her novel was a good read. What I appreciated most is that she allowed readers to get to know all her characters, their secrets, troubles, an desires. Whether it was a chapter, a paragraph, or a passing comment, she gave every character a voice.
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