The Johnson Four

by Christina Hammonds Reed

A 1960s boy band determined to conquer the music world must contend with the cost of fame—and a ghost with a grisly past—in this riveting novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Black Kids.

Odysseus Johnson dreams of musical stardom for his three Roman, the rebel, more interested in being a teenager than a performer; Rocco, arguably the most talented of the bunch, but different in a way the world doesn’t understand; and dutiful River, the youngest, who dreams of fame just like his dad.

Driving back from another failed audition in Detroit, the Johnson boys come upon the ghost of Christmas Jones the Third, an ebullient, if lonely, young Black orphan who carries the scars of a horrific past as a minstrel sensation. Desperate for family, Christmas begs the Johnsons to bring him home with them. When Odysseus refuses, Christmas stows away in the family Cadillac. Despite their initial horror, Christmas becomes a part of the Johnson family.

With the promise of opportunities in California, Odysseus moves the family out west, and the boys’ talent starts getting noticed. But just as the brothers are finally on the cusp of fame, Christmas commits a violent act that wreaks havoc on the Johnsons’ lives and the family is torn asunder in the aftermath. Roman flees the country. Rocco is institutionalized. River’s solo star rises. Christmas disappears.

Spanning decades, roving from the rapacious music industry and the ravages of Vietnam to the dark corridors of a mental institution and the very planes of the afterlife, The Johnson Four is epic in scope. And at its beating heart is the unforgettable story of a family trying to find their way back to one another.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Horror, Historical, Music, Drama, Realistic Fiction

496 pages, Hardcover

Published February 3, 2026

About the author

Christina Hammonds Reed holds an MFA in Film and Television Production from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Her short fiction has previously appeared in the Santa Monica Review. She lives in Hermosa Beach, CA.

Reviews

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Johnson Four. Yes, it's long, but I enjoyed every minute of the read. Yes, not everything is tied up neatly at the end, but that's a basic feature of day-to-day life.

More than anything, I loved this book for its characters. The Johnson Three are kids trying to make it in the music business. They sing as a team, but each of the boys--Roman, Rocco, and River--comes across as an individual in his own right from the book's beginning. The reader accompanies them from childhood to middle age--I couldn't help but want the best for them, although my sense of what that best might be evolved over the course of the novel. These are the kind of characters that come across as so genuine that a reader can't help but hope for them, fret for them.

Running a close second for me is the strand of magical realism that runs through the book. There are ghosts. Some people can see them, some can't. The Johnsons are among those who can, and early in the novel the family is joined by the ghost of a child who was lynched well before any of the Johnsons were born. Christmas, the ghost, is a perpetual five years old. As a child he found occasional situations in which he lived with people who cared about him, but he's never had a "real" family and desperately wants the Johnsons to be that family.

If you're up for a read that explores the complexity of families, that asks question about life and afterlife, I have every confidence you will love this book the way I did.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Johnson Four by Christina Hammonds Reed, this book is essentially like the Jackson 5 minus the dysfunction and abuse and throw in a six-year-old ghost. Odysseus will do anything to make his talented boys into superstars it is the 1960s and he knows if the people hear them that is exactly what will happen. Roman is the oldest and a little bit of an independent thinker and Wild child, Rocco is a very intelligent very talented boy who I also believe has autism or something like that the youngest son river wants to be everything his dad wants him to be and more but because they were well raised he is naïve and really isn’t ready for all the world has to offer when it happens. On the way back from an audition they stopped for a bathroom break and this is how they meet Christmas Merriweather the third everyone wants him to stay except Odysseus but the family believes that mama isn’t happy no one‘s happy and so Christmas stays with them and their lives will never be the same again. He’s closer to Rocco than any of the other children but they get along like brothers before you know it the family is moving to California away from their childhood home and everything they knew to be safe it’s during the trip to California that the family really learns all that Christmas is capable of love but because the guy deserved it in my opinion and it got them out of a spotty situation they said nothing and moved on as best you can from the situation like that. thanks to Christmas who really meant no harm their family who once was loving and happy will never be the same again. This was a very long book I mean it goes from the 60s all the way to them being grown up. Now I want to say I usually love books with ghost and I absolutely did love little Christmas my heart just broke for him despite I knew he was made up and that could never happen or at least I don’t think it can I just think this book was too long it could’ve been much shorter I also think it could’ve been told without Christmas and it would’ve been just as profound and interesting as it was with him I just think I got reading fatigue because I was so tired of reading this book I really was it seemed like IDK they were doing the same dance and expecting a different song to play I don’t know that was just a metaphor and obviously a bad one. I do think most of the book is interesting I like like 75% of it I felt so bad for Roman but then again at points in the book I felt bad for all of them I do want to say I don’t get why Imaline abandon the family for days I didn’t get that I did like her relationship with the doctor and totally didn’t see everything else coming. I know not liking long books as a personal choice so I still recommend this book because I didn’t stop reading it and I did finish it it just took me a very long time and many attempts. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) The Johnson Four by Christina Hammonds Reed is a sweeping, intimate Black family story that I enjoyed a great deal.

At its heart are three brothers growing up under the weight of their father’s dream of musical stardom. In this story each boy is shaped differently by love, pressure, and the world’s cruelty. Roman rebels. River tries to please. And Rocco, whose neurodivergence is rendered with clarity, tenderness and precision, moves through the story in ways that feel deeply seen without ever being labeled. When Rocco becomes connected to the spirit of a young Black boy whose life was marked by exploitation and loss, the Johnson family’s trajectory shifts forever.

This novel is doing so much work. Reed weaves together the impact of racism, the long shadow of Vietnam and militarism, the violence of a legal system that criminalizes Black boys and men, and the ways disability and disability rights are undermined by those same systems. It’s epic and immersive but never loses its emotional core. I raced through this book, desperate to know what would happen to each member of the family.

A note for readers: the ending carries a profound loss, and the text includes unexpected death and the use of outdated, harmful language (including “retard”), which may be triggering. Even so, The Johnson Four is a powerful, unforgettable novel about family, survival, and the devastating costs of a world that refuses to protect its most vulnerable.

[Shayla Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 rating! I wasn't expecting to be absolutely devastated by the novel. It's a story of love, determination, heartache, grief, and hope. The Johnsons are a family you want to root for to have everything, feel frustrated when they break apart, and hopefully when they come back together. Christmas was a good, if sometimes, suffocating character that somehow fit in with the Johnsons. Each family member had something going on with them and Christina did a wonderful job showing the ups and downs, ins and outs of their lives. I knew something tragic would happen because there was too much time left in the book and I was right. I wish River and Milton could have been together as a couple in life and in the light. It seems cruel to have them die but River was happy being free finally. Which is why he and Milton were gone right after. I felt something for each of these characters, and I was glad that Christmas finally got his happy ending literally at the end of the book. Well done!

[Ladiami · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Johnson Four was an overall good and memorable read. The novel is ambitious in scope, blending family drama, the pursuit of musical stardom, and supernatural elements into a story that feels both original and thought provoking. The author captures how dreams, expectations, and trauma shape a family across decades, and each character is given depth and humanity, even in their flaws.

The pacing sometimes dragged, and I did feel the book was longer than it needed to be. I was also hoping for a more hopeful conclusion, especially after so many setbacks and heartbreaks. While most characters eventually received some form of closure, River stood out as the one who deserved more. Rocco and River, in particular, felt like the heart of the story, and I found myself rooting for them throughout.

This is a moving novel that lingers after the final page. The interplay of music, family bonds, and personal struggles, against both cultural shifts and supernatural twists, makes for a layered and unforgettable reading experience.

Thanks Netgalley and Ballantine |Ballantine Books for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

[台灣困困頂級外送茶頼667v · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Blu's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)
Review: The Johnson Four by Christina Reed

The Johnson Four is the kind of story that grabs you by the collar and refuses to let you drift away. Christina Reed crafts a sprawling, emotionally charged family saga that blends ambition, music, generational wounds, and a touch of the supernatural into something that feels bold and unforgettable.

What immediately stands out is how alive these characters feel. The Johnsons are messy, proud, loving, selfish, and deeply human. Their loyalties and resentments tangle together in ways that feel both dramatic and painfully realistic. Reed doesn’t shy away from the ugliness that comes with chasing dreams—or the price a family pays when trauma goes unspoken.

The narrative moves through different timelines and emotional tones, and while the shifts can occasionally feel abrupt, they ultimately build a layered and immersive story. Reed has a real talent for capturing the tension between who we want to be and who our circumstances force us to become.

Some moments are hard to stomach in the best possible way. Christmas’ storyline, in particular, broke me open. The vulnerability, the horror, the quiet strength—his chapters were some of the most powerful I’ve read this year. And the pulse-pounding scene at the gas station? Absolutely unforgettable.

If I’m being honest, the pacing does waver, and the book could have been tighter. I also found myself wishing for a more hopeful closing note, especially given how much pain these characters endure. River’s arc felt especially deserving of a fuller resolution, and the dynamic between Rocco and River ended up being one of the emotional anchors of the novel for me.

Still, by the time the final page turns, the story leaves an echo. Reed’s blend of historical backdrop, musical ambition, and supernatural undertones creates a world that stays with you—haunting, tender, and filled with complexity.

A daring multi-generational drama with heart, grit, and a lingering sense of wonder.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[danabelle]

So I teetered… but I decided to go with 3 stars. I’m gonna be generous with this one because I did love the majority of it.

The absolutely stellar character work is truly the heart of this novel, and the way it’s woven in with historical events and connects the past with the present and even the future was masterful (LOVEDDDDDD the section about the Johnson’s music being sampled by b-boys during the rise of rap). That cannot be understated. Christmas especially stole my entire heart throughout the entire tale, with Emmeline always a close second behind.

The characters all felt so lived in, regardless of how long they were on screen, and how many characters we were dealing with in one scene. Anytime there was a family gathering and one of them wasn’t there I could feel the phantom limb pain without the absence even needing to be mentioned.

Also… the concept of about 50-70 people across the globe with nothing in common but Michigan origins seeing River thank “The Johnson Four” and having the thinnest ghost of a memory of a rumor spread around the neighborhood suddenly be confirmed is HILARIOUS.

This book really could been a EASY 4.5 but what compels my rating down to a 3 is River’s ending … bury your gays trope in the big year of 2026? Seriously?

I was already clutching my seat afraid of an AIDS death just for BYG to be the monster under my bed the whole time … whatever man.

It would’ve been TEN TIMES more impactful and full circle for Christmas and River’s dynamic if we got to see River and Milton come home and live freely even if just amongst their family. Christmas could’ve seen what it was like to see a gay person fulfilled with their life and partner and reflected back on his experience with the Powell’s more, and River could’ve actually sat with the importance of his intersectional identity and the legacies he is carrying on.

It was a MASSIVE missed opportunity to not have River, Christmas and even Milton have a conversation about Moses (black queer elders are so important to black queer identity and this should’ve been expanded on) and its connection to River using Christmas’s dance as his career signature. I loved the reclamation aspect of that plot point and think there was sooooo much more to be discussed there. The fact that River and Christmas (or even Odysseus and River given their contrasting viewpoints) DONT have a conversation about that AT ALL is jarring.

How beautiful it would’ve been for River to be reaffirmed that not only BLACK GAY PEOPLE ALWAYS EXISTED but ALSO that for a time they nurtured and protected his little brother? How would that have affected his relationship with Milton? With his family? With his own black queerness?

Alas…. I wanted to love this just as much as I ADORED The Black Kids but I still had so much fun.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Addie BookCrazyBlogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Odysseus Johnson dreams of musical stardom for his three boys. Roman, the rebel, more interested in being a teenager than a performer; Rocco, arguably the most talented but clearly on the spectrum during a time when this wasn’t accepted and River, the youngest, who dreams of fame just like his dad. Driving back from another failed audition, the Johnson boys come across the ghost of Christmas Jones the Third, a lonely and darling young Black orphan who carries the scars of a horrific past as a minstrel sensation and a lynching victim. Desperate for family, Christmas stows away and becomes part of the family. With the promise of opportunities in California, the family moved but as the family is on the cusp of fame, Christmas makes a decision that tears the family apart. When I first got this novel, I thought it was an adaptation of Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five but the only real similarities are in a similar name. This was an excellent portrayal of American history: from our country’s past of lynching Black men, to the poor treatment of Black and brown soldiers during Vietnam and my personal favorite, going through the with the AIDS movement, working with people who have disabilities, and dealing with drug/alcohol addiction. Yet it remains an engaging book, that has me flipping through the pages. This was an excellent read. What I found most delightful was the shift in perspectives: following the Johnson Three, we see an objective, narrative-focused perspective while Christmas’s perspective is clearly a little boy who just wants a family to love him him. It’s heart wrenching. I also really appreciated the care that went into Rocco’s experience. He wasn’t “othered,” he was accepted by his family for who he was and they fought for him to have the same rights as everyone else.

[3PCats · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 43%

I wanted to love this book. The concept is bold: a black family band navigating fame, fracture, and generational trauma, shadowed by the ghost of a lynched child. That premise is ambitious, strange, and genuinely powerful. The character of Christmas (the ghost at the heart of the story) is the most compelling part of the novel. His sections are haunting, moving, and emotionally resonant. I honestly wish he’d had his own book.

Unfortunately, the execution surrounding that strong core misses the mark.

There are noticeable continuity errors. On one page the character Milton picks lint off “his” sleeve (River’s sleeve? Milton’s sleeve?) On the very next page, the lint has migrated back to River’s sweater and this time River reacts badly and pushes the boy. Later, the sibling birth order is muddled: the brothers are clearly established as Roman, Rocco, and then River, yet River refers to Rocco as his “baby brother” when visiting him in the hospital.

More troubling is a major ethical implausibility: Rocco is court-mandated to see Dr. Takahashi after a violent incident, and within weeks his mother begins dating that same therapist. Even in the 1970s, this would constitute a serious boundary violation and professional ethics breach. It’s striking that a supernatural ghost child feels easier to accept than the casual treatment of therapist-client boundaries.

Stylistically, the prose has an almost sugar-high intensity: breathless, hyper, and vibrating with energy. Scenes rush forward without giving the reader time to catch their breath.

None of this erases the ambition. The ideas are big. The historical layering is intriguing. The emotional aims are sincere. I applaud the author for attempting something structurally and thematically daring.

Sadly, this just wasn’t for me.

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out February 3rd, 2026
The Johnson Four is a sweeping, genre-defying novel that blends historical fiction, supernatural mystery, and family drama into a haunting meditation on fame, trauma, and redemption. Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, the story follows Odysseus Johnson, a determined father who dreams of turning his three sons—Roman, Rocco, and River—into a chart-topping pop group. Each boy carries his own burdens: Roman, the rebellious eldest, resents the pressure; Rocco, the gifted middle child, struggles with being “different” in a world that doesn’t understand him; and River, the youngest, is eager to fulfill his father’s ambitions. Their journey begins with failed auditions and long drives, until a chance encounter with a ghost changes everything.

On a desolate road outside Detroit, the Johnsons meet Christmas Jones the Third—a spectral, effervescent Black boy with a tragic past as a minstrel performer and orphan. Desperate for connection, Christmas stows away in their Cadillac and becomes an eerie yet endearing part of the family. As the Johnsons relocate to California in pursuit of stardom, their fortunes begin to shift. The boys’ talent attracts attention, and fame seems within reach. But Christmas’s presence grows darker, culminating in a violent act that shatters the family. Roman flees the country, Rocco is institutionalized, River’s solo career takes off, and Christmas vanishes. The consequences ripple across decades, leaving emotional wreckage in their wake.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this groovy ARC!

[Maliika Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Johnson Four took me on a layered ride through one family’s climb toward musical success and the weight that comes with it. What I appreciated most was how the author let the family’s joys and wounds sit side by side. The characters felt believable in all their passion and frustration. You can feel how much they want to rise above their circumstances, even when they get in their own way.

The supernatural thread added an unexpected flavor and gave the story a different kind of tension. Christmas, in particular, brought a mix of light and heaviness that made his scenes stand out for me. I also found myself pulled toward Rocco and River. Their bond and their struggles carried so much quiet emotion. They were the ones I kept thinking about long after I closed the book.

At the same time, the pacing was uneven for me. Certain sections moved slowly and stretched out longer than needed. I also wanted the ending to land with more clarity and hope, especially after everything the family went through. River’s storyline felt like it needed a bit more room to breathe.

Even with those drawbacks, the book has a real emotional pull. It explores ambition, pain, love, and the things families carry without saying out loud. I finished the novel feeling thoughtful and a little heavy, in a good way. My rating is 3.5 stars. A compelling story with memorable moments that stay with you.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Johnson Four came on my radar after I read Christina Hammonds Reed's first book and loved it so much that I needed to see what else she'd written.

After reading this book, I can confidently say she's an auto-read author for me. Her storytelling is so beautiful and deep and touches on really sensitive topics with so much grace.

I loved all the characters in The Johnson Four and appreciated that many of them were fleshed out really well. I loved that each character had their own struggles and the three non-ghosty Johnson boys showed how you can grow up in the same family but have very different outcomes. Even with the supernatural element, the Johnson's felt like a real family that could exist.

I was so happy to see characters weave in and out of the timeline linking the living Johnson's to the life Christmas lived. All of us have examples of this wide world being really quite small at times and that was portrayed so beautifully in this book.

If you read it, you'll definitely see hints of influence of pop culture families of the past, but truly the book stands on its own and is its own story.

I can't speak highly enough about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for a chance to read this book early for review consideration. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.

[Reader Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Johnson Four
Christina Hammonds Reed



Date of Publication: February 3, 2026



Digital galley courtesy of Ballantine Books and NetGalley.



The Johnson Four is Christina Hammonds Reed’s adult debut. Ambitious in scope, it is a seeping family saga blending historical fiction, music and the supernatural. It follows the Johnson family - Odysseus and his three sons: Roman, Rocco and River, and their journey after musical stardom beginning in the late ‘60’s. Along the way, they are joined by Christmas Jones the Third, the ghost of a lynched boy himself haunted by his past (is that even possible?).

The novel is emotional and unsettling at times, attempting to grapple with difficult subjects including ambition, racism, the civil rights movement, AIDS, drug and alcohol addiction, and the Vietnam War, all in the context of complex family relationships. The novel is difficult to follow at times, and seems to bog down at some point, mainly because of everything it tries to cover. Overall, however, it is a worthwhile, genre-defying read.

[SPENCE5280 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to keep this short. Pick up this book and read it until the very end. The characters age so well it feels like I'm watching it happen. Tragedy doesn't always mean a bad ending but it's uncertain as you read through. The supernatural elements of the book are sweet and what I mean is that they are told from the view of a child. Innocence doesn't die here it's just a wild idea. The execution in my opinion was superb in every way. The gruesome reminders about the circumstances of Christmas's death are like hard knocks at the door that snap you out of the story's light moments. The callback to a time where black groups were a way out of poverty. The golden ticket to Hollywood was a scratch and claw that the author nails immediately. With triumph there are roadblocks alongside so many realizations from the parental figures in the story. You really see the Johnson kids as individuals going through their own issues and the whole time a gleeful ghost is floating around reminding us just how human they all are.

10/10

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book blew me away! The story spans multiple decades to follow the Johnson family - Odysseus & Emmeline and their 3 boys Roman, Rocco, and River - as they venture into the music industry as the Johnson Three. Did I mention there’s magical realism in the form of Christmas the ghost?

The Johnson Four will make you cry and warm your heart at the same time with the depth and complexity of the characters while dealing with their own personal struggles that come with fame (and ghosts). We even get to see Christmas’ origin story and his own journey. The drama in this book and each characters storyline is so well done and rivals the tears shed in a Kristin Hannah novel. There are quite of bit of heavy topics discussed in this book so check trigger warnings. My only issue was that the first section of this book, while setting the rest of the story up for such success, did take a while to get through. But trust me, it was well worth it.

Thank you to the author and publisher for this advance reader copy. The book is out now!!

[Shanquelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Black family band chasing fame? Immediately I’m thinking Jackson 5 vibes. Add in generational ambition, the music industry, brotherhood, and complicated family dynamics, I was ready. Even with the paranormal twist, which I don’t really like, I was all in.

The story follows Odysseus Johnson and his three sons as they pursue stardom, only to cross paths with the ghost of a young Black boy named Christmas who was an orphan and former minstrel. Christmas was my favorite character. He was layered, heartbreaking, and strangely the emotional glue of the story.

But here’s where I struggled. This book is epic in scope as it covers a lot, the music industry politics, Vietnam, mental institutions, the afterlife, decades of family fallout but for me, at times it felt like too much. There was so much happening that it became overwhelming.

I really think this story would have hit harder if it had been tighter and shorter.

If you love multi-generational literary fiction with magical realism and don’t mind a lot going on, this might work for you.

[Hana Duckworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the elevator pitch for this book, as a bookseller will be kind of hard because of all the intricacies it contains. But I'll try my best because I do think it was worth reading. Maybe: The prose was beautiful, I cared for each of the characters and depth of family ties was expertly expressed. Plus there's a little ghost boy named Christmas who will steal your heart.

[Stephanie Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never read anything quite like this - Christmas 🥲 - loved the writing, intricacies and nuance and layers, characters…this family! I was celebrating with them and getting my heart broken with them.

Some pacing issues but I couldn’t put this down.

Thanks to the publisher for a free copy via Netgalley

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most powerful works of fiction I’ve ever read. This is an epic journey of a novel, a story about family and heartache and the music industry’s very origins. I urge everyone to pick up this book when it hits shelves!

[Sara]

Every time with fam was sipring
road to music draw map of us
find wide pic of past to hung at futur white wall
togather play old fam
sing to lose to war to disses to migrat love
hard bridg to cross
down was far but we mang
its big mountin we want to climp
its big goal
its fame at down

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it. The characters were well written, and I was rooting for them the whole time. If you like a story with family drama, pick this one up.

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

So close to 4 stars. While I loved the story of the ghost, I didn’t love it as a tie in for the story.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book emotionally destroyed me. Throughout the entire book, the Johnsons felt like a real family I knew and loved