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Pressed, Not Broken
I didn’t come for a transformation.
I just needed a break… a breath… a few hours not holding it all together.
One girl. A head full of 4C hair.
And a salon that feels more like a sanctuary than a service.
I’ve spent years shrinking myself—at home, at school, even in the mirror.
But these women? They see me. And somehow, in this chair, I’m starting to see myself too.
At Crowned and Covered, healing doesn’t ask for permission.
It begins at the bowl… and it doesn’t stop at the scalp.
I just needed a break… a breath… a few hours not holding it all together.
One girl. A head full of 4C hair.
And a salon that feels more like a sanctuary than a service.
I’ve spent years shrinking myself—at home, at school, even in the mirror.
But these women? They see me. And somehow, in this chair, I’m starting to see myself too.
At Crowned and Covered, healing doesn’t ask for permission.
It begins at the bowl… and it doesn’t stop at the scalp.
25 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 4, 2025
4 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 24, 2025
I really felt bad for this character in the book basic of her backstory she is young and the thing she had to endure or just jaw dropping that some people could be so cruel to another person just for them being themselves is so far-fetched of a concept to me. It’s crazy to know there are people who hate you just for you being yourself..
October 25, 2025
”You’re pressed, baby. But you’re not broken.”
It’s Keyslee turn to sit in the chair at Crowned and Covered, and here the baby of the shop finally gets to relax, just be, and get her hair pressed after having to carry the weight of a drug addicted mother and being the caretaker of her grandmother who’s memory slowly fading. While simultaneously having a hard life at home, Keyslee is bullied at school for her 4C hair. Wanting to stop shrinking herself, Keyslee gets a drastic hair change that finally makes her realize the titles she’s carrying doesn’t belong to her and that she can finally just be … her. 🫶🏽
Side note: Keyslee’s mama calling her Brillo Pad like the kids did at her school was so annoying. How tacky to bully your own damn child. 🙄
Favorite quote: “I’ve been through hard things and shaped by pressure. But I’m not ruined or defined by my pain. I’m still worthy of it all.”
I knowwww Netra said that these are short stories and we shouldn’t be worried about character development, but I really wished we got just a little bit more from our main FMCs. I wanted more about Keyslee story given that she’s the baby of the shop and dealing with so much as a teenager. I know soo many Black girls could probably relate to her story. 😫
My rating: 3/5. ✨
It’s Keyslee turn to sit in the chair at Crowned and Covered, and here the baby of the shop finally gets to relax, just be, and get her hair pressed after having to carry the weight of a drug addicted mother and being the caretaker of her grandmother who’s memory slowly fading. While simultaneously having a hard life at home, Keyslee is bullied at school for her 4C hair. Wanting to stop shrinking herself, Keyslee gets a drastic hair change that finally makes her realize the titles she’s carrying doesn’t belong to her and that she can finally just be … her. 🫶🏽
Side note: Keyslee’s mama calling her Brillo Pad like the kids did at her school was so annoying. How tacky to bully your own damn child. 🙄
Favorite quote: “I’ve been through hard things and shaped by pressure. But I’m not ruined or defined by my pain. I’m still worthy of it all.”
I knowwww Netra said that these are short stories and we shouldn’t be worried about character development, but I really wished we got just a little bit more from our main FMCs. I wanted more about Keyslee story given that she’s the baby of the shop and dealing with so much as a teenager. I know soo many Black girls could probably relate to her story. 😫
My rating: 3/5. ✨
May 14, 2025
“You didn’t just become beautiful, baby,” she said. “You already were. This silk press didn’t make you beautiful—” She placed a hand on my shoulder. “—it just helped you believe it.”
Great little story about a high school senior drowning in responsibilities being given a chance to just breathe💕
Great little story about a high school senior drowning in responsibilities being given a chance to just breathe💕
July 22, 2025
I feel so bad for this young girl. I was her!!!! I pray she find healing and that the world opens doors unimaginable for this beautiful baby!
October 3, 2025
My heart broke for this story. Very well written. Still wish it was a bit longer for the story to feel more complete
April 26, 2025
A Soft, Sacred Unraveling. 5 Star ARC!
This book is a balm. A quiet revolution. A place to rest.
In a world that constantly asks young Black girls to grow up too fast, to carry more than their share, sacrifice their dreams, suffer in silence and to wear strength like armor—Crowned and Covered offers something radical: softness. Here, we meet Keyslee, a young girl whose story doesn’t scream for change or demand grand reinvention. She’s not on a mission to become someone new—she just wants to breathe, literally. And this book gives her, and us, that sacred pause.
From the moment Keyslee enters the salon on this specific Sunday, she's wrapped in the warmth of knowing hands and centuries of unspoken wisdom, something shifts...the weight is lifted from her shoulders. This isn't just a place to do hair. It’s a safe place, a sanctuary where silence speaks and healing hums low and steady. The characters, the atmosphere, the very water in the shampoo bowl—everything is medicine.
What makes this story so necessary is how it gently holds the truth so many of us have lived: how Black girls are too often molded into versions of themselves that don’t belong to them. Forced to shrink in the face of expectation, to smile while folding themselves small. But in these pages, there is expansion. There is recognition. There is rest.
The writing carries you like a lullaby and lands like a prayer. It's a reminder that we don’t always need fixing. Sometimes, we just need space to be. A piece of peace!
When Keyslee finally sees herself... Omg!
“I wasn’t the caretaker. I wasn’t the bullied girl. Not the strong one out of necessity. Just… me. Pressed, not broken. I’ve been through hard things and shaped by pressure. But I’m not ruined or defined by my pain. I’m still worthy of it all.”-Keyslee
This isn’t just a book. It’s a mirror, a hug, a sanctuary.
Read it slowly. Let it hold you. You deserve that
This book is a balm. A quiet revolution. A place to rest.
In a world that constantly asks young Black girls to grow up too fast, to carry more than their share, sacrifice their dreams, suffer in silence and to wear strength like armor—Crowned and Covered offers something radical: softness. Here, we meet Keyslee, a young girl whose story doesn’t scream for change or demand grand reinvention. She’s not on a mission to become someone new—she just wants to breathe, literally. And this book gives her, and us, that sacred pause.
From the moment Keyslee enters the salon on this specific Sunday, she's wrapped in the warmth of knowing hands and centuries of unspoken wisdom, something shifts...the weight is lifted from her shoulders. This isn't just a place to do hair. It’s a safe place, a sanctuary where silence speaks and healing hums low and steady. The characters, the atmosphere, the very water in the shampoo bowl—everything is medicine.
What makes this story so necessary is how it gently holds the truth so many of us have lived: how Black girls are too often molded into versions of themselves that don’t belong to them. Forced to shrink in the face of expectation, to smile while folding themselves small. But in these pages, there is expansion. There is recognition. There is rest.
The writing carries you like a lullaby and lands like a prayer. It's a reminder that we don’t always need fixing. Sometimes, we just need space to be. A piece of peace!
When Keyslee finally sees herself... Omg!
“I wasn’t the caretaker. I wasn’t the bullied girl. Not the strong one out of necessity. Just… me. Pressed, not broken. I’ve been through hard things and shaped by pressure. But I’m not ruined or defined by my pain. I’m still worthy of it all.”-Keyslee
This isn’t just a book. It’s a mirror, a hug, a sanctuary.
Read it slowly. Let it hold you. You deserve that
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2025
Pressed, Not Broken
Netra Antoinette
Sunday Crown Session Book 3
Sweet Keyslee has been given the shortest end of the “life” stick. Her home life is less than perfect. She doesn’t understand how her circumstances are making her mentally strong. Truthfully, most people couldn’t care less about how overcoming trauma will benefit them in the future.
Her burdens are heavy, but she’s just a child. Well, she should only have to meander through childish things, but she isn’t that fortunate. She’s been given too much responsibility far too early in life.
The salon is not only a safe place to let her hair down literally, but a place to lay her burdens down.
If there is an expansion on babygirl Keyslee, I wanna know if she chooses herself or her family. Will she effectively silence the noise around her?
#readandtellwithshantel #netraantionette #sundaycrownsessionsseries #pressednotbroken
(The Cheetah Girls - Cheetah Sisters)
Netra Antoinette
Sunday Crown Session Book 3
Sweet Keyslee has been given the shortest end of the “life” stick. Her home life is less than perfect. She doesn’t understand how her circumstances are making her mentally strong. Truthfully, most people couldn’t care less about how overcoming trauma will benefit them in the future.
Her burdens are heavy, but she’s just a child. Well, she should only have to meander through childish things, but she isn’t that fortunate. She’s been given too much responsibility far too early in life.
The salon is not only a safe place to let her hair down literally, but a place to lay her burdens down.
If there is an expansion on babygirl Keyslee, I wanna know if she chooses herself or her family. Will she effectively silence the noise around her?
#readandtellwithshantel #netraantionette #sundaycrownsessionsseries #pressednotbroken
(The Cheetah Girls - Cheetah Sisters)
May 11, 2025
In this story Keyslee is struggling to manage running a household, taking care of her sick grandma and mother all while trying to finish high school. Her only reprieve is her Sundays at the salon. I liked the way that her new hairdo was tied into her storyline because she was teased a lot for her hair and not knowing what to do with it but her new style brought out a new her where she can actually see her beauty for what it is and know that with all that she went through she was not broken. I liked the message in this short story.
November 23, 2025
Very touching and heartbreaking. This was very beautifully written and sadly there are more young people going through more dreadful things than this. Just because a person is young doesn’t mean they’re not going through a mixture of hardships and/or traumas. Showing love and kindness to everyone can be a life saving miracle to someone and the relationships in this salon displayed that affection perfectly. 4.5⭐️
May 12, 2025
Young and too strong!
Keyslee is a young girl with adult problems. I'm happy she has a good support system with the women in one Sunday rotation. Her relationship with Carmen is also very warm and made me miss my cousin, lol. Cute read with a heavy message. Spoke to the younger me.
Keyslee is a young girl with adult problems. I'm happy she has a good support system with the women in one Sunday rotation. Her relationship with Carmen is also very warm and made me miss my cousin, lol. Cute read with a heavy message. Spoke to the younger me.
August 28, 2025
Making the weight of the world light as a feather.
This one was a bit emotional for me. I loved how it took a village to help her see the beauty she already possessed. Sometimes , we are dealt difficult hands, yet we have to persevere. There is so much light at the end of the tunnel for her. On to book 4 I go.
This one was a bit emotional for me. I loved how it took a village to help her see the beauty she already possessed. Sometimes , we are dealt difficult hands, yet we have to persevere. There is so much light at the end of the tunnel for her. On to book 4 I go.
May 5, 2025
Love it!
Reading this one all I could think about is that song " I Am Not My Hair " the way they poured love and inspiration into her . This was so good , I'm loving this short series
Reading this one all I could think about is that song " I Am Not My Hair " the way they poured love and inspiration into her . This was so good , I'm loving this short series
September 6, 2025
ugly cry
Aww, my heart breaks for baby girl—caring for her sick grandma, facing bullies, and a mom who chose drugs over her. And then Sanae giving her a silk press, remembering it was picture day. That did me in. I’m crying all over again. 🥺
Aww, my heart breaks for baby girl—caring for her sick grandma, facing bullies, and a mom who chose drugs over her. And then Sanae giving her a silk press, remembering it was picture day. That did me in. I’m crying all over again. 🥺
September 11, 2025
💇🏾♀️💆🏾♀️
Keyslee have so much weight on her shoulders and she’s only seventeen. A baby taking care of grown adults while being insecure. I would’ve loved to see alil more of her.
This is so relatable for a lot of young black girls.
Keyslee have so much weight on her shoulders and she’s only seventeen. A baby taking care of grown adults while being insecure. I would’ve loved to see alil more of her.
This is so relatable for a lot of young black girls.
May 4, 2025
Love on them
Each story brings me a new peace. Pressed, not broken touched the little girl in me and many women I have come in contact with in my life and their stories!
Each story brings me a new peace. Pressed, not broken touched the little girl in me and many women I have come in contact with in my life and their stories!
May 5, 2025
Keyslee was a teen who had to grow up fast with many misfits in her life. She finds peace in her time of the salon with older women. So much love and inspiration is poured upon her.
June 27, 2025
Short story about a teenager taking on the world by herself due to family issues. The one place she feels loved is the salon on Sunday’s with the women she looks up to the most.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews