A Staten Island Love Letter 4: The Forgotten Borough

A Staten Island Love Letter: The Forgotten Borough #4

by Jahquel J.

Ghost and the crew are back with a whole new world of issues. While the streets are calm, their home lives are far from that. Free is carrying their son and Ghost is over the moon with the pregnancy. This is his second chance to parent and become one with Free. While they’re preparing for the birth of their son, a curveball comes out of thin air and rocks the foundation of their home. How will Free and Ghost get through this? Just when they’ve find a solution and solace to their first problem, Ghost is hit with something that has the ability to take him away from Free and his children. How will Free be able to handle a new baby and this new issue? Will she stand tall and be everything that her man needs her to be? Or will she flee again like she did all those years ago? Liberty and Staten are together and far from happy. Chanel may have accepted that she and Staten may never be together, but she’s not willing to go away, especially with her about to have his first child. While Staten is trying to juggle being the head of the streets, a new dad, and a boyfriend to Liberty, will Liberty find her comfort in something else? When Liberty starts becoming distant, and Maliah and he start spending more time together, what will happen? All Staten wants is someone to love him, but with Liberty fighting her own demons, will she lose Staten’s heart forever? Will Maliah fill the void that is inside Staten’s heart? Or will Staten fight hard to get the woman that he loves back? Justice and Priest are happy and welcoming their first child together. While Justice is trying to keep calm and stop freaking out over her pregnancy, Priest is battling his issues with his nieces. Love is now sixteen and has found her way into the same hoods that Kiss once frequented. While trying to raise both his nieces, keep Kiss on the right track, and raise his nephew, will he start to lose it? Especially when someone enters his life and starts to wreak havoc for both he and his family. The crew is back and ready to give you a glimpse of their new lives. Make sure you’re ready to cross the Verrazano bridge and pay that toll so that you’re welcomed back into the forgotten borough; Staten Island  

Genres: Urban, Audiobook, African American

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2019

Reviews

[AlexTRBG]

Aye yo that ending was wild 😅 But Priest and Staten were some straight up dogs in this smh! Like they both so “grown” but still acting like some damn YNs.

[Bookishrealm]

I have complicated feelings about this one!

It felt like the 3rd book in the series ended in a good place so while I'm understanding of reel life conflict, this book ultimately feels like it undid a lot of the character development that was accomplished in the first three books. I'm not a huge fan of books that change an established character arc for the sake of extending the plot. It seems as though Jahquel J fell into the trap of doing that in this book. I was hooked with the drama, but it didn't feel true to the characters.

[KindledbyKisses]

Priest and Staten smh 🤦‍♀️ but more so Liberty im highly disappointed! Condoms clearly everyone is allergic lmfaoooo

[Fowzi A]

WTF just happened 😫😫😫 just a reminder MEN are 🗑️

[Cherrita Mallett]

I can’t stand Liberty! She’s soooo dumb. To be honest everybody was dumb in this one. Everybody made some dumb decisions. And Maliah was the dumbest of them all.

[Jite]

I thought she was done but then she blew everything all up.

I was wrong. Book 3 was not indeed the final book and all the good that happened there, it was systematically dismantled in this book where every single unhappily ever after that could happen did. Everyone’s relationship is in trouble- Ghost is keeping secrets from Freedom, Liberty breaks up with Staten so she can dr#g away in peace, Staten is hooking up with a forbidden Staten Island princess that will only end badly, Priest has lost his darn mind…. this was a trainwreck for all the characters and the cliffhanger ending has me diving into book 5 immediately.

[Britt Currie]

I was loving this series until about halfway through this book and the story line went left. Now I hate all the main men except Ghost smh

[Marcy]

The book is a four star but I refuse. Will I read the next book? Of course because of the ending. Everybody in this book is STUPID - it’s not one sensible person. 😒🤬

[Monica ✨]

One thing about it, Jahquel knows how to get a rise out of me and make me cuss. I don’t like any of these men aside from Ghost. Wishing you the best G. I’m putting Staten and Priest in the same box I have Naheim & Capella in. Liberty has a problem, but she was never wrong in her feelings about Chanel and the lack of boundaries. The way Staten treated Lib in the hospital, disgusting and childish! Maliah is male centered and sees no wrong in Staten. She’s young so I can’t blame her. Maybe Mariah took all the common sense in the womb. Justice, my sweet angel. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I knew Priest wasn’t the man he portrayed to be from book 3. He and Kiss are more alike than he thinks. Free not too much on G! 😩 “Don’t blame Mr. Gyson, Mr. Gyson is just a man and he’s doing the best he can!” Mind you, Free has the one decent brother. Messiah isn’t wrong 🌝.

[Kamryn]

I’m shooookk

I loved the characters, as always! Book 4 really dove more into their inner worlds , and I loved each and every moment of it. With so many twists and turns, I can’t wait to see what’s in store!

[Shonika]

This book was so good and the tears just kept coming.

[Jeanette H.]

OMG the cliffhanger!!! I am so invested in the Davis family. On to book 5, the last book.

[Crystal Happy]

She does it again!

I am convinced, hands down, Jah is the queen of cliffhangers! Did she shoot Maliah? Man, on to the next book!

[kirareadsss]

Got damn everyone got problems. And babies and drugs lawd

[Kyra Sirag]

I’m so aggravated with the men of this book. Jahquel J can write a good book for sure, but the characters are frustrating me so much that I can’t rate this higher 😭 the girls are finally mostly getting it together, I need these men to clean it up.

[Diane Fauth]

Staten - pissing me off…
Priest- pissing me off the most
Liberty - get it together!!!

[Will]

Don’t start with your shit Jahquel! I’m just a few pages in and here you go! 🙄😩

Ghost’s mom is a real one. She started speaking life into that man so quick hell, I felt encouraged.

Staten’s response to the bomb Ghost dropped was heartbreaking. 😭

Aww…Staten…she got him feeling like he’s not enough?! That’s a wild turn of events.

A 45 minute chapter from Liberty is honestly my worst nightmare. 🤦🏾‍♀️🙄

Starting to like Staten and on book 4 of this series I can honestly say I don’t like anyone in it.

Damn Priest…

Did Staten and Liberty have a good relationship? If they ever did the author didn’t write about it because I never felt it. Was Staten a good dude to Liberty? Yes. But I honestly never saw the “beauty” of their relationship.

Once again ABSOLUTELY no regard for safe sex anywhere in this series. Every woman in this book “surprisingly” finds herself pregnant while not being on birth control and also giving any man that she passes unrestricted access to her body. 🙄

Not you put on a maxi dress a jacket and some Balenciaga sneaks. Girl STFU and get this man to the hospital! 🙄😂

This turned out MUCH better than I expected because I didn’t think I wanted to continue this story. Somehow I found myself completely engrossed and enjoying it more than the last three combined. Glad I didn’t follow my first mind and skip these last two books.

[Chelsea Ann]

This left me emotional

Let me just say I'm feeling a certain kinda way. Great read and definitely not slow but boy did you take me on an emotional rollercoaster. My spirit is conflicted. I'm so disappointed in Priest!! I expected so much more from him. He did Justice dirty especially after knowing what she went through. I mean how the hell you build someone up only to tear them down!!!??? I'm hoping that Ghost and Free make it. I hate he going through especially after losing a child. But what really got my spirit vexed is this story line with Malicah and Staten!!! I absolutely don't like them together at all. How you saying you still in love with Liberty and sleeping with this little girl!!?? Help me to understand!! I'm cheering for my girl Liberty and that she get her life on track. She is such a troubled soul and never dealt with her inner demons. I'm hoping in the next installment she truly seeks the help she needs and that her and Staten get back together. Malicha who?????

[Tazja Lewis]

Oh wow!!! That’s CRAZY 😳

[Chichilovestoread]

Thoughts while reading:

Liberty said if idgaf if my mother not talking to me or they not talking 😂😂

Oh shit Staten you messing up already..

Kiss didn’t you learn ur lesson chille

Liberty- you still doing white girl? You are not gonna be fine.

Oh Melia want her some Staten

Ninjas fuck anything with white gel toes- Clock it 😂

I knew Liberty and Staten wasn’t gonna keep it together when she started with the coke and alone time…

Oop he too Melia virginity? 😯

Not Chance clocked the coke head 😂

Chanel pisses me offf

Damn Priest… not you!?!?!?

Ghost gonna be fine.. don’t worry

Nah that was a hate fukk..

Oh shit Melia might be pregnant? - holding breath…damn she is pregnant!!

Not overdosed 🫨

Messiah said I told your ass not to pay with me.. damn Staten.. and Melia you should have told him what she said.

[Shawnay English]

Happy but not happy

I think I'm done with Staten. He did all that with Liberty to never even put his foot down with Chanel. Not blaming him for Liberty's actions but he was being so stupid and naive. It was like everyone was trying to give him clues and signs and he was too blind to see anything. Then he did what was the easiest thing to do while in Belize. I'm not even going to speak on Malian cause she dirty no matter how she tried to make it seem. Priest is straight flaw and he was the one I was rooting for the most. Ghost, Free and Justice are the only ones I'm feeling in this book right now. I hope it all works out for Ghost and Free. Hope the next book doesn't take too long to come out. Even though I'm pissed with certain characters, I still loved the book.

[Tammy Christine Benton]

OMG not Staten

Free had her baby boy with a heart defect and Ghost has colon cancer. Justice had her baby girl Yazmine Heaven Rohon slept with his first love when Justice giving birth her heart rate and the baby heart rate went drop . Will she forgive Ro after he broke her heart will she ever trust him . Liberty is rush to the hospital after she over dosed. Maliah is pregnant with Staten baby. Messiah shots Staten will she lose her daughters for good trying to control their lives. How much more the Davis and family take to be happy. What a rollar coaster ride of darma and trail and trublucation . Can't wait to read A Staten Island Love Letter 5. Great read loved this series

[Maya Kristman]

JAHQUEL J!!! YOU PAY FOR YOUR CRIMES!!! BECAUSE WTF IS THIS!! My heart goes out to Ghost and Freedom and their baby. Ghost having cancer blew me and not telling Free was wrong, but I understand. Priest, I am disgusted with his behavior. Justice did not deserve that at all. Staten got on my nerves in this book because he never did stand up for Liberty and create a boundary with Chanel, and then dismissing her feeling about Melia was crazy. I would go back to drugs too. Him sleeping Melia is also disgusted when you consider her "family". Liberty overdosing broke my heart, but I will say again. She was least supported out of all her sisters. The fact that her sisters were trying to sing Staten's praise instead of asking her why she broke up him was crazy.

[Alesia Russell]

ASILL 4

Everything in this series went left after such a good ending in the last book. Secrets spilled and some more detrimental than others.
Liberty just couldn’t keep it together, what will the cost be for her.
Justice deserves so much better… Priest, how could you. Another intriguing cliffhanger.

[T G]

Great story

This author is extremely talented, and although I enjoyed this series very much. The editing was horrible. The story was engaging. The characters were full of life.The story flow seamlessly. Bad editing can really take away from a wonderful story. If you don't mind editing mistakes, this is a good book.

[Ashley Stewart]

Depressing Book

I feel this book was not needed. It was very depressing. If anything this could have been condensed and combined with the next book. I normally love this author's books but this was a huge disappointment

[Tiffany]

Staten.... like wtf? I know I'm just exhausted with how Staten's life is playing out. Can he just catch a break? 😥

[LaKendra]

Got Me Going In Circles

All of these people need to be in intense therapy. This series still feels rushed and no one is healing.

[Kiara]

Honestly didn’t finish felt like the story was just dragging now this book should have been summarized in the last

[lexx t]

Staten really cannot catch a break. In A Staten Island Love Letter 4, everybody’s lives are shifting but the drama is still sitting right on Staten’s shoulders. Liberty had me irritated this entire book because I knew she was going to fall back into those same habits, and watching Staten keep getting pulled back into that cycle had me ready to shake him through the pages. Meanwhile Melia enters the picture and clearly has feelings for him, but Staten’s heart is still tangled up in everything he has going on. I kept wanting him to choose peace for once because the emotional tug-of-war had me stressed.

Outside of Staten’s situation, the rest of the crew is dealing with their own heavy moments too. Ghost and Free are navigating a lot as they move into a new chapter of their lives, and it had me rooting for them even harder. Kiss is also at a point where she really needs to get focused and start making better decisions because life is moving fast around her. And Priest… running into someone from his past definitely stirs things up and had me side-eyeing a few of his choices.

This one probably wasn’t my favorite in the series because the action felt a little lighter compared to the earlier books, and a lot of the story focuses on the characters dealing with their personal lives and relationships. That said, the drama and tension that this series is known for are still very much present. And I will say this… that ending has me ready to immediately pick up the finale because I need to see how everything is about to play out for Staten and the rest of this crew.