I'm Telling

by Karen E. Quinones Miller

Faith Freeman has a When she was eleven years old, she caught her stepfather molesting her twin sister, Hope. Years later, Faith is a successful literary agent. Her twin, addled by drugs and prostitution, struggles through life on the Harlem streets. When Hope seems to have set her sights on Faith's man, the tender bonds of sisterhood are cruelly tested. Will the truth about their darkest hour finally be revealed?
I'm Telling "deftly shares the pain and desperation of a family shaken to the core" (Booklist). For anyone who has ever chosen between speaking up and backing down, this impassioned novel lights the way toward love and redemption.

Genres: African American, Fiction

226 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Karen E. Quinones Miller is the author of the Essence best selling novels Satin Doll, I’m Telling, Using What You Got, Ida B., (nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction), Satin Nights, and Passin’.

Miller was born and raised in Harlem and dropped out of school in the 8th grade, but later finished her education and became a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

In 1999 she self-published her first novel, Satin Doll, and sold 3,000 copies in just six weeks --and ultimately sold 28,000 copies in six months. The publishing rights to Satin Doll and a second book were ultimately sold at auction for a six-figure deal. She has subsequently been published by Simon & Schuster, Warner Books, and Grand Central Books.

Miller, who is included in the book Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African-American Women in Literature, is a frequent and accomplished public speaker. Miller has conducted numerous publishing/self-publishing workshops that have been attended by people nationwide.

But more than anything, Miller’s passion is writing. She used her publishing company – Oshun Publishing Company, Inc. – to publish Harlem Godfather: The Rap on my Husband, Ellsworth “Bumpy” Johnson -- the first biography written about the Harlem gangster who was depicted in the movies Cotton Club, Hoodlum and American Gangster – which she co-authored along with Bumpy’s 93-year-old widow, Mayme Johnson. Oshun Publishing also recently published Raw: An Erotic Street Tale by Shay, and Prey For Love by Leyton Wint.

Reviews

[Key · Rating 3 out of 5]

broken family , with broken unresolved issues. my first sentence is the foundation of the story. Per usual in most families you have that one person that pushes pass their broken past and become successful but then you have that one person that succumbs to life issues and do not progress as well. I felt as though the ending was thrown together I predicted it honestly.
Overall it was a decent read but nothing to brag home about.

[Jerlyn Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story sort of fell apart but I was invested in the beginning so I felt like I had to finish it... It was a quick read, I just don't get why the end was on such a trivial premise and felt "lazy." I think the author sucked everyone in with the sad first chapter and didn't know how to resolve it properly. I'm not too impressed with the main character's profession either.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed more healing in the outcome but it is well written and engaging.

[Jazz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read but overall…Disappointing. The author had an opportunity to dissect an ongoing issue in the black community and let it go. I was looking forward to deep diving more into Hope’s recovery story but was left with the hopeful, but convenient, image of Hope on the path to recovery. Another story of the family just sweeping their issues “under the carpet.”

[Cristina Encarnación · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in the $1 section at Barnes & Noble. For me, this was one of those casual books where I read it all in one sitting. It grabbed me in from the beginning, and although I predicted the ending, it was good enough to want to keep reading. Would read again!

[JaeKae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was not executed to my liking. The ending was the best part to me. The majority of the book seems to be the entire build up that most likely provoked you picking up the book, and sadly the moment is gone just as quick as a page turn.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.

[kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 !! i was getting fling across the room multiple times within this book but i love the ending. this book could be someone’s personal story as well, that’s what’s so fascinating to me about this book. honestly, i’m not a third person reader but this was easy to digest. i totally would recommend if you can stomach it. 🫣

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had a very good premise, but was not executed well.

The main character is Faith, who when she was younger, witnessed her stepfather sexually molesting her twin sister, Hope.

Fast forward to when they are adults, Faith is a successful book editor with a loving boyfriend named Henry. Hope, on the other hand, has spent much of her time out on the streets, doing whatever she can to get drugs. Their mother takes Hope in, but throws her out once she catches Hope sleeping with the mother's boyfriend.

This story was all over the place, and the characters were never really developed. Although Hope was obviously very messed up after having been molested as a teen (since she thinks it was her fault) it was never fully explored in the novel. The ending seemed very rushed and forced, although the summary on the back of the book makes it seem as if that's a major part of the novel, when it really only ends up being about 3-5 pages at the end. I'm not sure what the purpose of Faith's friend and business partner Ann was, or her relationship with Carol. I know that it helped set up the ending (which I could see coming from a mile away) but their story was unresolved and I don't know why it had to be mentioned anyway.

Almost gave this two stars, but it did keep me interested enough to want to see what would happen, so I gave it a 3. Definitely not a must read, though.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had such a strong start, the problem is it doesn't follow through. All of the characters were set up to have complex relationships with conflicting emotions, and it perfectly portrayed what toxic familial dynamics are like. However, none of this is ever resolved. The book takes the easy way out choosing to never have the characters address the underlying issues or make big decisions to change the status quo. The root conflict that started the story is barely brought up or examined. Instead, everything is wrapped up in a neat bow with a happily ever after that feels cheaply earned with a few easy apologies. The main character never has to make any tough decisions about changing her approach to her family or how she treats them because their issues are magically fixed (or at least brushed under the rug). It was engaging enough that I sped through reading it, but nothing great in the end. If the author had added another hundred pages to really explore the concepts she introduced I think this book could have been truly great.

[Aone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, so this book was pretty good I guess. It was a quick read. All the characters were cool except I didn't feel like Tina really had an important place in this book. I wish it would have told a little more at the end of the book about what happened with the characters. I was wondering what the problem was between Ann and Carol and why they really broke up. I think Faith, Hope and here mother should all go to a therapist together so they can talk about the past and move on. I didn't figure it out about the surprise wedding until a few pages before the author revealed it. I thought that was cool, I guess. I would not want my boyfriend to surprise me with my own wedding though. But anyway, it was a cool book.

[Taymeya]

I'm Telling is a very good book it's talks about two twin sisters Faith and Hope.When they were eleven years old Faith use to caught her step father molesting her twin sister Hope. Faith could never understand why her sister never told. Faith always wanted to tell there mother but was a afarid on how there mother would react to what she told her. Years later, the girls are grown and this terrible secret is still bottled up in Faith. The step father levaes there mother and Faith moves out and is now success but you can't say the same about her twin sister Hope.

[Brooklyn Donne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hope, Faith and Miss Irene all had issues and their faults. Faith was trying to be a good sister, but she also was an enabler. Her sister knew she would save her from whatever situation, so why not get into it if you could get out? I mean what would we do if we knew we could get away with it? I'm ashamed to say, I would do a few things!

Either way, the ending felt a bit rushed and too forgiving, but hey whatever. I still liked it.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt the story was deep, touching on child molestation and the demons that follow you into your adult years. Not only the victim but those closely affected. I enjoyed the story and closeness within the family despite all the hurt and anger they were carrying. Although I would have liked to get a little more of the details with the troubled twin Hope leading up to her receiving help at the end of the book, that missing part left me feeling a little jipped. Overall the story was really good.

[DeshawnaWillingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a great book ! the thing i liked most about it is that faith always had her sister back no matter how crazy hope was she was always their; even after hope lied and said her and herney slept together her sister still had her back. the thing i didnt like most was how the mom seemed like she was uncomfortable with the way she looked n stuff. but other than that it was great book.

[Karen Preston · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick read. The characters are just barely interesting enough to get through to the end. I only own it because I got it free from work a few years ago. It was just something to read in the tub.

[Kerlicia]

this book is amazing. i would literally be cracking up in class over this book.The scenes in this book are so descriptive and detailed,it felt as if i was watching a movie inside my head...thats how desciptive this book is. I LOOOVE THIS BOOK!!!

[Stasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice story, about twin sisters who have a particular issue that has been hanging over their heads since their childhood...although I still felt that the issue was not dealt with in the way which I expected, at least there was a happy ending.

[Tia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I randomly picked this book up from the library. It lacked character development and it was a tad bit all over the place. The title of the book is what caught my attention; but overall, the book was just ok. I expected tons more.

[Jaiebelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel was not executed to my liking. The ending was the best part to me. The majority of the book seems to be the entire build up that most likely provoked you picking up the book, and sadly the moment is gone just as quick as a page turn.

[Eartha Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago. With good writing, as a reader I can pick apart what I like about the story as opposed to having been distracted by the writing. Her writing is tight. I did not care for the subject amtter, but the author wrote the heck out of it...so...Kudos!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hit home on so many levels but it is a real tear jerker.

[Tasi · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason this is my favorite book. I love how the book flows and i fell in love with the characters and their roles.

[Michelle Johnson-lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book by Karen E. Quinones Miller. I look forward to reading her first novel - Satin Doll.

[Zandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't as good as I thought it would be - it left me a bit disappointed. On a positive note, this is a good book to start a discussion on molestation.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay. I suspected the ending half way through the book though there was a few surprising twists to Faith and Hope's story.

[Casheba · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good

[Chelsey Wilkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story

[Rae~babii · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome book about twins which i am but im nothing like these twins lol

[Kyoka · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the very first novels I've read! I enjoyed it very much.