I read this book a year ago, and it was the first one I felt had excellent Deaf/HH and ASL representation. I gave it a 5-star rating after finishing it. In February, DEAFinitely Readers chose this book to support Black History Month and celebrate Romance. I was interested to see if my perspective would change upon reading it again a year later. Upon my second reading, I can confidently say my perspective shifted slightly.
This book tells the story of Yaya, a Deaf Black woman. One evening, Yaya and her best friend Henry attend a wedding. When Henry sees his ex-girlfriend with a new partner at the event, he impulsively decides to vandalize the man's car with a bat, only to discover he targeted the wrong vehicle. The car is owned by billionaire Richard "Dare" Sullivan. Witnessing the incident, Yaya chooses to protect Henry by urging him to flee and taking the blame herself.
Dare is upset and stunned that this has happened to his car. Yaya picked up the bat and struck the car to ensure witnesses saw her doing it. Dare knew it wasn't her fault; he was asking why she let the man escape. Dare discovered that Yaya is deaf when her sister, Dejone, hurried to her side and began signing to her. Yaya told Dare that she was the one who damaged the car and would accept the consequences.
After receiving an emergency call about his sister Lucy, Dare had to leave. He handed Yaya his business card to reach him regarding the consequences. It was a dreadful night for him; his car was vandalized, and his sister crashed her car into a building while driving under the influence. Dare often had to fix problems, especially those caused by his sister. Being a billionaire had its advantages; he always found a way to cover up the mistakes. Yaya, however, is different. She doesn't depend on money like Dare.
Dare placed his sister in rehab for 3 months and now has to take care of his niece, Talia. Talia is a seven-year-old girl with discipline issues. Dare is busy managing Talia and now has to deal with Yaya as well. Lucy thinks that Dare will find it challenging to care for Talia because he hasn't maintained a stable relationship with anyone, and Talia is a lot to manage.
Dare and Yaya plan a meeting, and he sends a limo at her house with an ASL interpreter and a driver who knows ASL. Yaya is amazed, as she has never received such attention before. She meets with Dare and discovers he has hired five interpreters for her at this meeting. When I first read this book, I thought the gesture was incredibly romantic. Upon reading it again, I still find it sweet but also feel a bit uneasy, as in reality, what if other Deaf clients needed those interpreters?
"Everywhere I go, I'm always the one who has to accommodate people. I lipread. I use hearing aids. I do everything I can to make sure the hearing folks around me don't feel like I'm any less capable than they are. But now... my driver can sign."
This quote resonates with me deeply. I've always had to adjust for others, and I feel understood.
Dare suggests a contract to Yaya, agreeing to be his "fake" girlfriend. The purpose is to prove Lucy wrong and for the media. Yaya is skeptical about this arrangement. She is resolved to let him know she won't allow herself to be used. Dare is committed to learning ASL for her, as he believes he might have met the woman of his dreams in an unexpected situation.
"I'm deaf not stupid. I destroyed your car. I deserved to be punished. Lets get to business so I can leave."
I truly admire Yaya's character; she is outspoken and unafraid to challenge others. She is aware of her needs and doesn't allow her deafness to impede her abilities. She works diligently as a model to support herself.
"Yaya is more than capable of communicating. That way might be different than ours, but it's still a language."
Yaya faced the challenge of convincing Lucy and the media that she and Dare were in a loving relationship. However, she didn't anticipate genuinely falling for him. Meanwhile, Dare was developing feelings for Yaya, though he was uncertain about her feelings towards him. They had their first kiss on national TV, which brought them closer. Yaya was uncertain about this because she had promised herself never to date a hearing man. She doubted it would work with him due to potential challenges.
"I've learned in studying ASL that you should always be facing the person you're signing with. If you don't they won't see you and they won't understand you. Words will get lost. Meaning will die."
"Yaya, even when you're not looking at me, I will always be facing you."
Swoon.
They face difficult situations together. Henry grows jealous and angry about their relationship, leading him to try to blackmail Dare. I was so annoyed with Henry!
The media launch a backlash against Yaya, and Dare once more resorts to using money to help resolve the situation. Yaya and Dare discover much about themselves, and she realizes that dating a hearing man will not be a barrier to their relationship. Even though they had a few miscommunications in this story.
"Communication is a hard enough task when two people speak the same language. We don't. What if we have more major misunderstandings in the future? Love alone won't always be enough."
After my second reading of this book, I found myself struggling. The characters' silly and unrealistic moments left me frustrated, as they didn't make sense. Despite the age gap, I feel that Dare is immature. The persistent miscommunication was avoidable, as Yaya was initially portrayed as a courageous and outspoken woman, but when conflicts arose, she simply let them pass. It seemed like there were a few conflicts in the book.
The book concludes with a "Happily Ever After," but I was dissatisfied with how abruptly it wrapped up. But, what I appreciated about this book is the ASL representation and the fact that Yaya's family serves as a support system, with everyone in her family knowing how to sign.
"I can voice but I choose not to. Hearing people build a different set of expectations when I voice. Plus, I’m more comfortable signing."
After a second reading, my rating has shifted. I now give it a 3, as I've read more books since then to compare Deaf representation.
Comments