The Softest Thing I Never Chose

Zaria Banks knows how to survive. She’s learned how to breathe through betrayal, keep quiet through chaos, and love men who only love her halfway. Trapped between Kordell—the toxic, magnetic man who’s broken her more times than he’s held her—and Malik—the gentle soul who sees her too clearly to be safe—Zaria is forced to confront the one thing she’s never faced: herself.As her situationships spiral into emotional warzones, Shay, her best friend and sometimes-lover, waits in the shadows, tired of being Zaria’s secret safe place. Meanwhile, Malik’s still tied to his own past, and Kordell isn’t letting go without a fight.Love in the hood ain't soft. It’s messy. It’s layered. It’s about who’s willing to bleed with you—and who walks away when the wounds stop looking pretty.In this emotionally raw urban romance, Mahogany Crook crafts a story about love, loyalty, and finally choosing the one thing you’ve always been afraid of: peace. Read more