The Fake Ass Book Club Moni & Kat review "Yellow Wife" by Sadequa Johnson
Nov 20, 2025
01:01:30
Welcome back!! !n this episode, our hosts review "Yellow Wife", Sadeqa Johnson’s powerful historical fiction novel inspired by the real horrors of Richmond Virginia's Devil’s Half Acre, and Lumpkin’s Jail. They explore the journey of Pheby Delores Brown, a young enslaved girl whose promised freedom is stolen when she’s taken to a notorious slave jail and forced into becoming the coerced “yellow wife” of its violent jailer. As they unpack the novel, they discuss themes of survival, motherhood, resilience, and the emotional weight of navigating cruelty while trying to protect your children. Moni and Kat also touch on the real history that shaped this fictional story and why these narratives still matter today. Cheers!
🚨SPOILER ALERT!!🚨
*Trigger Waring: This book contains graphic depictions of slavery, death of a child (twice), repeated SA, mental/emotional/physical abuse, torturing of the enslaved people (particularly in whippings/beatings), graphic depictions of imprisonment, harsh language. Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! You are the BEST!
Moni: To all the medicine women and conjure women. Work your magic!
Kat: To all the MAGA girlies out there who voted for TRUMP and against SNAP. Those eggs are looking super expensive now, huh?
About the Author: Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens. website: www.sadeqa.net Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasayshttps://linktr.ee/Sadeqasays
About the Book: 278 pages, Hardcover, First published January 12, 2021 Audio book 9 hours 31 minutes
Other notes: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-devils-half-acre-mary-lumpkin-enslaved-woman-left-her-mark-on-education/
**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!
🚨SPOILER ALERT!!🚨
*Trigger Waring: This book contains graphic depictions of slavery, death of a child (twice), repeated SA, mental/emotional/physical abuse, torturing of the enslaved people (particularly in whippings/beatings), graphic depictions of imprisonment, harsh language. Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only.
Dedication: To our patrons as always!! You are the BEST!
Moni: To all the medicine women and conjure women. Work your magic!
Kat: To all the MAGA girlies out there who voted for TRUMP and against SNAP. Those eggs are looking super expensive now, huh?
About the Author: Sadeqa Johnson is the New York Times best-selling author of five novels. Her accolades include being the 2022 Hurston/Wright Foundation Legacy finalist, a BCALA Literary Honoree, and the Library of Virginia’s Literary People’s Choice Award winner. She is a Kimbilio Fellow and teaches in the M.F.A. program at Drexel University. Originally from Philadelphia, she currently lives near Richmond, VA with her husband and three teens. website: www.sadeqa.net Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sadeqasayshttps://linktr.ee/Sadeqasays
About the Book: 278 pages, Hardcover, First published January 12, 2021 Audio book 9 hours 31 minutes
Other notes: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-devils-half-acre-mary-lumpkin-enslaved-woman-left-her-mark-on-education/
**Stranger than Fiction: 💜*Email us at thefabpodcast@gmail.com with your book suggestions and "Stranger Than Fiction" stories; we would love to share them on the show!! Please reach out and let us know how we are doing!! You can find us online by clicking here 👉🏾 https://linktr.ee/Fabpod Please subscribe to www.patreon.com/thefabpodcast.com to enjoy bonus content and weigh in on upcoming topics. Don't forget to follow, rate, review, and SHARE our podcast! Thank you!