Token: A Novel by Beverley Kendall (Review by Stephanie Rowitz)

Rating: 5/5

Kennedy Mitchell is a force to be reckoned with. She knows when she’s being used as a corporate pawn so the company can appear to be more diverse than it is. This isn’t the receptionist’s first time being pulled into a white-dominated boardroom pretending to be an executive, but it will be her last. She then creates Token, a PR agency that helps “diversity-challenged” companies and celebrities fix their faux pas. Her toughest client? Her ex-boyfriend who is accused of racist workplace tactics. She knows Nate isn’t like that and is determined to help clear his name, but can she do it without falling for him all over again?

This book does a great job of showing how racism shows up in our everyday lives and how insidious it is in the corporate office culture. Kendall does a brilliant job of delivering a satisfying romance with a lesson in anti-racism. It’s a well-balanced book that still feels like a romance despite, or maybe because of, its subject matter. These aren’t two characters who are just thrown together for the sake of a romance. They have a history and a connection to one another that rings true from their very first encounter in this book.

I like the dynamic between Kennedy and Nate, too. When they first run into each other after not seeing each other for several years, there is immediate romantic tension that makes you want to keep reading to uncover their story. Kennedy and Nate’s past unfolds throughout the course of their fake relationship that suddenly turns into something real and worth protecting against the media storm surrounding Nate. You really feel the roundness of these characters as they navigate their rekindled feelings for each other. There’s a lot packed into this book, but at no point does it feel forced or overdone. The story flows beautifully right through the last page.

If you’re looking for a smart, insightful book with romance, spice, and a bit of drama then this book is for you.