As a Joya Goffney fan, I was super excited about this book and have had it on my shelf for months gathering dust, but after New Year’s, I decided that I would read My Week with him, and I wasn’t disappointed in what I read. I love the way that Joya writes as a young black woman; it just makes me feel seen. Her writing, dealing with various topics like finding your identity after something doesn’t go your way to purity culture, makes my younger self feel seen. I think about the things I would do if I had them as a teenager; I would’ve become who I am today much faster.

This year is a year of significant changes as I’m completing an MA and working to build the life that I’ve always wanted but never felt like I was enough to do. I think after ‘Excuse me while I ugly cried’, which I did ugly cry reading, I realised that my past doesn’t define me, those grades, that feeling of lack of support doesn’t define me, and while I read it, I had proof as I got to experience and be part of the team for the commonwealth games and beyond. After so many moments, I realised I could do so much more, and then in 2023, I had the worst year of my life; I saw what my life could be, and while I kept being told I wasn’t experienced enough, I said “fuck it” and applied for my masters and every time I got to the next step I thought “this is it, I’m going to get a no” but all I heard was yes, in such a time where I wasn’t in a great place it was so great to know that people was willing to support me so I have confidence something I never had before while studying.

As I read ‘My Week with him’, one thing that struck me was Nikki’s confidence. Confidence that she wouldn’t need to return home to a life she knew was meant for her because Nikki was going to be all that she needed to be. As I move, I’m going to have the mindset of Nikki, and a plus for me is there’s no one here romantically to keep me from wanting to move back.

I loved the complexity of each character, and I think that’s what I love about Joya’s writing; it feels like you get to know so much about each character, but the books don’t take long to read, and because I know Joya’s books so well when there was missing back story I wanted to read more so I can understand like Nikki’s sister Vae I think for the entire time they were in Colorado until they got back to Texas I never understood why she was the way she was. It could be the only-child mentality in me.

This book was so good, and writing this review showed me how much it inspired me. If you love reading and love young adult romance, I would suggest reading because I love Joya and her writing so much, and although some parts I would say are a little long-winded, it never really took away from the story; I think that’s why I think it would be so suited for tv.

I have been advocating for Joya’s books to get turned into something on screen since I finished the first two books in about 4 days on holiday to Spain in 2022. Still, if any of the books would translate to screen well in my week with him, like every day of this book, it could translate into an 8-episode limited Netflix or Prime video series. All I ask is you fly me out when you film.

Anyway, go buy this book wherever you buy your favourite books. Thank you, Joya, for crafting stories that resonate. I can’t wait to read the next book.