Jaded Gems Vol 1

by Solomon Hillfleet, Brittany Windom (Editor), Wendy Oshi (Photographer)

Fboy. A term used to describe a man whose dealings with women is far from respectable. For Solomon Hillfleet, it became more than just that. It became a way of life. In the book, Hillfleet takes us through the mind of a fuckboy using accounts from his own experiences dating and those of his close friends. Starting with friendship and ending with love, the memoirs use each experience to provide gems of knowledge for the reader and helps them to understand the mindset of a misunderstood group. Gripping and unapologetic, it is an honest look at the relationship dynamics of the 21st century. The culture of online dating, ghosting and other elements are examined. It forces the reader to answer the What is a fuckboy? Am I one? And if so is it my fault? Beginning at 18 and leading up until 30, Hillfleet examines the male psyche and tackles topics such as toxic masculinity, self-worth, misogyny and eventually self-love.

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2019

Reviews

[Crystal Luckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that this book was written by the man POV and what he experienced when he was dating. He did show some questionable things during his relationships but, he seemed liked he learned eventually. I enjoyed the book and was glad to read a book about a man's relationship experiences from their POV. The only thing was the name of the book, I didnt feel he was a fuck boy, just a boy who was not guided well in dating. I cant wait to see what is next from this author.

[KayBee's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I wrote to free myself" Solomon H.

This is in a sense a coming of age story without the fiction aspect. I don't normally review nonfiction, but this was a request. I think that Solomon was transparent in the delivery of his dating experiences and his point of view of the relationships with the women. To my understanding, this was not the exploits of an "F" Boy, but of a young man simply finding his way. I think the purpose was clearly outlined well and the content was relevant and plentiful. As this was from the male perspective, you didn't get an honest look at the women who played a part in his growth. However, it worked. There were issues with editing, formatting, and flow. Some of the passages came across a built stilted. All in all, I would recommend this cautionary tale to anyone wanting an honest look at dating in today's culture when you're unsure of who you are and what direction you are going.
3.5 rolled to a 4

[Keniece · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a female reading this tale of a young adult black male drifting through the woes of adulthood and relationship I found myself becoming sympathetic to his plight. However, that's usually the position most black females take when listening to black males our age regardless.

Anyways, the book was a very quick read and engulfs you in the dating world of the character Solomon. I laughed out loud at times, smirked at others, and definitely saw myself in different aspects of the female characters. So I can admit I was triggered. This tale was very authentic and relatable "AF" to black young adults who are college-educated and navigating the dating scene. I was turned off initially by the title because who wants to read about a "fuck boy" but after reading I totally get the label not being a badge of honor for the character.