"The voices of the characters intertwine, building a narrative that bursts full of life. " heartfelt, polyphonic ode to 1970s black America.Asim manages the highbrow without it ever feeling forced or pedantic-no small feat given the hard-boiled narrative framework, but one made possible by his infectious love for his subject matter and characters." - The Wall Street Journal Massive change is afoot in America, and these characters have front-row seats. With prose that's sharp, humorous, and poetic, Asim skillfully renders a compelling portrait of urban life in the wake of the last major civil-rights bill. Meanwhile, Charlotte Divine, the doctor's headstrong protégée, struggles with trials of her own. Artinces Noel, a prominent pediatrician, complicates his retirement plans. His erstwhile boss, local kingpin Ananias Goode, is also thinking about slowing down-but his tempestuous affair with Dr. Moved by the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Lorenzo Guts Tolliver decides to abandon his career as a professional leg-breaker and pursue a life of quiet moments and generous helpings of banana pudding in the company of his new, sensuous lover. Against a 1970s backdrop of rapid social and political change, Only the Strong portrays the challenges and rewards of love in a quintessential American community where heartbreak and violence are seldom far away. Jabari Asim's debut novel returns readers to Gateway City, the fictional Midwestern city first explored in his acclaimed short story collection, Taste of Honey. Jane Ciabattari, NPR Book Concierge: Best Books of 2015
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