Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Yellow Wife turned out to be an incredible story. Knowing it was inspired by a true account made it even more compelling and difficult to put down.

Anger and sadness were constant companions throughout this book, as Sadeqa Johnson does not shy away from describing chattel slavery in painful, honest detail. Surprisingly, the hardest parts didn’t make me pause—they pushed me to keep reading, needing to know what would happen next.

Pheby was the definition of a strong Black woman. There wasn’t admiration in a traditional sense, but there was deep understanding. She did whatever was necessary to protect her children. Ruth’s preparation shaped her, and because of that, Pheby’s choices—however complicated—felt real and relatable.

Whew, this story covered everything: racism, slavery, survival, motherhood, moral compromise, protection, adultery, and betrayal. Every theme landed with weight.

The title The Yellow Wife made perfect sense from start to finish. Even though Pheby never married Marse, the circumstances of her life defined the role she was forced into—and the title reflected that reality without needing reinterpretation.

The ending was powerful and thought-provoking, especially in how it highlighted the concept of “passing.” Overall, this was an excellent, emotionally heavy read that I highly recommend—just be prepared for the truth it tells.

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