Summary
Something Good by Vanessa Miller connects the lives of three women after a life-altering accident. Alexis Marshall experiences guilt following a tragic incident. Trish Robinson, affected by the accident, turns to prayer for solace. Marquita Lewis exemplifies the impact of unforeseen connections. The novel demonstrates that faith and perseverance can guide individuals to hope and redemption despite challenges.
Plot
Something Good by Vanessa Miller follows the lives of three women linked by an unexpected tragedy. Alexis Marshall causes an accident while texting and driving, resulting in the paralysis of college football player Jon-Jon Robinson. Alexis feels guilty but encounters conflict with her husband, who worries about his tech business and the impact of admitting fault. Jon-Jon's mother, Trish Robinson, quits her job to care for her son, straining family finances and heightening tensions with her husband, Dwayne, who resents Alexis's perceived privilege.
Marquita Lewis, a single mother, unintentionally influences change when she visits the Robinsons and reconnects with her child's father. This visit forms new connections among the women. Alexis, Trish, and Marquita unite through shared reliance on prayer and faith. The novel explores how adversity can reshape lives and foster relationships, addressing themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and redemption.
Characters
Alexis Marshall: Alexis causes an accident that paralyzes Jon-Jon Robinson. She experiences guilt and faces pressure from her husband related to business matters. Her situation explores themes of morality and accountability.
Jon-Jon Robinson: Jon-Jon faces significant changes after the accident. He deals with dependency and depression, which reflects the impact of unforeseen hardships and his quest for redemption.
Trish Robinson: Trish, Jon-Jon’s mother, manages her son’s care and the family’s financial problems. Her faith and persistent prayers provide hope and motivation.
Dwayne Robinson: Dwayne, Jon-Jon’s father, feels anger and resentment towards Alexis. This complicates family dynamics and examines trauma and forgiveness.
Marquita Lewis: Marquita enters the Robinsons’ lives, dealing with single parenthood and family responsibilities. Her role emphasizes interconnected relationships and unexpected support.
Themes
Forgiveness
In Something Good by Vanessa Miller, forgiveness emerges as a key theme influencing the characters' lives. Alexis Marshall faces an emotional struggle with guilt and seeks reconciliation after an accident. Her experiences reflect the complexities of self-forgiveness, influenced by societal pressures and hidden guilt.
Trish Robinson encounters another facet of forgiveness. She grapples with forgiving Alexis, who caused her son Jon-Jon's condition, while also dealing with grief and anger. Her husband Dwayne's resentment poses an additional challenge to their healing. The novel explores how Trish's journey through internal conflict requires resilience and courage to choose forgiveness over bitterness. Something Good depicts the interconnected paths to forgiveness, leading to personal growth and community healing.
Faith
In Something Good, faith and prayer lead characters through adversity. The character Trish Robinson exemplifies this theme with her devotion to her son Jon-Jon. After his accident, Trish relies on prayer to navigate difficult times. Her dedication illustrates the strength and resilience faith provides during hardships.
Alexis Marshall also finds guidance through faith, which helps alleviate her guilt and personal struggles. These moments demonstrate how belief can offer comfort and hope, suggesting that even severe challenges can bring unexpected positive outcomes. Throughout the novel, Vanessa Miller emphasizes faith as a guide to overcoming life's difficulties.
Quick facts
Something Good won the 2022 Best Christian Fiction Award at the African American Literary Awards.
Vanessa Miller began writing Something Good early in the 2020 pandemic.
The novel explores the interconnected lives of three women after a tragic accident.
The characters' lives change profoundly after praying for “something good,” leading to an unexpected friendship.
Something Good emphasizes themes of forgiveness, redemption, divine intervention, and the transformative power of faith.
Miller has described Something Good as “the book that touched my heart and helped me grow as an author and as a human being.”
The story deeply explores heavy real-life issues including guilt, mental health struggles, and family dynamics.
A red cardinal symbolizes hope and spiritual guidance within the novel.
Miller's novels consistently highlight strong Black female characters dealing with contemporary challenges.
Something Good received high praise from other authors, including Rachel Hauck, and incorporates discussion questions, making it ideal for book clubs.
About the author
Vanessa Miller is a bestselling author and playwright. Her novels explore themes of forgiveness, redemption, and resilience, focusing on the experiences and strength of Black women. Drawing on her personal faith, her inspirational works of contemporary fiction include Something Good (2022), focused on the intertwined lives of three women after a tragic accident, and What We Found in Hallelujah (2022). Her works of historical fiction include The American Queen (2024) winner of the Christy Award and the American Fiction Award for both African American Fiction and Historical Fiction, and The Filling Station (2025), a USA Today bestseller confronting the devastation of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Miller holds a degree in Organizational Communication from Capital University. In addition to her writing, she is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker.
