Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Forced To Be Here by MGV Sumerall is the story of two star-crossed lovers. Ford Nerlins met Jenny Davenport when both were in high school in the birthplace of the Blues; Clarksdale, Mississippi. A rising baseball star, Ford had his eyes set on playing ball in the Triple-A league, while Jenny struggled with bouts of depression, making her feel like an outsider in this world. After a disappointing stint with the Dodgers, Ford comes back to his hometown and starts a band called Rooted with his childhood friends. Soon, Rooted begins to garner interest from notable record companies who want to tie them down. However, his wife Jenny's rough patches become even more frequent. When tragedy strikes, Ford falls into a self-destructive path that threatens to destroy everything he has built.

Author MGV Sumerall tackles some heavy topics in Forced To Be Here, including issues such as mental illness, suicide, and substance abuse. Forced To Be Here highlights the importance of mental health awareness and showcases how diseases like depression can strike anyone anywhere without discrimination. Ford and Jenny's relationship provides the narrative thrust of the story. Full of heartbreak and tragedy, Ford and Jenny's story pulls at your heartstrings and makes you realize the devastating nature of mental illness, which affects not only its victims but also their loved ones. I also enjoyed the dynamic between the members of Rooted, especially Ford's friendship with Weber. Overall, I found Forced To Be Here to be an engaging slice-of-life drama novel with a powerful message.