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Loving Her (1974) is a novel written by American author and journalist Ann Allen Shockley. The novel is widely considered to be one of the first, if not the first, published piece of black lesbian literature, as it openly features a black lesbian protagonist. Following the story of a gay black woman named Renay, the novel sets the foreground for the black lesbian genre.

Plot Summary
The novel begins with an introduction to Renay's life and a look into her unhappy marriage to Jerome Lee Davis. A young black woman, Renay is a talented pianist, yet only plays for supplemental income in a nightclub a couple of nights a week. After Jerome Lee strikes her, Renay and her young daughter Denise leave him and move in with Terry Bluvard, Renay's new romantic interest, a wealthy white lesbian.

Although the 'present day' in the novel begins with Renay's moving in with Terry, much of the novel is recounted in Renay's recountings of past events. Renay discusses her meeting of Jerome Lee, a popular and athletic football star, while in college. Jerome Lee courted Renay incessantly, but has no success until she is accused of perhaps not liking men, which is when she succumbs to a date with him. At the end of one of their dates, Jerome Lee forces himself upon Renay, raping and impregnating her with a child, Denise, that results in their marriage and incompletion of college. Following the birth of Denise, Jerome Lee begins to drink heavily and takes odd jobs, predominantly as a traveling hair supplies salesman, which he implements as a tool and guise for rampant marital infidelity. Just before Renay decides to leave him, Jerome Lee sells her childhood piano for liquor money, indicating Renay's last straw and a physical altercation between them that leads to Jerome Lee striking her.

Renay is slowly introduced to Terry's life as a rich white lesbian, meeting her friends and social circles, and accompanying her to her frequented restaurants and parties. The two women begin to live as domestic partners, and Renay experiences nothing short of a sexual awakening while exploring her new intimate relationship with Terry. Replacing what Jerome Lee sold, Terry buys Renay a beautiful and expensive new piano. Their only arguments stem from Terry wanting Renay to cease her appearances at the Club (Name), voicing concern about Jerome Lee potentially stalking her there. Although she was confused at first, Denise comes to adore Terry, who she refers to as Aunt Terry, and she flourishes away from the inattention and subtle abuse of her father.

As Terry had suspected, Jerome Lee begins to stalk Renay, first visiting her at the club and causing a scene. Demanding the return of his wife and daughter, Jerome Lee becomes convinced that she has found another man, and threatens both Renay and her supposed new lover. As Renay's life continues to improve, Jerome Lee begins to haunt her in her new life even further. He stalks her at Terry's apartment, which ultimately causes their move to Terry's house in the country after the building manager receives complaints about a lurking black man from "concerned residents".

Although thoroughly accepted by Terry, Renay still experiences subtle yet harsh bouts of discrimination in her new life, with the discrimination of the apartment building manager being one of many. Renay faces harsh discrimination from Terry's ex-lover, Jean Gail, in the form of racial slurs and purported stereotypes, and is accused of stealing money by Terry's white housekeeper. She is often singled out for being black in Renay's predominantly white social circles, yet maintains her dignity and remains unapologetic about her blackness.

After some push from Terry, Renay begins attending college once again, following their move into Terry's house on the outskirts of town. The new couple and Denise settle into the new home, with Terry and Renay slowly assuming the stereotypical roles of husband and wife, respectively, and a nuclear family. Renay plays piano much more for purely pleasure and composes a piece that Terry surprises her with publishing it. (UP TO CHPT. 8)

Main Characters
Renay Davis: The protagonist of the novel. A young, attractive black female pianist, wife to Jerome Lee Davis, and mother to their young daughter Denise Davis. Her affinity for piano began in her childhood, where she was the protege of piano instructor Miss Pearl Sims. It is for Miss Simms that she has her first inkling of lesbianism, as she develops what was most likely a crush on the much older woman, who is a presumably a lesbian. Neither in high school or college does she have any sexual relationships, and is only pressured into dating Jerome Lee when she is accused of being a lesbian due to her complete lack of male suitors.

Terrence "Terry" Bluvard: Renay's white lesbian lover. A successful writer, Terry is wealthy from her own success, but was also born into a rich family.

Jerome Lee Davis: The estranged husband of Renay and father of Denise. A raging alcoholic, Jerome Lee works as a traveling hair supplies salesman, and spends all of his money on gambling and alcohol. In college, where he and Renay met, he was popular and a star football player.

Denise Davis: Young, elementary school-aged daughter of Renay and Jerome Lee.

Fran Brown: An old friend of Renay's from her hometown. She works as a school teacher and often watches Denise, who calls her Aunt Fran.

Vance Kenton: Restaurant owner and good friend of Terry. Vance works intermittently as an artist and is also a lesbian.

Miss Pearl Sims: Referred to as simply Miss Sims or Sims, Renay's childhood piano instructor. She taught music at the high-school level and gave private music lessons to young hopeful black musicians. She lived in a fairly large house without a husband, and was often referred to as an "old maid", "spinster", and "too much ed-u-cashon to git a man". Miss Sims took a particular liking to Renay and paid particular attention to her training. Although never explicitly stated, the novel insinuates that Miss Sims is a lesbian, through both her disapproval of men and the reveal of what is most likely a live-in female lover at the end of the novel. It also insinuates that it is for Miss Sims that Renay has her first lesbian feelings for, as she ponders in her childhood if she is in love with her.

Secondary Characters
Jean Gail: One of Terry's former lovers, a young, rather brittle and attractive blonde woman who occasionally works as a model. Terry and her met at a magazine office and the two had an affair, an affair which ended as soon as Terry met Renay. Often makes fairly racist remarks and is hostile towards Renay, both because of her relationship with Terry and her race.

Phil Millard: A professional photographer and Terry's best male friend, the two often work together. A gay man, Phil lives with a much younger man, Benjie. He is consistently very friendly and open-minded when confronted with Renay and Terry's interracial relationship.

Lorraine: A young, volatile woman and Vance's live-in lover.

Miss Wilby: An older stout white woman, former maid of Terry Bluvard. Terry fires her after she accuses Renay of stealing her money.

Benjie: The 21-year-old live-in lover of Phil Millard. Characterized as relatively immature.

Ruzicka: The owner of the Club (Name).

Mr. Herald: Manager of Terry's apartment building.

Clarence Wigginstone II: A black man Renay briefly meets at Benjie's birthday celebration. Like Renay, he is also gay and black and has a white lover. He states that he gets lonely of being the only black person in his social circle and that he is happy to see another.

Literary reception and criticism
Loving Her has received a significant amount of criticism in both the literary and gay communities.