“Romeo took a long whiff then lit the joints. He pulled on it hard, filling his lungs with its smoke. Now closing his eyes and holding his breath, he held the joint out towards Tiny Scooby so he can hit it. Romeo then sat quietly and let the chronic smoke marinate his system and serenade his mentals.”
– an excerpt from the book
ARPress is honored to publish “Just Like Daddy” by Andre Brown Sr. This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the ARPress website.
“Just Like Daddy” by Andre Brown Jr. is a gritty urban novel that dives deep into the emotional and psychological consequences of growing up in environments shaped by crime, violence, and generational influence. The story centers on Romeo, a young boy whose life is forever altered after witnessing the brutal murder of his father—a man he idolized. As the narrative unfolds, the book explores how trauma, admiration, and survival instincts intertwine, shaping Romeo into a man who mirrors the very life he once feared and admired.
Set against the backdrop of street life, gang culture, and drug trade dynamics, the novel paints a raw and unfiltered picture of how cycles of violence and identity are passed down. It is not just a story about crime—it is a story about inheritance, choices, and the haunting question: Are we destined to become what we grow up around?
The novel opens with a powerful and disturbing moment from Romeo’s childhood. At just nine years old, he witnesses his father, Big C, being murdered during a drug deal gone wrong—an event that deeply scars him and defines the course of his life. Hidden in the shadows, Romeo watches helplessly as betrayal and violence unfold before his eyes, leaving him emotionally frozen and psychologically marked.
Years later, Romeo is no longer that innocent child. Now an adult, he has built a life that closely resembles his father’s—immersed in the streets, navigating crime, and maintaining power through fear and respect. Despite his hardened exterior, the trauma of his past still lingers, resurfacing through nightmares and constant anxiety about losing his own son the same way he lost his father.
The story also introduces Romero, another central character whose life intersects with Romeo’s through business and street alliances. As both men operate within the dangerous world of drugs and gang politics, their actions begin to blur the lines between survival and self-destruction. Meanwhile, Romeo’s relationship with his son reveals a softer side—one filled with love, fear, and a desperate hope to protect him from repeating the same cycle.
The novel’s strength lies in its realism. The dialogue feels authentic, the situations feel lived-in, and the emotional stakes are consistently high. Readers are not just observing Romeo’s life—they are pulled into his fears, his memories, and his struggle to break free from a path that seems predetermined.
Most importantly, the book resonates because of its universal message: the tension between who we are and who we are expected—or destined—to become. It challenges readers to reflect on the influence of upbringing, the power of choice, and whether cycles can truly be broken.
“Just Like Daddy” by Andre Brown Sr. is now available for purchase via ARPress Bookstore: