The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West

With a charismatic cast of characters, The Two Lives of Sara is an emotional and unforgettable story of hope, the limitations of resilience and unexpected love. Romance blooms between them, but secrets from Mama Sugar’s past threaten their newfound happiness and lead Sara to make decisions that will reshape the rest of their lives. Black literature and music provide the stories and soundtrack for these turbulent and hopeful times, and Sara finds herself drawn in by conversations of education, politics and a brighter tomorrow with Jonas, a local schoolteacher. Across the country, people like Martin Luther King Jr.

Like many cities in early 1960s America, Memphis is still segregated, but change is in the air. She is welcomed with open arms by Mama Sugar, a kindly matriarch and owner of the popular boardinghouse The Scarlet Poplar. Well-written with richly drawn characters and relationships that felt real and visceral. She is welcomed with open arms by Mama Sugar, a kindly matriarch and owner of the popular boarding house The Scarlet. The Two Lives of Sara is a powerful, wonderfully moving story which stands well on its own. Sara King has nothing, save for her secrets and the baby in her belly, as she boards the bus to Memphis, hoping to outrun her past in Chicago. Sara King has nothing, save for her secrets and the baby in her belly, as she boards the bus to Memphis, hoping to outrun her past in Chicago. THE TWO LIVES OF SARA Catherine Adel West Park Row Rating: 5/5 stars.

In 1960s Memphis, a young mother finds refuge in a boardinghouse where family encompasses more than just blood, and hidden truths can bury you or set you free.

The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West