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    The Two Lives of Sara
    The Two Lives of Sara
    The Two Lives of Sara
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Two Lives of Sara

    Written by Catherine Adel West

    Narrated by Adenrele Ojo

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 by Ms. Magazine, The Root, Popsugar, Bustle, and many more!

    “An utterly absorbing and dazzling novel about the stories we tell to stay alive and the secrets we keep to protect ourselves.” — Nancy Jooyoun Kim, New York Times Bestselling author of The Last Story of Mina Lee
     

    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.  

    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. She is welcomed with open arms by Mama Sugar, a kindly matriarch and owner of the popular boardinghouse The Scarlet Poplar.

    Like many cities in early 1960s America, Memphis is still segregated, but change is in the air. News spreads of the Freedom Riders. Across the country, people like Martin Luther King Jr. are leading the fight for equal rights. 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. 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.

    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.

    Editor's Note

    Rich and lively characters…

    This saga of motherhood and found family takes place in 1960s Memphis during America’s civil rights movement. Sara King, who’s pregnant and unwed, leaves Chicago for Memphis, where she finds home and safety in Mama Sugar’s boarding house, The Scarlet Poplar. The boarding house is filled with rich and lively characters, including Jonas, a teacher that Sara quickly bonds with. “The Two Lives of Sara” reveals how secrecy is often the undercurrent of community — and the one thing that can destroy it.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarlequin Audio
    Release dateSep 6, 2022
    ISBN9781488215605
    The Two Lives of Sara
    Author

    Catherine Adel West

    Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, where she currently resides. She graduated with both her bachelor's and master's of science in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her work is published in Black Fox Literary Magazine, Five2One, and Better Than Starbucks, among many others. She is the author of Saving Ruby King and The Two Lives of Sara is her sophomore novel.

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    Reviews for The Two Lives of Sara

    4/5

    70 ratings7 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be a compelling and beautifully written story. The author effectively uses the 1st person narrative and vivid descriptions to create a captivating atmosphere. The diverse cast of characters feels like a family. However, some readers found the book to be too sad and disliked the unlikable protagonist. The ending was also disappointing for some. Overall, the book evokes strong emotions and is recommended for those who appreciate poignant storytelling.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      I couldn’t get enough of this book, but hated that her world was filled with so much sadness

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I am conflicted about this book.
      Sara finds a new family in her new friends, a safe place for her and her son to bloom. Then life happens, and she chooses something I think I would not have. Of course, that is part of the point. So it is hard for me as it seems that she is knowingly choosing what is the worst for her and for her family.
      However, I think it is a very good book that delves into various topics. Some of these are just quickly brushed over, but that was ok for me, as the main topic, Sara, had already a lot going on. Life it is like that. We focus on what affects us more directly and also what we can influence.
      Tough read.
    • 3/5
      The author’s writing was stirring descriptive and poetic. I liked her skill of writing . *Spoiler Alert* I was not looking for this “tone “ of book….if I had known the arc of the story was sadness I wouldn’t have chosen to read it. I must credit the author - life is in fact difficult complex sad and good which I think lingered in her pages. Story tone was just not for me. I ending the book saddened.
      I Love afr-amer historical fiction. Is my favorite genre, especially when I find ones not centered around barbaric american enslavement .
    • 4/5
      Effectively used the 1st person narrative which is extremely difficult to do! Beautiful, often sad, but nonetheless compelling story. The author uses color, descriptions of food and place extremely well— they almost become another character! I also enjoy the motley crew of personalities that feel like family by the end. Enjoyed this and will read the other novel by this author.
    • 3/5
      I do not mesh well with this narrator. The inflection in her words (like an upward lilt at the end of each sentence) sounds very unnatural. Such a bummer, too. ?
    • 3/5
      I wanted to like the book. Thinking it would have a somewhat happy ending. It was all doom and gloom. It was a bit too sad for my taste.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 2/5
      I didn't enjoy this book at all. From the beginning, Sara was an unlikable character. The ending was disappointing.

      1 person found this helpful