The Two Lives of Sara by Catherine Adel West begins when Sara takes the bus to Memphis to escape life in Chicago after her father’s death. She’s young, single, and pregnant so Mama Sugar, Sara’s close friend Naomi’s aunt and the proprietor of The Scarlet Poplar rooming house, a haven in Memphis’s Black community welcomes Sara as a cook and helps her when her son Lebanon is born.

West’s debut novel Saving Ruby King was one of my favorite books of 2020 and I love learning Lebanon’s and Sara’s backstories. Those who’ve read Saving Ruby King will enjoy finding out more about the character Sara’s early life. Usually, when a prequel arrives, I suggest reading it first, but in this case, I’m glad I read about Ruby first. I enjoyed learning about Ruby for herself then reading about Sara and learning more about why she acted as she did. There’s a whole lot of hurt in both novels, but they also offer the beauty of community, friendship, and love. Whichever one you choose to read first will inform the other. Each novel stands alone and both beg you to discuss with a book club or on a walk with a friend.

In The Two Lives of Sara, Sara tries to close herself off from emotional entanglements since she’s been hurt deeply by childhood trauma and the assault that resulted in her son’s birth. It’s even difficult for her to hold Lebanon since he reminds her of her past. Mama Sugar and her family and friends treat Lebanon and Sara with loving kindness and soon Sara begins to respond.

“I scoop Lebanon up from the high chair and set him on my lap and the crying stops. . . .
“See, when you patient and happy. He’s patient and happy like that, Sara-girl,” says Mama Sugar.
It’s odd to feel something resembling happiness looking at him. And he lays his head on my shoulder. Yes. He has my nose and lips. He dozes. Curly hair tickles my neck. He doesn’t seem heavy, at least not as heavy as he did other mornings.”

Soon the heaviness of her earlier life and its burdens start to lift from Sara’s shoulders and she befriends Mama Sugar’s bookish grandson William. Through their connection, she falls in love with Jonas, William’s challenging teacher.

The community welcomes Sara and Lebanon and Sara wants more. “Friendships are strange evolving collections of laughter and fights and secrets, this rarified brew of humanity you choose to share with another person. And I want that again. To feel close to someone. To share with someone. The way I did in Chicago.”

Will her desires be enough to overcome the hurt of the church when Black life in Memphis is so tied to the church?
“I believed when I was young, when I walked past my church’s doors, nothing could hurt me, but that was a silly, childish notion, to let a building, a church, make me feel safe. . . . all I see is Calvary Hope Christian Church, a place that saw the best and worst of who I was, the best and worst of everyone that walked through its doors.”

Throughout it all, the music, the food, the traditions of HBCU schools like Morehouse and Spelman, and the difficulties of being Black in Memphis in the early 1960s make this novel sing with authenticity. When Jonas and Sara stop at a Memphis housing project, Sara says, “Use to think we had it better up North. You know we got a housing project named after Ida B. Wells? She spent her whole life fighting injustice, and they slapped her name on a building that keeps it going.”
“White people build these places to keep us and them separate. Put the names of our people on them like they’ve done us a service. It’s disgraceful,” says Jonas.

What happens next is Sara’s story to tell and is a poignant, heartfelt tale of resilience when love may not be enough. It demonstrates that Catherine Adel West is no one-hit-wonder. This reader will be anxiously awaiting her next effort.

Summing it Up: Read The Two Loves of Sara to immerse yourself in the food, music, church traditions, and camaraderie of early 1960s Black Memphis. Relish the complexity of every character in the novel from wounded, yet strong Sara to those who make poor decisions and men and women who encourage others to survive and thrive. Select The Two Lives of Sara for your book club for a discussion that will practically lead itself. This novel of love, trauma, resiliency, religion, and prejudice is both a page-turner and a novel you’ll long contemplate.

Rating: Five Stars

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Categories: Fiction, Five Stars, Grandma’s Pot Roast, Grits, Pigeon Pie, Super Nutrition, Book Club

Author Website: https://www.catherineadelwest.com/

Book Club Discussion Kit: https://www.catherineadelwest.com/uploads/1/3/1/4/131492292/two_lives_of_sara_book_club_kit.pdf (I’ve led hundreds of book discussions and this is the most complete, beautiful, and inspiring book club kit I’ve seen. It begs you to select the book for your book club.)

Read an Excerpt: https://preview.aer.io/The_Two_Lives_of_Sara-NDQ5MTA3?social=1&retail=1&emailcap=0

Author Interview: https://www.shelf-awareness.com/max-issue.html?issue=476#m991

What Others are Saying:

Booklist: “West writes with charming precision and intention. Every character is a beautiful, relatable complication. Both masterfully suspenseful and certain to tug at the reader's heartstrings, The Two Lives of Sara solidifies West as a literary force.” --Booklist (Starred Review)

Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/catherine-adel-west/the-two-lives-of-sara/

“A gripping reflection on our need to be loved and our fear of rejection, Catherine Adel West crafts a timeless and complex narrative of family, loss, and what it means to lose faith in religion and ourselves. Sara King and the family she finds at the Scarlet Poplar will stay with you long after the final page.” —Lane Clarke, author of Love Times Infinity

"The Two Lives of Sara is a stellar follow-up for Catherine Adel West. The relationships surrounding Sara King are nuanced, complex, and full of small moments that stick with you long after you are done. West has a direct and precise prose that goes straight to the heart of the characters, the story, and the reader." --Morg Rogers, author of Honey Girl

I really liked Saving Ruby King and was sucked into the setting of The Two Lives of Sara very quickly. The found family, the food descriptions and Sara’s stubborn nature were all things to love about this book. I also underlined many quotable lines and enjoyed the writing style.

I lost interest 3/4 of the way through. The plot was completely predictable and the events that followed, and there was no other ties keeping me curious to finish the book. I did complete it and it was fine, but overall it left me unsatisfied.

I was excited to read The Two Lives of Sara because I read and loved West’s debut novel, Saving Ruby King, in the summer of 2020. I am sad to say that I was not nearly as invested in this sophomore album. The Two Lives of Sara takes us back in time to before Ruby King, as Sara moves from Chicago to Memphis. Sara has mixed feelings about her infant son, as he came about from trauma, and she doesn’t want to go near churches, which she mistrusts due to her personal experiences.

While many lines of the novel are poignant and worthy of highlighting, the abundance of dialogue in contrast to a lack of plot led me to almost stop reading it. Perhaps at a different time and a different mood, my subjective reading experience would have been better.

I loved the character of Mama Sugar, no nonsense and loving, and liked that the story centered around Mama Sugar’s kitchen. It would have been neat to have the kitchen have its own point of view the way the church did in Ruby King. Discussions of the growth of the Civil Rights Movement in segregated Memphis are a highlight of the novel.

The Two Lives of Sara includes trauma, grief, community, loss of faith, doubt of self worth, and a search for self love. West writes many powerful and thoughtful sentences that were the strengths of the story.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for providing the e-galley of The Two Lives of Sara in exchange for an honest review.

This book was one of my most anticipated fall reads, especially with its STUNNINGLY beautiful cover and considering how much I loved the author's debut book but sadly I could not get invested. The story was soooooooooooooo slow moving and I just didn't feel like there was enough action to drive the plot (was there a plot?) it felt very random and rambly. Sadly this was one I couldn't finish. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

If there is one author I can trust to bring out all the emotions in me while reading it’s Catherine Adel West. I first discovered West through her debut, Saving Ruby King, and knew I needed to read anything she published. Fast forward to The Two Lives of Sara and West is still breaking my heart with her poetic writing abilities.

Walking into this story, I wasn’t sure where things were headed. It’s clear that Sara has a history she wants to keep hidden. Along with an outstanding cast of secondary characters, the reader slowly unpacks these secrets. Sara is a captivating main character with a complicated outlook on life, trust, and love. Her journey in navigating Memphis and her new community pulls the reader in and vividly paints a series of events that will fascinate, fill you with hope, and break your heart.

I hardly ever cry while reading, but there are a handful of authors who can make that happen and West is one of them. The Two Lives of Sara is utterly brilliant and I encourage you to pick up a copy ASAP!

A huge thank you to HTP Books for my gifted copy!

The Two Lives of Sara is a story about found family, love and loss set in Memphis, Tennessee during the racially divided 1960s.

When we meet her, Sara is a miserly woman who is hardened by the events in her life and while it takes the reader some time to uncover the root of her wounds all the pieces come together when the story is revealed about her past. We get to know Sara best via her relationship to other characters at the boarding home where she residers with her baby, Lebanon. We don't know why she ran away from Chicago but we know that she is met with warmth from Mama Sugar and accepted into the community of residents and chosen family despite her withholding nature.

In this story, Sara does more than survive her trauma. She returns home with the realization that she is capable of rebuilding herself whenever she needs to. There are some strong female friendships in the story that serve as a reminder to Sara when she forgets to lean on her strengths. I enjoyed the wisdom shared by elder Mama Sugar all the way through the narrative as well.

Sara King boards the bus to Memphis with nothing except her secrets and the baby in her belly, hoping to outrun her past in Chicago. She finds refuge in a boardinghouse run by Mama Sugar, a kind woman who welcomes Sara with open arms.

Like many cities in early 1960s America, Memphis is still segregated, but change is in the air. 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.

West writes an unflinching portrayal of how being Black makes you different in a world where the color of your skin robs you of value. With themes of hope, resilience, and unexpected love, this novel will take readers on an emotional journey they won’t soon forget.

I was ecstatic when I found out Catherine Adel West was writing a follow up novel after Saving Ruby King. One that focused on Sara. Like it's predecessor there are some heavy hitting topics touched upon but West does a brilliant job weaving them into the plot. She showed us the time and place instead of telling us, I appreciate that in a book. It was interesting to see Sara as a main character and gives a bit of different perspective of a her story arc after her role in Saving Ruby King. The characters were fantastic and real and flawed and beautiful. The story engaging, heartbreaking and exceptional. As I mentioned this was a much anticipated book for me and it did not disappoint. West is definitely a must read author for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

This prequel/sequel to Saving Ruby King not only broke my heart but opened me up to a whole new world. Catherine Adel West is killing it, in the spirit of our foremothers like Hurston, Naylor, etc, I have cried so many times during this book. The prose was fabulous. We get real insight into what turns Sara into who she ultimately becomes.

The Two Lives of Sara almost made me miss my train stop three times, y'all. Seldom do books draw me in so quickly and completely that I tune out my surroundings like that. This book was so engaging and rich in character development that it was the perfect vehicle to help draw me out of my reading slump.
Sara King has been through some horrific things in her young life, things that have her leaving her life in Chicago and escaping to Memphis. She's done with hope, religion and happiness and tries to build a life for her and her son. But the people who satellite around and through The Scarlet Poplar boardinghouse are determined to change her mind and help her see the good in the world.
Very few authors can handle writing so many characters while giving them distinct voices and points of view and Ms. West handles it brilliantly.
I'm definitely going back and reading her first book, Saving Ruby King (I forgot to read it when it was first published), which is a connected story.

Sara is a new mother finding her way in life. She is living with Mama Sugar at her boarding house in Memphis. But, Sara soon learns she cannot out run her past and secrets really never stay hidden.

Sara and Mama Sugar are two fabulous characters and each are so different. I love Mama Sugar’s wisdom. And…Mama Sugar is not to be messed with! Sara, you just make her mad one time! So, you can just imagine these two together are forces to be reckoned with!

The setting of Memphis in the 60s is spot on. I knew exactly some of the streets and areas she mentioned in the book. Felt like I was right at home!

I love this author’s prose! She has some wonderful sayings that resonate with any reader. I adored her first book, Saving Ruby King. I fought hard to get a signed copy of that book! Now, that being said, this book is very good but it just has a few dead places in it. I wanted it to move much faster than it did.

Need a good read with relatable characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This book was receiving so much hype so I was so excited to be approved to read it! Main Character Sara flees a traumatic past in Chicago, and finds new adventure in Memphis. It's the 1960s, and although broken, Sara is strong and resilient. She finds work and a haven in the boardinghouse run by Mama Sugar, Sara has her baby, and holds her secrets in an empty space beneath her heart. Just when she thinks life may offer her love and belonging, tragedy strikes again but is she too broken this time to see what is there? The story also has the added element of the Civil Rights movement. A story that has love and loss, family, flawed characters and more - it will break you.

thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row for allowing me to read and review this digital arc

Sara's life has been filled with pain. But she leaves Chicago, starts over in Memphis, and slowly learns to love her little boy, and more importantly, herself. Soon she has a new family, and a husband who writes her poetry and loves her dearly. Then tragedy strikes again, and Sara isn't sure that she can survive this latest hand life has dealt her.
Beautifully written.

“The world is good. And we have the chance to be the same, but you can’t choose for people who they will be, like people can’t choose that for you. Be vigilant in this world, but be open.”

The Two Lives of Sara is the kind of book that weaves itself into the core of you and lingers long after the words off the page have faded.

Those who have read author Catherine Adel West’s Saving Ruby King will already be peripherally aware of Sara King, and aware that her life was one of trauma and struggle. This novel delves into what happens when bad things happen to people and how it can shape them. And what happens when good things happened to people who aren’t used to it.

It’s a story set in a very specific time and place, and speaks to the unique circumstances of Black life in the segregated south, yet has a universality to it that transcends its setting/time period. Like Ruby King, The Two Lives of Sara is beautifully crafted and poignant.

Honestly? I hated the ending. It stabbed me right in the heart. And yet, I sensed that it was coming, even as much as I dreaded it. Not all stories end happily, though I’ll admit that I wanted it so badly for Sara, for Lebanon.

If a bittersweet ending doesn’t put you off, you will absolutely enjoy this book. But if you want things to end on a happier note? This might not be the book for you.

Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for generously providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was cheering for Sara after she leaves Chicago as a young single mother in the 1960's to create a new life in Memphis. The story of why she left Chicago is heartbreaking but the world she enters is so very supportive of her. Readers need to be ready to feel lots of emotions.

An interesting read about one young woman’s experiences in the chaotic times of the 1960s. Sara is trying to make a new life after leaving Chicago, but some things follow her. Will her new life be worth it?
I liked the setting and the characters. There’s a lot of history and culture for readers to immerse themselves into the narrative.
Check it out.

Fans of this author‘s first book, Saving Ruby King, will also love The Two Lives of Sara. This author has a gift of writing very complex characters yet still maintaining an easy readability. This story of love, loss and tragedy is so poignant, I know it will stay with me for a while. A wonderful historical novel that touches on some tough topics while still allowing the characters to shine and guide the story!

The Two Lives of Sarah was an excellent prequel to Saving Ruby King. Incredibly (almost unrealistically), fast paced, but all framed around a great story that can stand on it's own without Ruby King. A wonderful cast of characters populate West's fictitious universe - and I look forward to the next book she writes, be it in the same universe or a new one.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc for review.

A leisurely paced historical family saga that takes place in the 1960s. This character-driven tale was informative, insightful, and entertaining.
Sara King has two lives. The life she used to have growing up in Chicago, Illinois; and, the life she currently has a Black, unwed mother in Memphis, Tennessee. After having fled a traumatic past in Chicago, she now works at a Boarding House for Black travelers which is ran by a lady known as Mama Sugar.. Ms Sugar is the family matriarch who steps up and helps Sara raise her sonLebanon, as well as, her grandson Will. Will's teacher. Jonas, sees a lot of potential in him, so he receives a lot of extra literary assignments and tutoring. At first, Sara and Jonas seem at odds with one another; but, they eventually become friends and start dating. After a while, Jonas and Sara get married, and Sara soon discovers that she is with child yet again. Will Sara finally get the happily ever after she so desparately desires?

When I first picked up <u> The Two Lives of Sara</u> it was because I was drawn to the cover. Upon starting it, I realized that there was a book that came before it. So I went and read the other book, <u> Saving Ruby King.</u> In that book we meet two girls named Ruby and Sara, and we find out a little about how their lives are intertwined. In "Two Lives" we hear more of Sara's story, and find out what made her become the person she was in the other book.

Knowing what I knew about Sara from the first book, I knew how her life was going to turn out, and "watching" it happen nearly broke my heart. It's like a train wreck you just can't look away from. And I don't mean that in a bad way. All of the characters in the story are so well written that you just want to reach in and hug (or slap) some of them. West has a way of storytelling that sucks you in and makes you feel like you're right there with them.

If she were to re-enter the worlds of Sara or Ruby in another book, I would read it in an absolute heartbeat.