The Queen of Sugar Hill opens with the night Hattie McDaniel becomes the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind and follows her life until her death from cancer at age 52. While Hattie believed that winning this historical Oscar would change her career for the better, both the role and the award created more problems for her instead. Many Blacks despised her for her depiction of a subservient Black slave to the point that the NAACP waged a full-blown war against Hattie and other actors they felt portrayed Blacks negatively, and whites disliked her for being too Black. In the midst of the attacks on her, Hattie continued to fight for more roles for Black actors while also tackling housing discrimination and navigating numerous fraught romantic relationships. Tate brings Hattie McDaniel to life in a sympathetic but honest manner that had me rooting for her even when I didn’t agree with her decisions. This is such a fascinating time period in Hollywood, and I headed down numerous rabbit holes researching the people and events contained in the book. Historical fiction fans will love this one.

This was an amazing book on the life of Hattie McDaniel. I have learned so much from this amazing fictional historical novel. Especially in a time when everything was so racially divided. I didn’t realize that she was the first African-American to when an Oscar, and how some the black community didn’t like her because of some of the roles that she played, however I understand that she had to make money. I couldn’t believe that she died broke because of a no good man!

In this incredible historical fiction novel, Reshonda Tate Billingsley brings Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel to life. Following her life and career after winning her Oscar, readers explore the challenges of being a Black woman in mid-twentieth century Hollywood during the early civil rights movement, and Tate Billingsley brings these complications and details into full and occasionally brutal detail. Highlighting the many incredible historical events that McDaniel saw or experienced herself, Tate Billingsley’s explanations and descriptions of some incredible people like Cary Grant and moments like fighting housing segregation add to this novel’s profound importance. By changing the framing to Hattie McDaniel as a protagonist and an experiencer of history in the historical fiction genre, Tate Billingsley introduces her to a new audience and gives her her rightful spotlight. Tate Billingsley’s prose and characters are incredibly vivid and lifelike, and they add so much to the story. McDaniel is, of course, the star of the novel, and Tate Billingsley’s portrayal of her as a strong, clever, and brilliant woman is incredibly charming and enjoyable. A new perspective into Old Hollywood, readers of the genre are guaranteed to enjoy this incredible historical fiction novel and Tate Billingsley’s brilliant, dynamic, complex protagonist and a stellar background cast of characters.

I absolutely loved this book! Reshonda Tate did her thing in telling the story of Hattie McDaniel. I didn't know much about Hattie McDaniel other than she was the first African -American to win an Oscar but nothing about her personal life or the depths of the struggles she endured being a black actress in Hollywood. The book opens up on that historic Oscar night and ends with her tragic death from breast cancer in 1952. I was fascinated to learn of her deep friendship with Clark Gable , her struggles with love in choosing the right man, as she was married 4 times but most of all it was her battles with Walter White the president of the NAACP and even the Black press, that permeated throughout the book ,as she was heavily criticized for taking on the "Mammy roles " that many found demoralizing. Hattie often said , " I'd rather play a maid in a movie rather than be one in real life ". As a black woman who lived during that era , those were truly her only choices, so I understood! Hattie also faced that hard lessons that the Oscar did not lead to more movie roles or even more money the way it did for white actresses. I also loved reading the stories of other Black Hollywood legends she crossed paths with, like Lena Horne, Ruby Dee and Dorothy Dandridge! If you love historical fiction you will love this book. I also thoroughly enjoyed the audio version of the book and highly recommend it as well ! The narrator did an awesome job!

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and the publisher.

I really wanted to read this book since I hardly know anything about the actress Hattie McDaniel (though this is fiction). I couldn't get into this book for some reason and only got to page 50 or so where I usually dnf a book that I cannot get into.

Queen of Sugar Hill is a historical fiction about the first African American to win an Academy Award, Hattie McDaniel. The story starts out at the highest point in Ms. McDaniel’s life, the award ceremony for her performance as Mammy in Gone With the Wind, and ends with her obituary. This novel takes you through the highs and the lows that Ms. McDaniel endured and also showed how winning the award didn’t change her life in the way she imagined.

Like many others, Ms. McDaniel believed that the roles would start pouring in after the success of Gone With the Wind. She soon realizes that Hollywood still viewed her as another black actress and the black community viewed her as a sellout. Which lead her to take other roles as servants instead of launching her career out of the domestic box.

Prior to reading this story, I had never heard of Sugar Hill in Los Angeles and it made me research it more. Also, it was very interesting to read about her friendships with other members of Hollywood (Ruby Dandridge, Louise Beavers and Lillian Randolph) and how influential she was.

The story flowed well and held my interest from beginning to end. There were moments I wished Ms. McDaniel would have used her voice more and there were moments my heart break for her and what she was experiencing. Her joys and traumas could be felt on each page.

As a fan of historical fiction, ReShonda Tate told Ms. McDaniel’s story eloquently.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

The Queen of Sugar Hill: A Resilient Journey Through Hollywood's Shadows

I loved this book, I feel like I made a new dear friend in Hattie. The Queen of Sugar Hill is the kind of enjoyable book one revels in. You miss the magical world created by the author as soon as you finish the book; I never wanted it to end!

ReShonda Tate's novel is a captivating exploration of the life and legacy of a trailblazing woman who defied the odds. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood's golden era, this fictional portrait brings to light the remarkable story of Hattie McDaniel—the first Black person ever to win an Oscar for her iconic role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind.

Tate masterfully weaves together history, ambition, love, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Unfortunately, as it frequently is, fame was a mixed blessing for Hattie, and in general blacks saw her characterization as a betrayal, as whites saw her typecast to a specific stereotyped role. This novel shows us the boomerang effect of the "Oscar curse" and provides fascinating accounts of Hattie's many famous friends (including Clark Gable) and supporters.

Not to mention her always vigilant fight against racism and towards equality.

I found it fascinating, and I hope you do too.

P. S. I Especially loved Hattie's relationship with Clark Gable! 💕

Hattie McDaniel, best known for her role as Mammy in the epic film of the Old South, Gone with the Wind, was the first Black woman to ever win an Academy Award. Selected as Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the controversial Mammy, Hattie broke barriers, but I was surprised to learn through ReShonda Tate's new novel, The Queen of Sugar Hill, that Hattie herself faced extreme judgment and prejudice for her decision to play stereotypical "colored' characters.

Primarily focused on Hattie's work in Old Hollywood as a black actress, The Queen of Sugar Hill is an exhaustive, heartbreaking account of Hattie's storied life. Knowing Hattie only as Mammy before reading this novel, I was shocked to learn that Hattie faced extreme backlash from the Black community for the role, as well as racism and pigeonholing from Whites. Perhaps Hattie's oft-proclaimed defense - that she would rather "play a maid than be a maid" - speaks volumes and is a testament to a time when Black actors were relegated to bit parts that often portrayed them in a negative light. Tate's novel pays tribute to the groundwork that Black performers, such as Hattie, laid in paving the path for those who would follow in their wake. Hattie's life as an award-winning actress was by no means golden, but was instead, coated in grit and determination.

On the sidelines of this eye-opening novel is Hattie's numerous relationships and marriages, which were unfortunately, by today's standards, nothing less than toxic. Not finding love and acceptance within Hollywood, Hattie hoped to discover it in her relationships, but that was not the case. Hattie was no stranger to cheaters, swindlers, abusers, and cons. Despite Hattie giving it as good as she got, she sadly found herself falling for the wrong sort of man time and time again. Through her extensive research, Tate demonstrates how Hattie faced so much strife and heartache in both her professional and personal lives, and you can't help but feel your heart breaking for her time and time again as you pore over this richly detailed novel.

I am incredibly appreciative of the thought-provoking The Queen of Sugar Hill for bringing light to the numerous struggles that Black performers, such as Hattie, faced in the early days of Hollywood, and for teaching me so much about an incredible woman about whom I knew little. This book is highly recommended to fans of biographical fiction, and those you are intrigued by the Golden Age of Hollywood.

The author's deep understanding of Hattie's life choices is well-reflected in the narrative. She intricately uncovers the layers of Hattie's life, providing an insightful look into a significant historical period, and reminding us of the inherent strength and resilience of the human spirit.

ReShonda Tate's eloquent storytelling makes it an enjoyable read and sparks enlightening discussions and celebrations. I recommend Queen of Sugar Hill for your reading pleasure, and it will complement any bookshelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are my own. Even though "The Queen of Sugar Hill" was a fictional story of the life of Hattie McDaniel, it really gave you insight to her life and the struggles she endured as a black woman/actress. Even after winning an academy award, she was still subjected to racism and bigotry. Thank you Reshonda Tate for a poignant and compelling look into this great actresses life.

What a detailed, powerful and tender story of a time period in our history that is uncomfortable to discuss. Told with grace and honesty. A most wonderful read of tribulation of triumph.

This is a well-researched tale that dives into the life of Hattie McDaniel that we didn't know. Tate has done an excellent job of sharing Hattie's world with us in an enjoyable read.

Quick and Dirty
-linear timeline
-steeped in Classic Hollywood history
-BIPOC author & cast of characters
-lots of great civil rights history

What Worked
I am a huge Classic Hollywood fan, so this book appealed to me for that reason primarily. I loved all the movie and movie star references, as well as the Los Angeles/Hollywood locales. Hattie McDaniel was a true trailblazer, and Tate does a GREAT job capturing that in the novel. Not only do we get to hear about Hattie’s successes, but we also learn about the many obstacles and letdowns she experienced in her career and her civil rights work. The cast of characters is diverse, driving home the reality that Hollywood was much more diverse in that era than what we saw on the screen (sadly). Learning more about how Hattie fought to break down barriers and build a foundation on which future generations of Black actors could build was really informative and engaging.

What Didn’t Work
Sadly, the romance aspects of this book did not work for me. It’s not that I didn’t want to see Hattie happy and in love. What I struggled with was the repetition of the storylines. Hattie made some poor judgment calls with men (who hasn’t?!?), which I don’t judge her for. But by the third time the cycle repeated, I had grown frustrated with that aspect of the story. Overall, I’m not sure it added to the plot, but I see how it added complexity to the character. I personally just struggled with it. Maybe that’s a ME thing?

Read This If
Anyone looking to dive deeper into the truth of life during the Classic Hollywood/big production houses era will likely enjoy this book!

Similar Reads
In content: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (kinda)
In writing style: The House of Eve

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This is a fictionalized version of Hattie McDaniel's story. While I found it to be engaging and interesting, I did wish that it felt more personal. Hattie could have been any other character. While the story was there and I enjoyed it, I wanted it to feel more...something. There are some stories where the character jumps off the page and feels as though they're speaking to you and with this being about a real person, I wanted that same connection and I didn't get it.

All that said, this is in no way a bad book and I would read it again. I enjoyed it.

This was the first ReShonda Tate book I've read, but I'll be watching for others. She has a great storytelling skill and I love the story of why she was drawn to writing this book.

This is an historical fiction about Hattie McDaniels' life. Hattie was the first black female to win an Academy Award for her role of Mammy in Gone With the Wind. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Hattie than just as "Mammy". I thought her relationship with Clark Gable was awesome and liked learning more about them. I felt her pain while trying to further herself and being denied at each turn - and judged by both black and white sides. She had amazing friends, a terribly interesting life and kept true to herself the whole time. Very enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This story is a must read! The author did a fantastic job telling us about the life of the first black woman to win an Academy Award. There was so much more to Hattie McDaniel than her role in Gone With The Wind role. As POC already know, being talented does not open the door to automatic acceptance, wealth and love; and neither does winning an Academy Award. McDaniel life had a life filled with colorism, racism, relationship woes, unsavory characters, and never-ending heartache. Even after winning an Academy Award, she still had difficulty finding meaningful work in and out of the industry. Her personal life was a gut-wrenching mess. With determination and raw grit, she persevered through all her difficulties and is today rightly credited with paving the way for other Black actors.

The story flowed well, held my interest, and I finished in two days. My heart broke for McDaniel while reading and I shed a tear or two for her. It boggles my mind that even today we are still seeing the same (mis)treatment of Black entertainers, it's just wrapped-up in prettier disguises. The difference today is our Black entertainers "are not our ancestors" and are punching back.

The author's research shines in the story=telling. If you enjoy historical books, and especially historicals about the lives of Black folks during that time, read this book; you will not be disappointed.

I loved reading about Mc Daniel’s life and struggles in Hollywood during the time period and her struggles but I found the writing somewhat staid and felt the middle of the book drug on but overall a good book

Really loved this book. Well written book about beloved actress Hattie McDaniel. Interesting to read about her life and the struggles she had to endure before and after winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar .

Recently, I came across a deeply moving story that I believe you would find intriguing. It is about a woman whose life unfolded unexpectedly, a woman who chose to live life on her terms, regardless of what others thought.

The story revolves around Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an Oscar for her role in "Gone With The Wind". While one might expect such an achievement to propel one's career, Hattie's journey took a different turn. Her award seemed to open the floodgates for criticism of all aspects of her life - from her craft and character to her physical appearance and skin color. But Hattie was more than just an entertainer, she was a beacon of hope for her people and left a legacy that continues to inspire today.

The author's deep understanding of Hattie's life choices is well-reflected in the narrative. She intricately uncovers the layers of Hattie's life, providing an insightful look into a significant historical period, and reminding us of the inherent strength and resilience of the human spirit.

ReShonda Tate's eloquent storytelling makes it an enjoyable read and sparks enlightening discussions and celebrations. I recommend Queen of Sugar Hill for your reading pleasure, and it will complement any bookshelf.

Dive into this inspiring story, you will not be disappointed. It is a journey worth embarking on.

This Biographical - Historical Fiction is about Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy. Once winning the Oscar, Hattie McDaniel thought that her acting career would take-off, but shortly she learned that the very award that heightened her notoriety was the same award that was the catalyst to a lot of struggle, pain, and trauma. Though being a recipient of this award was a major accomplishment, her elation was short lived. Ms. McDaniel quickly realized that winning the Oscar caused much unrest in Hollywood as it related to Black actors, caused strife in her community, and adversely collided with her relational life.

Ms. McDaniels talent and experience did not preclude her from the onslaught of hatred, racism, colorism and layers of abuse. She endured so much in her life, but like many Black women who've given their all to relationships, careers, to life, whether deciding to fight or acquiesce, Hattie McDaniel's life included never-ending struggle, pain and trauma. Through all of this, I still saw a woman of strength, courage and triumph!!!

This book was the epitome of a well written historical-biographical piece of fiction. The author, with fidelity thoroughly researched McDaniel's life which brought the characters to life. Many times I found myself clutching my pearls, yelling at characters, throwing the book across the room- because I was mad, and simply walked away from the pages for days.

After collecting myself, and experiencing raw emotions learning about the life of Ms. Hattie McDaniels, this book was so well written and is a MUST read. This book will likely be one of my top reads by the end of 2024!

Netgalley, William Morrow (Harpers Collins Publishing) and Ms. ReShonda Tate thank you so very much for providing me with this ARC, for my honest review. I love this book so much and am grateful to have read it and to provide my honest thoughts.

Great job Ms. ReShonda Tate - very well captured and written.