Set in 1960s segregated Memphis, The Two Lives of Sara is a compelling work of historical fiction that takes readers on an emotional, unforgettable journey. Sara King leaves Chicago and finds her way to Memphis to escape the ghosts of her pasts and carve a new life for herself and her son Lebanon. She takes refuge in a boarding house run by Mama Sugar who teaches Sara that good food brings people together and nourishes the soul. Over time, Sara’s cynical hard shell begins to crack as she develops an affection for Mama Sugar’s grandson. She also unexpectedly finds herself drawn to Jonas, a local schoolteacher, and a romance develops. Just as Sara begins to find peace, tragedy strikes, and she is left to reexamine her life choices.
“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)
“West has written a book that seems made to be filmed: Weighty conversations about living with segregation and trying to survive despite all the difficulties drive the story. A raw look at life for a Black woman in the segregated South.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“In this utterly absorbing and dazzling novel about the stories we tell to stay alive and the secrets we keep to protect ourselves, Catherine Adel West explores the intricacies of family and community as well as the realities of migration, reinvention, and loss. The Two Lives of Sara also celebrates everyday forms of resistance in a racist and divided country and the balm that love, food, and art can still provide. I couldn’t put this exquisite book down.” —Nancy Jooyoun Kim, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Story of Mina Lee