With Love from Harlem - by Reshonda Tate (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From The Queen of Sugar Hill author ReShonda Tate--a new novel inspired by beloved Harlem jazz performer Hazel Scott and the equal parts exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changed the course of her life.

Harlem, 1943. At just twenty-three, Hazel Scott is a woman on fire. A jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, and a fierce advocate for civil rights, she's breaking barriers and refusing to play by the rules. Then Adam Clayton Powell Jr. walks into her life. Harlem's most electrifying preacher-turned-politician, Adam is as bold and unyielding as Hazel--charismatic, powerful...and married.

This kicks off a decades-long relationship that propels them into the center of a political and cultural revolution. As Hazel's star rises, Adam takes the national stage in Congress and the couple becomes the toast of the country. But when their affair turns into a marriage, behind the glamorous façade is a battlefield of ego, ambition, and sacrifice. Forced to choose between her music and her family, Hazel must decide what she's willing to lose--and what she refuses to give up.

Set against the pulsing backdrop of twentieth-century Harlem and featuring icons like Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin, With Love from Harlem is a sweeping, emotionally charged romantic drama, rich with historical detail. ReShonda Tate delivers a powerful portrait of love, art, and the price of being unforgettable.

Review Quotes

"In The Queen of Sugar Hill, ReShonda Tate illuminates the little-known story of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to ever win an Academy Award for her role in Gone With The Wind. Tate brilliantly depicts the tale of this extraordinary trailblazer and the extraordinary circumstances she overcame in a book that is important and inspiring." -- Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Sapphire

"ReShonda Tate has written a moving, insightful portrayal of a legend I thought that I knew. From the very first page, she locked me into the story and never let me go. I felt like I was living Hattie's life, traveling with her through all of her loves and all of her losses, all of her tragedies and definitely her triumphs. This beautifully written novel is a brilliant portrayal of a conflicted woman, struggling to find her place in a world that didn't accept her. Definitely a must-read." -- Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling author of The First Ladies and The Personal Librarian

"On the heels of her greatest victory--winning the Oscar--famous actress Hattie McDaniel faces her greatest challenges, as explored in the pages of ReShonda Tate's eye-opening new novel, The Queen of Sugar Hill. In bringing to life the inimitable Hattie against the backdrop of her segregated times, The Queen of Sugar Hill introduces readers to the important, inspiring, heart-wrenching story of the legendary actress whose legacy deserve to be fully understood and celebrated." -- Marie Benedict, New York Times bestselling author of The First Ladies and The Personal Librarian

"This is best-selling author Tate's first historical fiction title, and what a novel it is! Her portrayal of McDaniel is magnificent, and Tate has a unique ability to bring out this strong, resilient, and passionate woman from the page into life. Those who enjoy character-centric historical fiction and Hollywood biopics will savor it." -- Library Journal (starred review)

"The novel shines in its portrayal of the movie world and at McDaniel's Sugar Hill home. A must-read for fans of Tate's Jasmine series coauthor Victoria Christopher Murray (The First Ladies, 2023), this novel will also appeal to fans of biographical fiction about strong female characters, including Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones (2018)." -- Booklist

"[The Queen of Sugar Hill] doesn't magnify the "mammy" caricature that McDaniel was known for, it beautifully showcases her highs and lows within the industry, and highlights her friendships with both Black and White people in Hollywood. There are strong themes of resilience, perseverance, and overcoming within this book, and it also sheds light on old Hollywood." -- Essence