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cmg629's review against another edition
Tried to get into it but realized it would continue to be a slow drag for me.
poetic_bella's review
4.0
How much can one person bear?? Sara has not had an easy life since she was a child and when she feels that life has finally given her something good tragedy strikes again. I know every story is not supposed to have a happy ending, but I wanted so bad for her have something good in her story. This story has so many traits of southern black family hurt it will make you cry.
I enjoyed the authors writing so I will be reading her other books
I enjoyed the authors writing so I will be reading her other books
thoughts_mela's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An emotional rollercoaster of beautiful prose and wonderfully flawed characters.
booknerd315's review
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was a gem to read and I love finding new authors to add to my TBR pile. West brought to life a story that was beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful. It felt like I got my hands on a delicious dinner that I wanted to sit and savor. Her descriptions surrounding Memphis and all the side characters really brought to life the book.
The only thing I disliked was that it had it's dry spells which I struggled to press through, even though I was so glad I did. Also, I gathered that the previous book "Saving Ruby King" may have answered some of the questions and gaps I experienced. I wished I read that first so I could fully appreciate this book, however West does an an amazing job to make this one a standalone novel.
Perfect for fans: historical fiction, growth of MC, African American literature, Sue Monk Kidd, Secret Life of Bees
This book was a gem to read and I love finding new authors to add to my TBR pile. West brought to life a story that was beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful. It felt like I got my hands on a delicious dinner that I wanted to sit and savor. Her descriptions surrounding Memphis and all the side characters really brought to life the book.
The only thing I disliked was that it had it's dry spells which I struggled to press through, even though I was so glad I did. Also, I gathered that the previous book "Saving Ruby King" may have answered some of the questions and gaps I experienced. I wished I read that first so I could fully appreciate this book, however West does an an amazing job to make this one a standalone novel.
Perfect for fans: historical fiction, growth of MC, African American literature, Sue Monk Kidd, Secret Life of Bees
thebookscript's review
4.0
The Two Lives of Sara was a very eye opening and hard read. This is a prequel story to Sara King...and had I read that one, I felt like my expectations for this story and my enjoyment might have been improved upon.
So...my overall enjoyment of this story was a 3 star BUT you can’t deny the author has talent. This is a story of a woman who has been through HELL and back, and I felt like her angry was 100% justified. I think the hope in this book was the found family aspects...the themes of people loving you just as you are even with all your bad parts and baggage.
I just wish it would have had more hope, this was quite bleak and I just needed a few sparks. There is one sad moment after another and particularly towards the end it got quite bleak. Sara could not catch a SINGLE break. It broke my heart and the ending was definitely more on the open ended side.
But I loved the writing style, the side characters added that extra added layer or warmth to the story and I loved how she added much needed lessons in here on injustice of Black people and extending mercy even when it was undeserved.
So...my overall enjoyment of this story was a 3 star BUT you can’t deny the author has talent. This is a story of a woman who has been through HELL and back, and I felt like her angry was 100% justified. I think the hope in this book was the found family aspects...the themes of people loving you just as you are even with all your bad parts and baggage.
I just wish it would have had more hope, this was quite bleak and I just needed a few sparks. There is one sad moment after another and particularly towards the end it got quite bleak. Sara could not catch a SINGLE break. It broke my heart and the ending was definitely more on the open ended side.
But I loved the writing style, the side characters added that extra added layer or warmth to the story and I loved how she added much needed lessons in here on injustice of Black people and extending mercy even when it was undeserved.
aktunmore's review
3.0
I want to like this book so much more than I do. The author is a great writer I can tell, and the characters were mostly great. But it was just too sad of a story. It took me so long to get through because I never wanted to pick it up. I also wasn't in love with the main character. Things were hard for her, but I felt like she made it so much harder by not seeing, trusting and loving the community of people she had around her.
readincolour's review
3.0
I enjoyed the book and really wanted to rate it higher but I got the feeling that I should have reread the author's first book again before reading this, and I shouldn't have had to. I'm not sure if the book was meant to be a standalone but u don't think so. It explains how a character in the first book came to be, so it would have been helpful to have a flash forward at the beginning to either refresh the memory of previous readers or set up her storyline for new readers. Also, the last few chapters seemed rushed, unlike the rest of the book which seemed like a leisurely stroll through the character's time in Memphis.
gabbyjo's review
5.0
Oh my goodness. This book had me hurting for Sara. How can one endure so much heartache. The story was well written and I enjoyed it. Sara was a strong woman, a really strong woman. I don't know if I could've handled the situations on this side of life, honestly. It's out of my usual genre, but I'm glad I read it.
One key thing I learned from this book. Family secrets are never secret. Some how they come back to bite you in the @ss. Handle them while you can. Secrets are always found out and the repercussions are usually awful.
One key thing I learned from this book. Family secrets are never secret. Some how they come back to bite you in the @ss. Handle them while you can. Secrets are always found out and the repercussions are usually awful.
chatb's review
2.0
1. The author did a poor job of giving physical descriptions of the characters. It was difficult to imagine what they looked like while I was reading
2. Sara is the most insufferable main character I’ve come across in a while. She’s mean and ungrateful. Sara experienced a lot of trauma so I understand her hardness to an extent, but even as she’s showered with love she stews in her anger and it’s annoying after a while.
3. I honestly didn’t want to finish this book because the little bit of happiness that Sara got, the authors took it away from her. Just has her heart was softening she was given another reason to hate the world and be cruel to those around her. The pain inflicted on Sara at this point in the book was unnecessary as it did nothing for the plot. Her character didn’t grow the least bit. I’m also exhausted of Black girls not getting a happy ending
4. The other characters made this book a bit more more enjoyable, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone to read
2. Sara is the most insufferable main character I’ve come across in a while. She’s mean and ungrateful. Sara experienced a lot of trauma so I understand her hardness to an extent, but even as she’s showered with love she stews in her anger and it’s annoying after a while.
3. I honestly didn’t want to finish this book because the little bit of happiness that Sara got, the authors took it away from her. Just has her heart was softening she was given another reason to hate the world and be cruel to those around her. The pain inflicted on Sara at this point in the book was unnecessary as it did nothing for the plot. Her character didn’t grow the least bit. I’m also exhausted of Black girls not getting a happy ending
4. The other characters made this book a bit more more enjoyable, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone to read