Notes from Beale Street

When their family matriarch dies in 1980s Memphis, two very different sisters battle over her legacy—only to uncover her long-hidden past in 1940s Tupelo and an unexpected connection to Graceland.

Readers of Tara M. Stringfellow, Brandy Colbert, Nancy Crochiere, ReShonda Tate, and Sadeqa Johnson will be captivated by this moving novel about mothers and daughters, the complexities of sisterhood, generational sacrifice, and the enduring power of forgiveness.

For the Dawkins sisters, even an ocean between them isn’t enough. Free-spirited Suzanne has been at odds with her conservative, church-going sister, Paula, since childhood. Their mother, Lillie, has always blamed her divorce and an unexplained family tragedy for driving the sisters apart, spending years trying to bring them back together. Suzanne pursues her dream of musical stardom, eventually becoming a cabaret singer in Paris. Paula remains in Memphis, building a life centered on family and community, but never forgives Suzanne’s absence, believing it forced her to sacrifice her own dreams.

After their mother’s death, Suzanne and Paula inherit an unexpected treasure: secret recordings from Lillie’s years working for Elvis Presley at Graceland. A publisher eager to uncover new stories about the music icon wants to turn the tapes into a book. But Lillie left behind secrets of her own, and the sisters cannot agree on whether they should ever be revealed. Complicating matters, both women desperately need the money. Paula’s childcare center is burdened by dangerous debts, while Suzanne sees one final opportunity to revive her singing career.

As they delve into their family’s past, the sisters uncover revelations far more profound than either expected. Together, they must confront long-buried truths and decide whether they can honor Lillie’s greatest legacy—a legacy of healing, reconciliation, and forgiveness.