I felt this book was a great jumping-off point to the amazing Josephine Baker. For those not knowing much about Baker, I’m sure this book will encourage you to learn more about this wondrous woman. However, I am disappointed that Jones invested so much in Baker’s dalliances and appetite for men sacrificing more time elaborating on her participation in abolishing prejudice not to mention acting in French Resistance. As much as I enjoy historical fiction I realize the author might have a different vision which often is unexpected or if you know more about the character and situation presented their version can be disappointing. Overall, this book was enjoyable for historical fiction but a more extensive nonfictional read would give you a broader spectrum of who Josephine Baker was.

The stunning Josephine Baker made an impact on many and being able to read more about her and her life was something I was excited to do with Josephine Baker's Last Dance. Unfortunately many parts were tedious which felt like a job to get through but some interesting pieces of history nonetheless

Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones is another entry into the cadre of books that presents fictionalized stories of historical figures. Once again, fiction introduces me to a strong woman who I might never have met through the history books. I read the fiction and then go off to find out more about the history for the lasting image of the book is not one of Josephine Baker, resistance fighter and activist but rather of Josephine Baker, a woman who survives a myriad of relationships.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2019/11/josephine-bakers-last-dance.html.

Reviewed for NetGalley.

A bio as stunning as Baker herself, written in poetic prose, researched meticulously, bringing to fabulous life this legend of stage, screen, civil rights, and spydom. 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine. Pub Date 04 Dec 2018. JosephineBaker’sLastDance #NetGalley

I was excited to read Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones. I had recently discovered that she was not only a performer, but also a spy during World War II and I wanted to learn more about her and especially her work during World War II. The book tells the story of Josephine from her childhood on. Josephine Baker was a very complicated woman who had insecurities and things that happened to her that shaped her life and way of thinking.

I found the beginning of the story about her childhood good and I was looking forward to reading and learning more about Josephine. However, once her childhood story was told the rest of the story went quickly downhill for me. I found the time line very confusing. A story depicting a part of her life would be told but would go back in time to so many different places and times that I was left unsure where and what was really happening. It felt like memories, or wants or ideas, from Josephine’s past were added out of the blue with no hint previously. For example, Josephine desperately wants children. This happens totally out of the blue. Then we are taken back in time to different events in Josephine’s past to explain and show that yes she has always wanted children. This style of writing did not work for me. I felt like it made events random and did nothing to develop her character.

I do not know Josephine Baker and this is the first book I have ever read about her so I did not know much about the kind of person she was. Unfortunately after reading this book I have no desire to learn anything about her. She came across as one of the most selfish people I have ever read. One who cares only for herself and cares nothing for anyone else. It was not fun reading about her at all. I also really struggled with the plot line that Josephine thought everyone wanted to have sex with her and the way she used men. If she was a man her actions would be deplorable. I hold the same standard for women.

As a fan of who Josephine Baker was -- more so as a dancer since I'm a dancer -- I was excited to read this fictional story of her life. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would, but also felt like it dragged a bit with all the attention to detail. The writing was well done. It made me feel as if I was apart of the era Josephine was in and like I was right next to her watching things unfold.

Though this is a fictional story, the book had a biographical movie kind of feel to it. I felt like it gave a good amount of fiction while still meshing well with truth.

osephine was fantastic in this book! Seeing all the things she endured and how she overcame them was inspiring. I love the look at WWII, Germany and France as they were different settings and times from what I usually like to read.

This book does touch on topics such as sexual abuse, racism and poverty so though it is a fun read it does deal with heavy things. Even in-spite of that, this book will pull you and dazzle your mind.

Do I recommend this book? Yes I do. It was a fun read and one I think anyone would enjoy, especially fans of Josephine Baker.

After reading this book I'm inspired to pick up a good biography of Josephine Baker. I'd like to get my own feeling for how closely the book comes to the real deal. Not my usual reading material but worthwhile nonetheless.

I am not a history buff but I do enjoy learning about influential people in our past that made an impact on our world.  Josephine Baker is such a person from her civil rights activism to being a part of the French Resistance...this doesn't even cover her dancing career which made quite a statement for the time period.  I will admit that I had heard her name but really didn't know much about her life so I was glad to be able to read this book and glean a little insight into what made Josephine Baker tick and how she became the woman she was in our history.

Josephine had a tough childhood, one that no one should have to endure.  That being said, I think what she was exposed to made her a tough individual and shaped her as a young woman. She learned to look out for herself but that doesn't mean that she knew what she was doing or what her best interests were at the time.  She was still a teenager when she moved to Paris and started dancing in various shows....nude at that!  Her immaturity was obvious but I wouldn't have expected anything different.  She was still a babe in the woods with much to learn about life and who to trust or not trust.

This is a biography so while the story is well researched there is an element of fiction since some of the conversations are probably assumed or embellished to make for a more interesting read.  I think my favorite parts were the beginning and learning about her childhood (which will break your heart) and the last quarter of the book where we learn more about her role during WWII.  I enjoyed watching her mature as a young woman and perhaps realize that no one is to be trusted except yourself.  I did think that the middle half of the book seemed somewhat repetitive.  Granted it was her dancing career but it felt like Josephine was out of control (and she may have been) and was not looking out for her own best interests.

Overall I enjoyed the book and learning more about this iconic entertainer.  We give it 4 paws up.

Josephine Baker’s Last Dance

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Josephine Baker—actress, singer, dancer, Civil Rights activist, member of the French Resistance during WWII, and a woman dedicated to erasing prejudice and creating a more equitable world.

Josephine's early years in servitude and poverty and abuse beyond imagination in America, her rise to fame as a showgirl in her famous banana skirt, her activism against discrimination, and her many loves and losses. From 1920s Paris to 1960s Washington, to her final, triumphant performance.

As a young girl I had heard bits and pieces of Miss Baker’s life. The scandalous banana skirt and nude performances. All of which were trumped by her speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, I was surprised to learn that Josephine helped and worked for the French Resistance.

I really enjoyed this book although there were parts that became a little tedious to read. Seriously I could have skipped ALL the affairs and just read those most influential to her rise to fame, the book as a whole was a great read.

I received this ARC for free in exchange for my honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you NetGalley!

I love reading historical fiction based on the lives of real people. There is something fascinating about reading events and situations and knowing that someone really experienced it. That's one of the reasons I find historical fiction so compelling as a genre.

In this particular book, we meet Josephine Baker, first as a young child trying to survive in pre-WWII America. We follow her journey of harsh life lessons as she becomes a dancer, singer, resistance member, and activist. By reading this book, you are getting a glimpse of pre and post war society across the globe, and one woman's attempt to change it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the format. The book starts with Josephine giving her farewell show, which is a song and dance story of her life. Josephine narrates each scene of the show, describing the dancers, songs and costumes, then the reader shifts into that portion of her life. It's an extremely compelling way to frame a story, making the reader feel like they are traveling through her memories and back in time. This is an entire book set up as a pensieve (think Harry Potter), but with everyone who reads it having the required memory to use it.

At times the book dragged a little, weighed down by the shear volume of horrific and wonderful events experienced by Ms. Baker. I can see how some people would have wanted further editing to make the book more to the point, but I can also see why the editor refused to cut anything. How do you choose what events are insignificant in shaping a life??? I know I don't want that job.

Overall, this is a wonderful book that taught me so much about the world and its history. I learned about cultural differences I didn't know existed and fell further in love with Paris. If you love historical fiction, you will like this. But more importantly, if you want to read a book about a beautiful, talented, strong, courageous and smart woman, who overcame a harrowing childhood and a world that rejected her very existence, look no further.

Josephine Baker's Last Dance is a fascinating portrait of the life and struggles of Josephine Baker. Whether you are a fan or have even ever heard of Josephine Baker, you will be completely engaged with this well-told biography. Readers will find themselves cheering on the pluck and strength that made Josephine Baker who she was. Don't miss this one!

Josephine Baker is well know for her dancing and singing and wild routines. However, her childhood growing up in Missouri, how she began in show business and her activism during World War II is less known. Josephine's rise to fame was anything but smooth as she endured poverty, racism, and sexual abuse. Through her own fortitude and determination Josephine carved a place out for herself in the entertainment industry and the world.


As a dancer, Josephine Baker is someone I have learned about and idolized. Through this biographical story we are carried through the lesser known ups and downs of Josephine's exciting and controversial life. The opening scene absolutely dazzled me as we are thrown into Josephine's preparations for what would be her last performance. This is a perfect introduction to the person who is a true force of nature and a true performer. This introduction gave just enough hints into Josephine's life to keep me wondering about her life. The elegant writing conveyed the highs and lows of the journey through Josephine's life and the emotions that went alongside of it. I was constantly amazed at how Josephine pulled herself up again and again and continued to add good to the world after all that she went through. Josephine Baker's Last Dance is a whirlwind of an inspirational story of a remarkable woman.


This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Josephine Baker's Last Dance is a combination fiction and non-fiction. The legendary figure is in Paris for her final performance. This one is focused on her life. As each act comes forward, Baker reflects on her life. Her young life is painful, even abusive. As the dance goes on, Josephine Baker gathers her power and becomes a legend.

If you are sensitive to stories of sexual and physical abuse, this is a tough read. Baker's early life was not easy.

Loved reading this fascinating story of the life of Josephine Baker. She was a Iconic woman who went through so much , she endured hate and helped make changes for future generations in her lifetime..

This book stayed with me long after I read it!! Sherry did such an amazing job of bringing to life Josephine Baker. I knew so little about Josephine when I first began reading it. By the end of her book, I was so so happy I got to know her. This book could almost be a history book -- Josephine was a part of American history. Thank you Sherry -- I am so happy you wrote this book!!

Even though I love Old Hollywood, I'm embarrassed to say that I actually didn't know much about Josephine Baker before I read this book! I knew only a tiny handful of things, the main ones being that she was French and danced naked on stage. After reading this novel, though, I'm happy to have learned more about her. Not only that, but now I'm looking forward to looking more into her life and her work.

Biographical novels are tricky because they either skip over a lot of "insignificant" time periods, or they include far too much. I found JBLD to be a mixture of both. In some ways, the seemingly most interesting parts were cut out with the more tedious details drawing the whole reading process out a bit more. For example, when did Josephine's abortion when she was 13 take place? Why was there NOTHING even alluding to it earlier? Also, Josephine's bisexuality was cut out almost entirely? Affairs with women were referred to with very vague, roundabout references, and it would've been nice for the author to include Josephine's process with acknowledging her bisexuality. How many historical fiction books have a main character who's a woman of color and LGBT+? Not many. So the novel seems to take pieces of her life and patch them together willy-nilly without much regard for where the pieces in the puzzle all go.

The book was interesting, but I'm not sure I'd read it again. That being said, I'd recommend it because of the subject herself, Ms. Josephine Baker. What a unique, wonderful woman who was so far ahead of her time in her activism, her work, and her beliefs.

"Tumpy" as she was known was born an illegitimate child in St. Louis, Missouri. We come upon Josephine Baker at the age of 7. A child longing for love, but never getting it from her mother or her step-father, she is often sent out of the house into servitude. The energy that runs through her thin body along with the music that captivated her in those early years, helped her escape the poverty of her youth. What remains from those years is a shadow, the memories of the men who betrayed her sexually, the sexual abuse

But Josephine was meant for greater things and she found her life in the arms of the French, in Paris where they had no problem adoring her. She takes Paris by storm, even though it is her dream to sing, dancing is what she becomes famous for. It is the Roaring Twenties, and Josephine is "roaring" as well. With her lust for life, her lust for men, this is what she has been waiting for. Leaving her husband, Billy Baker, behind she is finally acknowledged as a human being while dancing up a storm. As for the French, her color made no difference to them, she was welcomed.

Yet, Josephine wore many hats....dancer, activist, involved in the French Resistance in WWII, involved in the Civil Rights Movement...the list goes on. In spite of her past, the poverty, the racism, her own loveless family, the sexual abuse, "Tumpy" not only endured the pain, but she rose above it.

Sherry Jones has given us an incredible novel of an incredible woman. As biographical novels go, the research for this book had to be intense. As biographical novels go, you feel you are there as you read the pages, your emotions rise to the surface. There is so much more to reveal about this book, but then it would take much more to tell you...you have to read it yourself. Ms. Jones brought "Tumpy" back to life, brought back a person who in spite of all she went through, an incredible person whose history should be celebrated in the annals of American celebrity, American life. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I will end my review with a quote:

"I have walked into the palaces of kings and queens and into the houses of presidents. And much more. But I could not walk into a hotel in America and get a cup of coffee, and that made me mad. And when I get mad, you know that I open my big mouth. And then look out, 'cause when Josephine opens her mouth, they hear it all over the world ..*

How sad is that?



*Wikipedia

Boy! Josephine Baker was a unique and tough lady. She suffered an abusive mother and there were many nights she was not sure exactly where she would be laying her head. With her rough start in this world, she still became a famous singer/dancer, a civil rights activist and a spy.

Parts of this story are difficult to read, especially at the beginning of her life. Josephine was raised in St. Louis by an abusive mother who threw her out of their home at the age of 13. This lead her to spend the night with an older man…her boss! As a matter of fact, Josephine was extremely promiscuous. There were many sexual partners throughout her life, some because it would help her career and some….just because.

This is a well researched read. However, I felt disconnected from Josephine. There are many parts in this tale I felt needed expounding on and there are places that are rushed. I expected more out of the spy era. Also, the conversations do not seem exactly right. Not sure what is missing.

But, this is a good read about an amazing lady! I love a book which teaches me a thing or two! This one definitely achieved that!

I received this novel from Gallery Books for a honest review.

Josephine Baker was one of 20th century’s most legendary performers. She was a woman who overcame the obstacles of racism and became famous and successful. She was a dancer, singer, actress, WWII spy, and Civil Rights Activist. Her story has inspired millions. Josephine Baker's Last Dance chronicles the accomplishments as well as the hardships that Josephine experienced until her very last performance. The novel shows that Josephine’s greatest love was to sing, dance, and entertain.

Josephine Baker has always been an enigma to me. Her story has always been fascinating, but she always seemed distant and unknowable. In Josephine Baker's Last Dance, Josephine is no longer just a two-dimensional woman on the screen, but a real flesh and blood woman. This novel portrays Josephine’s hopes, flaws, and vulnerabilities. During Josephine’s childhood, there seemed to be very little hope of Josephine ever becoming a star. She grew up in a poor and abusive household in St. Louis, Missouri. However, through Josephine’s passion and determination, she was able to find wealth and fame. Throughout her life, Josephine struggled with racism. However, she never let people’s prejudices affect her. She then became a Civil Rights activist and tirelessly fought for their rights.

Overall, this novel is about a woman who overcame racism, poverty, war, and domestic abuse to become a legendary star. The message of the novel is to never give up on your dreams and always work hard. The characters are very flawed and realistic. The setting was very authentic. I love how the author shows the glitz and glamour Paris before WWII and its destruction after the war. The writing was very lyrical, steeped with eloquent descriptions of dance and music. There were some graphic scenes and some that feature abuse that made me a bit uncomfortable. However, I thought that they were necessary because they made Josephine fight harder to pursue her dreams. Josephine Baker's Last Dance is a novel about a woman who would not be stopped on her path to stardom. This novel is perfect for fans of Mademoiselle Chanel, Z, and Platinum Doll.

I had really high expectations for this book, and it fell very short. Josephine Baker led a tremendous life, full of danger and adventure. You would hardly know it from the way her life was presented in this novel.
The book attempted to give equal attention to all of her life and it made the action drag. Her childhood and time prior to moving to France could have been greatly reduced without losing any important experiences.
I would have loved to have seen a greater focus on her work for France during World War II. Her work for the Red Cross was glossed over as were the performances she gave for the troops.
Her civil rights work in the United States was fascinating and the pacing in that section of the book was good.
Josephine Baker was larger than life and that is difficult to capture in print.