What a detailed, powerful and tender story of a time period in our history that is uncomfortable to discuss. Told with grace and honesty. A most wonderful read of tribulation of triumph.

This is a well-researched tale that dives into the life of Hattie McDaniel that we didn't know. Tate has done an excellent job of sharing Hattie's world with us in an enjoyable read.

Quick and Dirty
-linear timeline
-steeped in Classic Hollywood history
-BIPOC author & cast of characters
-lots of great civil rights history

What Worked
I am a huge Classic Hollywood fan, so this book appealed to me for that reason primarily. I loved all the movie and movie star references, as well as the Los Angeles/Hollywood locales. Hattie McDaniel was a true trailblazer, and Tate does a GREAT job capturing that in the novel. Not only do we get to hear about Hattie’s successes, but we also learn about the many obstacles and letdowns she experienced in her career and her civil rights work. The cast of characters is diverse, driving home the reality that Hollywood was much more diverse in that era than what we saw on the screen (sadly). Learning more about how Hattie fought to break down barriers and build a foundation on which future generations of Black actors could build was really informative and engaging.

What Didn’t Work
Sadly, the romance aspects of this book did not work for me. It’s not that I didn’t want to see Hattie happy and in love. What I struggled with was the repetition of the storylines. Hattie made some poor judgment calls with men (who hasn’t?!?), which I don’t judge her for. But by the third time the cycle repeated, I had grown frustrated with that aspect of the story. Overall, I’m not sure it added to the plot, but I see how it added complexity to the character. I personally just struggled with it. Maybe that’s a ME thing?

Read This If
Anyone looking to dive deeper into the truth of life during the Classic Hollywood/big production houses era will likely enjoy this book!

Similar Reads
In content: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (kinda)
In writing style: The House of Eve

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This is a fictionalized version of Hattie McDaniel's story. While I found it to be engaging and interesting, I did wish that it felt more personal. Hattie could have been any other character. While the story was there and I enjoyed it, I wanted it to feel more...something. There are some stories where the character jumps off the page and feels as though they're speaking to you and with this being about a real person, I wanted that same connection and I didn't get it.

All that said, this is in no way a bad book and I would read it again. I enjoyed it.

This was the first ReShonda Tate book I've read, but I'll be watching for others. She has a great storytelling skill and I love the story of why she was drawn to writing this book.

This is an historical fiction about Hattie McDaniels' life. Hattie was the first black female to win an Academy Award for her role of Mammy in Gone With the Wind. I really enjoyed getting to know more about Hattie than just as "Mammy". I thought her relationship with Clark Gable was awesome and liked learning more about them. I felt her pain while trying to further herself and being denied at each turn - and judged by both black and white sides. She had amazing friends, a terribly interesting life and kept true to herself the whole time. Very enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

This story is a must read! The author did a fantastic job telling us about the life of the first black woman to win an Academy Award. There was so much more to Hattie McDaniel than her role in Gone With The Wind role. As POC already know, being talented does not open the door to automatic acceptance, wealth and love; and neither does winning an Academy Award. McDaniel life had a life filled with colorism, racism, relationship woes, unsavory characters, and never-ending heartache. Even after winning an Academy Award, she still had difficulty finding meaningful work in and out of the industry. Her personal life was a gut-wrenching mess. With determination and raw grit, she persevered through all her difficulties and is today rightly credited with paving the way for other Black actors.

The story flowed well, held my interest, and I finished in two days. My heart broke for McDaniel while reading and I shed a tear or two for her. It boggles my mind that even today we are still seeing the same (mis)treatment of Black entertainers, it's just wrapped-up in prettier disguises. The difference today is our Black entertainers "are not our ancestors" and are punching back.

The author's research shines in the story=telling. If you enjoy historical books, and especially historicals about the lives of Black folks during that time, read this book; you will not be disappointed.

I loved reading about Mc Daniel’s life and struggles in Hollywood during the time period and her struggles but I found the writing somewhat staid and felt the middle of the book drug on but overall a good book

Really loved this book. Well written book about beloved actress Hattie McDaniel. Interesting to read about her life and the struggles she had to endure before and after winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar .

Recently, I came across a deeply moving story that I believe you would find intriguing. It is about a woman whose life unfolded unexpectedly, a woman who chose to live life on her terms, regardless of what others thought.

The story revolves around Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an Oscar for her role in "Gone With The Wind". While one might expect such an achievement to propel one's career, Hattie's journey took a different turn. Her award seemed to open the floodgates for criticism of all aspects of her life - from her craft and character to her physical appearance and skin color. But Hattie was more than just an entertainer, she was a beacon of hope for her people and left a legacy that continues to inspire today.

The author's deep understanding of Hattie's life choices is well-reflected in the narrative. She intricately uncovers the layers of Hattie's life, providing an insightful look into a significant historical period, and reminding us of the inherent strength and resilience of the human spirit.

ReShonda Tate's eloquent storytelling makes it an enjoyable read and sparks enlightening discussions and celebrations. I recommend Queen of Sugar Hill for your reading pleasure, and it will complement any bookshelf.

Dive into this inspiring story, you will not be disappointed. It is a journey worth embarking on.

This Biographical - Historical Fiction is about Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Academy. Once winning the Oscar, Hattie McDaniel thought that her acting career would take-off, but shortly she learned that the very award that heightened her notoriety was the same award that was the catalyst to a lot of struggle, pain, and trauma. Though being a recipient of this award was a major accomplishment, her elation was short lived. Ms. McDaniel quickly realized that winning the Oscar caused much unrest in Hollywood as it related to Black actors, caused strife in her community, and adversely collided with her relational life.

Ms. McDaniels talent and experience did not preclude her from the onslaught of hatred, racism, colorism and layers of abuse. She endured so much in her life, but like many Black women who've given their all to relationships, careers, to life, whether deciding to fight or acquiesce, Hattie McDaniel's life included never-ending struggle, pain and trauma. Through all of this, I still saw a woman of strength, courage and triumph!!!

This book was the epitome of a well written historical-biographical piece of fiction. The author, with fidelity thoroughly researched McDaniel's life which brought the characters to life. Many times I found myself clutching my pearls, yelling at characters, throwing the book across the room- because I was mad, and simply walked away from the pages for days.

After collecting myself, and experiencing raw emotions learning about the life of Ms. Hattie McDaniels, this book was so well written and is a MUST read. This book will likely be one of my top reads by the end of 2024!

Netgalley, William Morrow (Harpers Collins Publishing) and Ms. ReShonda Tate thank you so very much for providing me with this ARC, for my honest review. I love this book so much and am grateful to have read it and to provide my honest thoughts.

Great job Ms. ReShonda Tate - very well captured and written.

Wow. Such a compelling story. I felt so bad for Ms. Hattie and had to remind myself that because of the time period, so that's how some things happened during that time. This one definitely kept me up at all hours of the night so that I could finish. Even though I read an advanced copy, I have already gotten several copies to keep for my library and will probably get more to give away as gifts. That is how much I really enjoyed this book. It was so fascinating and enjoyable, and I just can't get enough

The Queen of Sugar Hill is the story of Hattie McDaniel. She is the actress who played Mammy in Gone With The Wind and won the Oscar for that role. This novel goes into the aftermath of her win and how it affected her career and personal life. She did have many ups and downs, both personally and professionally. However, she did have many close lifelong friends. Among her friends was Clark Gable, who was a fierce defender of Hattie and her rights.

I really enjoyed this book, since Gone With The Wind is one of my favorite movies and I adore Old Hollywood history. It is a very well-researched book. In any case,if you read the Historical Note at the end of the novel,you’ll see that the author took some liberties with the dates and events in order to help the novel flow. This is the story of the life of a fearless and influential actress who paved the way for other great actors to follow. Don’t miss out on reading this beautiful book. My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

It feels like a gift when a book draws me to a place, a person, a perspective, or a point in time that I never knew was there. It's like surprise - this thing over here that you never thought to think about - well, it's actually interesting and will enrich your understanding of the world.

This book - did that - for me.

Hattie's story is inspiring in its own right, but also feels like the perfect vehicle for discussions of racism, sexism, and fame. It has a lot to say about typecasting, and also what I can only describe as 1940's cancel culture? Throw in a backdrop of old Hollywood, and Clark Gable, and it becomes equal parts fun and thought provoking. Hattie endures many challenges, both infuriating and sad, but it's more than a story of struggle. It's a story of a talented artist, a beloved friend, and a person who made a difference just by being herself.

The Queen of Sugar Hill is a well-researched and engaging historical fiction book. From the author’s note at the end you can see the thought that went into incorporating real life events and applying that to a fiction story. The book provides a glimpse into the life and struggles of Hattie McDaniel, the first Black person to win an Oscar for her iconic role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind but also delves into the unforeseen hardships she encountered after making history with that win. Tate skillfully navigates the complexities of Hattie's personality, offering a deep dive into her character and illuminating the adversity she faced not just in her career but also in a society divided along racial lines.

While the pace was slow at times, this approach of history and fiction allows readers to connect with Hattie's journey, understanding her resilience and determination and leaves the reader with a wealth of knowledge about Hattie and Hollywood during this time period while providing an entertaining fictional read.

Thank you to William Morrow and Book Club Girl Early Reads program for the advanced reader copy of this book.

This novel based on the life of Hattie McDaniel was a great look into the life of a the first black actress to win an academy award.

The storytelling was compelling and although I didn’t always like Hattie, she was a believable and nuanced character, which really made her come to life. I thought the book explored in such a thoughtful way what it would be like to be a Black actor in the 1930s and 40s when the only roles being offered them were those of simple-minded maids and servants, often insulting caricatures of Black people. Hattie faced much criticism for accepting these roles, but the book explores how from her perspective, that was the only way for her to make a living as an actor at the time. The way the book explored this issue was thought-provoking and I learned a lot about the injustices of Hollywood’s history.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in old Hollywood and the history of Black Americans in the industry.

I am speechless. How do you put into words what this work of fiction means? I have read several books by ReShonda Tate and I must say this is her best work yet. Queen of Sugar Hill is completely different from what I’m used to reading from this author and it is definitely next level.

ReShonda took us on a much needed journey into the life of Hattie McDaniel. Until this book I never really thought about what Ms. McDaniel would have gone through as a black actor and as a woman. This telling of her story was tastefully done and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for this ARC. All opinions in this review are completely my own.

This was a book about Hattie McDaniel, whose most famous role was as Mammy in Gone With the Wind. Especially for the first half of the book, it felt more like a memoir than a novel. As the novel progressed, there was a focus on the difficulties she had with Hollywood, as a Black actress in getting meaningful roles in contrast to white actresses and with the NAACP and Black activists who were giving her grief about playing the roles that were offered to her. There was also an increasing focus on her personal problems, with her husbands who had difficulty coping with her fame and some of whom were taking advantage of that fame.
I like memoirs so I did not mind the feel of that, although I think in the first half, there were perhaps too much detail. Otherwise, I learned a good deal about Hattie McDaniel as well as some of the people she was friends with (I did not know that she was so close to Clark Gable). It was an enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hattie McDaniel will always have a special place in history as the first Black person to ever receive an Academy Award. While some may balk at the role she played, it was a huge stepping stone for the Black community as a while in terms of (a little) acceptance in the acting world. This historical fiction book takes a look at Ms. McDaniel's life after her monumental win and all of the barriers she continued to push through. I commend Ms. McDaniel's strength, courage and tenacity in the face of racism, sexism, hate and overall ugliness. She is a true hero and I highly recommend this book as an look in to the life of an interesting woman.

Hattie McDaniel wins Best Supporting Oscar for her portrayal of Mamie in Gone with the Wind. She thinks this historic win will open new doors for her in acting and in her Hollywood community. But her life is not that easy.

I loved the premise of this book. I love GWTW and have always found McDaniel very interesting so I was excited to read more about her. However, this was a good premise book with a very boring execution. The beginning was engaging and I liked her relationship with her friends and Clark Gable. Unfortunately, I found the writing pretty dry and the middle really drug on. It concluded well, but it felt like work to read this. So, I had mixed results with this book but liked some of it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

This book was so very good. It reads like an autobiography even though this talented author states that she took some liberties with dates and scenarios. Even with this being noted, it takes nothing away from the book. Hattie McDaniel was a strong woman who dealt with a lot in her life. But she never gave up. She kept her smile and her wisdom. Anyone that wants an intriguing read about this fascinating woman, look no further. Get this book and lose yourself in this captivating woman. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book. Receiving the book in this manner had no bearing on my thoughts.