I so wanted to love this histfic story of Ella Fitzgerald's life, as her voice is my favorite ever. Yet I found the cheerful cover and NG book blurb to be misleading: "Ella takes us from the brothels, speakeasys, and streets of Depression-era New York City to the grand hotel suites where Ella, now older and wiser, looks back on her life and finally confronts the demons from childhood that torment her."

The majority of the book focuses on the horrific two years after Ella's mother dies when the singer was 15. Only a brief epilogue covers her life review upon reaching fame.

I had hoped for a more balanced view, but came away traumatized. Should come with a CW: emotional and physical abuse, near rape, gun violence, torture (while Ella was incarcerated), homelessness, alcoholism.

Will not publish this review elsewhere so readers can decide for themselves.

Thanks to the publisher and NG for the ARC. Opinions are mine.