With Love from Harlem: A Novel of Hazel Scott

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

"Tate blends fact and fiction with elegance...A captivating, emotionally resonant portrait of a singular woman who refused to be diminished." — LIBRARY JOURNAL

"Tate has a rare gift for storytelling that strikes straight to the heart." — SADEQA JOHNSON, New York Times bestselling author of Keeper of Lost Children

From The Queen of Sugar Hill author ReShonda Tate—a new novel inspired by beloved Harlem jazz performer Hazel Scott and the equal parts exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changed the course of her life.

Harlem, 1943. At just twenty-three, Hazel Scott is a woman on fire. A jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, and a fierce advocate for civil rights, she’s breaking barriers and refusing to play by the rules. Then Adam Clayton Powell Jr. walks into her life. Harlem’s most electrifying preacher-turned-politician, Adam is as bold and unyielding as Hazel—charismatic, powerful…and married.

This kicks off a decades-long relationship that propels them into the center of a political and cultural revolution. As Hazel’s star rises, Adam takes the national stage in Congress and the couple becomes the toast of the country. But when their affair turns into a marriage, behind the glamorous façade is a battlefield of ego, ambition, and sacrifice. Forced to choose between her music and her family, Hazel must decide what she’s willing to lose—and what she refuses to give up.

Set against the pulsing backdrop of twentieth-century Harlem and featuring icons like Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin, With Love from Harlem is a sweeping, emotionally charged romantic drama, rich with historical detail. ReShonda Tate delivers a powerful portrait of love, art, and the price of being unforgettable.

"[A] vivid and compelling picture of the life of this singular woman." — MARIE BENEDICT, New York Times bestselling author of The Queens of Crime

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Published Jan 27, 2026

Average rating: 8.14

42 RATINGS

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Readers say *With Love from Harlem* vividly brings Hazel Scott and the Harlem Renaissance to life, with many praising the rich historical detail, well...

Jah D.
Apr 01, 2026
3/10 stars
I am a big historical fiction fan, but this missed the mark for me. I enjoyed learning about Hazel Scott’s brilliance, activism and legacy, but the storyline fell flat for me. A lot of attention was on Billie Holiday’s narrative, but it would have been great to read it from Billie’s lens throughout the book. The supporting characters, while iconic, felt thrown in without much relevance. I did appreciate the reimagining of Hazel’s quest to connect with her Trinidadian roots. We don’t see this angle taken in Harlem Renaissance/post-Harlem Renaissance literature.
Vid
Mar 27, 2026
4/10 stars
With Love, From Harlem didn’t work for me. It read like loosely connected scenes rather than a full story, and Hazel never felt consistently developed. Her personality shifted from confident to passive without clear motivation. The narrative also seemed more invested in Adam than in Hazel herself, which left her arc feeling thin.
Lonina
Mar 19, 2026
Immersive read with superb narration that kept me fully engaged over the course of two days.
Trouble
Mar 08, 2026
7/10 stars
Really enjoyed this book.
Booked💓💚
Feb 12, 2026
10/10 stars
This was an interesting read. I’d never heard of Hazel Scott. A golden nugget indeed! The Harlem Renaissance was a captivating period of history and Ms. Tate delivered an amazing tribute to this era. Kudos 👏🏾

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