With Love from Harlem: A Novel of Hazel Scott

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 👏🏾

🎹“𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐥, 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐝y.” 🎹 Harlem was one of my final reads of 2025, but it absolutely earned its spot as my top read. Picture this: Hazel Scott — Black pianist, film and TV star, brilliant vocalist, and all-around force of to be reckoned with, with fabulosity dripping from her pores. 🎹✨ Hazel meets a charming Black congressman and preacher and quickly finds herself swept into a passionate, complicated love affair… because Mr. Adams happens to be married to another woman. Set during the Harlem Renaissance era and spanning from vibrant New York to glamorous Paris, this story is nothing short of marvelous dah’ling. ✨ Before reading this novel, I had never even heard of Hazel Scott, unfortunately. What was going on in the 1940s that produced so many extramarital affairs? Was it the lure of fame? The pursuit of power through proximity? Either way, the emotional tension was palpable. The whirlwind relationship between Hazel and Adam was deeply engaging, especially as both were fighting for Black advancement in very different ways. It was fascinating — and frustrating — to watch Adam suggest that Hazel’s voice wasn’t “as loud” or as valuable as that of men with formal political power, while Hazel stood firm in her belief in “rooting for everybody Black” and making sure everyone had a seat at the table. Watching their relationship evolve under the weight of ambition, public scrutiny, and personal sacrifice was captivating. And I absolutely loved the inclusion of Billie Holiday as Hazel’s close friend and confidante — such a beautiful and grounding touch. Beyond the romance, Hazel herself was bold, sharp, and deeply principled. I loved how she used her fame and platform to advocate for dignity, opportunity, and respect for all. She paved the way for future generations — and I couldn’t help but see echoes of her performances playing dual pianos simultaneously in artists like Alicia Keys. I am so grateful to authors who continue to bring the stories of trailblazing, often hidden figures to life, allowing their legacies to live on. This is, without question, my favorite historical fiction read to date. This story was exceptional, and my book chat with @adannaplansandreads and @islandgirlreads only made the experience even better. And, another BR with the @thelitcirclebookclub! I can’t wait to see all the reviews on this book all over booksta. 🤎📚

Review: Wow. I just felt like I been on a worldwide tour with some of the greatest music legends ever. ReShonda Tate mentioned that she used her imagination for some parts. Definitely well written to make it feel so real. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook version of this book. The narrator really made you feel like you was right there in the audience with others. Thank you Ms. Tate for introducing us to Hazel Scott. Her highs and her lows of relationships. Her grief and struggles. But this quote I feel sums it all up. "I've loved. I've lost. And Im better for it. What matters now is that I've learned to love myself" SN: I loved that author added at end telling us what was fiction or not. Surprisingly how gaps were filled but still gave us a wonderful story of black history.

I love a good historical fiction piece, and With Love From Harlem was right up my alley. This was my first time hearing about Hazel Scott, after some further digging I learned a lot about her life and the great accomplishments she achieved. The author did a great job painting the scenes of the time, describing the clothes, and the rest of the supporting cast. Speaking of the supporting cast it was entertaining reading how Hazel interacted and knew so many different people. Her former husband, who loved Harlem and Harlem loved him back was a handful. Every chapter I kept thinking “has she had enough?” I enjoyed hearing about Billie Holiday, I did know about, but I definitely learned so much more. Reading about James Baldwin and Josephine Schuyler took me on another google deep dive to read more about their lives as well. The novel had all the feels, in some chapters you felt love and happiness, while in others you could feel the cold and bitterness of the characters and their internal and external battles. It was a shame all some of them wanted was to be treated equal and share their gifts, but they were labeled communist and blacklisted. I would recommend this to anyone who loves artist from the Harlem Renaissance Era.