Saving Ruby King, Catherine Adel West
Saving Ruby King, Catherine Adel West
3 Rating(s)
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

Saving Ruby King
A Novel

Author: Catherine Adel West

Narrator: Kim Staunton, Imani Parks, Ron Butler, Adam Lazarre-White, Lloyd Roberson II, Terra Strong Lyons

Unabridged: 10 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 06/16/2020


Synopsis

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2020 by Ms. Magazine, USA Today Book Riot, The Rumpus, Library Journal, PureWow, The Every Girl, Parade and more.

“Forever and to the end. That’s what they say instead of I love you.”

When Ruby King’s mother is found murdered in their home in Chicago’s South Side, the police dismiss it as another act of violence in a black neighborhood. But for Ruby, it’s a devastating loss that leaves her on her own with her violent father. While she receives many condolences, her best friend, Layla, is the only one who understands how this puts Ruby in jeopardy.

Their closeness is tested when Layla’s father, the pastor of their church, demands that Layla stay away. But what is the price for turning a blind eye? In a relentless quest to save Ruby, Layla uncovers the murky loyalties and dangerous secrets that have bound their families together for generations. Only by facing this legacy of trauma head-on will Ruby be able to break free.

An unforgettable debut novel, Saving Ruby King is a powerful testament that history doesn’t determine the present and the bonds of friendship can forever shape the future.

About Catherine Adel West

Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, where she currently resides. She graduated with both her bachelor's and master's of science in journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her work is published in Black Fox Literary Magazine, Five2One, and Better Than Starbucks, among many others. She is the author of Saving Ruby King and The Two Lives of Sara is her sophomore novel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Chelsea

Saving Ruby King is an engrossing, authentic, and timely interpretation of a journey in the African American community in Chicago. While this is a fictional tale, the author has stated that she inserted much of her own experience into this book, as she is both black and the daughter of a pastor, bor......more

3 stars. Thought-provoking and timely. An intimate look into a young black girls’ life torn apart by the violent murder of her mother. Left to live with her abusive father, Ruby is devastated by her mother’s death and searching for answers. Long hidden family secrets surface as Ruby’s best friend, La......more

Saving Ruby King is as brilliant, well-written, powerful, and engaging as everyone has said. Layla could not have been a better, more loyal and supportive friend to Ruby. The complex dynamics of domestic abuse are navigated with extreme care and attention. The community itself has a voice via the chu......more