More to Life

August 19, 2019
Billingsley (My Brother’s Keeper) brings an honest voice to this thoughtful story of a middle-aged woman seeking her purpose in life. Forty-five-year-old Houstonian Aja Clayton, who looks “like a young Whitney Houston,” has the ideal husband, two children in college, and close friends—but a disturbing feeling has been nagging her. Why does she feel unhappy? Has she given up her own life to care for her family and focus on her job as a social worker? Her true passion—painting—has been abandoned for those other priorities, and after what began as a girls’ trip to the Dominican Republic, Aja decides to extend her stay alone. Previously unrecognized reasons for her discontent are gradually uncovered, including subconsciously grieving her losses after a childhood that was riddled with horrific abuse from her alcoholic father. Conversations with fellow painter Jewel inspire Aja to find her path, and she returns home to Houston to restart her life—one she will make her own. The genuine feel of the narrator’s voice and surprising twists speed the reading of this page-turner. The story of struggling for meaning in an otherwise wonderful life will resonate with anyone who ponders questions of true contentment.

September 1, 2019

At age 45, Aja James has built a life far different from her childhood. Her painful past filled with abuse and loss led her to a career in social work and to solid Charles, her loving and wealthy husband. They also have two talented kids in college and a gorgeous house, yet Aja feels discontent. She's devoted decades to caring for her family, and in return they brush off her passion for painting as a hobby and constantly demand her help. Even Aja's birthday trip to the Dominican Republic with her best friends doesn't lift her spirits. Instead, she stuns everyone by extending her trip so she can focus on sorting out what she wants. Summoning all her courage, Aja returns home to Texas determined to change her life and pursue her dream of opening an art gallery. Then a devastating accident derails her plans, and ultimately she'll have to decide if this is merely a temporary detour from her goals or if she's meant to return to her former life. VERDICT NAACP Award-winning Billingsley returns to the characters of her 2003 debut, My Brother's Keeper, with this engaging and relatable story of one woman's midlife realization that it's never too late to live your best life.--Melissa DeWild, Comstock Park, MI

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2019
Social worker Aja James is celebrating her forty-fifth birthday in the Dominican Republic with her three best friends when she realizes she has been living her life for others. First, for her siblings after tragedy took their parents; then, she spent her time and energy helping her husband and children; and now she is burned out from her job. Out of touch with herself, she decides to stay at the resort on her own for another week. She rediscovers drawing and painting, and resolves to make big changes when she returns. She persists against everyone's objections, and is starting to find happiness when a terrible accident derails her. Determination helps her find her way back. Though this is a sequel to My Brother's Keeper (2003), Aja's story is fresh and new for today's female readers, who will understand putting yourself aside for family or work obligations. Billingsley expertly shows Aja's struggle as well as her faults in this provocative second-chance fiction. Fans of Mary Kay Andrews and Terry McMillan may also enjoy this.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)