The Book in Room 316

June 1, 2018
In best-selling Billingsley's (Seeking Sarah, 2017) new novel, four lives are linked by a room in Houston's Markham Hotel. TV reporter Savannah Graham escapes there when she finds out her husband had an affair. Savannah meets Anna Rodriguez, a housekeeper at the hotel, who helps her gain new perspective and accept her husband's apology. Anna later needs Savannah's help when she gets in trouble with immigration authorities. Room 316 is also where mourning widower Ollie Moss goes when he is ready for his life to be over, but an unexpected sign changes his mind. Trey, a 19-year-old, wants to escape the neighborhood gangs, and he'll need help from Anna's and Savannah's husbands to do it. This novel addresses serious topics?adultery, undocumented immigration, gang violence, and fostering?with a light touch, as Billingsley imagines a sanctuary filled with the power of hope. The diverse characters and heartwarming outcomes will please readers who love Billingsley's poignant novels about African American life and faith.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)