On the Rooftop

by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton

First published 2022

Vivian has raised her three daughters to sing together since childhood. Ruth, Esther and Chloe form The Salvations, San Francisco's most popular jazz ensemble. Their mother drives them relentlessly, convinced that fame and fortune wait just around the corner. She books them regular performances at the Champagne Supper Club and schedules grueling practice sessions on their building's rooftop. When a prominent talent manager approaches the group with a career-changing opportunity, Vivian sees her dreams materializing. The sisters, however, begin questioning whether their mother's vision matches their own desires. As they mature into young women, Ruth, Esther and Chloe start imagining lives that extend beyond Vivian's control and expectations. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Jazz Era San Francisco, the story follows a family where artistic ambition collides with personal freedom, and three sisters must choose between their mother's dreams and their own paths forward.

Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, music, 21st-century, family-drama

Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: family-secrets, found-family

Setting: Champagne Supper Club, San Francisco

Period: Jazz Era

317 pages · Kindle Edition · Magpie

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