Synopsis
What if your search to discover your roots unearthed a secret buried for over sixty years—one that would not only rewrite your family’s story forever, but shatter the heart of someone closest to you?
At just twenty-two, Sharon Beth embarked on a journey to learn about her family’s heritage. Over time, she became the family’s historian, carefully documenting generations of stories, photographs, and shared memories.
Then, seventeen years later, a DNA test revealed a shocking truth that left Sharon questioning all she thought she’d known, and she was faced with one of the toughest decisions of her life: to reveal the truth and risk upending the life of someone dear to her, or keep this secret to herself?
This raw and honest narrative follows Sharon’s journey to uncover the truth and discover a family she’s never met. Through tales of love across social and religious divides, Autumn Leaves takes readers from the 1950s tenements of New York’s Lower East Side to a glittering hotel in Connecticut and the world of burlesque, and on to present-day California—all woven together by a diamond necklace and a haunting song of lament.
For fans of Margo Reilly’s When You Shake the Family Tree and Inheritance by Dani Shapiro, Autumn Leaves is a testament to the power of faith, love, and forgiveness, which heals the hardest truths.
Praise for Autumn Leaves
“A compelling story about self-discovery.”
“This is a true story that explores themes of love, family, acceptance and resilience through the lens of DNA discovery. It highlights how the power of forgiveness can transform a person.”
“It’s so well-written and flowed so perfectly. This deep dive into Ancestry DNA results and its clarifying impact on a family’s hidden history is a testament to Sharon’s love, respect and honor of her fascinating forebears and of family found.”
