I Wish I Had a Red Dress

A New York Times–bestselling author “captures . . . the romantic tensions between . . . black adults as she weaves contemporary issues into a love story” (Booklist).

Since Joyce Mitchell was widowed five years ago, she’s kept herself occupied by running the Sewing Circus, an all-girl group she founded to provide badly needed services to young women at risk, many of whom are single mothers. But some nights, home alone, she has to admit that something is missing. And soon she may not even have the Sewing Circus to fill up her life, as the state legislature has decided not to fund the group.

Feeling defeated and pessimistic, Joyce reluctantly agrees to dinner at the home of her best friend, Sister, and finds not only a perfect meal but a tall, dark stranger named Nate Anderson. His unexpected presence touches a chord in Joyce that she thought her heart had forgotten how to play.

Suddenly, Joyce feels ready to grab a sexy red dress and the life that goes with it . . . if she can keep her girls safe from the forces—useless boyfriends and government agencies—against them.

“Inspirational, idealistic and spiritual.” —Publishers Weekly

“Cleage captures the struggles, tensions, and “cosmic confusion” of the war between the sexes in her fictional African American community.” —Library Journal