Majestic Hills - a thought-provoking social commentary.

Josephine Taylor Blaque and Dr. Langdon Blaque are a happily married Black couple residing in a high-rise condo in Chicago. Langdon, an ER doctor, feels overwhelmed by the violence he encounters at work and wants to relocate to the suburbs. Josephine, an attorney, is reluctant but agrees to try living in the upscale community of Majestic Hills for a one-year trial. They are hopeful that the move to the predominantly white neighborhood will be a positive one. Initially, they receive a warm welcome, but over time, the Blaques begin to feel that this may not be the ideal place for them as warning signs start to appear. Adjacent to their community is the Grand Vistas trailer park, emphasizing the stark class differences. Josephine becomes acquainted with Lonnie Alexander, a Black woman who had married into the area's wealthiest white family. Now widowed, Lonnie advises Josephine to leave while she can. Her 16-year-old son, Wade, has opted to live in one of the nearby trailer homes rather than the family mansion and speaks out against gentrification, as plans are underway to replace Grand Vistas with luxury homes. Following an incident in the neighborhood, tensions escalate.

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner is a thought-provoking social commentary with no easy answers. The author addresses serious issues about race and class as well as dynamics in a marriage.

Many thanks to Scribner for providing a gifted advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary Fiction.

Publication Date: August 4, 2026.

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