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Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom
Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her psychotic mother, Camille-the tiara-toting, lipstick-smeared laughingstock of an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago … an entire town-a woman trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen. But when Camille is hit by a truck and killed, CeeCee is left to fend for herself. To the rescue comes her previously unknown great-aunt, Tootie Caldwell.
In her vintage Packard convertible, Tootie whisks CeeCee away to Savannah’s perfumed world of prosperity and Southern eccentricity, a world that seems to be run entirely by women. From the exotic Miz Thelma Rae Goodpepper, who bathes in her backyard bathtub and uses garden slugs as her secret weapons, to Tootie’s all-knowing housekeeper, Oletta Jones, to Violene Hobbs, who entertains a local police officer in her canary-yellow peignoir, the women of Gaston Street keep CeeCee entertained and enthralled for an entire summer.
Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply touching, Beth Hoffman’s sparkling debut is, as Kristin Hannah says, “packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, and good old-fashioned heart.” It is a novel that explores the indomitable strengths of female friendship and gives us the story of a young girl who loses one mother and finds many others.
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Nice and entertaining. Easy to read.
A nice piece of fluff
Very well written story of a young girl growing up caring for her mentally unstable mother. When her mom dies, she goes to live with a distant relative and meets a fascinating community of women who come to love and care for her. A very touching, sweet and funny story. Definitely worth reading!
I found this book to be engaging and the characters were so endearing That you found yourself sorry when it was over.
Very well written and excellent characters. I loved the descriptions of the south. Such a great story!
Just lovely read.
I loved the characters and their positive way of getting through the difficult situations in their lives. A very uplifting read.
One of the best books I have ever read!
Really enjoyed this book, it was well written and kept me engaged
Filled with enjoyable characters who vibrantly come to life. It tugs at your heartstrings and triumphs.
halmark read
Good book and an easy read!
Delightful book. Sometimes sad, many times funny, it’s a book with memorable characters, full of southern charm, wisdom, friendship and love. A book for all ages, in my opinion.
I didn’t want it to end!
I LOVED this book! The most enjoyable fiction book I’ve read in months. A bit hard in the early chapters, but the characters were so well written, so endearing…when the story took off, I couldn’t put the book down! Read straight through the night. Fortunately i didn’t have to wake up early the next morning. I read it so fast___i almost want to read it again a little slower. I hated for it to end. I would love to follow the young character a bit longer. Such promise! I immediately ordered the authors next book. >sigh< Don’t you just hate for the good ones to end?
I listened to this on Audible and fell in love with CeeCee. Charming and heartwarming.
Wonderful book about the South and the love of families and friends! I loved it!
Great. Book! Very interesting characters! Good humor as well as serious content!
A lovely read. True journey in the South I grow up. There are so many Southern traditions that have gone on for generations, that are captured in this novel. An enjoyable read I won’t soon forget.
I enjoyed this book with the quirky southern characters. CeeCee is most definitely saved and along the way she saves so many others. This was a charming read.