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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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I listened to the audio version of this — Jenna Lamia is one of the BEST narrators, especially of young characters. I highly recommend this book!
Such a great coming of age book and more – I loved how CeeCee’s life changed thanks to all of the wonderful women she was exposed to during the summer she spent with her Aunt.
Loved it
Wonderful book and insight into some of the challenges and perspectives of a 13 yo girl. I found it to be a charming and delightful read about an earlier, gentler time and the importance and impact of kindness in a child’ life. Good for any parent, grandparent, teacher or teen.
I truly enjoyed this book and I was not ready for it to end. The characters were richly depicted and the story itself was lush with description with a Southern flair. Great book. Read it today.
This is a very good book about Cee Cee Honeycutt growing up with a mother who is severely mentally ill and a father who is never around. Finally her mother is hit by a car and killed. Her great Aunt Tootie comes to take her home to Savannah where Cee Cee can finally be taken care of instead of being the caretaker. Wonderful characters and fun to see her bloom.
Poorly written. I don’t know what all the rave reviews are about
This was a wonderful read!
Really liked it early on. The characters are well written and the narrative smooth. Reminds me of the Secret Life of Bees.
CeeCee has been dealt a tough hand in life and it’s up to her Aunt Tootie to help turn her life around. The characters in this book remind me so much of my in-laws and that side of the family and I could see someone I loved in each of the characters. This book has been compared to Cold Sassy Tree and I can see why that might be. You have a novel full of strong, wonderful women all hell-bent on saving one little girl, and the richness of their lives comes across in every chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a little bit of weepy mixed in with their humor.
I loved the characters in this book. The plot flowed realistically and was an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the setting and the characters in this book and did not feel that the story was slow or plodding. Instead, it was nice to read about values like generosity, love, and forgiveness. I also liked that it was set in the 60’s because Savannah probably was genteel and charming then. My more recent experience with Savannah is that it is like so many other cities: lacking in grace and manners.
This may be a book for teens but at 84 I loved it. So hard to read the first bit without crying but life did get better. It had some really sad and then some really good things happened. I loved almost every character in the book!
It was a fun read from start to finish
fun read
Loved everything about this book!
Lovely evocation of southern life
I loved this story. It was heart warming and sweet about an eleven old little girl who goes and lives with her great Aunt down South. Her Mother passed away from an accident. CECE had to take care of her because she had a mental illness. Her father, a traveling salesman was never there and when he was, couldn’t take being around his wife. He is the one that sends her to her Aunt for her own sake.
The story goes on with her meeting different neighbors and becomes close with her Aunt’s cook. CECE is a very smart girl and her aunt sends her to a private school where she finally meets girls her own age. She is only 12.
While living at her Great Aunt’s, she has to come to grips with her Mother passing. She knew her mother was mentally ill but after so long, she was her care taker.
It’s Just a really nice story.
I love Savannah and enjoyed the section of the book that took place there after the tragic beginning of the book Very good characterization throughout the book
I loved this book. The characters were well rounded and not one dimensional. You will not only route for Cece, but will also fall in love with her.