“Filled with powerful scenes and great characters! Brings the ‘83 Old South to vivid life. One of my all-time favorite reads! Loved it! ~ Janelle Taylor, NY Times Bestselling author“…full of surprises, twists, turns and none of them are predictable. This is a fun read with entertaining events that will have you laughing out loud and perhaps remembering your past. But the story’s also a bit of … your past. But the story’s also a bit of history about racial injustice in the 1980’s and a bit of gender bias with believable examples of unfair treatment set in the past, but still believable today. I recommend…to anyone who enjoys a laugh out loud book that can’t be put down as well as one telling the story of cultural past scars.” – Gail Kamer for Readers’ Favorite
“More than just a coming-of-age story or new adult romance, Surviving Doodahville explores family bonds, racial barriers, and just how much some are willing to sacrifice for others. The tale is full of humor, action and a touch of mystery, making it a fun romp into the past.” Jeff LaFerney, award-winning author of Jumper
The summer of 1983—the era of big debt, big hair, and big dreams. Seventeen-year-old Kassandra Lawson is a Southern California girl, enjoying the summer before her high school senior year, thinking life is great.
But then tragic news arrives, sending Kee and her parents to Daltville, Arkansas, to a funeral and more news that turns all their lives upside down.
An unexpected and unwanted move to the humid, bug-infested south is almost too much to deal with, but she discovers a racist, backwoods, tiny hick community more famous for her aunt’s moonshine than for its progressive thinking. What’s more is that everyone seems to be hiding secrets.
Dangerous ones.
Illegal ones.
Violent ones.
When her family arrives, the dominoes start falling and the intrigue and suspense build to a remarkable ending. A surprise gift, a boy, and revealed town secrets help Kee, her family, and her small community to learn, grow, and find love.
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This was my first Ashley Fontainne and Lillian Hansen’s s books. This is a cute and fun slow burn story. The story brings us back to the 80’s. The characters are great and interesting. We follow the Lawson familiy leaving from California to a small town named Daltville, in Arkansas. The story is hilarious, intriguing, realistic, and romantic. I love the ending. Rebecca Roberts did an amazing job with the narration. She has a beautiful voice, well paced. All the voices were easy to distinguish. I enjoyed my listening. I was given a free review copy of the audiobook — at my request — and have voluntarily left this review.
How would you feel if you were told, when you were a teenager, you would have to just pack up and leave to another city? What about all of your friends? What about school and classes? What about that boy that you really like and have been trying to get to notice you for the entire year? And just like the snap of a finger, you are moving from California to Arkansas, which is a major change, especially for the 1980s. Things that were socially acceptable in California, didn’t mean that it caught on for the little town in Arkansas. In fact, a lot of things didn’t quite catch on in Daltville, AKA Doodahville. Both Fontainne and Hansen have quite an interesting story, one that readers will find themselves immersed in rather quickly.
Kassandra Lawson has been officially uprooted from her nice and cushiony life in southern-California. There has been a death in the family and in the Lawson family, everyone sticks together during a crisis, even if that means traveling to Arkansas to attend the funeral with everyone else. The deceased woman was a mother to Kee’s father, so it was kind of a big deal to go and pay their respects. Once they arrive in Daltville, Arkansas, Kee is under the impression that it is just for the funeral, but the Will says differently. Lurelene passed some reality down to Kee’s dad and it appears that the town is in real need of a cleanup. With more secrets than Kee can count, everyone is dangerous and Kee knows that she isn’t cut out for southern life right away. She didn’t need the polecat to spray her before she came to that realization. Unfortunately, she didn’t really get much of a vote. When her family decides that this move to Doodahville is the best possible decision that they could make for the future of their family, Kee is forced to agree—even if it did come a little late and after a broken heart. What lays in waiting for her in Arkansas? She is about to find out…
Surviving Doodahville, written by Ashley Fontainne and Lillian Hansen, is an interesting read. The character development is terrific, although the lingo may somewhat be misplaced according to the era. Roberts does an amazing job with her narration, allowing every character to have a different voice. While Roberts is relaying the story, her vocalization not only entertains the reader, it also provides a sense of personality for each character. The beginning and middle of the story are fantastic as far as pace; however, the ending feels very rushed and scenes clipped to the point where the reader might have expected more description. Other than these two concepts, the story appears to have been written well since Robert’s narration was nearly impeccable. The cover is also eye-catching and quite appealing. If you are a reader of women’s fiction, satire/humor, and contemporary fiction with light romance, you may want to try this one out and see if it is meant for your eyes.
This audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a four-star rating to Surviving Doodahville by Ashley Fontainne & Lillian Hansen.