From the New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street series comes a stunning novel about a young single mother who discovers that the nature of friendship is never what it seems…. Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren’t helped … beginning aren’t helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
Merilee finds some measure of peace in the cottage she is renting from town matriarch Sugar Prescott. Though stubborn and irascible, Sugar sees something of herself in Merilee—something that allows her to open up about her own colorful past.
Sugar’s stories give Merilee a different perspective on the town and its wealthy school moms in their tennis whites and shiny SUVs, and even on her new friendship with Heather Blackford. Merilee is charmed by the glamorous young mother’s seemingly perfect life and finds herself drawn into Heather’s world.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee’s house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women….
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I’m a big fan of Karen White’s southern style. Story is especially an especially touching tale of true friendship between the generations. You’ll laughter out loud with the truisms and choke up at the struggles. A truly good read.
Karen White is one of my favorites!
This is probably my favorite book by this author and all her books are great. I love the surprise ending!
It was a good story, but was a little predictable.
Not Karen White’s best
My favorite book ever! ( not even my genre )
I enjoyed this book! The history of the characters and how far they came through adversity!
I love this author, but this was my least favorite of her books. A lot of actions by different characters weren’t very realistic
This started out like your typical chick lit, but got better as it went along and added a bit of mystery, unusual friendships, and coming to terms with what life brings.
great read
Wonderful characters with a steady plot that kept me reading past my bedtime.
There are some authors that you just can’t say no to. I saw her name; I bought, read, and loved the book. I just can’t put them down until the end. What a wonderful experience!
A native of South Carolina, I love all her books, especially those that take place in the Low Country
Did not even finish this book. It was boring and after reading 100 pages and nothing was happening, I stopped reading this book. Can’t understand how this got 4-1/2 stars on Amazon.
This is a book that keeps you turning the pages, lots of twists to the story.
I think you will enjoy this.
I love a chick-lit book at times just so I don’t start taking myself too seriously. This book is about a recently divorced mom and her kids plus a nosy nonagenarian neighbor (try saying that three times without stumbling). Throw in a little angst, a murder, a nasty Stepford-wives sort and a hottie fixit guy, and you got a good story to sit back and relax with.
I think I have read all Karen’s books.
Always good reads.
Grew up in the South and Sugar reminds me of so many of “older” women I knew then. Now I am their age, and act just like them!!!
Having lived in Atlanta for 15 years, I really enjoyed the setting of this book. The anonymous blog written by one of the characters explains southern sayings which was fun. I think the book was caught between being a novel and a mystery. The novel piece was good, with interesting characters and stories from the present and past. However, the mystery portion wasn’t much of a mystery. I guessed what what was going on really early on and got frustrated by the main character’s inability to catch on. Overall, I’d recommend but you might want to skip quickly through the last third.
LOVE Karen White books. When I saw this on the $2.99 deal of the day I grabbed it up!! She never disappoints…great read.