Slightly South of Simple
Peachtree Bluff
Fiction
Gallery Books
April 25, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy
400
Author
Caroline Murphy swore she’d never set foot back in the small Southern town of Peachtree Bluff; she was a New York girl born and bred and the worst day of her life was when, in the wake of her father’s death, her mother selfishly forced her to move—during her senior year of high school, no less—back to that hick-infested rat trap where she'd spent her childhood summers. But now that her marriage to a New York high society heir has fallen apart in a very public, very embarrassing fashion, a pregnant Caroline decides to escape the gossipmongers with her nine-year-old daughter and head home to her mother, Ansley.
Ansley has always put her three daughters first, especially when she found out that her late husband, despite what he had always promised, left her with next to nothing. Now the proud owner of a charming waterfront design business and finally standing on her own two feet, Ansley welcomes Caroline and her brood back with open arms. But when her second daughter Sloane, whose military husband is overseas, and youngest daughter and successful actress Emerson join the fray, Ansley begins to feel like the piece of herself she had finally found might be slipping from her grasp. Even more discomfiting, when someone from her past reappears in Ansley's life, the secret she’s harbored from her daughters their entire lives might finally be forced into the open.
Exploring the powerful bonds between sisters and mothers and daughters, this engaging novel is filled with Southern charm, emotional drama, and plenty of heart.
My review:
4.5 stars
Before I even begin to review the content, take a look at this gorgeous cover. Ms. Harvey has the most beautiful summer beach read covers of any author I know! As a side note, I saw the cover of her debut novel Dear Carolina and fell so in love with it that I researched the book. I was thrilled to find out that Kristy is from my state, and the rest is history. I have read and reviewed all of her works, this being the third novel she has written, and the first in a trilogy (Peachtree Bluff). Now on to my review.........
I loved this book!! It has all the southern charm and quick wittiness that make it a treasure. Even though the humor was one of my favorite parts of the book, this was in no way the main focus. Ms. Harvey was brilliant at exploring serious topics while interjecting banter at just the right moments to diffuse the situation. While the book is about a mother and her three daughters, who all come home to visit at the same time, this book focuses primarily on daughter Caroline. I cannot say enough about how much I adored this character! To sum her up in a nutshell, she may be a bit *itchy, but she knows it and she OWNS it. During the course of the book, she does undergo an attitude adjustment with regards to many aspects of her life, but I felt that it was not so dramatic as to be unbelievable. I can only hope that she will stay true to herself in the final two installments of the trilogy, because I adored her pluckiness. Along with Caroline, this book focuses a lot on the mother Ansley, who was also very well crafted. While I figured out her secret fairly early on, I felt it didn't spoil the way the story played out. There is also a solid introduction to the two remaining daughters, who I'm certain we will probably be hearing more from in the books to come (selfishly I'm just hoping there is more Caroline!).
The perfect summer beach read! What a charming family story, with just the right amount of wit and candor. I can't wait to see what happens next!
Great review! I was totally nodding my head in agreement about your thoughts on Caroline!
Didn't you love her? She is such a great character!
Donna,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind words about SSOS! I am so thrilled that you enjoyed it.
Caroline is such a character and I knew that not everyone would love her because she is very "tell how it is", but I am so glad that you saw the good side about Caroline!
Thanks again 🙂
You are more than welcome! I loved the story and I LOVED snarky Caroline! I can't wait to see what happens next. XO
I have this on Netgalley to read and I can't wait, it seemed like the perfect summer read,
I hope you enjoy it Tanya. I think with three young boys in your house, you will relate to some of the young boy characters.