Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman on June 13, 2023
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 352
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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For most of her eighty years, Mary Jackson has endured the steady invasion of tourists, influencers and real estate developers who have discovered the lakeside charm of Good Hart, Michigan, waiting patiently for the arrival of a stranger she’s believed since childhood would one day carry on her legacy—the Very Cherry General Store. Like generations of Jackson women before her, Cherry Mary, as she’s known locally, runs the community hub—part post office, bakery and sandwich shop—and had almost given up hope that the mysterious prediction she’d been told as a girl would come true and the store would have to pass to…a man.
Becky Thatcher came to Good Hart with her ride-or-die BFF to forget that she’s just turned forty with nothing to show for it. Ending up at the general store with Mary is admittedly not the beach vacation she expected, but the more the feisty octogenarian talks about destiny, the stronger Becky’s memories of her own childhood holidays become, and the strange visions over the lake she was never sure were real. As she works under Mary’s wing for the summer and finds she fits into this quirky community of locals, she starts to believe that destiny could be real, and that it might have something very special in mind for Becky…
Having read a couple winter samples of this author’s amazing ability to make one love a season and a place as well as care about his characters, I was glad to dive into Famous in a Small Town set in the summer and once again showing small town Michigan at its best.
Famous in a Small Town introduces two main protagonists. One, a forty-year old St. Louis school administrator whose boyfriend of decades makes it clear he’s self-centered and likes the status quo, while she was hoping for something deeper and meaningful. Time to take a road trip with her ‘ride or die’ bestie and they land in the northwest region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula in a small town for the summer, in time for all things cherry including an old general store. Our other heroine is an eighty year old woman, running the small town store alone, but ready to find the exact person she dreamed of as a child who will take over the Jackson women’s legacy- the historical Very Cherry family store.
At first, Becky isn’t sure what to make of Mary and the rest of the inhabitants of Good Hart, Michigan. She just wanted to regroup and figure her life out somewhere different, but she finds herself settling in and getting cozy. Mary is a lonely old woman whose son lives away and she has no one who can help during the tourist season. She sees in Becky her dream coming true, as wacky as it seems. Her claim to fame was spitting a cherry the furthest decades before. But, slowly these women and Becky’s bud Q find something special in Good Hart and each other. And, of course, the cherry on top is the smidge of romance, too.
Feel good and nostalgia, Michigan summer, cherries, small town, a little magic and Viola Shipman has done it again. I miss a place I’ve never been (though I know the region well and can vouch for all the cherry fun) and want to know the people and town of Good Hart. This story doesn’t get dramatic or intense, but shows the connections of friendship and Becky’s journey to self which includes old Mary. This is perfect for a lazy summer afternoon read at the beach, at the lake, or in the favorite comfy reading chair.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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I enjoyed this one as well and Viola Shipman has fast become an auto-read author for me. Lovely review!
You said it. I already queued up for the winter release. 🙂
I have never read this author but this sounds like a lovely read. I love that one of the characters is from St. Louis.
Fun that the book started in your home town, Carole. His books are so heartwarming and I love that there are always multiple generations of women.
I like the sound of this one! I’ve seen praise for his womens fiction/romances on other blogs so I’m happy to hear you enjoyed this one too. Sounds like my kind of read and a little like a Carolyn Brown womens fiction.
Debbie got me onto his books and yes, now that you mention it, they are the northern equivalent of Carolyn Brown’s small town women’s fic.
Love that summer in a small town setting!
Same here. Small town in lake country screams summer, Lark. 🙂
Sounds sweet. Gotta love cherries. Thanks for sharing.
I’m with you on that cherry love, Hena. 🙂
Michigan!!!! I’ll need to read this.
Oh yeah, and his fall release has Frankenmuth, Carole. A must!!!
I finally read a book by this author this year and really enjoyed it! This looks like another good read Great review!
Yes, this is my third so I can see that he’s a very consistently good writer. I look forward to each new release now. 🙂
This screams summer. I’ve enjoyed a winter book by this author as well. Wonderful review Sophia!
Yes, it was the epitome of summer and right in the area where his winter books are set. So pretty and charming.
This sounds like the perfect summer read! I love those books that have that seasonal nostalgia feel to it.
Lovely Review!
Same here! Thanks, Renee!
This sounds great, Sophia! When authors successfully make you want to travel, relax, and just gaze at sunsets or a starry night sky, you know they’ve written a good one! 😀
Precisely! All the tension leaves and one can simply relax. 🙂
Sounds like a perfect summer/beach read. Thanks for sharing, great review!
It sure was, Lisa! I wanted to jump in the car and make a week up there in that neck of the woods. 🙂