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forestidylls's review
4.0
3.5. started out promising, and was written fairly well, but didn't really like how it progressed, and the ending really annoyed me.
SPOILER BELOW
Okay, she told him from the start that she would be leaving, and then when they started getting close (read: one makeout session and then sex, because, you know, that's how you get close), he was the one who essentially told her that he didn't want her around, because he wasn't ready to introduce her to his daughters as part of the family, or anyone else for that matter. And she listened to him. And then he got mad at her when she said that she was leaving, AFTER he had made it clear he wasn't ready for her to be part of his life. And then when she says she's staying, she's the one who had to apologize for even thinking about leaving before he would speak to her again. None of that rang true, right, or anything else for me.
SPOILER BELOW
Okay, she told him from the start that she would be leaving, and then when they started getting close (read: one makeout session and then sex, because, you know, that's how you get close), he was the one who essentially told her that he didn't want her around, because he wasn't ready to introduce her to his daughters as part of the family, or anyone else for that matter. And she listened to him. And then he got mad at her when she said that she was leaving, AFTER he had made it clear he wasn't ready for her to be part of his life. And then when she says she's staying, she's the one who had to apologize for even thinking about leaving before he would speak to her again. None of that rang true, right, or anything else for me.
emerion's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper is the first book in Southern Eclectic series. Margot Cary is an event planner with Elite Elegance in Chicago until her latest soiree is sabotaged by the chef (he put out a shrimp tower). Margot loses her job and is unable to find another one after the party fiasco is posted on You-tube. She is shocked when she receives a call from Tootie, her great aunt, in Lake Sackett, Georgia. Tootie is offering Margot a job at the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop (you can bury your loved one and then pick up bait for fishing). Margot accepts the position, but she insists it is just temporary. Margot soon discovers that life in Lake Sackett is very different from Chicago. Everyone knows your name, your family and your personal business. Margot delves into her new position and finds romance with elementary school principal, Kyle Archer. But what happens when Margot gets offered a position out-of-state?
Sweet Tea and Sympathy is a quirky, zany over-the-top story. The author shoved too many characters into the story. There are numerous relatives and townspeople. I found it impossible to keep them all straight (I gave up after a while). The pace of the novel is slower than it needs to be (thanks to the numerous characters). It needed a snappier pace. I was not a fan of the humor. Instead of being funny, I just found it unbelievable (lots of eye rolling). The petty squabbling and backbiting got on my nerves. I did not like the main character. She thought she was better than her relatives (I found her annoying) and had the maturity level of a teenager (most of the time). Margot’s constant complaints about the town’s coffee got on my nerves (and wondering why she did go out and buy a coffee maker). Frankie, the mortician, was my favorite character. She is unique and embraces it (she also loves her job). The ending is expected and quickly wrapped up (with a nice big bow). It seemed like the author took every Southern stereotype and shoved them into this story. Moonshine, thick Southern accents, deep fried everything, and so on. I did not laugh once while reading the book (my mother thought it was hilarious and claims I have no sense of humor). Sweet Tea and Sympathy is a predictable Southern romance novel with the wacky factor ramped up. I will stick with Molly Harper’s vampire novels which I just love.
Sweet Tea and Sympathy is a quirky, zany over-the-top story. The author shoved too many characters into the story. There are numerous relatives and townspeople. I found it impossible to keep them all straight (I gave up after a while). The pace of the novel is slower than it needs to be (thanks to the numerous characters). It needed a snappier pace. I was not a fan of the humor. Instead of being funny, I just found it unbelievable (lots of eye rolling). The petty squabbling and backbiting got on my nerves. I did not like the main character. She thought she was better than her relatives (I found her annoying) and had the maturity level of a teenager (most of the time). Margot’s constant complaints about the town’s coffee got on my nerves (and wondering why she did go out and buy a coffee maker). Frankie, the mortician, was my favorite character. She is unique and embraces it (she also loves her job). The ending is expected and quickly wrapped up (with a nice big bow). It seemed like the author took every Southern stereotype and shoved them into this story. Moonshine, thick Southern accents, deep fried everything, and so on. I did not laugh once while reading the book (my mother thought it was hilarious and claims I have no sense of humor). Sweet Tea and Sympathy is a predictable Southern romance novel with the wacky factor ramped up. I will stick with Molly Harper’s vampire novels which I just love.
klippy's review
5.0
Just read this for a second time. I adore Molly Harper. Living in the South I enjoy fun stories taking place in the South, which this one is. A bit offbeat and a eccentric family. I laughed so much reading this book, especially the second time. This is just the beginning of a series. Love the story about the paint by number Jesus pieces!! What a priceless story and a fabulous family!!!
marieintheraw's review
4.0
My first contemporary from Molly Harper. It has different beats with the characters than her other books, but still all the charm. My biggest pet peeve with this one involved the main character's overall story arc and the lack of communication involved in her romance. A love the focus on family dynamics in this series.
trudyd's review against another edition
5.0
Molly Harper has me falling in love with Southern romances. First it was her Bluegrass series. I laughed so hard that I got a stomach ache reading those stories.
And now the Southern Eclectic series has be busting a gut. The situations these people find themselves in will have you rolling your eyes and rolling on the floor. Only Molly Harper could come up with such an eclectic assortment of relatives living in a "compound" and most of the working in some capacity at McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop.
At the beginning of the book Margot doesn't even her dad's side of the family, the McCready family. An incident at work involving shrimp and crazy flamingos finds her unemployed. With no chance of finding another job as party planner she finds herself heading to Lake Sackett, Georgia where nothing will be the same again.
She isn't looking for love. She isn't even looking for companionship. She is looking for a place to lick her wounds and pick up the pieces of her life. What she finds is a gorgeous widower, Kyle, that just happens to be the elementary school principal and the stranger that she ran amuck with her hair on fire one night outside a bar.
Where life goes from her you will only know when you pick up this amazing romance. Be prepared to laugh, cry and scream. Margot is on the rollercoaster ride of her life and you get to ride along.
6/28/21 Awesome audiobook. It was a great way to hide for the unexpected high heat.
And now the Southern Eclectic series has be busting a gut. The situations these people find themselves in will have you rolling your eyes and rolling on the floor. Only Molly Harper could come up with such an eclectic assortment of relatives living in a "compound" and most of the working in some capacity at McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop.
At the beginning of the book Margot doesn't even her dad's side of the family, the McCready family. An incident at work involving shrimp and crazy flamingos finds her unemployed. With no chance of finding another job as party planner she finds herself heading to Lake Sackett, Georgia where nothing will be the same again.
She isn't looking for love. She isn't even looking for companionship. She is looking for a place to lick her wounds and pick up the pieces of her life. What she finds is a gorgeous widower, Kyle, that just happens to be the elementary school principal and the stranger that she ran amuck with her hair on fire one night outside a bar.
Where life goes from her you will only know when you pick up this amazing romance. Be prepared to laugh, cry and scream. Margot is on the rollercoaster ride of her life and you get to ride along.
6/28/21 Awesome audiobook. It was a great way to hide for the unexpected high heat.
bkclub4one's review
4.0
I am off to a good start! All the books I have picked to read in January are really good and this one was no exception. I picked this book because of the cover. That cover just caught my eye, it promised a simple and enjoyable sweet read just what I need to start of the new year. The Mc Margot loses her job after an embarrassing disaster occurs at one of her parties( she is a party planner ). Over night she goes from planning huge galas and an expected promotion to becoming the laughing stock of the party planning world.
Everything seems to be falling apart until a woman, Tootie calls her and tells her she is her aunt then offers her a job. Obviously she goes because she has no choice so she leaves Chicago and moves to Georgia. There she meets her large family and a father she hasn't seen in years. Her adjustment to living in the small town was interesting some parts of this book were actually funny and sweet.
This book did not disappoint, it was enjoyable and sweet. The plot was simple, there were no twists, no startling revelations just a simple relaxing read. There was some romance in here too. Margot falls for a widower with two kids who is also annoying especially at the end.
I mean seriously he is not in love with her, he doesn't want a serious relationship but he still wants her to pause her plans and wait for him and love him until he is sure of what he wants?!? I couldn't believe he played the "I introduced you to my daughters" card. Unless I skipped the pages all the encounters Margot had with Hazel and Juniper were purely coincidental and not as a result of Kyle planning for them to spend time together.
The characters were fairly well written. I liked most of Margot's family especially Tootie, Donna and Frankie. The best thing about them was that their relationship was very realistic. Talking of realistic that hookup scene between Kyle and Margot was awkwardly relatable. It was good of Kyle to give that disclaimer😉 more guys should try it. The ending was predictable but it fit in with the simplicity of the entire book.
Everything seems to be falling apart until a woman, Tootie calls her and tells her she is her aunt then offers her a job. Obviously she goes because she has no choice so she leaves Chicago and moves to Georgia. There she meets her large family and a father she hasn't seen in years. Her adjustment to living in the small town was interesting some parts of this book were actually funny and sweet.
This book did not disappoint, it was enjoyable and sweet. The plot was simple, there were no twists, no startling revelations just a simple relaxing read. There was some romance in here too. Margot falls for a widower with two kids who is also annoying especially at the end.
I mean seriously he is not in love with her, he doesn't want a serious relationship but he still wants her to pause her plans and wait for him and love him until he is sure of what he wants?!? I couldn't believe he played the "I introduced you to my daughters" card. Unless I skipped the pages all the encounters Margot had with Hazel and Juniper were purely coincidental and not as a result of Kyle planning for them to spend time together.
The characters were fairly well written. I liked most of Margot's family especially Tootie, Donna and Frankie. The best thing about them was that their relationship was very realistic. Talking of realistic that hookup scene between Kyle and Margot was awkwardly relatable. It was good of Kyle to give that disclaimer😉 more guys should try it. The ending was predictable but it fit in with the simplicity of the entire book.
katrenia's review
4.0
A fun quick southern feel good story. It had both substance and a happy ending. I would read another by this author. I give it a 3.5.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator was pretty good. The kid voices grated on my nerves, and fortunately they were minor characters.
I listened to the audio version and the narrator was pretty good. The kid voices grated on my nerves, and fortunately they were minor characters.
tamm's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet read
This was a funny, sweet, endearing read. Big city meets southern charm... and gets won over.
I didn’t just fall in love with Margo and Kyle, I fell in love with the entire cast of characters.
This was a funny, sweet, endearing read. Big city meets southern charm... and gets won over.
I didn’t just fall in love with Margo and Kyle, I fell in love with the entire cast of characters.