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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Meh. I’d save your money/time. I wouldn’t recommend reading it. Not the worst book I’ve ever read but not great. I checked it out as an audiobook, it was under 11 hours long and holy sh*t it took me forever to get through. I don’t think I’ll be checking out any others in the series. It was slow, the story was okay but really not worth all the hype. I’m keeping in mind the era it took place in but even still, it was just full of the same tired trope about a woman not sure what she wants, which man she’s in love with (spoiler: the one is obviously gay) and she’s not exactly nice to the one she ends up with. I dunno, I guess now I’m just relieved to be through the book and done.
A wonderfully warm and welcoming trip into small town life - it's like a night at the county fair, complete with pie and fireworks by the lake.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book about 7 years ago after reading a review in Southern Lady magazine. I had not read any of her books or a lot of "chick-lit" at that time, but I was taken in by her characters and her description of the town and it's scenery. Has to say something that's it's been 5 years and I can still remember the story.
Cheesy, but cute and endearing. Predictable, but sweet. And the fact that she keeps calling herself "just a pill counting pharmacist" made me very sad indeed.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I could really relate to Ave Maria's character, as we're exactly the same age. Change the pharmacy to a library, and she could be me. I like stories that take the characters on a transformational journey, whether it's geographic or spiritual, and this one does both. Ave Maria's tone is very conversational as she tells her story. I highly recommend it!
3.5 stars
Nothing much happens in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The highlight of 35-year-old Ave Maria Mulligan's week is when the bookmobile comes to town. As the town pharmacist, she knows intimate details about the community; sometimes more than she cares to know. She's a member of the volunteer rescue squad and leads the drama team. Imagine the excitement when Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, John Warner, come for a visit.
Adriana Trigiani’s first novel concerns the family scandals that befall Ave Maria in this seemingly uneventful town. When the self-proclaimed spinster discovers a skeleton in her family’s closet, her quiet, conventional life is turned topsy-turvy. Greed, lust, and envy aren’t just vices confined to big city limits.
Sometimes a cute, lighthearted read is just the ticket. I listened to Big Stone Gap on a solo road trip, and it was perfect for a boring drive. The audiobook sparkled with wit, endearing characters, and vivid descriptions—I felt like I was strolling down main street with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. Narrator Grace Bennett nailed it.
My only complaint is that it took too long for anything substantive to happen… almost a quarter into the book. But then I got in the groove and fell in love with the place. It’s a feel-good romantic comedy and was a pleasant change of pace, a heartwarming light read with pockets of humor. I’ll confess, though, that it leaned toward the overly sentimental for my taste.
I’ve read other novels by the talented, and funny, Adriana Trigiani, but this was her first in the Big Stone Gap 4-book series, so I wanted to give it a try. Sure, there were moments when the writing felt clumsy, but let’s cut her some slack—it was her debut after all. Will I read the rest of the series? Maybe not, but I enjoyed this installment. Admittedly, it didn’t hold a candle to her 2012 historical novel, The Shoemaker’s Wife, but it depends on what you’re in the mood for. If you like Fannie Flagg books, this will be a winner. 3.5 stars and a thumbs up for a delightful escape.
Nothing much happens in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The highlight of 35-year-old Ave Maria Mulligan's week is when the bookmobile comes to town. As the town pharmacist, she knows intimate details about the community; sometimes more than she cares to know. She's a member of the volunteer rescue squad and leads the drama team. Imagine the excitement when Elizabeth Taylor and her husband, John Warner, come for a visit.
Adriana Trigiani’s first novel concerns the family scandals that befall Ave Maria in this seemingly uneventful town. When the self-proclaimed spinster discovers a skeleton in her family’s closet, her quiet, conventional life is turned topsy-turvy. Greed, lust, and envy aren’t just vices confined to big city limits.
Sometimes a cute, lighthearted read is just the ticket. I listened to Big Stone Gap on a solo road trip, and it was perfect for a boring drive. The audiobook sparkled with wit, endearing characters, and vivid descriptions—I felt like I was strolling down main street with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background. Narrator Grace Bennett nailed it.
My only complaint is that it took too long for anything substantive to happen… almost a quarter into the book. But then I got in the groove and fell in love with the place. It’s a feel-good romantic comedy and was a pleasant change of pace, a heartwarming light read with pockets of humor. I’ll confess, though, that it leaned toward the overly sentimental for my taste.
I’ve read other novels by the talented, and funny, Adriana Trigiani, but this was her first in the Big Stone Gap 4-book series, so I wanted to give it a try. Sure, there were moments when the writing felt clumsy, but let’s cut her some slack—it was her debut after all. Will I read the rest of the series? Maybe not, but I enjoyed this installment. Admittedly, it didn’t hold a candle to her 2012 historical novel, The Shoemaker’s Wife, but it depends on what you’re in the mood for. If you like Fannie Flagg books, this will be a winner. 3.5 stars and a thumbs up for a delightful escape.
A Nice Escape
This read is light & breezy; perfect for vacation or a read on the beach. The author jumps from scene to scene which is a bit jarring at first but it works.
This read is light & breezy; perfect for vacation or a read on the beach. The author jumps from scene to scene which is a bit jarring at first but it works.
Delightful book with interesting characters and descriptions that made the place come alive and drive the narrative forward. I’m excited to read more of her work.
I like a good romance with a happy ending. I like all the in the head talking that Ave Marie does. I do similar things myself. It also lets you know exactly what she's thinking, which makes me identify with her.