Reviews

Learning to Speak Southern by Lindsey Rogers Cook

bringerofbooks's review

4.0

The summary of Learning to Speak Southern absolutely drew me in!

After the tragic death of her mother, Lex fled Memphis to go off on her own adventures. Due to tragic circumstances, Lex returns and her godmother makes a bargain with her, giving her a letter each day from her mother. Through the story, we see Lex start to understand her mother better through her writings, and discovers some hidden skeletons in the closet that were kept from her.

It was quite a family drama, and very interesting book as a whole! I felt intrigued the whole way through.

I really didn't like Lex - she just didn't experience any growth in my opinion in the story, and just was overall unlikable.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for an ARC of this book!

angelaf's review

I didn't like any of the characters at all. Plus, the tone felt harsh and wasn't for me.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage

Huge trigger warning for pregnancy loss

alexlaughs's review

5.0

Another great read from Lindsey Rogers cook! The diary entries kept me on my toes and left me having so many feels. Can wait to visit Memphis after this!

hedyd's review

3.0

I liked how Lex’s mother’s life is revealed through her letters. Overall though, it wasn’t enough.

shelleyann01's review

4.0

I really enjoyed reading this book, the linguistics parts alone had me enthralled. Like our protagonist, Lex, I love language and words. It was so beautiful to read about word origins and meanings in the different languages, I loved learning about them.

What first drew me to this story was the word southern in the title. I am a lover of southern fiction and this book did not disappoint. I liked the format of Lex reading about her mother with a different letter/journal entry every day. I love epistolary novels and these letters were my favourite part of the book. Margaret’s story transported me back in time to another place. I love when books do that. I also appreciated Margaret’s friendship with Cami and how Cami looks after Lex like she is her own. Strong, southern women looking out for each other.

Lindsey Rogers Cook is a master at developing characters that crawl into your heart and stay. When you get to the end of this book, you really miss these charismatic, quite real people. Ms. Rogers Cook is a gifted writer who knows how to weave in twists and turns that keep the reader captivated to the last page. I highly recommend this clever tale of Lex and her mother and the circumstances that brought about their tenuous relationship.

Disclosure:
Thank you NetGalley, Lindsey Rogers Cook and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an impartial review; all opinions are my own.

#LearningtToSpeakSouthern #NetGalley

notrachel's review

3.0

This is the quickest I've finished a book in quite some time so that's something...I'm just not sure what ATM. Tentative 3 stars but may be higher when I've had a chance to marinate with it.

annissajoy's review

5.0

Lex left Memphis after her mother passed away and she has been traveling the world. She makes just enough money to make ends meet by teaching English.

After an unexpected loss, Lex reluctantly returns to Memphis by making a deal with her godmother. Cami has tried to take care of Lex and now is ready to provide the journals that Lex’s mom , Margaret left. By reading these journals, many secrets are uncovered and Lex begins to understand her mother.

These characters are very well developed and the story is very interesting. Be ready for a big twist at the end!!

chelz286's review

4.0

This was a really good, heartfelt novel. It really reminds us that we really don’t know what people are going through or may have in the past and to not be so judgmental, as things often are not as they may be appearing. Lex is heading back to the US after having been on an “adventure” for the last few years, and she is heading back to the last place she said she’d return to.

Cami meets Lex with open arms, and knew she’d be back – it was just a matter of time before something brought her back, and Cami is more than happy to open her home up to her once again. Cami was a good friend to Lex’s mother, and was a second mother to Lex growing up, and often was the word of reason when her and her mother got in their weekly spats. Lex never quite understood her mothers anger towards her and has always struggled with her childhood, and never feeling like she was good enough.

Lex may not be so different from her mother after all, and Cami possibly has the answers she’s always wanted answered but in order to get these- she must complete tasks that Cami gives her each day. Keeping Lex busy, and her mind off of taking off again and her last task might just be the hardest thing she does- as she’s always owed that person an explanation.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free book. I look forward to picking up her other novel and will be reading any others she publishes in the future. I really liked how she brought it all together and had a lesson in it all.

alyciajn's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Enjoyed this more than I had expected. Themes of family trauma including depression. This story dives into the complications of it’s characters and explores a strained mother/daughter relationship. We’re often more alike than we’d like to admit.

nicolecostanza's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0