Betty Sweet Tells All: A Hilarious and Heartwarming Southern Tale of True Love and Family

by Judith Minthorn Stacy

Scandal has rocked the small Southern town of Poplar Grove, and it all seems to be about Betty Sweet's daughter, Maggie. She's gone and left her husband of nineteen years and taken a job in the local beauty shop...and she's reconnected with her old high school sweetheart! No one is more shocked by Maggie's behavior than her tight-knit Southern family. Her twin seventeen-year-old daughters are mortified, and her grandmother is refusing to speak to her. Of course, Betty is stuck in the middle of it all. But, unexpectedly, Betty meets someone special and soon discovers for herself that the course of true love is never smooth. With a little encouragement from her best friend and some newly discovered inner strength, Betty comes to grips with her own happiness and helps Maggie do the same. Hilarious and heartwarming Betty Sweet Tells All proves even in the most troubled times, true love and family prevail.

Genres: Fiction, Adult

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2002

Reviews

[Sharon Falduto]

Just a book, about a Southern lady whose life is all riled up by her daughter abandoning her husband. One of those "everybody talks" stories. Told from the point of view of a few of the characters, like Betty, her daughter, her mother, and even her granddaughter, which was a nice device to give us some different perspective on the story. Pretty predictable but a nice read.

[Samey Barbieri · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, I'm a mystery kind of girl or give me a twist. Cute story between a family based in the southern small town. Kept me entertained til I found my next good read.

😊

[Sally Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a hoot! Nice, light, fun summer read.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A “Hallmarky”-style book that lived up to this category. If you are looking for resolution and tidy endings, this book is for you.

[MBenzz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book answered all the questions I had at the end of 'Maggie Sweet'! I love the characters and was thrilled to learn more about Maggie's mother Betty. And way to go Betty!! It was about time she started living for herself!

Now, I realize this book takes place in 1985, and Poplar Grove is a VERY southern little town, but the reason I gave this book four stars was because of Mama Dean. She was a bit over-the-top for my taste. I really didn't like her, and I can't believe that Betty or Maggie had never once stopped and told her where to go. I know she's an old woman, but she's just nasty all the time.

But...even though I don't like her, I too would love Ms. Stacy to continue the story of Poplar Grove with the telling of Mama Dean's story. What happened between her and her husband? How did she grow up? And why is she such a cranky old woman now? And I'd also love to see how Betty and Charlie do, as well as Maggie and Jerry, and even Steven and Theo!

If you've read 'Maggie Sweet', you just HAVE to read this book. It picks up right where 'Maggie' left off, and you'll fall in love with the characters the second you meet them. Thanks, Ms. Stacy for a great read, and I really hope to hear more from this exciting little town!!

[Deana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book and Maggie Sweet have both infuriated me to no end. Southern women aren't sniveling cowards as Judith Minthorn Stacy portrays us to be!! She's not even from the South! Just cause you marry a Southern man and move to North Carolina,that does not make you a Southern lady. I have lived in Georgia my whole life and have NEVER heard the terms swanee or swane. No way would a good, Southern mother allow a man to treat her daughter in such a way as Betty Sweet did. And no grandmother would turn her back on her granddaughter. Get your facts straight, missy. I was sorely disappointed in these books!

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this light book of life as seen through 3 generations of women. It was set in the South and described the past, current, and future moral opinions on the subjects that are still present...marriage, sex, education, and family life.

I recommend this Author and this series. It was written a few years ago but is still current today.

[Ellie Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, easy read, and pretty good, but the language in southern fiction irrates me. All those law mes and bless her hearts. Born and raised southern and I don't speak like that. And I'd never even heard of law me before this book. The author isn't a native southener and maybe that's why it's irritating. But still, a good book and I'm gonna read Maggie Sweet next.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a sweet story with contrary characters. Just like most families, these characters did not always agree with each other or get along. But the love was always there.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was pretty predictable, but a fast easy read.

[Denise Ballentine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Light. Not much substance.

[Lori Zitzelberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

Forgettable.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost too many generations for me to keep up but the author knows her small town culture!