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The Hatwearer's Lesson
A fast-paced and compassionate novel from the nationally bestselling author of Bebe's By Golly Wow
Terri Mills has it good looks, a high-powered job as an attorney, plus a sexy and successful fiancé. But sometimes having it all can get to be too much. Her world at work and her personal life both begin to unravel, especially when her grandmother becomes ill. Terri struggles to get it together, but how?
Her hat-wearing grandmother knows. Terri ventures down South, back to her small-town roots, to nurse Grandma Ollie back to health-but it's Terri who finds healing. Grandma Ollie uses her sixth sense and her powerful gift of storytelling to help her troubled granddaughter.
In The Hatwearer's Lesson , Yolanda Joe delivers a delightful novel that demonstrates the importance of family traditions and having the courage to follow our instincts and our hearts.
Terri Mills has it good looks, a high-powered job as an attorney, plus a sexy and successful fiancé. But sometimes having it all can get to be too much. Her world at work and her personal life both begin to unravel, especially when her grandmother becomes ill. Terri struggles to get it together, but how?
Her hat-wearing grandmother knows. Terri ventures down South, back to her small-town roots, to nurse Grandma Ollie back to health-but it's Terri who finds healing. Grandma Ollie uses her sixth sense and her powerful gift of storytelling to help her troubled granddaughter.
In The Hatwearer's Lesson , Yolanda Joe delivers a delightful novel that demonstrates the importance of family traditions and having the courage to follow our instincts and our hearts.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 28, 2011
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March 31, 2013**UPDATE 3/16/13**
In 'The Hatwearer's Lesson' by Yolanda Joe, Terri is a successful lawyer doing her own thing. Terri was born the day her mother died. And ever since then her grandmother, Ollie, has been raising her. At a young age her father left without any warning, causing her to not trust any person outside of her grandma Ollie. Ollie raised Terri to be one of the smartest people she ever knew. Ollie was the typical southern grandmother. Raising her children's children, teaching them the same things they instilled in their own children. But something was different with Terri. Terri graduated summa cum laude from Duke University. And went to grad school at Harvard. Upon her graduation she had several job offers but only one stood out. The one was a five star firm with one female partner and no African-Americans. So she chose it to stand out in more ways than one.But Grandma Ollie knew all this would happen because she could read signs. From a small child she knew there was something different about her, something that separated her from the rest, the 'signs'. That southern 'mumbo jumbo' Northerners always speak of is real down south. Terri's fiancé Derek is doing just as good if not better than her. They each are powerful in Chicago, have the best jobs, make appearances because of who they are, and compliment each others superiority. And when Terri thought it couldn't reach a peak Derek decided to ask her to marry him and of course Terri said yes. Grandma Ollie feels the urge to call Terri and finds out the news.She then goes to write in her bible the information of the engagement and wedding info. After writing Terri's name there is no ink left for Derek's name..a perfectly good, new pen running dry? No, Grandma Ollie knew that was a sign. So, she tells Terri to watch out for herself and Derek. Well Grandma Ollie is right again. After dropping Derek off for what she thinks to be a 'Democratic National Convention' Terri pulls off in Dereks car and see a brochure and ticket stamp for Cancun, Mexico as well as make-up thats not her shade. She's knows something is up, and that Derek is cheating. But most importantly that Grandma Ollie is right, as always. Terri closes out their joint account and when leaving the bank teller calls Derek. The bank teller turns out to be Derek's mistress.
**UPDATE 3/23/13**
Due to all the stress Derek has caused on her Terri decides not to talk to Derek or receive his calls for the next couple of days which is the hardest thing since she cannot deny the fact that she loves him. She then receives a call that Grandma Ollie fell and her hip is worse than it was before. She immediately takes off from work and leaves. Before her departure she talks to her assistant who tells her that she shouldn't take a break from her job since she is still uprising and making a name for herself. But Terri knows Grandma Ollie is more important so she dismisses the comments and keeps on going to see her grandmother. When she arrives in Arkansas her grandmother seems fine but thats just her rough and tough outer layer. She's lying in the hospital bed with the same smart mouth she had before Terri left. She doesn't want to be operated on but she has to because her hip will get worse with time. After visiting hours are over Terri's cousin Sugar and her son Cube come and they all go around town looking at what once was Terri's home. Then she passes the old barn, which brings back the memories Grandma Ollie once spoke lightly of. The old barn that burned down years ago. When Terri goes back to the hospital she asks Grandma Ollie about the old barn. The old barn that burned down with the ending of Ollie and her once lover Hank.
**UPDATE 3/30/13**
The next day Terri goes back to visits Grandma Ollie and asks her to continue the story about the barn that burned down. The story has a huge twist, not only did the barn burn but so did her love for Hank. Hank had stole money from the company he was working for. And at this time it was not good for a black person to steal anything from a white person in the south. So Hank ran to the only place he knew to be safe, the barn. When he reached the barn he decided to hide in it while there were many witnesses. Moments later his bosses came by and saw him so he continued to hide. His bosses decided to burn down the whole barn with Hank in it. Ollie watched from a distance with her father holding her back from running in and chasing her love. When Terri hears this she puts her own love situation into perspective and ends up picking up the phone the next time Derek calls. When he calls she decided to have a sarcastic attitude toward him which shuts him off completely. While crying in the lobby of the hospital (over Derek) a man comes by to make sure she is okay. He sits with her and makes her laugh and offers her a ride home. The man who's name is Lynwood takes a liking for Terri. After she is dropped off Sugar gives her the phone and it is Terri's assistant Hajji who tells her she has a lot of work and problems to fix at the job. Zelda, who slashed all of Terri's tires is putting a company on her back causing her to do more work and possibly lose her job. But Terri fights fire with fire by threatening Zelda with 'trespassing' since she is on camera when she slashed her tires in a private area.
In 'The Hatwearer's Lesson' by Yolanda Joe, Terri is a successful lawyer doing her own thing. Terri was born the day her mother died. And ever since then her grandmother, Ollie, has been raising her. At a young age her father left without any warning, causing her to not trust any person outside of her grandma Ollie. Ollie raised Terri to be one of the smartest people she ever knew. Ollie was the typical southern grandmother. Raising her children's children, teaching them the same things they instilled in their own children. But something was different with Terri. Terri graduated summa cum laude from Duke University. And went to grad school at Harvard. Upon her graduation she had several job offers but only one stood out. The one was a five star firm with one female partner and no African-Americans. So she chose it to stand out in more ways than one.But Grandma Ollie knew all this would happen because she could read signs. From a small child she knew there was something different about her, something that separated her from the rest, the 'signs'. That southern 'mumbo jumbo' Northerners always speak of is real down south. Terri's fiancé Derek is doing just as good if not better than her. They each are powerful in Chicago, have the best jobs, make appearances because of who they are, and compliment each others superiority. And when Terri thought it couldn't reach a peak Derek decided to ask her to marry him and of course Terri said yes. Grandma Ollie feels the urge to call Terri and finds out the news.She then goes to write in her bible the information of the engagement and wedding info. After writing Terri's name there is no ink left for Derek's name..a perfectly good, new pen running dry? No, Grandma Ollie knew that was a sign. So, she tells Terri to watch out for herself and Derek. Well Grandma Ollie is right again. After dropping Derek off for what she thinks to be a 'Democratic National Convention' Terri pulls off in Dereks car and see a brochure and ticket stamp for Cancun, Mexico as well as make-up thats not her shade. She's knows something is up, and that Derek is cheating. But most importantly that Grandma Ollie is right, as always. Terri closes out their joint account and when leaving the bank teller calls Derek. The bank teller turns out to be Derek's mistress.
**UPDATE 3/23/13**
Due to all the stress Derek has caused on her Terri decides not to talk to Derek or receive his calls for the next couple of days which is the hardest thing since she cannot deny the fact that she loves him. She then receives a call that Grandma Ollie fell and her hip is worse than it was before. She immediately takes off from work and leaves. Before her departure she talks to her assistant who tells her that she shouldn't take a break from her job since she is still uprising and making a name for herself. But Terri knows Grandma Ollie is more important so she dismisses the comments and keeps on going to see her grandmother. When she arrives in Arkansas her grandmother seems fine but thats just her rough and tough outer layer. She's lying in the hospital bed with the same smart mouth she had before Terri left. She doesn't want to be operated on but she has to because her hip will get worse with time. After visiting hours are over Terri's cousin Sugar and her son Cube come and they all go around town looking at what once was Terri's home. Then she passes the old barn, which brings back the memories Grandma Ollie once spoke lightly of. The old barn that burned down years ago. When Terri goes back to the hospital she asks Grandma Ollie about the old barn. The old barn that burned down with the ending of Ollie and her once lover Hank.
**UPDATE 3/30/13**
The next day Terri goes back to visits Grandma Ollie and asks her to continue the story about the barn that burned down. The story has a huge twist, not only did the barn burn but so did her love for Hank. Hank had stole money from the company he was working for. And at this time it was not good for a black person to steal anything from a white person in the south. So Hank ran to the only place he knew to be safe, the barn. When he reached the barn he decided to hide in it while there were many witnesses. Moments later his bosses came by and saw him so he continued to hide. His bosses decided to burn down the whole barn with Hank in it. Ollie watched from a distance with her father holding her back from running in and chasing her love. When Terri hears this she puts her own love situation into perspective and ends up picking up the phone the next time Derek calls. When he calls she decided to have a sarcastic attitude toward him which shuts him off completely. While crying in the lobby of the hospital (over Derek) a man comes by to make sure she is okay. He sits with her and makes her laugh and offers her a ride home. The man who's name is Lynwood takes a liking for Terri. After she is dropped off Sugar gives her the phone and it is Terri's assistant Hajji who tells her she has a lot of work and problems to fix at the job. Zelda, who slashed all of Terri's tires is putting a company on her back causing her to do more work and possibly lose her job. But Terri fights fire with fire by threatening Zelda with 'trespassing' since she is on camera when she slashed her tires in a private area.
April 30, 2022
Hatwearer's lesson, The Joe, Yolanda 4 F Realistic high powered corporate Chicago lawyer leaves cheating fiance to care for Grandmother who raised her & reconnects with her roots, traditions, wisdom
+ realistic pithy dialogue character grandmother 10/12/2016 10/12/2016
+ realistic pithy dialogue character grandmother 10/12/2016 10/12/2016
May 20, 2021
I'd give this 5 stars for Grandma Ollie alone. I'd like to read a book devoted to Ollie's story. This story gets 2 stars, so split the difference.
October 20, 2009
"She's got the gift and she's got to use it" - that could be Grandma Ollie's motto. She has been reading signs all her life and she has never been wrong. So when the pen's ink runs dry while attempting to write the name of her granddaughter's fiancé in the family bible, she knows something is wrong...and the drama begins. Yolanda Joe's The Hatwearer's Lesson focuses on the relationships of and between a countrified, sassy, hat-wearing grandmother (Grandma Ollie) and her ambitious, citified, attorney granddaughter, Terri Mills.
Terri and her fiancé, Derek, are a hard working, high profile, no nonsense attorney power couple. Their relationship is what fairytales are made of: they look good together, have great careers, and have the political and social connections to match. But Grandma Ollie's prediction comes true and trouble invades paradise on both the romantic and professional fronts. Terri soon finds herself back in the small rural town of Collingswood, Arkansas under the counsel of Grandma Ollie. In a strange turn of events (fate perhaps), Terri's life is rearranged with a surprise ending. However, it is not only the Terri-Derek storyline that baits the reader; it is the amorous adventures of a young Grandma Ollie that are equally engaging. It is there where the valuable life lessons are truly revealed and where Terri extracts the wisdom and guidance to make the right decisions regarding Derek and her life.
The Hatwearer's Lesson is a charming novel full of homespun anecdotes, humor, and wit. Some of the expressions quoted by Grandma Ollie are truly "keepers" and can be retained as priceless bits of practical advice. This is my first Yolanda Joe experience and I am willing to read her other pieces as well as her next release.
Terri and her fiancé, Derek, are a hard working, high profile, no nonsense attorney power couple. Their relationship is what fairytales are made of: they look good together, have great careers, and have the political and social connections to match. But Grandma Ollie's prediction comes true and trouble invades paradise on both the romantic and professional fronts. Terri soon finds herself back in the small rural town of Collingswood, Arkansas under the counsel of Grandma Ollie. In a strange turn of events (fate perhaps), Terri's life is rearranged with a surprise ending. However, it is not only the Terri-Derek storyline that baits the reader; it is the amorous adventures of a young Grandma Ollie that are equally engaging. It is there where the valuable life lessons are truly revealed and where Terri extracts the wisdom and guidance to make the right decisions regarding Derek and her life.
The Hatwearer's Lesson is a charming novel full of homespun anecdotes, humor, and wit. Some of the expressions quoted by Grandma Ollie are truly "keepers" and can be retained as priceless bits of practical advice. This is my first Yolanda Joe experience and I am willing to read her other pieces as well as her next release.
February 16, 2017
When the ink dries out in Grandma's Ollie's pen before she writes in the name of her granddaughter Terri's fiance in her Bible...she knows something is amiss and that her granddaughter is in need of an intervention. Then suddenly Grandma Ollie falls ill and Terri(whom Ollie raised) drops her high-class lawyer lifestyle to rush to Ollie's aid and finds herself getting more than she bargained for. As fate would have it, this journey back home to Arkansas has more in store, as Terri has a reevaluation of her heart and spirit, all guided by Ollie's advice and life story.
From such a cookie-cutter plot (it's like Hope Floats, Down In The Delta...you get the gist), The Hatwearer's Lesson is a quick and simple read, driven by it's colorful characters and is packed with a lot of wisdom, charm, Southern wit, and warmth. What really makes this book is Grandma Ollie and her sage advice. Hence why I gave it an extra star. What a character Ollie is that Yolanda Joe has created! Usually I would cringe at the "sassy-Southern-hat-wearing-grandma" motif because it's been there and done that, but Ollie really is something else and you'll laugh or nod your head in agreement whenever she speaks. You'll also find yourself dog-earring pages or scribbling down a lot of her wisdom---I know I did.
I perfectly read this around the holiday season (finished it after the new year)and it was like drinking warm egg nog and having my own quotable-hat-wearing Granny (who has been passed for about a decade now) in attendance who was always telling me something that didn't make sense at the time it was spoken---but later on was clear and as precious as crystal.
From such a cookie-cutter plot (it's like Hope Floats, Down In The Delta...you get the gist), The Hatwearer's Lesson is a quick and simple read, driven by it's colorful characters and is packed with a lot of wisdom, charm, Southern wit, and warmth. What really makes this book is Grandma Ollie and her sage advice. Hence why I gave it an extra star. What a character Ollie is that Yolanda Joe has created! Usually I would cringe at the "sassy-Southern-hat-wearing-grandma" motif because it's been there and done that, but Ollie really is something else and you'll laugh or nod your head in agreement whenever she speaks. You'll also find yourself dog-earring pages or scribbling down a lot of her wisdom---I know I did.
I perfectly read this around the holiday season (finished it after the new year)and it was like drinking warm egg nog and having my own quotable-hat-wearing Granny (who has been passed for about a decade now) in attendance who was always telling me something that didn't make sense at the time it was spoken---but later on was clear and as precious as crystal.
August 16, 2013
I often purchase books simply because I life the cover. This is one of those. I give this a 3.5 review. It is a delightful, quick moving love story about a success driven woman who goes south to care for an ailing, hat-wearing grandmother who has a gift for reading signs. Terri think she loves her life and her current man despite his too obvious flaws. She learns differently as she moves through the slow paces of the south and reconnects with family, tradition and simple charms. I like the writers wit and an understanding of Black southern life that reminds me of my childhood. An easy read.
April 18, 2016
Grandma Ollie has a gift. She has a sixth sense. She raised her Granddaughter, Terri ever since her mother passed giving birth. When Grandma Ollie tries to write Terri's and her Fiancé's name in the old family bible, the ink stops flowing, which gives Grandma pause. Terri moves from the south to Chicago, get's engaged and has to come back home to take care of Grandma Ollie, who broke her hip. Grandma also tells Terri stories of her younger days to give her lessons and to help her make decisions. Acute and funny read.
April 22, 2013
This is one the best books I have read. It depict the real struggle one has when deciding whether or not to continue in a relationship when there have been infidelities, and the realities of juggling career and family. For me, Grandma Ollie was the star in this novel. I love receiving words from the wise and listening to the tales of times past. There was so much love and truth wrapped up in this book.
I loved her writing style and I have a great appreciation for this book.
I loved her writing style and I have a great appreciation for this book.
April 24, 2010
I absolutely adored this quick read! It was eloquently written, with tons of metaphors and similes! While the climax was intense I never could have expected the end, well maybe just a little bit. It was great. I recommend this book to anybody thats interested in a quick read on a rainy day.
January 8, 2011
i'm just midway with this book..
helps me boost my confidence.=)
helps me boost my confidence.=)
January 18, 2009
the Southern life lessons were invaluable. Yolanda Joe has a gift for painting a story. I loved it.
August 22, 2015
My first book by this author. I will read more. I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews