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The Empress of Cooke County
The chatter at the Curly Q beauty shop is about who'll be first to get a new blue Foodarama refrigerator from Sears in their small town of Spark, Tennessee, but Posey Jarvis and her daughter Callie Jane find themselves facing a crisis--one that will change both their lives forever.
Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days sneaking nips of gin, following every word about her idol and look-alike, Jackie Kennedy, and avoiding her stalwart husband, Vern. She is also struggling to control her newly defiant daughter, Callie Jane, who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's twentieth reunion there. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, so she needs to work fast. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago.
Callie Jane has had enough of her mother and working her boring job at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California. Her domineering mother, stultifying future, and even the creepy peeping Tom terrorizing the town will be in her rearview. But then a shocking act of violence changes everything, and Callie Jane must determine how far she will go to save someone she loves.
Set in a gossipy small town during the turbulent 1960s, and full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters, The Empress of Cooke County is a novel about found family, what it means to be loved, and how being true to yourself can have life-altering consequences.
Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days sneaking nips of gin, following every word about her idol and look-alike, Jackie Kennedy, and avoiding her stalwart husband, Vern. She is also struggling to control her newly defiant daughter, Callie Jane, who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's twentieth reunion there. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, so she needs to work fast. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago.
Callie Jane has had enough of her mother and working her boring job at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California. Her domineering mother, stultifying future, and even the creepy peeping Tom terrorizing the town will be in her rearview. But then a shocking act of violence changes everything, and Callie Jane must determine how far she will go to save someone she loves.
Set in a gossipy small town during the turbulent 1960s, and full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters, The Empress of Cooke County is a novel about found family, what it means to be loved, and how being true to yourself can have life-altering consequences.
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2024
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September 11, 2024
EXCERPT: Posey smiled wistfully as she recalled what had transpired while Frances was on the far side of the globe. Before Frances's plane had reached cruising altitude, CJ had whisked the then nineteen-year-old Posey Burch from her dumpy apartment and into his stunning home for seven whole days of uninterrupted passion.
CJ had downshifted the white Jaguar as he turned into the driveway that day, the growl of the engine thrilling her with its power. She gasped as the three-story house came into view, silently vowing to one day live there as CJ's wife.
'My God, it's a mansion.'
'Yep. She calls it Eden Hall.'
The last day of their weeklong rendezvous, CJ had been tense. He yelled up the stairs, 'Damn it, Posey, hurry! Her plane lands in twenty minutes.'
A lovestruck Posey lifted the flask from his dresser and tucked it into her suitcase before slamming the lid. Impulsively, she dropped one of her monogrammed earrings among the hand creams, pens and bookmarks in Frances's nightstand. Her mother had saved for over a year to buy them, but to get what you want to get, you have to do what you have to do.
Sure of her future, Posey gave the earring three full weeks to get the ball rolling. When she realized her plan had failed, that here would be no announcement from CJ that he was divorcing, she was equal parts furious and heartbroken. In an effort to lessen the sting, she vowed to possess a house even finer than Eden Hall. How to accomplish that goal was unclear, but if Frances could get a mansion, so could she. And once CJ saw her as a successful hostess in her own magnificent home, it would be only a matter of time before he came to his senses and married her.
ABOUT 'THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY': The chatter at the Curly Q beauty shop is about who'll be first to get a new blue Foodarama refrigerator from Sears in their small town of Spark, Tennessee, but Posey Jarvis and her daughter Callie Jane find themselves facing a crisis--one that will change both their lives forever.
Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days sneaking nips of gin, following every word about her idol and look-alike, Jackie Kennedy, and avoiding her stalwart husband, Vern. She is also struggling to control her newly defiant daughter, Callie Jane, who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's twentieth reunion there. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, so she needs to work fast. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago.
Callie Jane has had enough of her mother and working her boring job at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California. Her domineering mother, stultifying future, and even the creepy peeping Tom terrorizing the town will be in her rearview. But then a shocking act of violence changes everything, and Callie Jane must determine how far she will go to save someone she loves.
MY THOUGHTS: A cautionary tale about greed, envy and being grateful for what you have.
Posey Burch Jarvis and her daughter Callie-Jane are polar opposites. To Posey all that matters is social standing and appearances. Callie-Jane is more realistic, down-to-earth. She loves her daddy, the Beatles music and her best friend, Trace. Posey is manipulative and a drunk. Callie-Jane doesn't like to make waves and wants, one day, to live in California. The only thing they have in common is that they both have goals and dreams, but the obstacles preventing them from being achieved seem insurmountable. Until one day something happens that changes everything.
I thought this was going to be a humorous book, and it does have its humorous moments, but mostly it's kind of tragic. Posey would have to be one of the most narcissistic characters I have read in a long time. She is impossible to like. She is mean, ungrateful, a snob and a liar.
The part of the story that doesn't focus on Posey is sweet and heartwarming. It's definitely a contrast!
I felt sorry for Callie-Jane. She has a daddy she adores and the mother from hell who is determined to rule her life. It's a wonder Callie-Jane is anywhere near normal! Her struggle to find a way to live her own life was the highlight of this read for me.
I liked The Empress of Cooke County, but I didn't love it. I did particularly enjoy the 1960s atmosphere, the small-town vibes and Callie Jane's story.
I was lucky enough to be granted access to both the audio and digital versions and, overall, I believe I preferred the audio. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and made the characters come alive.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheEmpressofCookeCounty #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Bass Parman grew up entranced by family stories, such as the time her grandmother woke up to find Eleanor Roosevelt making breakfast in her kitchen. She worked for many years as a reading specialist for a nonprofit, and spends her summers in a cottage by a Canadian lake. She has two grown daughters and lives outside her native Nashville with her husband and maybe Maltipoo, Pippin.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Muse via NetGalley for providing both the digital and audio ARCs of The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
CJ had downshifted the white Jaguar as he turned into the driveway that day, the growl of the engine thrilling her with its power. She gasped as the three-story house came into view, silently vowing to one day live there as CJ's wife.
'My God, it's a mansion.'
'Yep. She calls it Eden Hall.'
The last day of their weeklong rendezvous, CJ had been tense. He yelled up the stairs, 'Damn it, Posey, hurry! Her plane lands in twenty minutes.'
A lovestruck Posey lifted the flask from his dresser and tucked it into her suitcase before slamming the lid. Impulsively, she dropped one of her monogrammed earrings among the hand creams, pens and bookmarks in Frances's nightstand. Her mother had saved for over a year to buy them, but to get what you want to get, you have to do what you have to do.
Sure of her future, Posey gave the earring three full weeks to get the ball rolling. When she realized her plan had failed, that here would be no announcement from CJ that he was divorcing, she was equal parts furious and heartbroken. In an effort to lessen the sting, she vowed to possess a house even finer than Eden Hall. How to accomplish that goal was unclear, but if Frances could get a mansion, so could she. And once CJ saw her as a successful hostess in her own magnificent home, it would be only a matter of time before he came to his senses and married her.
ABOUT 'THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY': The chatter at the Curly Q beauty shop is about who'll be first to get a new blue Foodarama refrigerator from Sears in their small town of Spark, Tennessee, but Posey Jarvis and her daughter Callie Jane find themselves facing a crisis--one that will change both their lives forever.
Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days sneaking nips of gin, following every word about her idol and look-alike, Jackie Kennedy, and avoiding her stalwart husband, Vern. She is also struggling to control her newly defiant daughter, Callie Jane, who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's twentieth reunion there. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, so she needs to work fast. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago.
Callie Jane has had enough of her mother and working her boring job at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California. Her domineering mother, stultifying future, and even the creepy peeping Tom terrorizing the town will be in her rearview. But then a shocking act of violence changes everything, and Callie Jane must determine how far she will go to save someone she loves.
MY THOUGHTS: A cautionary tale about greed, envy and being grateful for what you have.
Posey Burch Jarvis and her daughter Callie-Jane are polar opposites. To Posey all that matters is social standing and appearances. Callie-Jane is more realistic, down-to-earth. She loves her daddy, the Beatles music and her best friend, Trace. Posey is manipulative and a drunk. Callie-Jane doesn't like to make waves and wants, one day, to live in California. The only thing they have in common is that they both have goals and dreams, but the obstacles preventing them from being achieved seem insurmountable. Until one day something happens that changes everything.
I thought this was going to be a humorous book, and it does have its humorous moments, but mostly it's kind of tragic. Posey would have to be one of the most narcissistic characters I have read in a long time. She is impossible to like. She is mean, ungrateful, a snob and a liar.
The part of the story that doesn't focus on Posey is sweet and heartwarming. It's definitely a contrast!
I felt sorry for Callie-Jane. She has a daddy she adores and the mother from hell who is determined to rule her life. It's a wonder Callie-Jane is anywhere near normal! Her struggle to find a way to live her own life was the highlight of this read for me.
I liked The Empress of Cooke County, but I didn't love it. I did particularly enjoy the 1960s atmosphere, the small-town vibes and Callie Jane's story.
I was lucky enough to be granted access to both the audio and digital versions and, overall, I believe I preferred the audio. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and made the characters come alive.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#TheEmpressofCookeCounty #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Bass Parman grew up entranced by family stories, such as the time her grandmother woke up to find Eleanor Roosevelt making breakfast in her kitchen. She worked for many years as a reading specialist for a nonprofit, and spends her summers in a cottage by a Canadian lake. She has two grown daughters and lives outside her native Nashville with her husband and maybe Maltipoo, Pippin.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Muse via NetGalley for providing both the digital and audio ARCs of The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
January 28, 2025
Several years ago, my cousin recommended I read On Agate Hill by Lee Smith, a dear author we love to claim as a North Carolinian. I highly recommend that novel, as it has stayed with me all these years. Lee Smith has also lived in Tennessee where she once taught middle school English to Elizabeth Bass Parman, and this is her debut novel! Love that Lee Smith connection.
“Featuring two strong women, mother-daughter tension, beauty parlor gossip, and one shocking turn of events, The Empress of Cooke County will transport you to a small town in the 1960s with the one woman determined to rule it all. Perfect for fans of Lee Smith and Adriana Trigiani.”
In style, Elizabeth Bass Parman’s storytelling most reminds me of another author whose books I love, Joshilyn Jackson. With ease, she inserts bits of southern humor. One of the first paragraphs mentions a character feeling “puny,” and I giggled out loud. I have not heard that said in years. Full of drama, easy-to-read, and chock full of characters to love and loathe, I thoroughly enjoyed The Empress of Cooke County and am already looking ahead to next fall and the release of book two set in Spark, Bees in June! 😍
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
“Featuring two strong women, mother-daughter tension, beauty parlor gossip, and one shocking turn of events, The Empress of Cooke County will transport you to a small town in the 1960s with the one woman determined to rule it all. Perfect for fans of Lee Smith and Adriana Trigiani.”
In style, Elizabeth Bass Parman’s storytelling most reminds me of another author whose books I love, Joshilyn Jackson. With ease, she inserts bits of southern humor. One of the first paragraphs mentions a character feeling “puny,” and I giggled out loud. I have not heard that said in years. Full of drama, easy-to-read, and chock full of characters to love and loathe, I thoroughly enjoyed The Empress of Cooke County and am already looking ahead to next fall and the release of book two set in Spark, Bees in June! 😍
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
September 9, 2024
It's 1966 and Posey Jarvis, 38, considers herself the "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. Callie Jane, 18, is Posey's daughter who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's 20th reunion at the house with dreams of reconnecting with the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago. Callie Jane has no illusions about her mother and is bored working at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California.
The story is told in alternating chapters by Posey and Callie Jane and was entertaining but not really laugh-out-loud funny in my opinion. Posey could be pretty annoying with her snobbishness and her aspirations of becoming the real empress of Cooke County no matter who she has to step on in her quest to reach the pinnacle of society in the county. Perhaps the copious amounts of gin she drinks helps to fuel her ambitions. The story got much darker than I imagined at the beginning - this is not just a piece of fluff. Although I enjoyed it, it seemed a bit unrealistic, even for 1966. 3-1/2 stars rounded down.
The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley and she did a good job although I found her voice to be a bit high-pitched for my liking.
My thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks via Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
The story is told in alternating chapters by Posey and Callie Jane and was entertaining but not really laugh-out-loud funny in my opinion. Posey could be pretty annoying with her snobbishness and her aspirations of becoming the real empress of Cooke County no matter who she has to step on in her quest to reach the pinnacle of society in the county. Perhaps the copious amounts of gin she drinks helps to fuel her ambitions. The story got much darker than I imagined at the beginning - this is not just a piece of fluff. Although I enjoyed it, it seemed a bit unrealistic, even for 1966. 3-1/2 stars rounded down.
The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley and she did a good job although I found her voice to be a bit high-pitched for my liking.
My thanks to Harper Muse Audiobooks via Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: September 3, 2024
October 25, 2024
4/5 - What I liked most about this is that the points were driven home by a few really well done allegorical characters and in a short amount of pages. I've been into short reads lately and I really enjoyed every minute of this tale from a small town in the backwoods of Tennessee.
Very much a story about wanting more than we have and ignoring what we do have - I loved almost every part of this. I smiled so many times while reading and then in the very end clapped my hand over my mouth in the most Southern way possible at the turn of events!!
Thank you Harper Muse for my advanced reader copy! This was a perfect short read to break up a few of my romances etc.
Very much a story about wanting more than we have and ignoring what we do have - I loved almost every part of this. I smiled so many times while reading and then in the very end clapped my hand over my mouth in the most Southern way possible at the turn of events!!
Thank you Harper Muse for my advanced reader copy! This was a perfect short read to break up a few of my romances etc.
June 21, 2024
It’s 1966, and Posey Jarvis’s life hasn’t turned out quite as she planned. She’s married to the much older Vern and living in a small suburban home, but she pines after her wealthy ex, CJ. When an opportunity to rise in the social ranks lands in her lap, she starts scheming to win CJ back.
Meanwhile, Posey’s 18-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, is engaged to her lifelong best friend and on track for a life of comfort and stability. The only problem is she doesn’t want any of it - the man or the picture perfect small-town life. She needs to gather courage to chase her own dreams.
What I liked about this book:
-The small-town, midcentury vibes were vivid and fun.
-Posey’s inner thoughts were at times quite funny.
-There was a great twist toward the end.
What I didn’t like:
-Something about the tone just didn’t resonate with me. It was neither dark enough nor funny enough to really feel like a dark comedy, but it wasn’t serious enough to feel like lit fic.
-None of the characters had a particularly nuanced sense of morality. It was quite apparent early on who the “good” and “bad” people were in this book and who we were supposed to be cheering for.
The premise of this book was fun, but I don’t love how it was executed. I suspect this is more about me being the wrong reader for the book than it is about the book’s overall quality. I wouldn’t necessarily advise anyone to stay away from it, but I don’t think I’ll be recommending it.
Meanwhile, Posey’s 18-year-old daughter, Callie Jane, is engaged to her lifelong best friend and on track for a life of comfort and stability. The only problem is she doesn’t want any of it - the man or the picture perfect small-town life. She needs to gather courage to chase her own dreams.
What I liked about this book:
-The small-town, midcentury vibes were vivid and fun.
-Posey’s inner thoughts were at times quite funny.
-There was a great twist toward the end.
What I didn’t like:
-Something about the tone just didn’t resonate with me. It was neither dark enough nor funny enough to really feel like a dark comedy, but it wasn’t serious enough to feel like lit fic.
-None of the characters had a particularly nuanced sense of morality. It was quite apparent early on who the “good” and “bad” people were in this book and who we were supposed to be cheering for.
The premise of this book was fun, but I don’t love how it was executed. I suspect this is more about me being the wrong reader for the book than it is about the book’s overall quality. I wouldn’t necessarily advise anyone to stay away from it, but I don’t think I’ll be recommending it.
January 21, 2025
This is a debut that you can really sink your teeth into!! A messy mother-daughter relationship, a lot of gin drinking, a marriage proposal accepted but not wanted and so much more!! You will laugh, cry, scream and love these characters!!!
Posey wants to have the best of everything and is not happy with her life. When an aunt leaves her a big house, will this be here ticket to the fabulous life that she craves?? Callie Jane is the daughter that never wants to disappoint her family so she stays in small town Spark, TN even though she wants to get out and see more of the world. Will she be able to start making the decisions she wants to for herself?
Two of my favorite characters are Vern and Evangeline. Vern is married to Posey which is not an easy task but everyone in Spark loves Vern. He has a kind word for everyone. Evangeline works at the beauty shop and she is a rebel!! Love that she takes risks and says what she needs to say!!
This was definitely a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟read for me and I highly recommend that you go get this one now!! Can’t wait to read the next book by this author!!!
Posey wants to have the best of everything and is not happy with her life. When an aunt leaves her a big house, will this be here ticket to the fabulous life that she craves?? Callie Jane is the daughter that never wants to disappoint her family so she stays in small town Spark, TN even though she wants to get out and see more of the world. Will she be able to start making the decisions she wants to for herself?
Two of my favorite characters are Vern and Evangeline. Vern is married to Posey which is not an easy task but everyone in Spark loves Vern. He has a kind word for everyone. Evangeline works at the beauty shop and she is a rebel!! Love that she takes risks and says what she needs to say!!
This was definitely a 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟read for me and I highly recommend that you go get this one now!! Can’t wait to read the next book by this author!!!
February 2, 2025
I really enjoyed this Southern fiction debut. It takes place in the 1960s in a small Tennessee southern town. We have a family drama surrounding a mother, Posey Jarvis, and daughter, 18yr old Callie. They both want more out the life they're living and the direction they're going. I was expecting this to be a funny, light-hearted book, but it actually has darker undertones to it. That didn't stop my enjoyment of it though. I thought the characters were well done. Mom Posey irked me with the things she did throughout and I enjoyed Callies' character more. I loved the relationship Callie had with her father. So sweet! I also loved the 1960s timeline. I haven't read many books that take place in the 60’s. There's a bunch of side characters to keep the story moving at a quick pace and the small town drama was fun! I will definitely be reading this authors future books.
Thank you to the publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
January 6, 2026
A witty debut novel set in a small Tennessee town of Spark during the 1960. This book has great character development. The story centers on the Jarvis family: Posey, the vain, delusional, alcoholic mother, Callie Jane, her independent daughter suffering growing pains and Vern, the poor husband caught in the middle. It is full of humor, secrets, gossip and some dark moments.
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
July 20, 2024
3.5 Rounded Up
I don't know what to say about this book, but whatever the author did, it sure kept me reading!
We have a hateful, drunken main character (an adult) named Posey. Then we have her daughter, Callie Jane, a fairly spineless, at least to start, very young woman. Lastly, we have the husband and father, Vern, who is totally spineless but sticks to his word.
The book is told in two voices, Posey's and Callie Janes. It is set in 1966 with all manner of references to that time period. That was pretty cool!
Posey is living a dream in between her "nips" of gin, and she never really comes off as drunk to the reader, but the supporting cast sure knows about it!
The story is a fascinating one but leads to tragedy. This tragedy leads to Callie Jane finding her backbone and finally doing something with her life, and it also leads to Posey getting everything she deserves.
I really liked this book. It was a very fast read that you may not want to put down.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Harper Muse, the author, and NetGalley.
I don't know what to say about this book, but whatever the author did, it sure kept me reading!
We have a hateful, drunken main character (an adult) named Posey. Then we have her daughter, Callie Jane, a fairly spineless, at least to start, very young woman. Lastly, we have the husband and father, Vern, who is totally spineless but sticks to his word.
The book is told in two voices, Posey's and Callie Janes. It is set in 1966 with all manner of references to that time period. That was pretty cool!
Posey is living a dream in between her "nips" of gin, and she never really comes off as drunk to the reader, but the supporting cast sure knows about it!
The story is a fascinating one but leads to tragedy. This tragedy leads to Callie Jane finding her backbone and finally doing something with her life, and it also leads to Posey getting everything she deserves.
I really liked this book. It was a very fast read that you may not want to put down.
*ARC was supplied by the publisher, Harper Muse, the author, and NetGalley.
November 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this one.
Posey’s daughter is 18 years old and she helps her dad run their family shop in town. Posey can’t wait for Callie’s wedding to her childhood best friend. Callie’s soon to be husband is on the fast track to opening a chain of grocery stores and will make a dependable and capable husband. Posey wants Callie to have a better life than she did. She wants Callie to have a big house and lots of babies. Callie dreams of moving away from their small town in Tennessee and exploring a different way of life. Callie and Posey are complete opposites and can’t really understand each other’s point of view.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the family dynamics. This book kept surprising me. This family was full of secrets and I couldn’t put this book down.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.
Posey’s daughter is 18 years old and she helps her dad run their family shop in town. Posey can’t wait for Callie’s wedding to her childhood best friend. Callie’s soon to be husband is on the fast track to opening a chain of grocery stores and will make a dependable and capable husband. Posey wants Callie to have a better life than she did. She wants Callie to have a big house and lots of babies. Callie dreams of moving away from their small town in Tennessee and exploring a different way of life. Callie and Posey are complete opposites and can’t really understand each other’s point of view.
I enjoyed this book a lot. I loved the family dynamics. This book kept surprising me. This family was full of secrets and I couldn’t put this book down.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.
September 6, 2024
I started listening to the audio for 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 and was immediately drawn into all the family drama. I was so drawn into the story during my commute that dove right into my physical copy as soon as I got home!
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I found myself really enjoying following Callie Jane‘s story as she begins to open her eyes to the world around her and starts looking towards her own future, while finding her voice and what she wants for herself. As for Posey’s character (Callie’s mom)…man this woman gets my hackles up!
I also could not get enough of the wild drama Posey created in her own life and wondering where her next train wreck would take the story.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Duality POV
Small Tennessee Town
Southern Fiction
1960s
Family Drama
Mansion Renovation
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
This is a fast paced story that I could not get enough of!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Y’all definitely have got to dive into this gin fueled story full of atmosphere, drama and humor!
Thank you Harper Muse for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
I found myself really enjoying following Callie Jane‘s story as she begins to open her eyes to the world around her and starts looking towards her own future, while finding her voice and what she wants for herself. As for Posey’s character (Callie’s mom)…man this woman gets my hackles up!
I also could not get enough of the wild drama Posey created in her own life and wondering where her next train wreck would take the story.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Duality POV
Small Tennessee Town
Southern Fiction
1960s
Family Drama
Mansion Renovation
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
This is a fast paced story that I could not get enough of!
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
Y’all definitely have got to dive into this gin fueled story full of atmosphere, drama and humor!
Thank you Harper Muse for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 14, 2024
4.5 stars
This was a great debut. This ended up being much more than what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting a comedy, but it went a little darker. Posey is a woman who has spent her life wanting something more & not appreciating what she had. A stable home, a kind husband, & a devoted daughter. Instead she pined for years for a man who wasn’t her husband, wanting to be rich and a huge house. Well……Posey is about to learn a few things. Is she a little narcissistic? Oh, yes. Entertaining to watch her mess her life up though.
This was a great debut. This ended up being much more than what I thought it was going to be. I was expecting a comedy, but it went a little darker. Posey is a woman who has spent her life wanting something more & not appreciating what she had. A stable home, a kind husband, & a devoted daughter. Instead she pined for years for a man who wasn’t her husband, wanting to be rich and a huge house. Well……Posey is about to learn a few things. Is she a little narcissistic? Oh, yes. Entertaining to watch her mess her life up though.
August 2, 2024
This was definitely a case of not the right book for me and I feel unsettled even leaving a review.
My expectation going in based on the cover and synopsis was that it would more about a fun loving main charachter with some humor and life lessons throw. In.
It was definitely not that. The entire time I felt a mean and ungrateful undertone especially from the main character. Everything felt serious instead of lighthearted.
Thank you to the author, publisher and. NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. .
My expectation going in based on the cover and synopsis was that it would more about a fun loving main charachter with some humor and life lessons throw. In.
It was definitely not that. The entire time I felt a mean and ungrateful undertone especially from the main character. Everything felt serious instead of lighthearted.
Thank you to the author, publisher and. NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. .
July 19, 2024
I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This is easily one of my favorite books of 2024. It's funny and heartbreaking and the story flows with so much emotion and action that I hated for it to end. Definitely will read more from this author in the future!
This is easily one of my favorite books of 2024. It's funny and heartbreaking and the story flows with so much emotion and action that I hated for it to end. Definitely will read more from this author in the future!
August 26, 2024
Thank you to Harper Muse for the gifted copy of The empress of Cooke County. 4.19 stars.
The most important thing to know about this book is that it’s quite different than the marketing suggests. I saw promo material that included the phrases “brimming with wit and whimsy” and “gin-soaked escapes.” This is really not accurate. The vibes are more J. Ryan Strandal/Lessons in Chemistry than Sophie Kinsella/Jennifer Weiner. Despite the cutesy cover, it gets dark.
That said, I really enjoyed the story and think most people who go in with their expectations set accurately will too. The characters are interesting and engaging. The atmosphere is set in a way that completely pulls you into the story. I felt like a fellow Cooke County resident, walking the streets, visiting the emporium, and generally invested in the lives of the townspeople. I was shocked at the turn of events that happen toward the end of the story, but in the way townsfolk would be shocked when something unusual happens to one of their own. In other words, the story felt authentic, even in its twists.
The only thing I really didn’t like, besides the marketing, is Posey… who is admittedly a big part of the story and the primary reason for the 4 star range rating. I don’t mind awful or unlikeable characters, generally speaking — they’re often the most true to life! But in Posey’s case, unlikeable and awful are understatements. The depth of her depravity is outrageous, extreme, and unrelatable. She’s seriously delulu in a way that would make her a true sociopath in real life, but her delusions aren’t portrayed that way in the story.
Overall, excellent read that I’d recommend to fans of family dramas and historical fiction.
Audio: Brittany Presley narrates, what else do you need to know? Just kidding - she’s amazing of course! She’s performs both Posey and Callie Jane’s POVs but does a good job with varied inflection to differentiate the two. Highly recommend this one on audio!
Overall ratings
Exact star rating: 4.19
10-pt star rating: 4
5-pt star rating: 4
Attribute ratings
Characters: 3
Atmosphere/Setting: 5
Writing Style: 4
Plot/Pacing: 4.5
Intrigue: 4.5
Logic: 4.5
Enjoyment: 4
The most important thing to know about this book is that it’s quite different than the marketing suggests. I saw promo material that included the phrases “brimming with wit and whimsy” and “gin-soaked escapes.” This is really not accurate. The vibes are more J. Ryan Strandal/Lessons in Chemistry than Sophie Kinsella/Jennifer Weiner. Despite the cutesy cover, it gets dark.
That said, I really enjoyed the story and think most people who go in with their expectations set accurately will too. The characters are interesting and engaging. The atmosphere is set in a way that completely pulls you into the story. I felt like a fellow Cooke County resident, walking the streets, visiting the emporium, and generally invested in the lives of the townspeople. I was shocked at the turn of events that happen toward the end of the story, but in the way townsfolk would be shocked when something unusual happens to one of their own. In other words, the story felt authentic, even in its twists.
The only thing I really didn’t like, besides the marketing, is Posey… who is admittedly a big part of the story and the primary reason for the 4 star range rating. I don’t mind awful or unlikeable characters, generally speaking — they’re often the most true to life! But in Posey’s case, unlikeable and awful are understatements. The depth of her depravity is outrageous, extreme, and unrelatable. She’s seriously delulu in a way that would make her a true sociopath in real life, but her delusions aren’t portrayed that way in the story.
Overall, excellent read that I’d recommend to fans of family dramas and historical fiction.
Audio: Brittany Presley narrates, what else do you need to know? Just kidding - she’s amazing of course! She’s performs both Posey and Callie Jane’s POVs but does a good job with varied inflection to differentiate the two. Highly recommend this one on audio!
Overall ratings
Exact star rating: 4.19
10-pt star rating: 4
5-pt star rating: 4
Attribute ratings
Characters: 3
Atmosphere/Setting: 5
Writing Style: 4
Plot/Pacing: 4.5
Intrigue: 4.5
Logic: 4.5
Enjoyment: 4
November 24, 2024
What did I just read haha some of the characters were so lovable and then others were unbearable. I’m not sure what the author was trying to achieve or what genre this would fall into. Also on me for picking it because of the title and cover.
September 12, 2024
I was really looking forward to this one since it sounded like a fun, 1960s historical fiction romp and while there was a lot of small town Southern charm with a cast of quirky characters, this domestic dramedy was darker than I was expecting at times (mother-daughter drama, small town politics plus a murder).
The book explores wealth, identity, love and finding the courage to chase after one's dreams even though it might go against parental expectations and was good on audio narrated by one of my favs, Brittany Pressley. Somehow though it just felt a little flat for me. Okay but not great maybe owing to it being a me thing or a wrong mood, wrong time thing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Worth a read but I wouldn't rush to recommend it.
The book explores wealth, identity, love and finding the courage to chase after one's dreams even though it might go against parental expectations and was good on audio narrated by one of my favs, Brittany Pressley. Somehow though it just felt a little flat for me. Okay but not great maybe owing to it being a me thing or a wrong mood, wrong time thing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Worth a read but I wouldn't rush to recommend it.
October 14, 2024
Thank you HarperCollins Focus - Harper Muse for allowing me to read and review The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman on NetGalley.
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Published: 09/03/24
Stars: 4.5
Grabbed me right away and ran my emotions through the gamut. Pressley performed beautifully and enhanced the storytelling. She and Parman teamed well.
The synopsis is clear. The characters are well done. Each had their role and played perfectly.
I found this mostly entertaining. There are a few spots where perhaps I should feel sorry or bad for a character; however, I didn't but I did find the moments cringe worthy. Life sometimes is what you make it.
I recommend this wholeheartedly. It is hours of fun with a couple lessons to ponder. I look forward to her next book.
Narrator: Brittany Pressley
Published: 09/03/24
Stars: 4.5
Grabbed me right away and ran my emotions through the gamut. Pressley performed beautifully and enhanced the storytelling. She and Parman teamed well.
The synopsis is clear. The characters are well done. Each had their role and played perfectly.
I found this mostly entertaining. There are a few spots where perhaps I should feel sorry or bad for a character; however, I didn't but I did find the moments cringe worthy. Life sometimes is what you make it.
I recommend this wholeheartedly. It is hours of fun with a couple lessons to ponder. I look forward to her next book.
September 8, 2024
This was such a good read!
I loved the relationship dynamics of the family, the retro small town setting, and the characters of this book. I think most people from a small town can relate to the “stuck” feeling of both Posey and Callie Jane, and I really appreciated Vern as a character. The addition of a Peeping Tom to a small town filled with gossips really added to the story, and it added almost a levity to the story with the way “news” spread through the town.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and finished it in a day!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this audio ARC!
I loved the relationship dynamics of the family, the retro small town setting, and the characters of this book. I think most people from a small town can relate to the “stuck” feeling of both Posey and Callie Jane, and I really appreciated Vern as a character. The addition of a Peeping Tom to a small town filled with gossips really added to the story, and it added almost a levity to the story with the way “news” spread through the town.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and finished it in a day!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this audio ARC!
August 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book
For fans of “The Tobacco Wives” and author Meagan Church
Callie Jane and her mother Posey both want something more for themselves than their lives in Stark, TN - but how they go about achieving their dreams is very different!
Callie Jane’s relationship with her father is so sweet and a main focus of the story. Posey’s grand plans for cementing her status as a self-proclaimed socialite backfire on her. I loved the setting and the time period - I will definitely be recommending this book upon publication, and will be sure to read the author’s future novels
For fans of “The Tobacco Wives” and author Meagan Church
Callie Jane and her mother Posey both want something more for themselves than their lives in Stark, TN - but how they go about achieving their dreams is very different!
Callie Jane’s relationship with her father is so sweet and a main focus of the story. Posey’s grand plans for cementing her status as a self-proclaimed socialite backfire on her. I loved the setting and the time period - I will definitely be recommending this book upon publication, and will be sure to read the author’s future novels
August 9, 2025
This book is a hot delusional mess. Loved it!
November 16, 2024
Surprise! This wasn’t the light, comedic read I was expecting.
We’re transported back to a small southern town in the mid 1960s, which is an era I love to read about. As is still true today, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and appearances and status matter a lot more than they should, especially to certain people.
Posey is one of those people. She’s pretentious and insufferable, but also deeply troubled and almost desperate for approval.
Then we have Callie Jane, her young adult daughter, who is a nonconforming spitfire. I really liked and felt for her.
This mother-daughter dynamic is, of course, a recipe for disaster.
THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY takes on some heavy topics, interspersed with light and sweet moments.
*Thanks to Harper Muse for the free copy, provided for a tour with BiblioLifestyle.*
We’re transported back to a small southern town in the mid 1960s, which is an era I love to read about. As is still true today, everyone knows everyone else’s business, and appearances and status matter a lot more than they should, especially to certain people.
Posey is one of those people. She’s pretentious and insufferable, but also deeply troubled and almost desperate for approval.
Then we have Callie Jane, her young adult daughter, who is a nonconforming spitfire. I really liked and felt for her.
This mother-daughter dynamic is, of course, a recipe for disaster.
THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY takes on some heavy topics, interspersed with light and sweet moments.
*Thanks to Harper Muse for the free copy, provided for a tour with BiblioLifestyle.*
Read
September 5, 2024I really enjoyed this Southern tale of love, betrayal, and murder. While set in the 1960s, it wasn’t focused on the historical details but incorporated them in a way that was seamless in telling the story. I absolutely loved the “southernisms” - the funny phrases and quirky characters with which everyone who grew up in the South is familiar. I laughed out loud at some of the things said!
The story is serious, though, with a frustrated woman in midlife who will stop at nothing to get what she wants and her daughter who is trying to find her voice. I loved most of the characters and thought they were well developed. There was just one little storyline that wasn’t for me, but otherwise, it was a well plotted and rollicking Southern tale that I read in one sitting! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.
The story is serious, though, with a frustrated woman in midlife who will stop at nothing to get what she wants and her daughter who is trying to find her voice. I loved most of the characters and thought they were well developed. There was just one little storyline that wasn’t for me, but otherwise, it was a well plotted and rollicking Southern tale that I read in one sitting! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.
August 29, 2024
ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 𝔽𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥: 𝐸-𝐵𝑜𝑜𝓀 & 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝟑.𝟓 ⭐️ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎𝐬. 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 (𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 (𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞).
𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝! 𝐈 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬-𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝒩𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑜𝓃, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝓊𝓈𝑒, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝐹𝑜𝒸𝓊𝓈, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: 𝟑.𝟓 ⭐️ 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐩𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟎𝐬. 𝐓𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐲-𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐬 (𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 (𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐬, 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞).
𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒎𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒚 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝! 𝐈 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬-𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲.
𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓉𝑜 𝒯𝒽𝑜𝓂𝒶𝓈 𝒩𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑜𝓃, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝑀𝓊𝓈𝑒, 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓅𝑒𝓇 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝒾𝓃𝓈 𝐹𝑜𝒸𝓊𝓈, & 𝒩𝑒𝓉𝒢𝒶𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓎 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒜𝑅𝒞! 𝒜𝓁𝓁 𝑜𝓅𝒾𝓃𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓂𝓎 𝑜𝓌𝓃.
October 2, 2025
This book surprised me a lot, I assumed it would be a cheesy romcom but it was actually a tragic portrait of a bitter, delusional wife but ultimately the beautiful relationship between a devoted father and his daughter. Bittersweet read
November 3, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an audio ARC of this book. All thoughts/opinions are my own.
I absolutely loved the sickeningly sweet Southern charm of this novel! It was so much darker than I expected and that was exactly what it needed. I did find it mostly predictable but not in a bad way, more in a "I can't wait to see how this goes down" way. This book felt like I was getting all the tea and I was there for it.
This would make a great movie.
I absolutely loved the sickeningly sweet Southern charm of this novel! It was so much darker than I expected and that was exactly what it needed. I did find it mostly predictable but not in a bad way, more in a "I can't wait to see how this goes down" way. This book felt like I was getting all the tea and I was there for it.
This would make a great movie.
April 9, 2025
Don't let the cover fool you. This is a very sad, heavy book.
The last 5% of the book was my favorite and what redeemed it for me.
The last 5% of the book was my favorite and what redeemed it for me.
January 13, 2025
This cover (which I think is adorable) makes this book seem like lighter content than it is. It’s hard to classify the genre. It takes place in the 1960s, but I would say it’s southern fiction.
Posey wants to be a rich southern Tennessee housewife, an empress of Cooke County. But she is married to a man who owns a general story and is content in the house he grew up in. She tries to marry off her daughter to a guy from a great family, so she will have a better life, but her daughter Callie Jane isn’t sure marriage is what she wants right now. Callie Jane works for her dad and tries to follow her mom’s rules, but she also wants to become her own person.
Chapters alternate between Callie Jane and Posey’s perspective. The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Presley.
I loved the father daughter relationship. The hair and a few other descriptions kept taking me back to the 1960s, which helped me remember the times. If you love a small town southern story, this is one to consider. Check triggers possibly, if you have them, this does have a couple.
“People remember Victoria as only a queen, but she was an empress, which is the only thing better than being a queen,”… “When you’re a queen, you rule the country, but when you’re an empress, you rule the world.”
…
“I can’t impress Cooke County with a beat-up truck.”
…
“…her mother had to “empress” the whole county.”
“…moniker was for her mother: the Empress of Cooke County. Nothing was ever good enough, and appearances were valued way more than the truth.” P19-20
“The Empress (tarot card) embodied abundance and success. What Callie Jane had was an unfulfilling life orchestrated by her parents, her fiancé, and even her future mother-in-law, all of whom had more ideas for her life than she had for her own.” Ch 4
“You and I were both a mess, trying to make everybody else happy, even though it’d mean we were miserable.”ch 22
Posey wants to be a rich southern Tennessee housewife, an empress of Cooke County. But she is married to a man who owns a general story and is content in the house he grew up in. She tries to marry off her daughter to a guy from a great family, so she will have a better life, but her daughter Callie Jane isn’t sure marriage is what she wants right now. Callie Jane works for her dad and tries to follow her mom’s rules, but she also wants to become her own person.
Chapters alternate between Callie Jane and Posey’s perspective. The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Presley.
I loved the father daughter relationship. The hair and a few other descriptions kept taking me back to the 1960s, which helped me remember the times. If you love a small town southern story, this is one to consider. Check triggers possibly, if you have them, this does have a couple.
“People remember Victoria as only a queen, but she was an empress, which is the only thing better than being a queen,”… “When you’re a queen, you rule the country, but when you’re an empress, you rule the world.”
…
“I can’t impress Cooke County with a beat-up truck.”
…
“…her mother had to “empress” the whole county.”
“…moniker was for her mother: the Empress of Cooke County. Nothing was ever good enough, and appearances were valued way more than the truth.” P19-20
“The Empress (tarot card) embodied abundance and success. What Callie Jane had was an unfulfilling life orchestrated by her parents, her fiancé, and even her future mother-in-law, all of whom had more ideas for her life than she had for her own.” Ch 4
“You and I were both a mess, trying to make everybody else happy, even though it’d mean we were miserable.”ch 22
September 3, 2025
This group of characters living in 1960’s rural Tennessee charmed me from the beginning. I enjoyed the southern humor and beauty shop gossip at the “Curly Q”! Posey was the villain, filled with determination, grit and backbone—but no heart. Callie Jane and Vern were kind and loving, but passive and resigned to Posey’s temperament. With each chapter, we were introduced to more Spark residents, including Callie Jane’s best friend Trace, new-girl-in-town Evangeline, and the beauty shop crowd.
The story took a turn when Posey inherited her Aunt’s mansion and I enjoyed following the progress of “Cold Spring”. Unfortunately, Posey’s character grew darker with desperation and Callie Jane and Vern were pushed to grow stronger (and more likable).
There were a lot of lessons to take away from Empress, not least of all the destructive powers of greed and alcoholism. The humor vanished as Posey’s mansion became Class-Reunion-Ready.
Reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
The story took a turn when Posey inherited her Aunt’s mansion and I enjoyed following the progress of “Cold Spring”. Unfortunately, Posey’s character grew darker with desperation and Callie Jane and Vern were pushed to grow stronger (and more likable).
There were a lot of lessons to take away from Empress, not least of all the destructive powers of greed and alcoholism. The humor vanished as Posey’s mansion became Class-Reunion-Ready.
Reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for review.
September 28, 2024
This was a very fun read, and sure there is a little tragedy thrown in towards the end but overall it was a joy to read. It's about a mother and daughter who are so very different in personality and temperament that they don't know what to do with each other. Posey, the mother figure is shallow and conniving but I still liked her because she was so self unaware that she was funny. Calle Jane, Posey's daughter is the polar opposite of her mother and has to learn to stand up for herself to realize her own happiness. I loved that the story is based in the south, I love good southern fiction. I highly recommend this delightful and heart felt story by Elizabeth Bass Parman. 5 solid stars.
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