Lunch Ladies

by Jodi Thompson Carr

A story of love, loss, redemption...and a parade.

For lovers of women’s fiction with characters who linger long after the close of a book, Lunch Ladies immerses readers in lives and relationships that are joyful, troubled, and emotionally charged. Characters’ intertwined lives, their dreams and heartbreaks, their histories, and their secrets, emerge as this story develops with startling honesty and depth.

Lunch Ladies offers a spot-on depiction of the 1970’s in small-town America. As the book opens, it's 1976 and there's a bicentennial parade in the works. Is this a task for the school district's lunch ladies? Their answer would be "no." And yet Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila find themselves crafting food stands to feed parade goers, come the Fourth of July.

Crystal has other things to do: matching lonely travelers from the newspaper obituaries with kind souls still living. Coralene doesn't need this nonsense. She has a home and family, and a nephew she must save before it's too late. Is it already too late for Sheila? Her safe harbor is a booth at Denny's on Friday nights, with the only person who might help her move beyond her past.

Lunch Ladies serves up a poignant, tender, and humorous view of the flawed and fascinating citizens of Hanley. Peppered with wit and insight, the book captures the absurdities of family and community life, while revealing the humanity of those who've been lost, or left behind.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2024

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

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This book reminded me so much of Fanny Flagg's writing style and I loved it. This one takes place in Hanley, Minnesota. We get different points of view from the three main female characters and some of their family. We also get different timelines from earlier in their lives as well which gives us the back story of important events in each main character's life.

And just like Flagg's writing the story is full of humour. It's about the community as a whole and the individual community members. The author created such a wonderful story here with small-town charm and a few goofy characters, but more serious topics are also involved. There's plenty of death and loss, but that's just life and it doesn't make the book depressing in any way.

The best part of this book was the author's delivery of complex human characters and their various relationships. Thompson Carr's book is written with compassion, and because of that, her characters are true to life. She writes an entertaining tale while taking on important social commentary. This is about working women in 1976 Minnesota and these characters will stay with me for a long time. I remember my mom going back to work in the 70s.

This book surprised me in the best way possible, it was heartwarming and enjoyable a wonderful debut that has me asking what will Jodi Thompson Carr come up with next.

All three leads are lunch ladies and I couldn't help but think of Chris Farley dancing to Lunch Lady Land. Hoagies and Grinders Anyone?


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Hanley, Minnesota is Adam Sandler’s ‘Lunch Lady Land’, a place where remarkably unremarkable things happen. Despite their recent promotion, Crystal, Coralene and Sheila, three lunch ladies from across the district, are the corps de ballet for Minnesota’s public school system.

Author Jodi Thompson Carr cautions us from disregarding their power or influence and highlights these three women and their role in pulling off a successful community event. Like the corps de ballet who are positioned behind the principal dancers and often overlooked, these lunch ladies play a crucial role in the community celebration. Each woman has experienced loss and is responding to grief in a different way. This response has shaped their choices and their relationships. In a school kitchen, they may all blend together in a sea of white, but in the spotlight, readers see them for who they’ve become as a result of this pain and value them for the important role they provide.

Despite the author’s reliance on the storyline rather than the storytelling at times, I appreciated an examination of how illness, aging and end-of-life affect us all. I was intrigued by the concept of “rescuing travelers from the obituary page and finding them suitable companions” and reached for my journal to record the picture the author painted when Sheila explained how someone ‘frequented a spare room’ in her mind, arrived unexpectedly, overstayed his welcome, and left a mess.” I took heed and will make an effort to banish these types of visitors in the future; they always take rather than give. I don’t need to make room for them!

In an increasingly self-centered world, this focus on community was a welcome read.

I was gifted this copy by Century House Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Di · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the outset, it seems that is book is about 3 Lunch Ladies who were promoted out of cafeterias, into an office. They are overseeing the food choices and menu planning.

But it's also about a whole town planning the Bicentennial Parade in 1976. The three Lunch Ladies are in each in charge of different food tables at the the end of the parade. They work hard to achieve their goal.

And, it's also about community, family, friendship, compassion, loneliness and so much more. It's not all happiness and fun. While some moments bring a smile into the reader's mind there are moments of sadness too.

The story takes place in Minnesota. A fellow reviewer mentioned that the characters remind her of those in Fannie Flagg's books. She is right. They are unique and quirky characters.

The events at the end of the book were a total surprise for me.

I do have one negative about the book. There are too many similar names and names that start with C. I found that confusing at times. They are:
Coralene (sometimes called Cora or Cory)
Decora
Coravelle (sometimes called Velly)
Crystal

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lunch Ladies by Jodi Thompson Carr contains all the ingredients for the perfect book. Not only did it grip my brain and heart within seconds but it held me captive until the last words. It's been percolating in my thoughts since and (thankfully) won't let go. In fact, it feels as though the author wrote it for me! It is THAT phenomenal. Carr insightfully writes a rich cast of fascinating characters with real traits and foibles as they live their moments in sorrow, joy, illness, disappointment, fear, wonderment, weighty loneliness, love and hope. The writing is sweet, kind (yes, that is possible!), warm, funny, tender and original. The foods and social mores of the 1970s are vivid and evoke nostalgia and the flashbacks to 1948 are wonderfully incorporated. Human nature and emotions are exquisitely detailed such as the bus ride descriptions, various friendships, marriage idiosyncracies, snippets of the past, matchmaking and raw pain of deep sorrow. Oh, how I loved it! My heart felt the gamut of emotions along with the characters as I laughed and shed tears.

Set in Hanley, Minnesota, the story is about lunch ladies Crystal, Coralene and Sheila, their friends and families. Getting to know the endearing ladies plus Tanner, Caroline, Jasper, Leonora, Sheila, Lexie, Tom, Darcy, the other Coras...pure pleasure. They enjoy their quirky routines, independence and sometimes acknowledging their reliance on each other. They pull together to create a memorable Fourth of July parade, share special moments and check up on each other. Details such as clever life metaphors, charming physical attributes, recognizing when we've been less than stellar, chapter quotes, letters, memos and the author's notes elevate the story from a five star to a five plus!

If you enjoy reading about ordinary life through the lenses of others, this gem has your name on it. It is sure to top my favourites of 2024 list.

My sincere thank you to Century House Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this extraordinarily wise novel. Those who have yet to read it for the first time are in for a treat!

[Janet | purrfectpages]

Lunch Ladies introduces us to three different women, Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila. The trio all work in the lunch department of a school in small town Minnesota. It’s the summer of 1976 and the women are tasked with preparing food for the town’s bicentennial parade.

Although the ladies preparation for the event is one aspect of the story, the deeper focus is on the women themselves, all struggling with varying aspects of everyday life. But the refreshing thing about this debut is how it highlights middle aged women-a group often forgotten in stories or relegated as merry mothers or side characters.
Instead, as this story the unfolds, these women grieve the lives they left behind, the paths they didn't follow, and their uncertain futures.

A quiet slice of life story rounded out by quirky characters and cognizant charm, Lunch Ladies serves up a unique perspective of living in small town America in a simpler time.

[Becky Fann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes life is hard and good people are tested in ways that perhaps aren't fair and can't be foreseen. This book unfolds at a wonderful pace, allowing us to get to know the characters slowly and fully both in the present and the past. Lives intertwine as they so often do in small towns or communities, coming together to create something special.

Suggestion to those reading would be to make note of the characters as they are introduced. It will help you keep track of who is who and how they relate to the whole.

[dianas_books_cars_coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The small town of Hanley, MN, is gearing up for their bicentennial parade. It's 1976, and the school district's lunch ladies, Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila, are tasked with setting up food stands for the parade goers on the 4th of July. They have other things that are more important to take care of, like their families and friends, but they still get the job done.

Told in multiple POVs and multiple timelines, this book was sweet and entertaining. This is a character driven story filled with complex characters that I loved getting to know. Coralene and Jasper's relationship and family dynamics. Crystal's quirky matches of people from the obituaries with people who are still alive and Sheila's Friday nights at Denny's talking to Lexie. I was so engrossed in their lives that I didn't want to put this book down. It was a well-written, heartwarming story about family, friendship, loss, and community. This is the author's debut, and I'm excited to see what she'll come out with next. I would most definitely recommend this book!

[Regina Casterline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved learning about each of the characters in this book. Reminded me of Claire Lombardo’s first book or “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett. Engaging and fun - took a little bit of effort to become invested in each character but once you did you loved them each for their strengths and also their shortcomings.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a character driven book, so this was a delight for me to read! Lunch Ladies transported me to 1976 when polyester was in fashion and food was for comfort. This book made me laugh, cry, and think. I cannot wait to talk about it with my book club!

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoilers: Jodi Thompson Carr’s Lunch Ladies is a tasty delightful treat that pays tribute to the unsung heroes of every school dining experience, the cafeteria workers. Through their cooking, serving, and cleaning up, they make sure that every kid has at least one hot meal a day. Now with Free Lunch programs being held under scrutiny, their role within academic settings is even more important and should be all the more recognized. This book is a lovely pleasant experience of a few weeks spent exploring the inner lives of various characters, particularly three protagonists who work at the Hanley School District’s lunch department in Hanley, Minnesota.

It's almost time for the 4th of July festivities during the Bicentennial of 1976 and the women of the lunch department are preparing for this event while serving daily meals and dealing with their own problems.

Crystal has an unusual hobby. She scours obituaries mentally matching the recently deceased up with the living, therefore creating couples in her imagination. Her active fantasy life and imagination is a distraction from her conflicts with her aging grandmother and troubled niece.

Coralene is happily married to her husband, Jasper. Her simple life is about to become complicated when her wayward nephew, Tanner moves in.

Sheila lives a life of routine, eating at the same places, watching the same shows, and indulging in her independence and predictability. That predictability goes through a severe change when she reunites with a former acquaintance only to find herself falling in love with him.

Lunch Ladies is one of those types of novels that isn't really about anything. Well no, it's about various things like love, separation, family, and death but the focus is not so much about what happens than who is affected by these circumstances. It's a few months in the lives of these characters as they deal with the various shake ups in their lives. There's enough quirky charm and harsh drama to make the Reader like, even love, these characters as they go through these shake ups.

It's the kind of book that has details that are almost too precious to be ignored like character names for example. Coralene and most of the female members of her family have names that are variations of Cora-Cora, Coralene, Coravelle, DeCora, etc.-I would comment some more but the names “Edsel” and “Jean” are frequent on my mother's side of the family, the Riopelles.

Crystal’s late mother's name was Pearl and she had a twin sister named Ruby. Crystal's grandmother and niece lucked out by being named Leonora and Darcy respectively. (Too bad, Emerald and Sapphire or Diamond and Amethyst would have been pretty.)

There are three sisters on the Bicentennial parade committee nicknamed, Hi, Lo, and Glad. Sheila catches the attraction of a named Tom Downlane (He joked that he's “Tom who lives Down the Lane.”) One of Crystal's obituary projects is named Roger Squirrel. The names reveal the idiosyncrasies of the characters.

The characters have little traits and quirks that make them stand out and Readers infer and learn who these people are just by their thoughts and mannerisms. Crystal's obituary reading/matchmaking is certainly very strange but leads to much speculation. Perhaps she is a firm believer in life after death and wants some sign that it's possible. Maybe she is obsessed with death and wants to meet it head on. The strongest possibility is that she is in search of a story.

Crystal is unable to take any type of charge in her life. She works at a hard job with little recognition or pay. Her mother and aunt died. Her grandmother is losing her faculties. She is at odds with her niece, Darcy who calls her out on her lack of attention to the real world around her. Crystal’s only means of escape are inside the little matchmaking fantasies inside her head. They are the only ways that she can connect and truly feel like she contributed something to someone. Inside her head is where she finds freedom and involvement.

While Crystal’s headspace is where she finds comfort, Coralene looks more outward. She wears loud printed pants suits to be seen as more modern, willing to change but still do her job. She is a very central force within her family and community. She is a warm nucleus that draws others in, particularly Tanner.

Tanner has had a difficult life with his neglectful parents. He can be polite and soft spoken but also carries a lot of anger and resentment. This attitude plus his dubious reputation adds some strife into Coralene 's home, life, and marriage. He has never been close to someone who has natural warmth like Coralene so he doesn't know what to do with it, nor does she know how to react to it. However, Coralene and Tanner are both decent enough people that the love is present even when they are at odds.

Sheila is the oldest of the trio and probably the most regretful. She is a former English teacher who had a previous romance but now has a rigid private life. She goes to the same Denny's every day to the point that she befriends Lexi, the young server. She corrects the girl’s grammar, answers her questions about life and love, and gives her anecdotes from her teaching career. That she has a close intergenerational friendship with someone who would normally be a casual acquaintance shows Sheila’s awareness that her independent life comes with strings like loneliness and emotional instincts that are aching to be filled.

Her late in life romance should be a breath of fresh air, a late flaming roar of passion. Instead it unnerves and confuses her, asking more questions than answers. It forces her to confront her feelings of love and mortality. For a woman whose life became rigid routine and living vicariously through acquaintanceship with others, Sheila can't handle the deep emotional chasms, the countering attachments, and rapid disruptions that this relationship brings to her.

The Hanley setting leads a lot to the book’s characterization. It's a small town where everything, even the seemingly most minor issues become big deals. Everyone is involved with the Bicentennial from designing floats, preparing catering services, planning themes. The changes in the lunch department becomes a source of conflict as Sheila wants to survey students and faculty over the food choices and portions. This book shows that line between networking and annoyance where it's nice to have a support system when one needs help but it can also be suffocating because everyone is in everybody's face and in everybody's way.

Also while Hanley looks idyllic, that might be on the surface. Some characters like the slow pace and friendly neighbors but others are just used to it. Characters like Crystal and Sheila are so used to their routines, hobbies, and mindsets that they don't have any desire to aspire for something different. Why dream of getting away? There are bills to pay, shows to watch, kids to raise, committees to join, lunches to cook, and obituaries to read. Hanley is a comfort zone that they benignly accept. It's not a bad place, just ordinary, regular, typical, nice, and pleasant.

There is an edge to the book that keeps it from being too copying or schmaltzy. That edge is hinted at in some of the character's subplots though not deeply explored until late in the book. Something terrible happens that jolts the characters out of their complacency and personal conflicts. It seems to come unexpectedly though, it was subtly hinted throughout the book.

This incident forces the characters to come out of those benign comfort zones that they built around themselves, to make great changes, and to reshape their lives. Like many hard times, the characters’ strength and resilience comes through because of the events around them.

Lunch Ladies is filled with memorable characters and a setting that can be sweet and harsh, funny and tear jerking, vulnerable and strong, charming and realistic, beautiful and tragic. It is a delectable feast of great emotion.

[Kristens.reading.nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some might be missing a person or have someone who isn’t blood. Some families are dull. That’s not bad though, dull people keep life calm. Having a child in a family, that’s wonderful. I have a little girl. But for real family, you have to have a sister. Sisters are the best. Sisters are forever.” - Ruby Bridges

I think that quote, included in Lunch Ladies encapsulates so much of the story. There are all types of families represented among the lunch ladies but the bond of sisterhood among them, even when they fight against it, really shines through. Part historical fiction, part family drama, Lunch Ladies was a delight to sink into the dynamics of small town life in 1976 as the community prepares for the country’s bicentennial.

Rating:
I liked it

What you’ll find:
Family dynamics
Small town relationships
Humor

Thank you to the author and TLC Book Tours for the gifted copy.

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

1976, Hanley, Minnesota. The small town is buzzing with excitement regarding the upcoming Bicentennial Parade. Surely, they have capable volunteers for this. Still, three of the school district’s lunch ladies end up organizing food for the event. Will their lack of experience hinder the big celebration, or will these lunch ladies conquer their new roles?

Planning the parade isn’t the only challenge they have to overcome. Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila grapple with loneliness, family drama, and buried grief. Much of Crystal’s week involves poring over obituaries and finding a living match for the deceased. Unmarried and childless, Sheila spends her Friday nights at Denny’s alone, mulling over the past, and Coralene is desperate to keep her nephew out of trouble.

“Lunch Ladies” by Jodi Thompson Carr is a literary masterpiece—a beautifully written story woven with richly complex characters that pull on your heartstrings. Set in the quaint town of Hanley, Minnesota, the author explores the connections between the cast of quirky personalities by alternating perspectives and delivering a novel brimming with emotionally driven dialogue. Despite the heavier, sometimes poignant topics explored, the writing will fill readers with a sense of hope as friendship, love, and resilience fill the pages.

There is so much to love about this novel. From the witty banter between characters to the moments of quiet reflection where the characters’ internal dialogue begins to feel like your own, the author has deftly lured readers in with her clever prose. The humdrum of daily life offers little variety, and the lunch ladies lumber on going through the motions. But the mundanity of routines is interrupted when the parade demands their attention. Suddenly, uncomfortable feelings, feelings that have been meticulously packed away, begin to surface, forcing the characters to confront them. Decades-long resentments, unresolved grief, and heartache shake the lunch ladies’ foundations.

If you love a small-town vibe rife with quirky characters, then you won’t want to miss Jodi Thompson Carr’s “Lunch Ladies.” With plenty of giggle-inducing moments and just as many that will bring tears to your eyes, the emotional story will spark conversation and further reflection. It inspired me to take stock of my life and challenge the things holding me back. This feel-good novel will resonate with many and is perfect for reading on your own or with a book club.

[what.rincy.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blurb :
Sheila, Crystal and Coralene, three women working in the school system have been tasked with arranging food for the bicentennial parade in Hanley for the 4th of July. Coming up with various ideas along with their own troubles at home, these women put together a good act. Crystal, always a loner, picks up this habit of matching people from obituaries to travellers, who she considers to be their travelling partner for their life after. Sheila, who has never gotten over her first love, finds out he has passed away. Would that make her do something extreme? Or would she finally move on?
Coralene with her beautiful family, has known nothing but joy and kindness, but is in a pickle when it comes to her nephew Tanner who always finds himself in trouble.
But the ladies manage to make the even a success, keeping both community and family their priority, overcoming all the difficulties that life threw at them.
My Thoughts :
Lunch Ladies is a quirky, humurous attempt at bringing the struggles of the women who are considered ordinary and not so important. It is a character driven book that brings out the personalities of each of the characters in the book. When you read about the lives of each of the women, you see the important events that shaped their lives, their emotions. It's not just about preparing for the 4th of July parade, but about the ways their lives unravel with the unexpected twists and turns. It was overall a great read about perseverance, self sufficiency and independence of women who we sometimes perceive as ordinary.
Overall a sweet read giving you all the feels of family and community.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, a mark of a great storyteller is taking real life, all its minutiae and mundane details, and weaving a tale that draws you in and pulls at your heart. That is precisely what Jodi Thompson Carr achieves in 𝐋𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬.

Three ladies, Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila—the lunch ladies—are tasked with putting together food stands for the bicentennial parade (it’s 1976). It's not a difficult job, but these ladies have more important things to tend to.

What made this story so unputdownable for me was first, the characters. I’m a fan of quirky and endearing characters, and these lunch ladies grabbed my heart - from Sheila who spends her Friday nights in a booth at Denny’s restaurant, to Crystal who does this matchmaking thing with people in obituaries with friendly people among the living. As we learn about their lives, their loves and their heartaches, it was impossible not to become attached.

Secondly, I was so impressed by the author’s writing. The phrasing and wording are beautiful and emotive, yet not overly verbose or wordy. The writing is also peppered with humor and relatable sentiments.


𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬, 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱.

Thank you @tlcbooktours and @jodithompsoncarr for the gifted book.

[Celeste Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is anchored around preparations for the bicentennial parade in Hanley, Minnesota. It’s 1976 and three ladies are tasked with creating a float and food for the parade crowds. The story line intertwines between their personal lives and their involvement in the parade. The author explores difficult life events where she follows the lives of these three former lunch ladies who now work in their local school district’s nutrition services.

I really enjoyed the nostalgia of the story, the period setting and the characters. While I loved the story, I felt a bit overwhelmed by the number of characters, and the multiple story lines attached to each character’s family. I had to take notes in the beginning to keep track. However, once I had all the families mapped out, I could enjoy the flow of the developing story.

I enjoy a book where I feel connected to a character’s experiences. I felt like I was part of their stories, and that I could relate to their struggles and triumphs.

Theme: 70’s Nostalgia in America

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love quirky characters that make you smile, you’ll like this book. But don’t let the funny fool you, there are themes of forgiveness, grief, loneliness, and friendship that hit the heart.

It's 1976 and the school district’s “lunch ladies”—Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila—are tasked with planning food stands for the town’s Fourth of July parade. But each woman has something else she’d rather concentrate on. Crystal likes to match people who have died with a living soul to guide them. Coralene is focused on her family, especially a nephew who needs saving. And Sheila? Well, Sheila’s past is a weight she can’t seem to shed.

With tender strokes, the author paints distinct portraits of lives that can be easily overlooked. Witty, insightful, and humorous, Lunch Ladies’ power comes from its ordinariness, those familiar absurdities that middle-aged, non-celebrities negotiate daily.

Thank you to Century House Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

[Megan Vallor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lunch Ladies" is an interesting novel because while there is little plot there is a lot of character development. It causes the reader to reflect on thr personal lives, emotions, pasts, and perspectives of those around them. Despite all of the women in the story preparing for the same event, the Bicentennial parade, they are each navigating the day (and their lives) in separate ways. Much like their view on the parade, each woman also faces loss and heartache with a different perspective. This book causes a reader to look deeper at the seemingly ordinary people around us (yes even Lunch ladies) to better understand their stories. What has shaped them? What lies in their past? What is their support system like? Lunch Ladies proves that the culmination of these questions is what makes each of us unique.

[Charlie Helton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a blend of fiction and historical fiction, driven by its richly developed characters. It follows three lunch ladies who work together but aren't necessarily friends, delving into their lives, relationships, and personal struggles. Set in a small American town in 1976, the story unfolds against the backdrop of the country's bicentennial celebration on July 4th. Through their histories, connections with loved ones, dreams, regrets, heartaches, and long-held secrets, the narrative weaves a heartfelt and engaging tale. The story brings moments of laughter, deep emotion, and touching revelations as these women and those around them navigate the complexities of life, from family and friendships to workplace dynamics. This was an incredibly entertaining read—one that had me smiling big at times and tearing up at others. I truly enjoyed it!

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was refreshingly unique. It had the flavor or southern authors, but it's set in Minnesota (who have some of the nicest people!)
Three lunch ladies are tasked with creating a role in a celebration for the bicentennial.

As the event planning proceeds, we learn about the lives the women have led, their history, and what they hope for their futures.

This is told with all of them experiencing grief, of different kinds. We see that everyone is shaped by their past and present.

This book has humor. made me reflect, and had a calming factor as I read. I loved it.

Thank you to Century House Press and Net Galley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #CenturyHousePress #LunchLadies #JodiThompsonCarr

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story is set in Minnesota about Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila that work in a school district's lunch ladies in 1976. They are tasked to set up food stands for the Bicentennial parade on July 4. Their boss is a bumbling idiot who does not help the cause.

This book is well-written, and the character development is on point. I enjoyed this book very much. It was an easy read, well organized, and funny at times. I will recommend this to my friends.

As other reviewers stated, this reminds me of a Fannie Flagg novel. And that's a good thing.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes me right back to my childhood in the 1970s. Set in Hanley, Minnesota Jodi Thompson Carr transports you back to a simpler time. Three ladies, lunch ladies, are in charge of food tables at the end of the 1976 Bi-Centennial Parade. They work extremely hard to make this a great function for their town. This book is about the parade but it's also about family and the relationships the women have. This is such a great read. I had a hard time putting it down and I was terribly sad when I came to the end. I wanted more. Sometimes you read something and it just sticks with you. This is one of those books. You won't be disappointed if you read this gem of a book.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this literary, historical fiction book and the fascinating dialogues that made it possible. This book made me smile with the subtle humors and emotional moments during Crystal, Coraline and Sheila’s journeys throughout the book. This amazing one is packed with all sorts of interesting and unique moments that essentially made me feel the different emotions while reading it. 1976 felt like centuries away instead of decades, but the complexity of the characters and the story gave me the warm and fuzzy feeling. I really reveled in this one and I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy this too.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning 6 months before the country's bicentennial, this is theoretically the story of three women who worked as lunch ladies and now run the cafeterias for their school district in a small town in Minnesota. They have been tasked with preparing food for the 4th of July parade. And, the book centers on them. But, throughout the book, others they interact with are introduced and examined resulting in an overall look at the entire town. While normally this might not appeal to me, I found myself enjoying the small town life and Ms. Carr's way to bring a sly humor and a little bittersweetness to the story.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm usually reading Sci Fi and mystery fiction, but I also love a good piece of assigned reading from friends. This is how I found Waiting for Bernadette, The Life of Pi, Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet and The Book Thief (leading to Zusak's I am the Messenger).

I was hooked from the beginning, rushing to finish reading and also disappointed to get to the end. Leonora and Coralene are so relatable, they feel like friends, and the writing is somehow both highly descriptive and brisk. Quietly quirky.

Loved it!

[CHenry Roi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you—what seems like a simple setup about three women organizing a parade turns into something deeper and more emotional. The friendships feel authentic, the small-town dynamics are spot on, and the struggles these women face—grief, love, change—are handled with honesty and warmth. I could picture every scene like I was right there with them, sneaking bites of parade snacks and navigating the drama. It's a book that made me smile, tear up a little, and think about how much strength women carry quietly every day.

[Debbie Carley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book for so many reasons. I got to know the characters and
the little town they lived in. It took me back to the small town I grew up in.
The book tells the story of three lunch ladies in Minnesota in 1976. They are tasked with planning the food for the crowd as well as a float for the upcoming bicentennial parade. It was a heartfelt novel that allowed you to feel as if you were there with these three women as they navigated the complexities of life in a small town in the 1970’s.
I look forward to reading the next novel by Jodi Thompson Carr.

[Ethel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in 1976 in Hanley, Minnesota we find Crystal, Coralene, and Sheila are former lunch ladies, now working in the Nutrition Services Department of the Hanley School District. In this story we are given insight into each women's personal history - and the life experiences and losses that shaped them. This novel, in a way, reminds of books written by Fannie Flagg; it is sassy and has pizazz! It was a joy to read. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC for an honest exchange.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This debut novel showcases a small American town in the 1970s, focussing on 3 lunch ladies from the local schools and their preparation for the bicentennial parade. So much detail has gone into the characters and their lives, with themes of family and what constitutes friendship. The writing was easily accessible, however, for me the pace of the events was very gentle and the story unfolded quite slowly.

Thank you Century House publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Alicia C Gephart Gephart · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received this as a giveaway from Goodreads. I tried very hard to get through this book, but by mid-chapter 3, I quit reading it. Nothing about it resonated. Nothing about the characters was relatable. Nothing about them endeared me to them. I have thousands of books I want to read, and I rarely do not get through a complete book. This is one of those extremely rare books that is not worth my time.

[Books.Abound.With.A.Hound · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining and heartwarming character-driven story! It touches on themes like family, community, loneliness, friendship, grief and more.

I enjoyed getting the multiple POVs that allows readers to get to know the complex and quirky characters all while leading up to the small town community event. There are both moments of happiness and sadness cumulating in a novel full of depth.

Overall an enjoyable debut novel!