Home Is Where My People Are: The Roads That Lead Us to Where We Belong

by Sophie Hudson

All roads lead to home. It’s easy to go through life believing that we can satisfy our longing for home with a three-bedroom, two-bath slice of the American dream that we mortgage at 4 percent and pay for over the course of thirty years. But ultimately, in our deepest places, we’re really looking to belong and to be known. And what we sometimes miss in our search for the perfect spot to set up camp is that wherever we are on the long and winding road of life, God is at work in the journey, teaching us, shaping us, and refining us―sometimes through the most unlikely people and circumstances. In Home Is Where My People Are , Sophie Hudson takes readers on a delightfully quirky journey through the South, introducing them to an unforgettable cast of characters, places, and experiences. Along the way, she reflects on how God has used each of the stops along the road to impart timeless spiritual wisdom and truth. Nobody embodies the South like Sophie Hudson, and this nostalgic celebration of home is sure to make even those north of the Mason-Dixon line long to settle in on the front porch with a glass of sweet tea and reflect on all of the people in our lives who―related or not―have come to represent home. Because at the end of the day, it’s not the address on the front door or even the name on the mailbox that says home, but the people who live and laugh and love there, wherever there might happen to be.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Christian, Faith, Christian Living, Inspirational, Book Club

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2015

About the author

Sophie Hudson loves to laugh more than just about anything. She began writing her blog, BooMama.net, in November 2005, and much to her surprise, she's stuck with it. Sophie hopes that through her stories, women find encouragement and hope in the everyday, joy-filled moments of life. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Sophie loves cheering like crazy at college football games and watching entire seasons of TV shows in record time. Sophie lives with her husband and son in Birmingham, Alabama.

Reviews

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight to read! Don't know why it took me so long to get around to this one while it patiently waited with the similar types on my desk book shelf but never the less, I finally realized my missing this fabulous gem :) She is so laid back, easy to feel as if was a comfortable/cozy girl chat together sure with her gracious descriptions and hilarious storytelling. I laughed so many times while also rejoiced during others at the remarkable life changing examples as not only her but a beloved family friend who returned from rehab as a transformed man who glowed with the joy of the Lord. She is so relatable with her thoughts and feelings. The tales of Southern life were just up my alley as I am fascinated with it all, am drawn to it, and would dearly love the experience of living/vacationing down there........just not the heat aspect! ha

Otherwise this is a favourite and keeper as I will be ordering her next book quite soon. Recommendable for anyone wanting some laugh therapy and spiritual encouragement besides :)

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snatched this from the used book shelf at the library for $1---on the week I was moving from my hometown. Coinky-dink? I think not. Spoke to me from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I decided Sophie and I are destined to be best friends....I'm so glad God sent me this book at this moment in time. I needed it.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have been reading the Boomama blog for a while, and I love Sophie's writing style. This book is a little different than her previous book, A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet. Instead of charming stories about her extended family, this book covers her spiritual journey. I found it very sweet and touching and, sometimes, a little sad.

If you enjoy memoir or biography or just like good slice of life stories, I think you'll enjoy this book. I found Sophie's journey encouraging and entertaining. one minute you're laughing, the next, you're crying. I definitely recommend this book.

I received this book for free from Tyndale for the purpose of review.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just eh, took me almost a year to finish. It’s just basically her life with a small amount of humor and Christianity mixed in. The thing about her life is that it’s not terribly interesting and nothing of real note to write about. Not that that is bad. It sort of reminded me of my life where you have average struggles and joys but overall just anormal Christina gal in her early adult life. It wasn’t bad, just not too interesting. I skimmed some of it and still got the gist of it.

[Ann Gemmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Sophie Hudson has an incredible voice that gets you laughing along with her, crying at other times, all the while nodding along. This is a delightful memoir of sorts! Am buying several of these to give to some of "my people". Highly recommend!

[MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Sophie Hudson! She is by turns hilarious and heartfelt and when you listen to her read her own work it is impeccable. Comedic timing gold! I especially loved her chapter on “Christian Lingo.”

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the book, but myself distracted and slightly annoyed the the use of parenthetical comments and things in all caps.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this one just as much as "A little Salty"! ROTFL!!

[Mary Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, poignant read. I loved this book and read in one sitting.

[AnnMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say there were some laugh out loud moments when I read this book!

[Kayla Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m working my way through Sophie Hudson’s book catalog, and I love it! I love hearing her stories and, in this book, how the various places and stages of her life have transformed and deepened her faith and led her to the community and place she’s in now. Her words are funny and encouraging, and I love listening to her audiobooks because it’s like an extension of the podcast I’ve been enjoying for years.

[Dr. Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Hudson is a Southern treasure, and Home is Where My People Are is a look at why. I was fortunate to hear Sophie in person at a ladies’ luncheon that was a first get together as we were all trying to emerge from the pandemic, so she already held a special place in my heart. She is hilarious and precious. She has a stand-up comic’s ability of putting a magnifying glass in front of the mundane to point out the hilarity. This book is full of that kind of comic relief from life and more. Yes, you will laugh out loud but may shed a few tears too. Read this one. It’s a quick read and worth it.

[Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed, cried, I loved this book.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway from TyndaleRewards and Allume but good heavens I would have bought it anyway.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading it. Memoir? Faith-exploration? Metaphors for life?

It took a chapter or three to get going, but once there I wanted nothing to do than finish this book.

Here are a few stories of her journey in faith and life to finding her faith and herself. Which sounds much more serious than the book or the journey is. My favorite chapters included commentary on the questionable fashion trends of the eighties and nineties and oh my WORD that chapter about her college cars!

I know. Those sentences are meaningless to you, but once you read this, you will understand and you will never approach a Taco Bell drive through the same way again.

I loved reading about how her faith changed as she grew, where she struggled, where she put up a front, when and where and how she found it again and it was NOT LIKE SHE EXPECTED. I think that journey crosses church membership boundaries - I am not Baptist or Methodist, I am a Mormon and guess what? It all made sense to me. We may have different ways of living or expressing our faith and vastly different theologies but we all love Jesus, a lot, we all want to know him and have him as a part of our lives. It was so good to laugh with her about religious vocabulary and the non-negotiable Sunday church attendance and how everyone worships a little differently.

I laughed out loud so many times, in public places and at home, just shaking with laughter. Thank you, Sophie Hudson for making this girl feel like people are people wherever you go and where you go is just the right road God knew you needed to find him and find home.

[Steph Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Sophie. I like that she is talking about nothing and yet driving a point all the way home. I always appreciate the fact that she isn't trying to impress me with her great knowledge or holy wisdom. She just tells what God is teaching her with all the humility she can muster. I like it. Send me the straight shooters.

I read this book when it came out and I liked it, but for some reason I decided to buy the audio at the end of summer. I think I had just made one too many long trip with three kids and the thought of driving four hours home almost took me out. I wanted to listen to somebody talk to me, somebody that sounded like family. It worked. I think it was divinely inspired because my four hour trip turned into over six hours and I arrived home no worse for the wear. It was like riding around with an old friend.

I actually liked the book more the second time around. I think I needed to hear it more. I needed to be reminded of the importance of certain things. I was dog tired, worn bone thin, and hurting. So, I listened. I grieved. I went on. I loved hearing her inflections. It was soothing. Sometimes you want that person around you to remind you to love and be loved and the spot is empty. So, for this window, she was my person.

I loved following her moves and life changes and hurts. Her story of encountering the Holy Spirit at a Christian school she got a job at was fantastic. She said, "These people were serious." I laughed so much. She talks about raising her son, troubles in marriage, and finding her place in the world. It was good for my soul to stop and hear her story.

I listened to this in my suv, on my John Deere, and painting our three story house.
We kept company and it was grand.

I loved it so much, Sophie. Thank you.

[Jennifer Pickwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Home Is Where My People Are by Sophie Hudson totally surprised me in so many ways. Once again, I picked a book by its cover. Who does that? Well, I do. The cover is gorgeous and I want a giant canvas of it to hang in my kitchen. The surprise came when I discovered the book was in fact a memoir. I really thought this book was some Christian Living, appreciate what you have, make your home where you are kind of book. It is not! Home Is Where My People Are is a delightful story that will make you laugh, cry, and annoy your spouse as you read it aloud to him while he is watching a football game!
As author Sophie Hudson walks down memory lane, I found myself doing the same. Through her personal stories, I remembered some of my own. Especially, her stories of college friends turned life-long family. I love Sophie Hudson’s honest and conversational style of penning words. I have never seen so many parenthesis in all my reading life! Here inner dialogue makes this book personal…and hilarious. I could relate to this book on so many levels! While I never wore sweater pants (see chapter 14) I did grow up in the south and these stories so closely mirror my own experiences. Even if you grew up in California, this story will touch your heart. Five stars from this book blogger!!
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by its publisher, Tyndale House, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated other than the joy received from reading a lovely book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Home Is Where My People Are" is, as author Sophie Hudson says, " real stories, about the real lives of real people." Some of the names have been changed to protect their identity.
The author reminds the reader of a time not too long ago when kids were free and there were very few "helicopter parents". Sophie also talks about dysfunction in families, showing the reader that all families are dysfunctional in some manner, even if very subtle.
Through this work, I was inspired in my walk with the Lord. So many times I have been drawn to the negative aspects of my own life, as well as those of others.
The author is light-hearted and encourages the reader to focus on Jesus. In referencing her own experience at a camp called "Camp Wesley Pines", Sophie heard the gospel message. "You are a sinner. God loves you anyway. God sent His Son, Jesus, to bear the weight of your sins and die in your place. Are you willing to lay down your life, take up your cross, and follow Him?" (pg 17)
Although I believe women of all ages would enjoy this book, I highly recommend it to older teenage girls and women in their early twenties.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from Tyndale House.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The old saying states that the American Dream is a two story house with a nice, flat yard and a white picket fence. But what truly makes a house a home? Is it the building or is it the people? Do you have different homes throughout life, or is it just one single place that your soul belongs? These are just a few of the things that Sophie Hudson explores in her latest memoir Home is Where My People Are.

Readers will take a road trip through the South and through life’s ups and downs in this delightful read. Sophie Hudson embodies the Southern Woman and is absolutely hysterical, as she tells the stories of how she has lived in numerous states, before finally finding her home. She leaves nothing to the imagination, giving readers an inside scoop into her life growing up. Her sarcasm and humorous wit will have readers rolling with laughter. However, she keeps it very real, sharing some heartaches and reminding readers of her faith and that God has a reason for everything. Readers will become instant fans of Sophie Hudson’s style, as they begin to reflect on their own life.

Notes:
This review was written for Sasee Magazine and My Sister's Books.
This review was posted on the Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do love me some Boomama! I read her first book several years ago and remember how easy it was to read and to relate with what she was saying. The second book is just as perfect.

In this second book, Sophie takes us on the journey of all the places she has lived in her life and her experiences on each stop of her journey. From growing up to her current home, she talks about the people she became friends with and the things she did at each "home".

But she also talks a lot about her faith journey. She is very open and truthful with her early-20s struggles with her faith and her relationship with God. I think so many of us can relate to that time in our lives when we just wanted to live for ourselves and do what made us happy.

I loved the stories of friends and families. I laughed out loud, and I cried real tears. All on her journey back to God, and to her HOME.

Go get this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher (but I would have bought it even if I didn't!)

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've moved a lot in my life and I am a child of the South, so this book was clearly right up my alley. I was attracted to it because of its main idea - that home is not any one geographical place, it's where "your people are." It's where a community of your peers, loved things, loved places, and loved ones await. A place where you feel truly at home and like you really belong - and it isn't necessarily the place where you were born. I'm also of the belief that life leads you to where you need to be - whether there's a higher power at work or not (I really don't know.). I enjoyed reading Sophie's stories and anecdotes. I am not a full-fledged Christian, but I admire Sophie's faith in the Lord and his path for her. I was intrigued by it, though I'm not sure I share the same belief. Mostly, I loved her stories of life in the South, her humor, and her conversational style of writing. Good casual memoir! Great read for the beach or your next vacation. It's like bringing a girlfriend along with you.

[Bobbi Morven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sophie Hudson, and her love for fried chicken! Hands down my favorite author!

[Kaitlyn Bouchillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never laughed out loud so loudly (in public) while reading a book. Sophie Hudson has written pure gold and has woven stories of the South into the most beautiful tapestry. It’s a collection of stories about her people and the places she’s called home.

You’ll finish the book thinking 1) her friends are now your friends and 2) all you want is to call up or run over and hug the ones around you. It is laugh out loud funny but also so very tender. I have to admit, because Sophie lives in Birmingham and writes so sweetly about the city I love best, I couldn’t help but feel she had snuck inside my mind. As she says, though, it’s not so much about the skyline or the sunsets or the roads you drive; it’s about the people who love you sitting around the table.

Home is where my people are. It is such sweet truth and a beautiful reminder. I highly (!) recommend this book.

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Sophie Hudson's most recent book, she details her journey through life looking for and longing for home. Not that she didn't have a fabulous family home growing up, but as she became an adult she found herself longing to have a place to call her very own, and in her humorous way, she takes her readers along her journey with charming tales of family, friends, love, and faith.

I really enjoyed this second book from Sophie, as much as I did her first book - "A Little Salty To Cut The Sweet." This book was a bit more serious in parts and I so appreciated Sophie's honest and open manner of presenting her story.

I would dare say that Sophie could very well give Fannie Flagg a run for her money as the premier Southern funny lady!

[Holly Koons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a long time reader of the author's blog because she's just so likeable and funny. And if you love her blog (and how can you not?!?) you will love this book. She writes as if you're sitting across the table from her eating chips and queso but with that Southern charm and drawl. I am confident we would be fast friends if we ever met in real life base but the great part about her is I have no doubt that every person that reads this book walks away feeling that way. This book will make you laugh out loud one minute and then leave you with a big lump in your throat the next. Absolutely loved it.

[Sarah Whisted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd never read Sophie's blog prior to picking up this book, it was simply an impulse buy after seeing Korie Robertson rave about it on instagram. But it has all sorts of things I like: the south, comedy, tales of a christian's walk and struggles, the 80's/90's, life lessons, etc... so it seemed like an easy purchase. Sophie's voice is wholly entertaining, even telling the most regular stories. I loved that she's by no means a perfect Christian women, nor is she trying to sell herself that way - she's honest in her walk (and her lack thereof at times) and that's refreshing. An overall enjoyable read!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, that Sophie Hudson. Let me just tell you she has the best writer's voice. I can feel her happiness, her sarcasm, her sorrow, her nostalgia and more as she writes about her various homes across the south. I have highlighted a whole slew of quotations and thoughts throughout the book; either because they made me laugh, they made me think, or they were quotes that meant a lot to Sophie.

If you're looking for a feel good book on friendships, families, self, and a whole lot of God talk, this is for you. It's one that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Can't wait to read my next Hudson book, Giddy Up Eunice!

[Jessie Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

In A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet, Hudson, AKA BooMama, told the story of generations of her people, their funny bits and sweet parts and the tales told around a dinner table groaning with fried chicken and biscuits. In this, her second book, Hudson tackles her own story: what it was like to grow up the baby of a Mississippi family, her college years, and beyond – and the people that stayed with her through these times. With her signature wit and capital letters, BooMama describes her faith-struggle as well as it follows her around from home to home in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an utterly delightful memoir of one (very) Southern woman's faith journey, carried along by sweet relationships. It was absolutely a breath of fresh air--rip-roaringly funny, hopeful, and honest without a drop of cynicism. Although I often connect deeply with books, it is very rare that a book makes me laugh out loud or cry--and this book made me do both. (Seriously. I read it on cruise ship and was laughing so hard that strangers looked at me curiously.)

If you're struggling with weariness, a dose of this book will be precisely what you need. HIGHLY recommended.

[Libby Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Sophie Hudson's writing..when I discovered her blog, it was like reading letters from an old friend. This memoir is funny, tender and heartfelt . I love her insight about relationships with her friends and family and her relationship with Christ . Her "struggle" to have an authentic relationship with Christ reminds a lot of my own seemingly never ending struggle to understand what being a Christian means. She is hilarious and brings back memories of my own childhood and especially my adolescence in Central Mississippi. This is a great fast read.

[Sarah Giammo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the author's voice throughout the book. She often made me laugh or cry with her, and I enjoyed the way she tells a story. I felt I could relate to her, especially with regard to her southern culture. However, one major problem for me was the lack of an overall plot. Many of the characters we heard about in one part of the story never showed up again, and many conflicts she alluded to indirectly were never resolved. Overall the book was OKAY. I really had to push myself to finish it.