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Over Yonder
It's never too late to find your purpose.
Woody Barker steps out of prison planning to live out his years on his houseboat docked on the Alabama Gulf Coast. As a defrocked priest with a heart condition and an ex-wife who still runs his life, he needs peace and a path to redemption.
Caroline Boyer is seventeen, pregnant, and stuck in a loop of bad choices. At her mother's deathbed, Caroline finds herself at the center of an unexpected plot that has the potential to turn her world upside down. At the funeral, she discovers a father she's never known . . . Whether she likes it or not, her life will never be the same.
Soon Woody, Caroline, and an emotional support goldfish named Gary are on a grand adventure through the Deep South. Chased by the men who are desperate to learn what Caroline's mother told her before she passed away, they use every skill they have as a new family to stay one step ahead of danger. To make it worse, former parishioners of the church that cast Woody out are determined to throw him a welcome home party. As Caroline and Woody look for answers and try to avoid disaster, they also learn how to redefine family, hope, and faith they thought they'd lost.
With dry humor and compassion, beloved writer Sean Dietrich highlights the good of humanity and the light that's always just around the corner.
Woody Barker steps out of prison planning to live out his years on his houseboat docked on the Alabama Gulf Coast. As a defrocked priest with a heart condition and an ex-wife who still runs his life, he needs peace and a path to redemption.
Caroline Boyer is seventeen, pregnant, and stuck in a loop of bad choices. At her mother's deathbed, Caroline finds herself at the center of an unexpected plot that has the potential to turn her world upside down. At the funeral, she discovers a father she's never known . . . Whether she likes it or not, her life will never be the same.
Soon Woody, Caroline, and an emotional support goldfish named Gary are on a grand adventure through the Deep South. Chased by the men who are desperate to learn what Caroline's mother told her before she passed away, they use every skill they have as a new family to stay one step ahead of danger. To make it worse, former parishioners of the church that cast Woody out are determined to throw him a welcome home party. As Caroline and Woody look for answers and try to avoid disaster, they also learn how to redefine family, hope, and faith they thought they'd lost.
With dry humor and compassion, beloved writer Sean Dietrich highlights the good of humanity and the light that's always just around the corner.
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 7, 2025
89 people are currently reading
8443 people want to read
About the author
Sean Dietrich
35 books1,055 followersSean Dietrich is a columnist, podcaster, speaker, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, The Bitter Southerner, Thom Magazine, and The Mobile Press Register, and he has authored ten books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
August 26, 2025
Woody Barker is a 60 yr old defrocked priest who is let out of prison at the beginning of this story…
He comes home to his 80 yr old father, a couple ex wives, a houseboat and two daughters, one a pregnant 17 yr old named Caroline, who looks just like him.. (who he had not known anything about until her mother told him recently on her deathbed.)
The poor girl had grown up in foster care and has a no good boyfriend.. she comes with a secret that her mother told her before she died.. it’s all on a usb flash drive, information about some confederate gold and it ends up in Carolines hands.
Caroline, Woody and his Dad, Amos end up on an adventure to get away from a cult who is after this disc… oh my, what an adventure this is!
Some really great characters and this story has the adventure, humor, everything!
My first book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse
for the complimentary copy of this book..
. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.!
He comes home to his 80 yr old father, a couple ex wives, a houseboat and two daughters, one a pregnant 17 yr old named Caroline, who looks just like him.. (who he had not known anything about until her mother told him recently on her deathbed.)
The poor girl had grown up in foster care and has a no good boyfriend.. she comes with a secret that her mother told her before she died.. it’s all on a usb flash drive, information about some confederate gold and it ends up in Carolines hands.
Caroline, Woody and his Dad, Amos end up on an adventure to get away from a cult who is after this disc… oh my, what an adventure this is!
Some really great characters and this story has the adventure, humor, everything!
My first book by this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse
for the complimentary copy of this book..
. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.!
August 11, 2025
In the two novels that I have read by Sean Dietrich before this one, I found characters who touched me . Winston Browne of The Incredible Winston Browne is indeed incredible and in Kinfolk, a group of unlikely characters embody what family means . I didn’t hesitate when I had the chance to read an advanced copy of the author’s latest book because I had a feeling I’d find that same emotional impact along with great writing. I wasn’t disappointed.
There is darkness here , both in the present and in memory. A seventeen year old pregnant girl whose childhood was lost to her mother’s drug addiction ended up in foster care most of her life and now finds herself on the the run. Woody Barker, an ex con (NOT ex cop as it says in the Goodreads description) and defrocked priest with heart problems meets the daughter he didn’t know he had . She’s targeted by a very dangerous and violent man previously connected to her mother . Some violence, a domestic terrorist organization, a mystery over hidden treasure from the civil war, a chase make for a tense telling. But this is funny at times thanks to Amos, Woody’s witty octogenarian father and it’s filled with love and some moments of joy as Caroline gets to know her father and grandfather .
This was quick read for me wanting to know the outcome for these characters who grabbed my heart from the start . Sean Dietrich’s stories are not only southern stories as they are sometimes referred to but are universal ones reflecting the human condition- people make mistakes, but there is always the possibility for forgiveness and redemption. An emotional and perfect ending.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Muse through Edelweiss.
There is darkness here , both in the present and in memory. A seventeen year old pregnant girl whose childhood was lost to her mother’s drug addiction ended up in foster care most of her life and now finds herself on the the run. Woody Barker, an ex con (NOT ex cop as it says in the Goodreads description) and defrocked priest with heart problems meets the daughter he didn’t know he had . She’s targeted by a very dangerous and violent man previously connected to her mother . Some violence, a domestic terrorist organization, a mystery over hidden treasure from the civil war, a chase make for a tense telling. But this is funny at times thanks to Amos, Woody’s witty octogenarian father and it’s filled with love and some moments of joy as Caroline gets to know her father and grandfather .
This was quick read for me wanting to know the outcome for these characters who grabbed my heart from the start . Sean Dietrich’s stories are not only southern stories as they are sometimes referred to but are universal ones reflecting the human condition- people make mistakes, but there is always the possibility for forgiveness and redemption. An emotional and perfect ending.
I received a copy of this book from Harper Muse through Edelweiss.
October 16, 2025
EXCERPT: . . . they led Woody to another waiting room, past electronic gates, steel doors, and chicken-wire windows. Finally, he was in the main lobby. The room had cushioned chairs, New carpet. People magazines on sofa tables. The CO and the lieutenant met him in the waiting room. Woody knew them both. But today they were acting differently. The decorum of authority was gone. In this room, they were all just guys. Just regular people.
'It's going to be a shock to the system out there,' the CO said. 'You take care of yourself, boss.'
'Thanks,' said Woody.
'And if you ever get lonely,' added the lieutenant, 'you can always come back and we'll give you your old room.
The guards all laughed. But Woody wasn't certain whether he should join in or lower his head or what. You didn't laugh with an officer in Wallace Correctional.
After that, the guards fell into quoting many of the prototypical clichés you hear at funerals, weddings, and used car dealership grand openings. There is nothing more human than using a cliché to ruin a ceremonious moment.
'Just take it one day at a time.'
'Live life to the fullest.'
'Be a blessing to others.'
'Don't sweat the small stuff.'
'Take time to smell the roses.'
'Remember, you're only as strong as the table you dance on.'
They all shook hands. Woody marveled at the firmness of their handshakes. He had not shaken another man's hand more than a few times in over a decade.
The doors of the South Bend Federal Correctional swung open at 1:19 p.m. Woody walked out holding a plastic bag of belongings. His dad's truck was idling at the curb. His father's arm was hanging out the open window with the butt of a cigar cupped in it.
Nobody waved goodbye. Nobody did anything, really. He could feel the officers watching another former inmate exit hell on two legs.
And just like that, Reverend Woodrow Barker was a free man.
ABOUT 'OVER YONDER': Ex-con Woody Barker lives on a houseboat (the Ship Happens) off the Gulf Coast and spends his days bickering/flirting with his ex-wife and attending doctor appointments about his malfunctioning ticker. He's already survived several heart attacks and is debating the merits of quitting smoking so he can get on the organ donor waitlist. But he gets the surprise of a lifetime when an old girlfriend reveals on her deathbed that Woody has a seventeen-year-old daughter he never knew, Caroline.
Caroline is pregnant and trapped in an endless loop of bad choices. Her good-for-nothing boyfriend, "Tater," is the only "reliable" person in her life. But when her estranged dying mother begs her to go back to her singlewide trailer to dig up the bathroom vanity subfloor to "get something that needs to be gone yesterday," Caroline finds herself at the center of a very dangerous plot that--if she survives--has the potential to turn her world upside down in a positive and seismic way.
While Woody and Caroline don't know or trust each other yet, they instinctively know they can't (and don't want to) go through the world alone any longer.
MY THOUGHTS: Sean Dietrich writes with wit, empathy and compassion. His characters are complete. Whether I am reading or listening, I am there, with them. They live. They breathe.
I always feel like I am meeting up with an old friend when I settle down with a Sean Dietrich book. It is both comforting and unsettling. He writes about second chances, real love, faith and forgiveness. Yes, 'real love.' Not the hearts and flowers, romantic fantasy, but the deep abiding love one human has for another. The type of love demonstrated by a parent putting themselves in harm's way to save their child. THAT kind of love.
He writes lyrically. His stories flow. He has a deep understanding of people and their motivations, both good and bad. He sees their flaws and embraces them. They may be broken, but he doesn't fix them. He gives them the tools to want to fix themselves.
Over Yonder is heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is a story of found family, second chances and the power of love.
When I closed this book at the end (I alternated between reading and listening, but at the end I happened to be reading) I just sat there, book clutched to my heart and felt glad to be alive.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#OverYonder #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: SEAN DIETRICH As a child, I liked to write. I filled up notebooks with tales of the high-seas, shameless vixens, and steamy scenarios combining both of the aforementioned. My fifth grade teacher found one of my notebooks and scanned through it. She told me I wrote with too many commas, and encouraged me to pursue a career in construction work.
That, old, woman, never, liked, me.
Years later, I learned my teacher had left the school. She took a job at the Piggly Wiggly as a cashier. I went to visit the old girl, to show her the man I’d grown into.
She seemed genuinely glad to see me. And I was just as glad to find her wearing that red apron for a living. After visiting for a few minutes, I realized something I’d never noticed before. Beneath her hardshell exterior was a regular lady, working from nine to five for pennies. She was doing the best she could with her life. Just like me.
Before I left, she asked me what kind of work I did.
At the time, I worked in construction.
DISCLAIMER: Thank you a thousand times to Thomas Nelson - Fiction and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing both an e-ARC and an audio ARC of Over Yonder, both written and beautifully narrated by Sean Dietrich for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'It's going to be a shock to the system out there,' the CO said. 'You take care of yourself, boss.'
'Thanks,' said Woody.
'And if you ever get lonely,' added the lieutenant, 'you can always come back and we'll give you your old room.
The guards all laughed. But Woody wasn't certain whether he should join in or lower his head or what. You didn't laugh with an officer in Wallace Correctional.
After that, the guards fell into quoting many of the prototypical clichés you hear at funerals, weddings, and used car dealership grand openings. There is nothing more human than using a cliché to ruin a ceremonious moment.
'Just take it one day at a time.'
'Live life to the fullest.'
'Be a blessing to others.'
'Don't sweat the small stuff.'
'Take time to smell the roses.'
'Remember, you're only as strong as the table you dance on.'
They all shook hands. Woody marveled at the firmness of their handshakes. He had not shaken another man's hand more than a few times in over a decade.
The doors of the South Bend Federal Correctional swung open at 1:19 p.m. Woody walked out holding a plastic bag of belongings. His dad's truck was idling at the curb. His father's arm was hanging out the open window with the butt of a cigar cupped in it.
Nobody waved goodbye. Nobody did anything, really. He could feel the officers watching another former inmate exit hell on two legs.
And just like that, Reverend Woodrow Barker was a free man.
ABOUT 'OVER YONDER': Ex-con Woody Barker lives on a houseboat (the Ship Happens) off the Gulf Coast and spends his days bickering/flirting with his ex-wife and attending doctor appointments about his malfunctioning ticker. He's already survived several heart attacks and is debating the merits of quitting smoking so he can get on the organ donor waitlist. But he gets the surprise of a lifetime when an old girlfriend reveals on her deathbed that Woody has a seventeen-year-old daughter he never knew, Caroline.
Caroline is pregnant and trapped in an endless loop of bad choices. Her good-for-nothing boyfriend, "Tater," is the only "reliable" person in her life. But when her estranged dying mother begs her to go back to her singlewide trailer to dig up the bathroom vanity subfloor to "get something that needs to be gone yesterday," Caroline finds herself at the center of a very dangerous plot that--if she survives--has the potential to turn her world upside down in a positive and seismic way.
While Woody and Caroline don't know or trust each other yet, they instinctively know they can't (and don't want to) go through the world alone any longer.
MY THOUGHTS: Sean Dietrich writes with wit, empathy and compassion. His characters are complete. Whether I am reading or listening, I am there, with them. They live. They breathe.
I always feel like I am meeting up with an old friend when I settle down with a Sean Dietrich book. It is both comforting and unsettling. He writes about second chances, real love, faith and forgiveness. Yes, 'real love.' Not the hearts and flowers, romantic fantasy, but the deep abiding love one human has for another. The type of love demonstrated by a parent putting themselves in harm's way to save their child. THAT kind of love.
He writes lyrically. His stories flow. He has a deep understanding of people and their motivations, both good and bad. He sees their flaws and embraces them. They may be broken, but he doesn't fix them. He gives them the tools to want to fix themselves.
Over Yonder is heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is a story of found family, second chances and the power of love.
When I closed this book at the end (I alternated between reading and listening, but at the end I happened to be reading) I just sat there, book clutched to my heart and felt glad to be alive.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#OverYonder #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHOR: SEAN DIETRICH As a child, I liked to write. I filled up notebooks with tales of the high-seas, shameless vixens, and steamy scenarios combining both of the aforementioned. My fifth grade teacher found one of my notebooks and scanned through it. She told me I wrote with too many commas, and encouraged me to pursue a career in construction work.
That, old, woman, never, liked, me.
Years later, I learned my teacher had left the school. She took a job at the Piggly Wiggly as a cashier. I went to visit the old girl, to show her the man I’d grown into.
She seemed genuinely glad to see me. And I was just as glad to find her wearing that red apron for a living. After visiting for a few minutes, I realized something I’d never noticed before. Beneath her hardshell exterior was a regular lady, working from nine to five for pennies. She was doing the best she could with her life. Just like me.
Before I left, she asked me what kind of work I did.
At the time, I worked in construction.
DISCLAIMER: Thank you a thousand times to Thomas Nelson - Fiction and Zondervan Fiction Audio for providing both an e-ARC and an audio ARC of Over Yonder, both written and beautifully narrated by Sean Dietrich for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 12, 2025
Sean Dietrich’s Over Yonder showcases his gift for creating quirky, funny, and unforgettable characters. At its heart is the unlikely pairing of an ex-priest—now a convicted felon—and a 17-year-old pregnant girl, whose recent meeting launches them into an unexpected adventure. The supporting colorful cast includes a salty old man, two ex-wives, a jerk baby daddy, a fringe cult leader on the FBI’s radar, and a kidnapped Uber driver. Beneath the humor and eccentricity, the story explores what truly makes a family and how to find hope and goodness in life’s toughest moments.
4.5 stars- rounded up.
4.5 stars- rounded up.
October 19, 2025
"Hope is the thing you find over yonder, usually after you've lost everything else."
When Woody Barker, a defrocked priest with a heart condition and a houseboat, walks out of prison, all he wants is peace - and maybe a little redemption. But peace is hard to come by when you've got an ex-wife who still runs your life and a past that won't let you rest. Then there's seventeen-year-old Caroline Boyer, pregnant, grieving, and about to discover a secret about her family that changes everything - and soon, the unlikely pair (plus Woody's octogenarian father Amos, an emotional support goldfish named Gary, and a blind cat) finds themselves on a wild, Southern road trip.
I adored this book and every single central character in it. Though Woody and Caroline in particular face tragedies and horror, their stories are ultimately ones of hope and redemption. Along the way, they find something even more elusive than safety: connection, forgiveness, and the kind of family you choose rather than the one you're born into.
With vivid, lyrical prose and an atmosphere steeped in the soul of the American South, Sean Dietrich delivers a poignant, witty, and deeply compassionate tale that celebrates the messy, magnificent human condition. With quirky and unforgettable characters that become like family to the reader, "Over Yonder" perfectly blends laugh-out-loud dialogue and witty banter with deeply profound notations and moments that will absolutely break your heart.
I was lucky enough to receive copies of both the digital and audiobook editions for a truly immersive experience. The audiobook, impeccably narrated by the author himself, is an absolute delight, enhancing an already magnificent book even more and adding warmth and authenticity to every word.
A heartfelt, redemptive tale about second chances, "Over Yonder" reminds us that it's never too late to find your purpose - or your people. It's a moving, funny, and deeply humane novel that captures the beauty of broken people finding their way back to the light.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with copies of the Kindle edition as well as the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Over Yonder" was published on October 7, 2025, and is available now.
When Woody Barker, a defrocked priest with a heart condition and a houseboat, walks out of prison, all he wants is peace - and maybe a little redemption. But peace is hard to come by when you've got an ex-wife who still runs your life and a past that won't let you rest. Then there's seventeen-year-old Caroline Boyer, pregnant, grieving, and about to discover a secret about her family that changes everything - and soon, the unlikely pair (plus Woody's octogenarian father Amos, an emotional support goldfish named Gary, and a blind cat) finds themselves on a wild, Southern road trip.
I adored this book and every single central character in it. Though Woody and Caroline in particular face tragedies and horror, their stories are ultimately ones of hope and redemption. Along the way, they find something even more elusive than safety: connection, forgiveness, and the kind of family you choose rather than the one you're born into.
With vivid, lyrical prose and an atmosphere steeped in the soul of the American South, Sean Dietrich delivers a poignant, witty, and deeply compassionate tale that celebrates the messy, magnificent human condition. With quirky and unforgettable characters that become like family to the reader, "Over Yonder" perfectly blends laugh-out-loud dialogue and witty banter with deeply profound notations and moments that will absolutely break your heart.
I was lucky enough to receive copies of both the digital and audiobook editions for a truly immersive experience. The audiobook, impeccably narrated by the author himself, is an absolute delight, enhancing an already magnificent book even more and adding warmth and authenticity to every word.
A heartfelt, redemptive tale about second chances, "Over Yonder" reminds us that it's never too late to find your purpose - or your people. It's a moving, funny, and deeply humane novel that captures the beauty of broken people finding their way back to the light.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me with copies of the Kindle edition as well as the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"Over Yonder" was published on October 7, 2025, and is available now.
November 1, 2025
2.5 stars
Started off stronger than it ended.
Woody, who was recently released from prison, is an ex-priest who gets a call from an old girlfriend about his 17-year-old daughter he never knew about. Woody meets his daughter who is pregnant and barely making ends meet. They try to build a relationship as each navigates the new normal in their lives.
This book started off strong for me. I liked the initial grittiness and backroads feel. There is a sarcasm to the humour that had me laughing to myself. The characters were very unique and the relationships were interesting.
After the first third, I slowly began to lose interest as the plot became too far fetched for me. The outlaw, backroads vibe became overdone and the humour lost its appeal for me. The sarcasm and humour became too much, like the author was trying too hard. By the halfway point, I lost my connection and was no longer invested.
Audio rating: 3 stars. The author himself narrates the audio and he did a good job. I liked his presentation of the story but didn’t find he enhanced my connection at all. My recommendation would be to try the physical book if you’re going to give this one a shot.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy!
Started off stronger than it ended.
Woody, who was recently released from prison, is an ex-priest who gets a call from an old girlfriend about his 17-year-old daughter he never knew about. Woody meets his daughter who is pregnant and barely making ends meet. They try to build a relationship as each navigates the new normal in their lives.
This book started off strong for me. I liked the initial grittiness and backroads feel. There is a sarcasm to the humour that had me laughing to myself. The characters were very unique and the relationships were interesting.
After the first third, I slowly began to lose interest as the plot became too far fetched for me. The outlaw, backroads vibe became overdone and the humour lost its appeal for me. The sarcasm and humour became too much, like the author was trying too hard. By the halfway point, I lost my connection and was no longer invested.
Audio rating: 3 stars. The author himself narrates the audio and he did a good job. I liked his presentation of the story but didn’t find he enhanced my connection at all. My recommendation would be to try the physical book if you’re going to give this one a shot.
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced listening copy!
November 20, 2025
Woodrow "Woody" Barker steps out of prison planning to live out his years on his houseboat docked on the Alabama Gulf Coast. As a defrocked priest with a heart condition and an ex-wife who still runs his life, he needs peace and a path to redemption. Caroline Boyer is seventeen, pregnant, and stuck in a loop of bad choices. At her mother's deathbed, Caroline finds herself at the center of an unexpected plot that has the potential to turn her world upside down.
A strange pairing of main characters with some unique side characters as well, not to mention Gary the goldfish. There are moments of wry humour as well as lots of action, some of it hard to believe. I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Kinfolk", the author's previous novel but it was okay. There isn't any actual swearing in the book that I can recall; instead the author uses expressions like "f-bomb" or "preferred swear word" to refer to bad language which is refreshing. But then there's a fairly graphic description of animal abuse as well as domestic violence in Chapter 15. You might want to skip that part if you find it triggering. It all got a little far-fetched and I either lost sight of the main goal or it wasn't explained and I'm left a bit puzzled. And whatever happened to Gary? I might need to re-read some parts. There are many glowing reviews for this book so take mine with a grain of salt.
TW: Animal abuse, domestic violence.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Harper Muse, via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publication Date: October 7, 2025
A strange pairing of main characters with some unique side characters as well, not to mention Gary the goldfish. There are moments of wry humour as well as lots of action, some of it hard to believe. I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Kinfolk", the author's previous novel but it was okay. There isn't any actual swearing in the book that I can recall; instead the author uses expressions like "f-bomb" or "preferred swear word" to refer to bad language which is refreshing. But then there's a fairly graphic description of animal abuse as well as domestic violence in Chapter 15. You might want to skip that part if you find it triggering. It all got a little far-fetched and I either lost sight of the main goal or it wasn't explained and I'm left a bit puzzled. And whatever happened to Gary? I might need to re-read some parts. There are many glowing reviews for this book so take mine with a grain of salt.
TW: Animal abuse, domestic violence.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to Harper Muse, via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Publication Date: October 7, 2025
November 8, 2025
“There are moments in your life when everything seems to converge. The good and the bad. The beautiful and the ugly. The unimportant with the paramount. The last, the present ,the future. Your dreamworld and your reality. And when this happens you rapidly realize the truth and the imagination, material and make-believe, significance and insignificance, they’re all kind of the same thing….. but in the split second when your life changes, it all makes sense. You are the greatest expression of God’s artwork.”
Great quote ⬆️! It is amazing! 🤩
This book started so strong with a pregnant teen, Caroline, who is living in chaos and a ex-priest who just was released from jail. Their lives converge in unexpected ways….
My first reaction to the book was this was going to be 5 stars. Then the next 200 pages meandered. It took on an unauthentic turn, bordering on ridiculous. The whole plot just did not make sense to me. The writing has moments of pure brilliance and I appreciate a good humour book with dark satire, but I started to roll my eyes at some of the one-liners.
The ending was absolutely perfect. 👌🏻 I am disappointed that I struggled through the middle of the book. I had high expectations but have to be honest about how it made me feel.
This book is rated 4.3. Obviously others enjoyed it more than me. It was still an entertaining read but I am not sure I would pick up another book written by this author.
Great quote ⬆️! It is amazing! 🤩
This book started so strong with a pregnant teen, Caroline, who is living in chaos and a ex-priest who just was released from jail. Their lives converge in unexpected ways….
My first reaction to the book was this was going to be 5 stars. Then the next 200 pages meandered. It took on an unauthentic turn, bordering on ridiculous. The whole plot just did not make sense to me. The writing has moments of pure brilliance and I appreciate a good humour book with dark satire, but I started to roll my eyes at some of the one-liners.
The ending was absolutely perfect. 👌🏻 I am disappointed that I struggled through the middle of the book. I had high expectations but have to be honest about how it made me feel.
This book is rated 4.3. Obviously others enjoyed it more than me. It was still an entertaining read but I am not sure I would pick up another book written by this author.
October 25, 2025
The characters seemed so realistic, I was very invested in what was happening to the main characters. This was a book that I wanted to continue reading and it was hard to step away from to do other needed tasks. I loved the adventure mixed in with so much wit and humor. I smiled and laughed a lot while reading this story. There is just so much variety included in this story, it's an adventure that I think anyone would enjoy reading. The author is such a great storyteller, I would definitely recommend the audiobook which is narrated by the author.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 12, 2025
3.5 stars. Another book this year about an aging curmudgeon who made a terrible mistake in the past, getting a second chance at being a good father by fighting a right-wing prepper cult involved in criminal activity!
Pair Over Yonder with the more introspective So Far Gone for a double-decker trip into the regrets and errors of exhausted academics who can unexpectedly throw down when their daughters are endangered.
I should add, Sean Dietrich’s version includes a race to find a treasure of lost gold!
The action zips along, and the characters are likeable. This is a good no-surprises beach read if you are not into romances with those godawful cartoon covers, or murder mysteries called The Girl who Womaned in the Wife, etc.
Pair Over Yonder with the more introspective So Far Gone for a double-decker trip into the regrets and errors of exhausted academics who can unexpectedly throw down when their daughters are endangered.
I should add, Sean Dietrich’s version includes a race to find a treasure of lost gold!
The action zips along, and the characters are likeable. This is a good no-surprises beach read if you are not into romances with those godawful cartoon covers, or murder mysteries called The Girl who Womaned in the Wife, etc.
November 13, 2025
4.25 stars "With the same dry humor and compassion for his characters as Fredrik Backman, Sean Dietrich's latest novel highlights the good of humanity and the light that's always just around the corner."
Woody Barker is an ex-con who has just gotten out of prison. He is a defrocked priest who is divorced and has cardiac issues. He has a slew of doctors appointments and has learned he needs an organ transplant and must quit smoking. His first ex-wife Melinda calls him to her death bed and he is shocked to learn he has a seventeen-year-old daughter who is pregnant. Caroline doesn't know it but in addition to a boyfriend who is a series of bad choices, something her mother left her puts her in danger. Woody and Caroline get thrown together at Melinda's funeral. They don't know or trust each other so anything can happen.
What follows is the most unexpected story that is part thriller and part literary fiction with fully fleshed out characters. I found myself engrossed in their story and wanted to know what happened next. It is a propulsive page-turner and an emotionally moving story. I rooted for Caroline and Woody throughout and loved the heartwarming ending. This book exceeded my expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley, TNZ Fiction, UpLit Reads and Sean Dietrich for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
Woody Barker is an ex-con who has just gotten out of prison. He is a defrocked priest who is divorced and has cardiac issues. He has a slew of doctors appointments and has learned he needs an organ transplant and must quit smoking. His first ex-wife Melinda calls him to her death bed and he is shocked to learn he has a seventeen-year-old daughter who is pregnant. Caroline doesn't know it but in addition to a boyfriend who is a series of bad choices, something her mother left her puts her in danger. Woody and Caroline get thrown together at Melinda's funeral. They don't know or trust each other so anything can happen.
What follows is the most unexpected story that is part thriller and part literary fiction with fully fleshed out characters. I found myself engrossed in their story and wanted to know what happened next. It is a propulsive page-turner and an emotionally moving story. I rooted for Caroline and Woody throughout and loved the heartwarming ending. This book exceeded my expectations.
Many thanks to NetGalley, TNZ Fiction, UpLit Reads and Sean Dietrich for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 8, 2025
3 1/2 🌟
This is my first book by Sean Dietrich and it was overall a fun read. The book follows the misadventures of a crew of quirky and outrageous characters who form an unusual family while thwarting unexpected bad guys and seeking lost treasure.
I enjoyed this book but it did frustrate me quite a bit, too. I felt like it just tried too hard to be funny and edgy and it often came off as forced, awkward and distracting. The characters and events were a bit cliched and predictable. There are way too many pop culture comments and puns and the excessive use of “Don’t call me Shirley” was annoying. There were plenty of moments, though, when the humor was very good and it worked well. I wish less of the non-stop snarky banter by the main character, Woody, because, for me, it worked against his character development. I liked him and wanted more of the real him. The storyline definitely pushed the boundaries of believability with a 60 year old in congestive heart failure surviving a whole lot of crazy but it is definitely a wild ride.
All in all, I did enjoy the book and the crazed adventures and characters. The best character of all, hands down, is Amos, Woody’s octogenarian father who is just adorable, feisty, funny and lovable. The evolution of his relationship with his son is very sweet. There are gaps in the plot and a stretch of imagination is required but it was a good time with some sad but touching moments throughout. I’m interested in trying another of Dietrich’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for access to an advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this book!
This is my first book by Sean Dietrich and it was overall a fun read. The book follows the misadventures of a crew of quirky and outrageous characters who form an unusual family while thwarting unexpected bad guys and seeking lost treasure.
I enjoyed this book but it did frustrate me quite a bit, too. I felt like it just tried too hard to be funny and edgy and it often came off as forced, awkward and distracting. The characters and events were a bit cliched and predictable. There are way too many pop culture comments and puns and the excessive use of “Don’t call me Shirley” was annoying. There were plenty of moments, though, when the humor was very good and it worked well. I wish less of the non-stop snarky banter by the main character, Woody, because, for me, it worked against his character development. I liked him and wanted more of the real him. The storyline definitely pushed the boundaries of believability with a 60 year old in congestive heart failure surviving a whole lot of crazy but it is definitely a wild ride.
All in all, I did enjoy the book and the crazed adventures and characters. The best character of all, hands down, is Amos, Woody’s octogenarian father who is just adorable, feisty, funny and lovable. The evolution of his relationship with his son is very sweet. There are gaps in the plot and a stretch of imagination is required but it was a good time with some sad but touching moments throughout. I’m interested in trying another of Dietrich’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for access to an advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this book!
November 3, 2025
Woody Barker has done a lot in his life.
He started out as a priest, became a father, went to prison, and then found out he had another daughter.
He meets his unknown daughter Caroline at the death bed of his first wife. Caroline is pregnant and beat up and asks if she could live with Woody.
Meanwhile, Caroline has found a jump drive that has something on it that someone wants.
We follow the characters as they bond, as things get tense, and as we laugh.
OVER YONDER was a little confusing at first with all the characters and all the connections to each other and jumping from one timeline to another, but the humor, the storyline, and characters were great along with the amazing writing style of the author.
As the book continued and everything fell into place, you will bond with the characters and enjoy the storyline, but be aware there is some violence. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
He started out as a priest, became a father, went to prison, and then found out he had another daughter.
He meets his unknown daughter Caroline at the death bed of his first wife. Caroline is pregnant and beat up and asks if she could live with Woody.
Meanwhile, Caroline has found a jump drive that has something on it that someone wants.
We follow the characters as they bond, as things get tense, and as we laugh.
OVER YONDER was a little confusing at first with all the characters and all the connections to each other and jumping from one timeline to another, but the humor, the storyline, and characters were great along with the amazing writing style of the author.
As the book continued and everything fell into place, you will bond with the characters and enjoy the storyline, but be aware there is some violence. 4/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of the book. All opinions are my own.
October 25, 2025
Over Yonder is the eighth novel, written and narrated by American journalist, podcaster and author, Sean Dietrich. At fifty-seven, Melinda Boyer is on her deathbed in a Knoxville Medical Centre with pancreatic cancer when she puts out a call for the two people she wants to see before she dies. Her seventeen-year-old daughter, the child who spent most of her life so far in and out of foster care, is offered the key to buried treasure. Caroline is both sceptical and feels it’s too little, too late.
The man Melinda was married to for eleven years, (formerly Rev.) Woodrow Barker, just three months out of a ten-year stretch for manslaughter in Wallace Correctional, is expected, despite being laicised, to perform Melinda’s last rites. And he has learned in the phone call that summoned him from Alabama, that Caroline is his daughter. Woody is stunned, almost speechless, but his father Amos is eager to connect with this surprise granddaughter who, it turns out, is eight months pregnant.
Caroline Boyer, half-blind and with other health issues, has baggage, mental and physical, in the form of a redneck boyfriend (Tater), and has acquired a dangerous and determined pursuer who is convinced she holds something of his. When a drunken Tater Bunson takes one violent step too far, she packs up her support goldfish, Gary, and her blind kitten, and presents herself to Amos and Woody for respite.
Meanwhile, back in Alabama, Woody’s second (ex-)wife, Elizabeth, who spent ten years tirelessly advocating for him, visiting, sending care packages, and getting him medical care, is about to marry another man. Regardless, she wants Woody to get to know their nine-year-old daughter, Rachel. But Woody’s poor health is deteriorating critically, and all these assorted stresses aren’t helping.
Dietrich gives the reader a tale with plenty of action in the form of car chases, taserings, kidnappings (and clever escapes therefrom), hijackings, a car bomb, and a roadside birth. There’s a small terrorist group pursued by the FBI, a man forced to dig his own grave, and Dietrich even makes one character describe the plot as that of a poorly-written novel (which this definitely isn’t.) The humour is mostly dry and often quite black, and the dialogue is very entertaining.
His descriptive prose is brilliantly original and imaginative: “The room TV was blaring Divorce Court at a volume loud enough to change the migratory patterns of waterfowl” and “She started shouting in a voice capable of giving headaches to the recently deceased” and “Caroline was impressed at the man’s driving ability. Although he was large and gangly, he had the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel” are a few examples.
His characters offer wisdom and insight: “One of the most jarring things about leaving prison was all the advertisements. Ads on every flat surface, digital platform, and billboard. Product names plastered on people’s clothing. On their shoes. On the bands of their underpants. And ads kept multiplying exponentially as though they were having wild billboard sex every night when the world was asleep and making new ad babies” and “You could add ten years to your life if you gave up smoking.” He looked at the cigar wistfully. “But that decade would have no smoking in it.”
Incredibly moving, thought-provoking, insightful, and often blackly funny, Sean Dietrich’s latest is highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio.
The man Melinda was married to for eleven years, (formerly Rev.) Woodrow Barker, just three months out of a ten-year stretch for manslaughter in Wallace Correctional, is expected, despite being laicised, to perform Melinda’s last rites. And he has learned in the phone call that summoned him from Alabama, that Caroline is his daughter. Woody is stunned, almost speechless, but his father Amos is eager to connect with this surprise granddaughter who, it turns out, is eight months pregnant.
Caroline Boyer, half-blind and with other health issues, has baggage, mental and physical, in the form of a redneck boyfriend (Tater), and has acquired a dangerous and determined pursuer who is convinced she holds something of his. When a drunken Tater Bunson takes one violent step too far, she packs up her support goldfish, Gary, and her blind kitten, and presents herself to Amos and Woody for respite.
Meanwhile, back in Alabama, Woody’s second (ex-)wife, Elizabeth, who spent ten years tirelessly advocating for him, visiting, sending care packages, and getting him medical care, is about to marry another man. Regardless, she wants Woody to get to know their nine-year-old daughter, Rachel. But Woody’s poor health is deteriorating critically, and all these assorted stresses aren’t helping.
Dietrich gives the reader a tale with plenty of action in the form of car chases, taserings, kidnappings (and clever escapes therefrom), hijackings, a car bomb, and a roadside birth. There’s a small terrorist group pursued by the FBI, a man forced to dig his own grave, and Dietrich even makes one character describe the plot as that of a poorly-written novel (which this definitely isn’t.) The humour is mostly dry and often quite black, and the dialogue is very entertaining.
His descriptive prose is brilliantly original and imaginative: “The room TV was blaring Divorce Court at a volume loud enough to change the migratory patterns of waterfowl” and “She started shouting in a voice capable of giving headaches to the recently deceased” and “Caroline was impressed at the man’s driving ability. Although he was large and gangly, he had the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel” are a few examples.
His characters offer wisdom and insight: “One of the most jarring things about leaving prison was all the advertisements. Ads on every flat surface, digital platform, and billboard. Product names plastered on people’s clothing. On their shoes. On the bands of their underpants. And ads kept multiplying exponentially as though they were having wild billboard sex every night when the world was asleep and making new ad babies” and “You could add ten years to your life if you gave up smoking.” He looked at the cigar wistfully. “But that decade would have no smoking in it.”
Incredibly moving, thought-provoking, insightful, and often blackly funny, Sean Dietrich’s latest is highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio.
October 15, 2025
Another terrific book through the eyes of Sean Dietrich!
We have a 60 year old man (Woody) who’s being released from jail. He has two ex-wives and a history of being a priest! He comes home to his 80+ year old Dad, and his ex-wife (#2), Elizabeth, who also happens to be a RN.
Which is good… because he also has a long history of heart problems… and he’s gonna need all the help he can get….
Additionally, he has a nine year old daughter with Elizabeth, AND, he’s just found out that he also has a 17 year old very pregnant daughter (Caroline) with his first wife (Melinda) too! One he knew nothing about. 🤔😮And his ex is VERY sick! And, not expected to live at this point…
And that’s when the whole saga really takes off…. Because, nothing is ever as it seems…
Caroline is told to go find ‘something’ in her Mom’s trailer that’s been hidden for years. What she doesn’t realize is that that ‘something’ is going to change her life in ways she could never have imagined! (And trust me, I have a pretty good imagination and I never saw ANY of this coming!)
You will laugh. You will cry. You might even find yourself outright blubbering at points. 🥹😢 😭You’ll definitely want to smack some heads together! And there’ll be yelling too! If you are like me, you are likely to be falling in love with many of the characters, while also trying to shed some light on some really bad decisions hat were made, too…
And the ending? Well, for me, it was very unexpected… but also perfect. 🥹
All the stars in the world for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫.
Because yes, this one touched my very soul! ❤️❤️
Sean from the South has definitely done it again!!! Seems to me that he ALWAYS makes you smile while you are reading, especially as he is the one narrating with that Southern Drawl that I’ve come to love, and at the same time is literally RIPPING your heart out of your chest…
If you are up for that challenge, please don’t miss this one! It is very special indeed!
And, if you are a fan of his, like I am, look for him on Facebook. He has a terrific page where he shares some very inspiring stories too!
#OverYonder by @SeanDietrich and narrated by The Author!!
This one has already been released, but I was lucky enough to get a copy just before publication! Please 👀 look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #ThomasNelson and #ZondervanFictionAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
We have a 60 year old man (Woody) who’s being released from jail. He has two ex-wives and a history of being a priest! He comes home to his 80+ year old Dad, and his ex-wife (#2), Elizabeth, who also happens to be a RN.
Which is good… because he also has a long history of heart problems… and he’s gonna need all the help he can get….
Additionally, he has a nine year old daughter with Elizabeth, AND, he’s just found out that he also has a 17 year old very pregnant daughter (Caroline) with his first wife (Melinda) too! One he knew nothing about. 🤔😮And his ex is VERY sick! And, not expected to live at this point…
And that’s when the whole saga really takes off…. Because, nothing is ever as it seems…
Caroline is told to go find ‘something’ in her Mom’s trailer that’s been hidden for years. What she doesn’t realize is that that ‘something’ is going to change her life in ways she could never have imagined! (And trust me, I have a pretty good imagination and I never saw ANY of this coming!)
You will laugh. You will cry. You might even find yourself outright blubbering at points. 🥹😢 😭You’ll definitely want to smack some heads together! And there’ll be yelling too! If you are like me, you are likely to be falling in love with many of the characters, while also trying to shed some light on some really bad decisions hat were made, too…
And the ending? Well, for me, it was very unexpected… but also perfect. 🥹
All the stars in the world for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫.
Because yes, this one touched my very soul! ❤️❤️
Sean from the South has definitely done it again!!! Seems to me that he ALWAYS makes you smile while you are reading, especially as he is the one narrating with that Southern Drawl that I’ve come to love, and at the same time is literally RIPPING your heart out of your chest…
If you are up for that challenge, please don’t miss this one! It is very special indeed!
And, if you are a fan of his, like I am, look for him on Facebook. He has a terrific page where he shares some very inspiring stories too!
#OverYonder by @SeanDietrich and narrated by The Author!!
This one has already been released, but I was lucky enough to get a copy just before publication! Please 👀 look 👀 for it on shelves now!!
Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #ThomasNelson and #ZondervanFictionAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
November 4, 2025
Oh the feelings I had while reading this book! In true Sean Dietrich style (I loved his book 'Kinfolk'), he writes with so much tongue in cheek humor while yet covering such serious and heartbreaking topics. This story is about Woody Barker, a defrocked priest who has just been released from a 10-year jail sentence. You don't discover all the details about the reason behind his imprisonment until late in the book. But you do meet Woody's father, Amos; his ex-wife, Elizabeth; his 9-year-old daughter, Rachel and a 17-year-old pregnant girl, Caroline, who has been in and out of foster care for years. In addition, there's a whole host of questionable and dangerous characters entwined within a heart-pounding mystery. But what really grabbed me most was the love . . . love of family, both birth and found, and that ending . . . oh my. It's a book that's going to stay with me for a long time!
Many thanks to TNZ Fiction for the giveaway. I was honored. All comments are my own.
Many thanks to TNZ Fiction for the giveaway. I was honored. All comments are my own.
October 23, 2025
This one I could not put down. I tried to make dinner, nope back in my hand. Tried to go to bed, nope up way too late reading. The characters are phenomenally written. They are beautiful, amazing, wonderous people that Sean Dietrich has created. Not only are they extremely smart, book and street. The amount of smart aleck comments lit up my life. My entire family is made of these exact people. You cannot say anything without another asinine comment getting hurled at your face. This book had me laughing, with a boat house named, The Ship Happens, how could I not. At the end tears were streaming down my face, wondering how we had gotten here. Even though I always knew this ending would come.
Woody is just getting out of prison. He has been locked up for the past ten years. He is now sixty years old, has a 9-year-old daughter that he has missed so much and an ex-wife he cannot stay away from. He is back working on his houseboat and trying to put everything and everyone who does not matter out of his mind. Except his father. Who let me tell you is pure perfection. This man is kind, caring, and wait for it yes, a wicked smart you know what. When Woody's first ex-wife has Woody come to her bedside when she is dying to read her last rites. He discovers that he has a seventeen-year-old daughter he was never told about. Caroline is pregnant, down on her luck, and her boyfriend's name is Tater. His nickname pretty much sums up this man/boy. Caroline has somehow gotten mixed up in something that has terrifying men chasing her back to Alabama. No one knows why and they need to figure it out quickly.
Woody believes that every person has one big adventure. One that you learn from. It can bring you pain, it can be scary, and sensationally beautiful. It can change your entire life. You grow and you learn from it. In this small amount of time that Woody and Caroline are together. They grow and learn how to be a family. To be there and to trust one another. This is one big, beautiful book that you need to read. Thank you to Sean Dietrich, Thomas Nelson, and Uplit Reads. This will be one of my favs for the year!
Woody is just getting out of prison. He has been locked up for the past ten years. He is now sixty years old, has a 9-year-old daughter that he has missed so much and an ex-wife he cannot stay away from. He is back working on his houseboat and trying to put everything and everyone who does not matter out of his mind. Except his father. Who let me tell you is pure perfection. This man is kind, caring, and wait for it yes, a wicked smart you know what. When Woody's first ex-wife has Woody come to her bedside when she is dying to read her last rites. He discovers that he has a seventeen-year-old daughter he was never told about. Caroline is pregnant, down on her luck, and her boyfriend's name is Tater. His nickname pretty much sums up this man/boy. Caroline has somehow gotten mixed up in something that has terrifying men chasing her back to Alabama. No one knows why and they need to figure it out quickly.
Woody believes that every person has one big adventure. One that you learn from. It can bring you pain, it can be scary, and sensationally beautiful. It can change your entire life. You grow and you learn from it. In this small amount of time that Woody and Caroline are together. They grow and learn how to be a family. To be there and to trust one another. This is one big, beautiful book that you need to read. Thank you to Sean Dietrich, Thomas Nelson, and Uplit Reads. This will be one of my favs for the year!
May 2, 2025
Over Yonder is an adventure to read! The author builds each character so well, I feel like I know them. There are several characters involved but each is so unique and written so well, it isn’t difficult to keep up with. I think nearly all emotions were touch on. The dry humor and wit were perfect. There is suspense, fear, love, and family relationships. I love the bond created between Woody, Caroline, and Amos. I think book clubs would enjoy discussing the different characters and themes within the book. This is my first time reading anything by Sean Dietrich and I will now be reading all of his work. 5 stars, highly recommend 📚
“And in the end, it came down to people. Life did. It wasn’t about what you had done. It wasn’t about what you had accomplished. It wasn’t about how much fun you had, how much money you made, or whether you left your family with a great life insurance policy. It was about who you loved. Love was the only thing you could take with you.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
“And in the end, it came down to people. Life did. It wasn’t about what you had done. It wasn’t about what you had accomplished. It wasn’t about how much fun you had, how much money you made, or whether you left your family with a great life insurance policy. It was about who you loved. Love was the only thing you could take with you.”
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
August 21, 2025
Such a realistic and relatable book. I just loved the characters and their development. There was some action and adventure but also great personal conflicts the characters had between each other and their own self. I loved the humor but also the basic humanity shown in this book which is why I felt it was so immensely relatable. The plot was great and easy to follow but also not heavy or intense which made this a great book to relax with. I wish it didn’t end!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 28, 2025
I listened to the audiobook of this title and was pleasantly surprised. It’s a story of contradictions…..a priest who went to prison…….a daughter he never knew about……and a whole lot of “cowboy style antics). The narration is wonderful. I felt like the characters came to Life for me.
You all know how to ready the synopsis so I’ll just say pick this one up and add it to your TBR.
I received an ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.
You all know how to ready the synopsis so I’ll just say pick this one up and add it to your TBR.
I received an ALC of this title, all opinions are my own.
October 3, 2025
I love this author's previous book, KINFOLK, and was excited to get to this one. I can happily say, I also loved this one! I love the way Sean creates the best characters. They're well developed and each one is so relatable. His writing just pulls you right into the story. Woody was a priest, but went to prison and was just released. He is trying to get his life back on track, and also finds out that he has a pregnant teen daughter that he never met. He travels to meet her and there are situations that he was not expecting to happen. They are being pursued by a dangerous mob. They are also learning about each other and building a bond. I loved how this book is full of family, heart, and drama, and also has some humor. There is plenty of suspense and it's fast paced. It was a quick read for me, because I couldn't wait to find out how everything was going to play out. I highly recommend this one. A very captivating story.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Uplit Reads for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Uplit Reads for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 24, 2025
Over Yonder is the eighth novel by American journalist, podcaster and author, Sean Dietrich. At fifty-seven, Melinda Boyer is on her deathbed in a Knoxville Medical Centre with pancreatic cancer when she puts out a call for the two people she wants to see before she dies. Her seventeen-year-old daughter, the child who spent most of her life so far in and out of foster care, is offered the key to buried treasure. Caroline is both sceptical and feels it’s too little, too late.
The man Melinda was married to for eleven years, (formerly Rev.) Woodrow Barker, just three months out of a ten-year stretch for manslaughter in Wallace Correctional, is expected, despite being laicised, to perform Melinda’s last rites. And he has learned in the phone call that summoned him from Alabama, that Caroline is his daughter. Woody is stunned, almost speechless, but his father Amos is eager to connect with this surprise granddaughter who, it turns out, is eight months pregnant.
Caroline Boyer, half-blind and with other health issues, has baggage, mental and physical, in the form of a redneck boyfriend (Tater), and has acquired a dangerous and determined pursuer who is convinced she holds something of his. When a drunken Tater Bunson takes one violent step too far, she packs up her support goldfish, Gary, and her blind kitten, and presents herself to Amos and Woody for respite.
Meanwhile, back in Alabama, Woody’s second (ex-)wife, Elizabeth, who spent ten years tirelessly advocating for him, visiting, sending care packages, and getting him medical care, is about to marry another man. Regardless, she wants Woody to get to know their nine-year-old daughter, Rachel. But Woody’s poor health is deteriorating critically, and all these assorted stresses aren’t helping.
Dietrich gives the reader a tale with plenty of action in the form of car chases, taserings, kidnappings (and clever escapes therefrom), hijackings, a car bomb, and a roadside birth. There’s a small terrorist group pursued by the FBI, a man forced to dig his own grave, and Dietrich even makes one character describe the plot as that of a poorly-written novel (which this definitely isn’t.) The humour is mostly dry and often quite black, and the dialogue is very entertaining.
His descriptive prose is brilliantly original and imaginative: “The room TV was blaring Divorce Court at a volume loud enough to change the migratory patterns of waterfowl” and “She started shouting in a voice capable of giving headaches to the recently deceased” and “Caroline was impressed at the man’s driving ability. Although he was large and gangly, he had the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel” are a few examples.
His characters offer wisdom and insight: “One of the most jarring things about leaving prison was all the advertisements. Ads on every flat surface, digital platform, and billboard. Product names plastered on people’s clothing. On their shoes. On the bands of their underpants. And ads kept multiplying exponentially as though they were having wild billboard sex every night when the world was asleep and making new ad babies” and “You could add ten years to your life if you gave up smoking.” He looked at the cigar wistfully. “But that decade would have no smoking in it.”
Incredibly moving, thought-provoking, insightful, and often blackly funny, Sean Dietrich’s latest is highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio.
The man Melinda was married to for eleven years, (formerly Rev.) Woodrow Barker, just three months out of a ten-year stretch for manslaughter in Wallace Correctional, is expected, despite being laicised, to perform Melinda’s last rites. And he has learned in the phone call that summoned him from Alabama, that Caroline is his daughter. Woody is stunned, almost speechless, but his father Amos is eager to connect with this surprise granddaughter who, it turns out, is eight months pregnant.
Caroline Boyer, half-blind and with other health issues, has baggage, mental and physical, in the form of a redneck boyfriend (Tater), and has acquired a dangerous and determined pursuer who is convinced she holds something of his. When a drunken Tater Bunson takes one violent step too far, she packs up her support goldfish, Gary, and her blind kitten, and presents herself to Amos and Woody for respite.
Meanwhile, back in Alabama, Woody’s second (ex-)wife, Elizabeth, who spent ten years tirelessly advocating for him, visiting, sending care packages, and getting him medical care, is about to marry another man. Regardless, she wants Woody to get to know their nine-year-old daughter, Rachel. But Woody’s poor health is deteriorating critically, and all these assorted stresses aren’t helping.
Dietrich gives the reader a tale with plenty of action in the form of car chases, taserings, kidnappings (and clever escapes therefrom), hijackings, a car bomb, and a roadside birth. There’s a small terrorist group pursued by the FBI, a man forced to dig his own grave, and Dietrich even makes one character describe the plot as that of a poorly-written novel (which this definitely isn’t.) The humour is mostly dry and often quite black, and the dialogue is very entertaining.
His descriptive prose is brilliantly original and imaginative: “The room TV was blaring Divorce Court at a volume loud enough to change the migratory patterns of waterfowl” and “She started shouting in a voice capable of giving headaches to the recently deceased” and “Caroline was impressed at the man’s driving ability. Although he was large and gangly, he had the reflexes of a caffeinated squirrel” are a few examples.
His characters offer wisdom and insight: “One of the most jarring things about leaving prison was all the advertisements. Ads on every flat surface, digital platform, and billboard. Product names plastered on people’s clothing. On their shoes. On the bands of their underpants. And ads kept multiplying exponentially as though they were having wild billboard sex every night when the world was asleep and making new ad babies” and “You could add ten years to your life if you gave up smoking.” He looked at the cigar wistfully. “But that decade would have no smoking in it.”
Incredibly moving, thought-provoking, insightful, and often blackly funny, Sean Dietrich’s latest is highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction audio.
October 28, 2025
Sean Dietrich is back with more wonderful characters and outrageous situations (including a long-lost treasure) in Over Yonder.
"Woody is a former priest, newly released from prison. All he wants to do is live the rest of his life on his boat in peace.
Caroline is seventeen and pregnant. Life has not been kind to her. But she meets the father she never knew. When bad men want to know what information her mother passed to her she flees with her emotional support fish, Gary and with Woody. They're trying to stay out of danger and learn to be a family."
I always feel good after reading a Dietrich novel. There is a sense of redemption and hope here. You find out the reason that Woody was in prison and the connection between him and Caroline. Even Tater (you know there's a character named Tater) has his moment of redemption.
This book has some differences from previous books. There's a lot more action and almost feels like an action/thriller at times. Especially since we see the FBI and a night-time graveyard scene with a madman. And oh yeah - the long lost treasure.
There is a Brad character. He only gets a cameo but he's not terrible.
Great ending for this story.
Another good one from Dietrich
"Woody is a former priest, newly released from prison. All he wants to do is live the rest of his life on his boat in peace.
Caroline is seventeen and pregnant. Life has not been kind to her. But she meets the father she never knew. When bad men want to know what information her mother passed to her she flees with her emotional support fish, Gary and with Woody. They're trying to stay out of danger and learn to be a family."
I always feel good after reading a Dietrich novel. There is a sense of redemption and hope here. You find out the reason that Woody was in prison and the connection between him and Caroline. Even Tater (you know there's a character named Tater) has his moment of redemption.
This book has some differences from previous books. There's a lot more action and almost feels like an action/thriller at times. Especially since we see the FBI and a night-time graveyard scene with a madman. And oh yeah - the long lost treasure.
There is a Brad character. He only gets a cameo but he's not terrible.
Great ending for this story.
Another good one from Dietrich
December 14, 2025
4.5 stars ⭐️
October 14, 2025
There is definitely some quick wit in here if you listen closely. Woody, a defrocked priest, after he was released from prison. He still has two ex-wives, a young daughter, an elderly father and a houseboat waiting for him on the outside. He also has the unexpected, but happy surprise of a 17-year-old, pregnant daughter who brings more than just happiness to his doorstep. Woody believes that every person has one big adventure. One that you learn from. It can bring you pain, it can be scary, and sensationally beautiful. It can change your entire life. You grow and you learn from it. In this small amount of time that Woody and Caroline are together. They grow and learn how to be a family. To be there and to trust one another. Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity and don't call me Shirley.
October 12, 2025
This book much more than I expected. I loved the story and the narration was done by the author which was quite good.
Caroline has had a tough life. She was a crack baby and only has 20% vision in 1 eye. Her mother, all growing up, chose drugs and men over her and she mostly grew up in foster care. Now, she is in a pregnancy with a joke of a man. And so much more. But her mother died and on her deathbed she told her to get a "secret" from her trailer. She did this and she became hunted.
5 stars!!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Caroline has had a tough life. She was a crack baby and only has 20% vision in 1 eye. Her mother, all growing up, chose drugs and men over her and she mostly grew up in foster care. Now, she is in a pregnancy with a joke of a man. And so much more. But her mother died and on her deathbed she told her to get a "secret" from her trailer. She did this and she became hunted.
5 stars!!
Many thanks to Net Galley and Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio | for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2025
This character-driven novel follows Woody, a defrocked priest, after he was released from prison. He still has two ex-wives, a young daughter, an elderly father and a houseboat waiting for him on the outside. He also has the unexpected, but happy surprise of a 17-year-old, pregnant daughter who brings more than just happiness to his doorstep.
This book is a true adventure with some witty remarks, some gritty characters and an abundance of love. Dietrich’s trademark humor gives this story the unexpected boost of levity amongst some of its darkness. This book isn’t fast-paced or twisty, but it has enough family drama, love and redemption to fill your soul. This would be an excellent book club choice.
I absolutely adored this book. It easily rates 5 stars and I am grateful to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced reader copy.
This book is a true adventure with some witty remarks, some gritty characters and an abundance of love. Dietrich’s trademark humor gives this story the unexpected boost of levity amongst some of its darkness. This book isn’t fast-paced or twisty, but it has enough family drama, love and redemption to fill your soul. This would be an excellent book club choice.
I absolutely adored this book. It easily rates 5 stars and I am grateful to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced reader copy.
October 11, 2025
I think this is my third book by this author. This one is just as good as the previous ones. It’s a fast moving book. It’s a little intense at times and full of emotions.
I could not put this book down and I don’t think I was quite ready for it to end.
I could not put this book down and I don’t think I was quite ready for it to end.
September 28, 2025
I loved everything about this book! Family drama, religion (or lack thereof), prison, lost love, drugs, divorce, you name it, and I believe the author found a way to include it. This book focused on real-life problems, resiliency, and moving on with life after being dealt a crappy hand. It was engaging throughout the entire book, and I couldn't put it down!
August 27, 2025
Sean Dietrich, affectionately known as “Sean of the South,” delivers a spirited and heartfelt tale with his upcoming novel Over Yonder, due October 7, 2025. Dietrich weaves together a story of redemption and reluctant kinship in the Deep South, all with his signature humor and compassionate warmth.
Defrocked priest Woody Barker is released from prison after 10 years to deal with his troubled past, his heart condition, and his uncertain future. Living on a houseboat moored along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Woody just wants a quiet, peaceful life. But his ex-wife is nagging about his diet and his unhealthy habits as she wants him to be eligible for a heart transplant, and his first ex-wife informs him in a dying request that he has a 17-year-old pregnant daughter named Caroline.
Caroline was born with birth defects stemming from her mother’s drug abuse. She’s been in and out of foster homes all her life. More recently, she had been living with a mean boyfriend who she deserts after he beats her. At her mother’s funeral, she learns Woody is her father.
Forced together by circumstances, Woody and Caroline try to figure out what the purpose is of something Caroline’s mother hid beneath the subfloor of her trailer’s bathroom cabinet. This item plunges them into a dangerous situation with unsavory men following them with a final confrontation. Soon the Federal Bureau of Investigation enters the picture.
Through a series of events, Woody and Caroline forge an unlikely family bond. In addition, she benefits from a grandfather named Major and a younger sister named Rachel.
Southern flavor is infused throughout the book with Dietrich’s dry humor and Southern colloquialisms. Over Yonder is a journey toward reconnection, forgiveness, and the accidental family people choose when the world turns its back on them. This is definitely a book for fans of Rick Bragg.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, podcaster, speaker, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, The Bitter Southerner, Thom Magazine, and The Mobile Press Register.
My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 27, 2025.
I would like to thank Harper Muse, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.
Defrocked priest Woody Barker is released from prison after 10 years to deal with his troubled past, his heart condition, and his uncertain future. Living on a houseboat moored along the Alabama Gulf Coast, Woody just wants a quiet, peaceful life. But his ex-wife is nagging about his diet and his unhealthy habits as she wants him to be eligible for a heart transplant, and his first ex-wife informs him in a dying request that he has a 17-year-old pregnant daughter named Caroline.
Caroline was born with birth defects stemming from her mother’s drug abuse. She’s been in and out of foster homes all her life. More recently, she had been living with a mean boyfriend who she deserts after he beats her. At her mother’s funeral, she learns Woody is her father.
Forced together by circumstances, Woody and Caroline try to figure out what the purpose is of something Caroline’s mother hid beneath the subfloor of her trailer’s bathroom cabinet. This item plunges them into a dangerous situation with unsavory men following them with a final confrontation. Soon the Federal Bureau of Investigation enters the picture.
Through a series of events, Woody and Caroline forge an unlikely family bond. In addition, she benefits from a grandfather named Major and a younger sister named Rachel.
Southern flavor is infused throughout the book with Dietrich’s dry humor and Southern colloquialisms. Over Yonder is a journey toward reconnection, forgiveness, and the accidental family people choose when the world turns its back on them. This is definitely a book for fans of Rick Bragg.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, podcaster, speaker, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Southern Living, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, The Bitter Southerner, Thom Magazine, and The Mobile Press Register.
My review will be posted on Goodreads starting August 27, 2025.
I would like to thank Harper Muse, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.
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