Kissing the Sky: A Novel

by Lisa Patton

From the bestselling author of Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easter comes a soulful, nostalgic novel about a young woman coming of age in the ‘60s to the blare of the music that shaped a generation.

It’s the summer of ’69. While her peers revel in free love and rock and roll, Suzannah is home from college, sequestered inside her conservative Southern home. Her domineering father has condemned rock music and driven away her best friend. She’s counting the days until fall.

But everything changes when her free-spirited best friend, Livy, resurfaces, urging Suzannah, a talented singer, to join her for three days of peace and music in upstate New York. Fed up with her father’s rules and fearful for her brother’s fate in Vietnam, Suzannah agrees to the road trip, sneaking off without her parents’ knowledge.

Miles outside her comfort zone, the electrifying bedlam of Woodstock jolts her into a journey of self-transformation. But it’s not all incense and peppermints. Suzannah’s falling hard for Leon, a boy she meets at the festival, and the seductive bud of first love conceals a thorn of heartache. Lies uncover betrayal, and Livy’s wild behavior leads to a startling revelation.

A nostalgic trip through the turbulent ’60s, the music becomes a powerful force for social change. This is the story of a lovable heroine who lets go of the girl she was, to embrace the woman she’s becoming, and learns to lift her voice—for herself and perhaps for the world.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Historical, Coming Of Age, Music, Audiobook

399 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2026

About the author

Lisa Patton, author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter, Yankee Doodle Dixie, Southern as a Second Language, and Rush, and Kissing The Sky is a Memphis, Tennessee native who spent time as a Vermont innkeeper until three sub-zero winters sent her speeding back down South. She has over twenty-five years of experience working in theater, radio, TV, and music, including a decade with Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, who, along with his wife Amy, helped Lisa cowrite and produce “If Not for You,” an original song for Kissing the Sky. A graduate of the University of Alabama, Lisa is the proud mother of two sons, eight bonus children, and twelve grandchildren. She and her husband live in the rolling hills of Nashville with their four-legged furry son named Ziggy, and furry daughter named Daisy.

To find links to the original song “If Not for You,” please visit Lisa’s website at www.lisapatton.com or go to the streaming platform of your choice: Amy Holland/ If Not for You Connect with Lisa on Instagram, @lisapattonbooks, and on Facebook, Lisa Patton.author.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memphis, Tennessee, August 1969. Suzannah is home from Union college for the summer, her father is religious and strict, he doesn’t allow her to sing, dance, listen to rock music, he forced her older brother Ron into signing up to fight in Vietnam and when he was exempt.

Suzannah hasn’t seen her best friend Livy in three years, out of the blue she appears and convinces SuSu to sneak out of the house and travel with her to upstate New York and attend a music festival or as it was advertised an Aquarian Exposition and where boyfriend will be waiting for them.

The traffic is jammed, she and Livy join masses of others walking to Max Yasgur’s farm in Bethel and they meet two guys Leon and his cousin Johnny along the way and she has no idea the next three days will change her life. Suzannah is a church attending, rule following goody two shoes and Woodstock is shocking, eye opening revelation and here she finds both her courage and voice.

I received a copy of Kissing the Sky from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Lisa Patton’s story blew me away, took me back to what it was like to be a young person in America in the late 1960’s, to Woodstock where hundreds of thousands conversed to listen to music, get drenched and covered in mud, find peace, love and most all share their dislike for the draft and Vietnam war.

A true coming of age story, I found Susannah's character refreshing, I laughed out loud when she was shocked, her insecurities, I cheered when she decided to seize the moment, I felt her joy, pain and shed a few tears. I didn't see the big plot twist coming and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

[Erika Bazzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kissing the Sky puts you right at the center of the beautiful, iconic disaster that was Woodstock… and even more complicated era of the Vietnam war-focused United States.
This book tackles youthful rebellion, love, complicated family dynamics, a reckoning of faith, forgiveness, and the importance of having the freedom and opportunities to make way for self-discovery!
With historically accurate research and details, specific to the timeline of the actual events of that crazy weekend in 1969, you’ll learn some things and you’ll feel even more.
If you liked Daisy Jones and the Six, get ready to love this one, too.

[Sabrina Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazon First Reads Choice!

Dirty Dancing Parents Meets Woodstock
Vietnam War Brother
Narcissistic Best Friend
Grandmother Telling Daughter Life Story

I ate it UP. So Good!

[Annette Gregorio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it one day. I couldn’t put it down. Woodstock was described as epic and the main character and the division in her family because of her dad’s religious views and the Vietnam War. Vietnam war was is still is the division of this country. But, throughout the whole time I was reading I was reading I was so invested in Suzannah and Leon staying together after Woodstock that I never saw a right time to put it down for the night so I didn’t sleep until I finished. Also, about what was happening with her peace loving brother in Vietnam. Not spoiling it. Must go read! Love it!!!!!

[Deb Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very cool to read. It takes place at Woodstock. I’ve never read a book in this setting and it kept me captivated. It is a little slow in the middle and the end was a little cheesy, but I really enjoyed this book.

[Corina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

This was truly a wonderful description of the Woodstock experience. I want there but this gives an authentic sounding look at what it was like. Don't miss this one! Excellent.

[Crystal Frost · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.3 stars! What a gem of a story this was. I may have not been born when the first Woodstock happened, however, I am well aware of the event. Just like the MWC in the book, a best friend and I packed up and drove over 12 hrs to New York at the age of 20 to Woodstock 1999. This book brought flashbacks to my own experiences of living outdoors amongst thousands of people for three days just listening to music and enjoying life. When it came to this story, I heard of most of the bands and knew a few of the songs during that time period. But what was most joyful while reading this book was when I looked up bands I never heard of and I listened to their music. This story had a fun little love story, friendships, family dynamics and the hardships of the Vietnam war. I would definitely recommend this book.

[Leah Hoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! I know very little about Woodstock, but this book put me there. Embarrassingly, I admit to not knowing a lot about the Vietnam War, so I appreciate the author’s ability to weave it into the story. This is by far my favorite Amazon First Reads choice!

[Traci Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Nicely written. I really enjoyed this. I was too young to attend woodstock too. I did attend the anniversary concert and visit Be the l often for concerts.

[Dawn Bartlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT an awesome book!

[Tony Hodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual read at all. However I’ve always enjoyed the music of the late 1960s, synonymous with Woodstock and thought I’d try it. Surprisingly enjoyed it more than I thought. Terrific references to the groups starring at Woodstock. A great plot twist along the way. A more enjoyable read than I expected. Five stars for the entertainment value!

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was about 8 years too young for Woodstock, but it was certainly a part of the psyche of my younger years. This book does a fantastic job of taking you there through the eyes and mind and heart of a 20 yr-old sheltered girl from Tennessee. The author made an exceptional effort to research and represent the truth of the event. Kudos for her integrity. We also get a bit of the family realities of the war in Vietnam, and the cultural revolution to question authority, but to a large extent this is a love-story. And the story is expanded by jumping a generation where the once 20 yr-old is bringing her granddaughter to the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock. Well written, easy reading, twists and turns in important relationships, and lots of music and musicians' references from that era... worth the read!

[Kristina Clement · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description of the book was compelling, but the delivery was disappointing. The characters were flat and such extreme caricatures that I found I didn't really care what happened to them. This is the first book in a long time that I seriously considered not finishing. My only takeaway from it is that it must have been physically miserable to be at Woodstock.

Amazon First Reads

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars Rounded up.
A Big thank you to Prime First reads for giving me an ARC of this book.
This book is about Suzannah who comes from a strict conservative family who is attending Woodstock with her best friend Livvy (without her family knowing). Her brother Ron is serving overseas in Vietnam and she loves music but her father went to lengths including taking the radio out of her car so she can't listen to "The Devils Music" Suzannah and Livvy are at Woodstock because Livvy wants Suzannah (Suzi) to meet her boyfriend. The story is a dual timeline. You have the timeline leading up to Woodstock, the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock where Suzannah is there with her Granddaughter and Woodstock itself.
I gave the book 4.5 stars due to misunderstanding and Livvy getting on my nerves for part of the book. That being said the story of Livvy's coming of age and the story of Woodstock were so powerful and the things that left me frustrated ending up explaining themselves later in the book. I love all the research (see the letter at the end of the book) that the author put in to put this story into motion. Some people say the ending of the book is cheesy but I completely disagree. I found myself moved to tears and sitting a lot time after the book was read, letting it all sink in. That is a what a really good book does to me. I highly recommend reading this book and I look forward to reading other books for this author in the future. What started out as a "COVID passion Project" for this author turned out to be one Gem of a Historical Fiction book.

[milly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25! read this very quickly and kinda really enjoyed. despite there still being elements of war, it was cool to read a historical fiction about an event that isn’t just tragedy. you can tell the author really did research and spend a lot of time learning about woodstock from people who were really there and i think that paid off so much in the atmosphere (however as someone who was obviously not there - not sure why i would know this is accurate or not). the author did kinda get me with that twist, though at first i thought it was a little ridiculous, i thought it was a cool avenue to explore and something (as mentioned in the authors note) that isn’t often brought up in books including veterans! overall i enjoyed this a lot more than i expected and think that for a small niche of people this could be an all timer fav book!!!

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a 30 year old of course I have heard about Woodstock. I knew it was a huge concert that went down in history but I had no idea how crazy it really was. Although the author didn’t experience Woodstock herself she put so much time and effort into interviewing people in order to make this story as factual as possible. I felt like I was experiencing Woodstock through a conservative southern Baptist 20 year old girl from Memphis TN. The story felt so real and I’m so glad I got to learn a little more about this small piece of American history.

[Martee Grainger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surpassed ALL my expectations. From the level of detail in capturing Woodstock to the personable and raw main character, I literally felt as though I was there. Never read a book like this before. Such a moving and real story of a woman finding her way in a chaotic world. I highly recommend.

[Sammy Keating · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I have ever read. genuinely and wholeheartedly obsessed with this story. I wish I could give it 10 stars<3

[Steph Vuce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so adorable! A grandmother is reliving her time at Woodstock while sharing her memories with her granddaughter at the Woodstock reunion. They talk about music, drugs, falling in love, and finding yourself. I would read this over again!

[Tiffany Romeo-Peragine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to clue how this book has a 4 star rating. It was so bad and repetitive. I gave up halfway through because it was so boring. I had no attachment to the characters and couldn’t care less how it ended.

[kat wilkz · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVED this !!!!! im a sucker for anything 60s/70s rock & roll adjacent, the aesthetic, the vibes, the fangirls, i love love love it all so i knew i would enjoy this book!!! but it was so much more than i expected, the subplot about the vietnam war was so interesting and the way it was all written as a flashback was great. i felt like i was there at woodstock ‘69!!
peace & love <3

[Cyndi Bunnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for the history lesson

I was only 10 yrs old when Woodstock happened.

I was 13 yrs old when I went to see this movie at the movie theater at the Naval Base in Mayport FL. (Yes, I was a Navy Brat)
I was 20 yrs old working reservations at Grossinger's in Liberty NY at the 10 yr anniversary.

Thanks for the research that went into writing this book.

I read this book in less than 24 hours. I was drawn into it immediately.

[Tanya Brummett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mud, Music & a Little Bit of Magic..."Scuse me while I kiss the sky" ☮️✌️❤️🎸

First and foremost that Jimi Hendrix performance waaas pure elation felt in my soul.

Reading Kissing the Sky by Lisa Patton felt like stepping into a living heartbeat of 1969. The down pouring rain, sights, the mud, the crowds, the music—it’s all there, but more than that, you can feel the pulse of something bigger: a spirit that moves through people when they come together for love and music.

Patton doesn’t just describe Woodstock; she lets you experience it. You feel the vibration of guitars, the hum of the crowd, the electricity of a thousand strangers sharing a moment of pure connection. It’s chaotic, messy, and beautiful—and it’s in that chaos that the soul of the story lives.

The festival was a refuge of sorts, a place to breathe and feel alive for a generation
carrying the weight of war and uncertainty. The music and the shared experience offered a healing space, a moment of collective release where people could reconnect with hope, with each other, and with the beauty of life.

At the heart of it is Suzie and Leon, whose love unfolds with the same natural rhythm as the music around them. Their connection isn’t rushed or flashy—it’s authentic, tender, and transformative, like the kind of love that grows quietly when two people open their hearts fully to each other. Watching them navigate the noise of the world while discovering each other is a reminder that love, like music, is spiritual: it resonates, it heals, and it elevates.

By the end, this wasn't just a story about Woodstock. It’s a story about people finding themselves and each other through music, rhythm, shared humanity, and the quiet resilience of the human spirit. It’s about moments that remind you that life, at its best, is lived in harmony—with others, with love, with the earth, and with the sky above.

[Howard S. Glazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

'I am an indiscriminate reader. To be honest, I don't recall why a picked this book from the Kindle list. Maybe the mention of Woodstock. I am of that era, although by the time of the event, I was married and a had a position as a Research Associate at a major university. Taking the time to go to the concert was probably not on my life schedule at that time.

As I began reading, I found the story interesting, but was puzzled about where it might be going. I thought it might be a Young Adult novel and not sure that, at 81, it would continue to hold my interest. I did find it was considered to be Historical Fiction, one of my favorite categories, so I read on.

Yes, I have read about Woodstock and seen the documentaries. Patton got us closer to being there in the crowds, rain and mud. This many years later, to be unfamiliar with Santana, Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young), Joe Cocker seems impossible. The Beatles were together for another year and it was their time. We are still listening to Joan Baez. it would have been astounding to have been there. Then I remind myself that I do not like huge concerts.

Now, of course, all novels are contrived. The author does detail the efforts to make it historically accurate in the description of the event, itself, and the music. The story is the fiction. To me, it was just an interesting and a possible story until Nick showed up. Then it hit as dramatically emotional.
Could all of that happened the way the rest of the story unfolded? Is life ever that perfect? Probably not. But would we have wanted to end any other way?

[Emily Fragale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful read! The story of Suzannah was addicting and I found myself unable to put the book down. Her story was so detailed I felt like I was quite literally at Woodstock. This was such a unique read with the most interesting setting. Suzannahs story is an emotional roller coaster and I felt like I was riding the highs and lows with her. Suzie finding herself and her purpose, breaking away from her trauma and finding freedom and love. This is a book that will stick with you for a while. My only complaint is the plot twist towards the end felt a bit rushed I wish the author explored that side a bit more. And the ending could have gone into a little more detail post Woodstock. I find myself wanting to read more of Susie’s story. This story was absolutely outstanding

[Maddie Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book so fast. I could not put it down. I love learning about this era, specifically anything to do with the music scene and the counterculture movement. But the thing that I loved most about this book, is that it reflected some of my own experiences. Suzannah was so relatable. Even if I myself was not able to runaway to Woodstock in 1969, I saw myself in her journey of self discovery. This book was an unexpected favorite I will be thinking about for a long time.

[Leslie preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia at its best!

Absolutely.loves this book, initially I thought it was going to be redundant ... Nope... Excellent look into Woodstock, the people and young love. This book took it a step further with it thoughts on religion and believing. One of the better books I have read in quiet sometime

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasant Surprise

Great historical fiction novel about Woodstock. Great character development, great historical facts, I really enjoyed the characters and learning about the bands and the festival. The author brought it to life. I could hear the music, smell the mud and weed, feel the rain, and see the butterflies and naked hippies in the field. I also appreciated the way difficult subjects like Vietnam, religion, and coming of age were handled. Well done.

[Kristina Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a terrific book.I loved living g Woodstock through Suzie’s eyes. I loved being on the journey of first love and her and Leon. I adored her devotion to her brother and the outcome of that storyline. There were times where I truly wanted to punch Livy and I’m pretty sure that was the author’s intent. I’m really looking forward to more by Lisa Patton.

[Gian Canales Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

60s nostalgia, rock and roll, friendship, love, and a bit of political commentary.
It was “far out” seeing Woodstock through the eyes of a sheltered church girl finally having a chance to break free!
Definitely planning to make a playlist of all the songs mentioned in the book.
This would make for a spectacular movie!