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The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid
“Life is supposed to challenge us. So many things we wish were different, but the parts to get there were sometimes the greatest moments in our lives.”
Missy Kinkaid has always been the light of Sullivan’s Island—bold, unapologetic, and the beating heart of her family, friends, and Scarlet’s Harlots, the renegade divorced women changing the narrative. But when the death of her estranged mother sends her spiraling into a breakdown in the cereal aisle, Missy is forced to confront the pain of past loves, fractured family ties, and the weight of expectations she’s spent a lifetime defying.
With her closest friends—and a cousin carrying secrets of her own—Missy embarks on a journey of reckoning that tests the limits of forgiveness, resilience, and self-discovery. Along the way, she learns that true empowerment isn’t about posturing but the courage to own your story, scars and all.
Witty, raw, and emotionally layered, The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a fiercely uplifting novel about friendship, loss, reinvention, and the strength it takes to become wholly yourself.
First introduced in Kirsten Pursell’s Finding Scarlet, Missy now steps into her own unforgettable story—one of heartbreak and humor, loss and resilience, and the enduring bonds that tether us home.
Missy Kinkaid has always been the light of Sullivan’s Island—bold, unapologetic, and the beating heart of her family, friends, and Scarlet’s Harlots, the renegade divorced women changing the narrative. But when the death of her estranged mother sends her spiraling into a breakdown in the cereal aisle, Missy is forced to confront the pain of past loves, fractured family ties, and the weight of expectations she’s spent a lifetime defying.
With her closest friends—and a cousin carrying secrets of her own—Missy embarks on a journey of reckoning that tests the limits of forgiveness, resilience, and self-discovery. Along the way, she learns that true empowerment isn’t about posturing but the courage to own your story, scars and all.
Witty, raw, and emotionally layered, The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a fiercely uplifting novel about friendship, loss, reinvention, and the strength it takes to become wholly yourself.
First introduced in Kirsten Pursell’s Finding Scarlet, Missy now steps into her own unforgettable story—one of heartbreak and humor, loss and resilience, and the enduring bonds that tether us home.
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 14, 2025
9 people are currently reading
1170 people want to read
About the author
Kirsten Pursell
10 books354 followersKirsten Pursell is an award-winning American indie author. Her sixth novel, The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid, will be published October 14, 2025. Her fifth novel, Finding Scarlet, was rereleased in May 2025from its original title of The Scarlet D (November 2024). It earned several awards.
Her fourth book, Long Enough to Love You, was released on 1/1/2023 and has earned several awards including:
Firebird Book Awards First Place: Fiction, Divorce Fiction, and Romance (2024)
The BookFest Second Place Award Contemporary Romance (Spring 2023)
A Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner (2023)
Reader's Favorite 5 Stars (2023)
Book Excellence Winner - divorce fiction (2024)
Previous works include her memoir, On Becoming Me: Memoir of an 80's Teenager, released in 2021, and two additional novels: Harvard and Company Clown. Her books have been downloaded over 15,000 times since 2021. Her memoir was previously #1 on Amazon’s women’s biographies and memoirs and Company Clown was #1 in Satire Fiction.
Outside of writing, she is an avid swimmer who enjoys training and competing in open water and pool events near and far. She is fluent in German, loves to channel her inner mermaid through SCUBA adventures, and will travel just about anywhere given the opportunity. Time with her now adult children is her favorite (a nonfat latte a strong second). She lives in the San Diego beach community of Ocean Beach.
Her fourth book, Long Enough to Love You, was released on 1/1/2023 and has earned several awards including:
Firebird Book Awards First Place: Fiction, Divorce Fiction, and Romance (2024)
The BookFest Second Place Award Contemporary Romance (Spring 2023)
A Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner (2023)
Reader's Favorite 5 Stars (2023)
Book Excellence Winner - divorce fiction (2024)
Previous works include her memoir, On Becoming Me: Memoir of an 80's Teenager, released in 2021, and two additional novels: Harvard and Company Clown. Her books have been downloaded over 15,000 times since 2021. Her memoir was previously #1 on Amazon’s women’s biographies and memoirs and Company Clown was #1 in Satire Fiction.
Outside of writing, she is an avid swimmer who enjoys training and competing in open water and pool events near and far. She is fluent in German, loves to channel her inner mermaid through SCUBA adventures, and will travel just about anywhere given the opportunity. Time with her now adult children is her favorite (a nonfat latte a strong second). She lives in the San Diego beach community of Ocean Beach.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 16, 2025
Very Good
This is a very good book. It is about friendships, love and reflections on the past and present. Missy Kincaid is an interesting lady.
This is a very good book. It is about friendships, love and reflections on the past and present. Missy Kincaid is an interesting lady.
October 15, 2025
So trashy that I did not finish.
September 14, 2025
The book follows Missy Kinkaid, a fifty-something woman navigating the mess of family baggage, complicated friendships, and the ghosts of old loves. It digs into her rocky relationship with her mother, who spent most of her life institutionalized, her bond with her late father, who adored her, and her often-fractured but deeply entwined connection with her cousin Margo. Around her orbit, other women, like Scarlet and Amber, form her circle of truth-telling, wine-drinking allies. What unfolds is not a neat story but a layered patch.
Reading it felt like sitting across from a friend who doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I laughed out loud at Missy’s breakdown in the cereal aisle, and then I teared up when she admitted how much her mother’s coldness still cut into her. The writing had this strange magic. At times, it was witty and biting, other times, it felt like someone opening an old wound right in front of me. Some parts rambled, but even then, I didn’t want to look away. It felt messy in the best way, like life itself.
I found myself torn between wanting to hug Missy and wanting to shake her. Her bitterness toward Margo stung, but I understood it, and the honesty of that relationship was one of my favorite parts. The book isn’t afraid to show women being selfish, being cruel, and being brave, sometimes all at once. That’s what hooked me most, the refusal to paint anyone as simply good or bad. The emotional swings kept me on my toes. One page I was chuckling at sarcastic banter, the next I was heavy with grief. It felt real in a way most novels don’t.
I was left thinking about how family shapes us, even when we try to escape it, and how friendship can carry us through the darkest corners of memory. I’d recommend this book to readers who like character-driven stories that don’t flinch away from uncomfortable truths. It’s especially for women who have lived through complicated families, failed relationships, and the ache of trying to start over. If you want something tidy, this isn’t it. But if you want to feel like you’ve lived a whole other life, then Missy Kinkaid’s story is worth your time.
Reading it felt like sitting across from a friend who doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I laughed out loud at Missy’s breakdown in the cereal aisle, and then I teared up when she admitted how much her mother’s coldness still cut into her. The writing had this strange magic. At times, it was witty and biting, other times, it felt like someone opening an old wound right in front of me. Some parts rambled, but even then, I didn’t want to look away. It felt messy in the best way, like life itself.
I found myself torn between wanting to hug Missy and wanting to shake her. Her bitterness toward Margo stung, but I understood it, and the honesty of that relationship was one of my favorite parts. The book isn’t afraid to show women being selfish, being cruel, and being brave, sometimes all at once. That’s what hooked me most, the refusal to paint anyone as simply good or bad. The emotional swings kept me on my toes. One page I was chuckling at sarcastic banter, the next I was heavy with grief. It felt real in a way most novels don’t.
I was left thinking about how family shapes us, even when we try to escape it, and how friendship can carry us through the darkest corners of memory. I’d recommend this book to readers who like character-driven stories that don’t flinch away from uncomfortable truths. It’s especially for women who have lived through complicated families, failed relationships, and the ache of trying to start over. If you want something tidy, this isn’t it. But if you want to feel like you’ve lived a whole other life, then Missy Kinkaid’s story is worth your time.
September 26, 2025
This book had me laughing & crying throughout. Kirsten Pursell has this wonderful ability to take midlife experiences & transfer them to the pages of her novels. This story follows Missy Kincaid, a woman in her 50's, who is navigating a divorce & midlife chaos. Being that I'm also in my 50s, I found myself relating to so much of her life. The deep dive into how family affects us into adulthood, made me want to cry for Missy, as she survived a mentally ill mother's abuse, that had lasting repercussions in how she experienced adulthood & marriage. There's a wonderful circle of friends found in a divorced women's book club , to bolster each other through heartache & happy times, that also serves as as a therapy group. (Wine & sarcasm included) Missy's life is messy & this story doesn't shy away from the gritty parts, but that's what makes this character stronger, on her journey of finding herself. It delves into themes of friendship & jealousy & how it shapes us into who we are. It makes you want to examine your life & how your experiences have shaped your journey thus far. I found myself thoroughly transported into Missy's world & the story had me feeling as if I were engaging with the characters. I highly recommend this as a great read that will suck you in from the first page.
December 14, 2025
A captivating blend of Southern Gothic and women’s fiction, Kirsten Pursell’s The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid is a moving exploration of resilience and renewal. Missy Kinkaid’s bold spirit shines through as she faces profound personal loss and the scars of her past. Set against Sullivan’s Island’s picturesque backdrop, the story delicately peels back layers of family secrets, betrayal, and love. Pursell’s exquisite storytelling and well-drawn characters make this a memorable read. Missy’s struggles and growth resonate deeply, reminding us all of the power of forgiveness and self-acceptance—an emotionally authentic novel, perfect for holiday reflection and heartfelt storytelling.
December 14, 2025
The Unabridged Life of Missy Kinkaid by Kirsten Pursell is a richly textured novel filled with emotional honesty and Southern charm. Follow Missy Kinkaid as she confronts her past, family secrets, and her desire for a fresh start. Set on the scenic Sullivan’s Island, the story explores themes of trauma, sisterhood, and love with tenderness and grit. Pursell’s lyrical prose captures the salty air and small-town intimacy perfectly. Missy’s journey of self-discovery is compelling, layered with realistic flaws and heartfelt moments. Characters are well-drawn and the story is infused with authenticity, a setting that is well-explotred, and psychological conflict just like I like it in novels.
September 15, 2025
The life of a woman- Missy has a breakdown after her mother dies but with the help of meds and therapy she get better. She and her friends meet for book club and catch up on all the gossip etc that goes on in their lives. As Missy begins discovering life on her own, checking dating sites, dating etc you will enjoy her and her friends adventures in life.
October 27, 2025
Too much sexual description and the f-bomb.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews