Once Upon a Gulf Coast Summer

by Susan Oliver

Susan Oliver says, "It takes very little for a mother and daughter to turn on each other. So much lies below the surface hurts held for decades in clinched fists, extravagant expectations never met, and ties that bind."

Once Upon a Gulf Coast Summer is about the complex relationship between Josephine Green and her grown daughter, Katy. Issues bear down from Josephine's troubled and rigid childhood and the enigmatic mother who was preoccupied with her own secret disappointments.

Jo and Katy continue to war with each other, especially after Jo is diagnosed with lung cancer. Jo struggles to communicate her faith with her daughter and receives help from her housekeeper, Adele, who is a devout lady of faith.

Jo and Katy work to find their redemption, both together and individually, even as flood waters threaten their home one Gulf Coast summer.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story is about a mother/daughter relationship that is told from both points of view. I liked the back and forth, but I thought the story dragged on a bit, and the read was a bit of a plod. It didn't help that my favorite character in the book was not one of the main ones. At times it seemed a bit preachy (not that I didn't agree with what was being said--I just felt it was done a bit heavy handed. There also were some holes in the plot that you could drive a Mac truck through (or at least a Ram pickup). And although I believe the purpose was to uplift, I felt weighted down and a bit depressed by the time I was finished.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book covers mother/daughter relationships across 4 generations and shows how misunderstandings and lack of communication can cause so many emotional issues and affect your perception of events. It was very long and drawn out, and the end was abrupt and seemed to fall flat.

[Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time!! Don’t even bother with this one.

[Nikki Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time connecting with the story and characters. Both main female characters reminded me of my mother. The story wasn’t terrible but not that great either.

[Cathy Lowrance · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could have done without the drama towards the end and used those pages to wrap up Katy's relationship with her mother. So many things left open, such as the letters. Decent book but could have been better.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book!!! Explores the relationship between a mother and her daughter. The mom had her own secret disappointments to work through. Flood waters threaten their homes and eventually the mother and daughter try to understand and appreciate one another.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow read that narrated back and forth between an elderly mother and her daughter ........ thought the story line dragged and was a little disappointed.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good book chronicling the complexities of the mother/daughter relationship and how each generation affects the next.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible mother- daughter story. I loved it.

[Jackie Simons]

Read 3/04

[Laurie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A long drawn out book about a mother daughter relationship. Not a favorite book of mine

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was OK