As Hot as It Was You Ought to Thank Me: A Novel

by Nanci Kincaid

From a place where you don't have to run away to find yourself, this novel's young heroine, Berry, joins the ranks of other memorable and spirited girl narrators such as Bone in "Bastard Out of Carolina," Kaye Gibbon's "Ellen Foster," Lily Owens in "The Secret Life of Bees," and Scout from "To Kill a Mockingbird."

Genres: Fiction, Coming Of Age, Young Adult, Southern, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Novels

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters in Nanci Kincaid's "As Hot As It Was You Ought to Thank Me" are amazingly well written but comparing it to "To Kill a Mockingbird" as some critics chose to do gives the author too much credit.

The book is the story of Berry Jackson, a teenager growing up Pinetta, Fla. As in most small towns, every family scandal belongs to the community.

The community includes all of the usual players–narrator Berry, her father the school principal, her mother, her two brothers, and an extremely wealthy family and one that's dirt poor. To push the reader on a bit there are a couple of promiscuous, wild teenaged girls, a hurricane, a chain gang, the disappearance of two key characters, and lots of snakes.

Other reviews claim Berry is 13 years old in the book. This is difficult to tell since she sometimes acted like a child and other times like a woman. Perhaps this is part of the charm of the character set in the past in a small town.

Despite good writing and an exciting plot, this book is frustrating. Just as you find yourself getting involved in the story line, the book ends. There really are no answers or conclusions. It's almost as if Kincaid got tired to writing and stopped.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Berry is 13 when a hurricane hits and all hell breaks loose, although there is quite a bit of novel before this. Kincaid is a strong writer and has given Berry a good voice, so don't be dissuaded my my only liking it at 3 stars. There are certain things I'm rather tired of reading about that you may not be. Make no mistake, this isn't a y/a novel, and isn't shelved that way that I could see, nor have any of Kincaid's books been given Lexile scores. Sometimes it seems that people see a teen protagonist and then shelve it y/a.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad Florida isn't real

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seeing the title of this story, you might be lead to believe this is a racy romance novel. It’s not.

Instead, the title refers to one hot summer in the life of Berry Jackson in Pinetta, Florida. Berry is entering her teens and the summers is unusually hot—both weatherwise and in the small town. The town is rocked by the scandal of a minister admitting an affair with a married woman, a hurricane and then her father (the school principle) apparently running off with an 18-year old girl who is being abused by her family.

While the first-person persepctive of Berry is well done and brings about comparisons to Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird, this story is no where near as rich or complex. I figured out the central twist of the novel very early on and while I was interested in the struggles of Berry’s family dynamic and her relationship with those around her, it wasn’t enough to sustain the interest for a long period of time. The clues to piece together what’s really going on behind the gossip in the small town are a bit too easy and too obvious and the overall book suffers as a result.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I technically would have liked to give this book 3.5 stars, but since that's not currently an option, I feel like it leans more heavily towards a four than just a three. I'm not entirely sure what it was about this book that kept me so entranced, but I definitly was. I suppose it may have been the truth in the story, the way you could actually believe that the events either have happend or very well could happen in a small town in the 50's. One thing that semi-bothered me, though, was how the narrator is supposed be thirteen years old, but her voice sounded more like an adult remembering being that age than a teen actually at that age. Berry offers insights that can only come from growing up a little and looking back on something that has happened. Since the story is told in the past tense, though, this doesn't cause much of an issue with authenticity. I was truly sad to see this story end.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top books of all time. No exaggeration. I can go back to it again and again (and again), and the story is just as well-spun and intricately laid as I left it. The mid-20th-century southern town of Pinetta is filled with detailed characters who all carry purpose and punch throughout the novel. This is not a book I can like for one reason- I simply like everything about it.

I am often drawn to books with protagonists I can strongly relate to, and maybe I am like Berry in some ways, but we are more different than similar- yet I will always root for her! Kincaid does a great job of highlighting Berry's trials and tribulations as well as her triumphs as Berry hovers on the cusp between child and teenager. I can also really appreciate the small-town drama that comes to pass, being from a small town myself- it illustrates how sheltered some of the characters really are and how their hometown of Pinetta- and the people in it- are all they really know.

[Lauren Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second time I've read this book and it's fantastic. Family in the 1950s in a very small town in northern Florida (so, still the south!) Told from the point of view of 13 year old Berry, who I just want to squeeze and love. Nanci Kincaid is one of my favorite authors--she gets small towns in the South and creates such an atmosphere in all her books.

[LizetteMonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was, and is one of my favorite books. Well written, very expressive in the way of teenage youth and thinking, but not angsty nor rude. Berry is just trying to figure out the world, like we all did at that crucial point in our lives. Its funny, its sad, its thought provoking, its sexy, its loving, its angry, its jealous, its understanding. Just can't get enough of this book.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story...I love how the author writes and has her characters think...but the ending!--argh! I guess I'm one of those people who likes all the loose ends tied up at the end of a book. Some were left dangling here. I think I'll talk a look at her other books and see if any snag my interest.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love the way the author writes, with great descriptive characters and locations. However, I was mostly turned off by the sexual details, and that almost all the characters in this story had no ethics where it related to sex. Also, children and sex do not appeal to me.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy a good coming of age book and this one delivered. Berry, the 13 year old girl, had a wonderful insight into the adult world of the novel. I loved the author's style of writing.

[Donna]

What a great story!!! It held my interest, was funny at points and just a great read.

[Cristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

a real page-turner, well-written, engaging characters; but the scandalous twists at the end were a bit overwrought. i was a little disgusted, actually.

[Daniell Marsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book to me was just okay. Would not be one that I would read again. It follows a 13 year old girl and what happens in her town and her family. There was a time that I looked back to make sure that she was 13 as some areas thought was more toward a older person as what was portrayed about her and to her. There was a lot of sexual things brought up which i didn't really feel it was needed. Yes I know young girls and guys have sex and I am not saying that. Too me in some cases it just seemed thrown in where not needed. Between the married lady and preacher, Berry and her brother, Berry and the convict, Young girl and Berry's father, etc... I kept reading hoping more would be there. You know when you look back on a book and just have a feeling of disappointment, or why did i keep reading. Okay read like i said at least for me. As I see on some other reviews some love it. Give it a try and form your own opinion.

[Heather Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite read of 2022 so far! I don't look down on YA at all, but I read a lot of it, as well as adult novels, and this is an adult novel. Not saying there aren't 13 year olds (like Berry, our protagonist) who will love and understand it, but I think adults will be more receptive. It's a historical novel, but we're never told exactly when. Cat-eye glasses are in style, so I think it's the early to mid-60s, based on small southern towns being a little behind the trends. There is so much here to think about: family, poverty, religion, danger, the natural world, truth, and most of all, love. I know it will stick with me for a long time.

[Mary Kurth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes you sad when you're done because you know you are going to miss these characters for days. The town of Pinetta is the strongest character in the story and the individuals are well defined and developed. What a compelling story so full of detail and description!
The only part of this book I found almost too difficult to handle presented graphic sexual and somewhat violent actions between the 14 year old protagonist and an adult convict. (I am an old woman and found it to be just too much.)

[Sophia Efthymiades · Rating 5 out of 5]

The front cover says "compulsively readable." The bags under my eyes (from pulling a near all-nighter) confirms this claim.
I couldn't wait to find out what happens next through 13 year old Berry Jackson's narration of one long, hot summer in 1950s bible-thumpin' Pinetta, Florida. Daddy disappears, Mother lusts after the preacher, and a chain-gang comes to town to repair the roads after a hurricane (probably a category 5) decimates the town.

[Sandym24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book until the very end, and then the ending was so completely disappointing to me. The writing was excellent and everything I hope for from southern fiction . I felt immersed in the town and in the main character Berry’s world. I still don’t know what I hoped the ending would be like but this wasn’t it. Regardless it was a great book that kept me turning the pages and enjoying the journey.

[Barbara Terner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story narrated by a coming-of-age teenage girl living in a small town in Florida. She is learning about life as she lives it. The book touches on the hot topics of sex, religion, class, place. The author deftly transports the reader to Pinetta, FL, experiencing life through the words of the young narrator.

[Nancy]

An extremely well written book about the life of a six to twelve year old girl and the era of keeping children in ignorance and innocence during the 50's and her quest for information about life, love and her maturing body. Go on this quest with her when you read this book, But, I warn you there are twists and turns and a raw ending.

[Vickie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not my cup of tea and no, there should be no comparison between the main character Berry and Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it front to back. A great read.

[She Reads What? · Rating 2 out of 5]

kind of left me feeling icky. well written I think, but icky feeling nonetheless.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. I really loved the imagination used to describe everyday situations and scenes. And I thought the character development of Berry was excellent.

[Teresa Brasher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Set in the 1950s in Pinetta, FL. Berry and her family live in a small town where nothing much goes on.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A definite 3.5

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited a long time for a chance to read this book and it was well worth it! Excellent!

[Suzanne]

Did not care for style, setting, characters or the content that I skimmed.
DNF pile!

[JoAnneh Nagler]

a lovely novel in the backdrop of a small, florida town...the characters are real and sensually alive; the family dysfunction tactile and heart wrenching...I loved it!

[Dolores Gutierrez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it.