In Search of Jimmy Buffett: A Key West Revival

by Ashley Oliphant

Much to her mother's dismay, Carolina girl Livie Green has long resisted the Southern débutante lifestyle, opting instead for cheap cigars, Ernest Hemingway novels, and Jimmy Buffett's early albums. But when her career as a college professor becomes a drudgery of meetings and reports, she realizes that academia might not be for her, either. In a leap of banana-colada fueled faith, she heads to Key West, Florida in search of Buffett and a carefree lifestyle. What she finds instead will reshape and revitalize her life and her heart.

228 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2018

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read for those who like Jimmy Buffett music and Key West. Lyrics from his songs are sprinkled throughout the story. The scenes from Key West are well described and make me want to go back for a visit. The history of Key West and the Keys added interest to the story.
Livie Green, PhD, is a professor of literature at a small college in North Carolina until she decides that she is tired of meetings that distract from the love of her job. So she heads to Key West to get a glimpse of Jimmy Buffett. She gets a job at a restaurant on the water where she tends bar and enjoys the sights, scenes, atmosphere and laid back life style. She quickly settles in and makes friends. Ernest Hemingway is her favorite author and she is an authority on his works. She enjoys visiting the Hemingway House where some of her friends work.
One of the funniest parts of the book are the phone calls and texts with her family and a best friend back in North Carolina. This is a light read that is different from most books I read and was enjoyable for a change of pace. There is even some romance and some revelation to Livie concerning what is important to her.
Thanks to Warren Publishing through NetGalley for the electronic ARC for the opportunity to read and review. The thoughts and opinions are mine only.

[Justin Brendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a joy to read! Granted, I am a parrothead, but even if you aren't, you will fall in love with the sights, sounds, history, and charm of Key West in this book. Ashley was able to weave quite a vivid tapestry of life on the key, whether it's walking the Hemingway house and seeing the cats, getting some fresh shrimp, or watching the tourists assemble in town quickly before hitting the cruise ship. The story of Livie being sick of her day to day routine, quitting it all, and trying something new, has been done before. Ashley Oliphant delivered it is such a fun way, however, that it feels new. Now I want to go watch a Mallory Square sunset!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that cover and Ashley Oliphant’s charming chic lit jam of a book! You can’t help but root for Carolina girl Livie Green — the anti-déb gal with a predilection for cheap cigars, Ernest Hemingway novels, and Jimmy Buffett’s early albums —as she transforms from buttoned-down college academician to Key West Free Spirit. 5 big banana-coladas!

Thanks to NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#InSearchOfJimmyBuffettAkeyWestRevival #NetGalley

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars from this Carolina girl! I went to a book signing and discussion by author Ashley Oliphant at the Claremont library in Claremont, North Carolina. She was mainly discussing the book 'Jean Laffite Revealed' with her mother / co-author. But 'A Key West Revival' was one of the books she mentioned, and had for signing. I was heading for a beach trip in a couple weeks and thought this was a better book option than the dark, psychological novels I normally read. This is my perfect beach read. She mentions "... from my travels and from my formative years growing up in the Piedmont of North Carolina, an area of the country rich in culinary, linguistic, historical, and cultural heritage. ". I love that people value our culinary and linguistic heritage. We do have accents, and much of our food is off the charts! Biscuits and gravy, livermush, shrimp and grits, grits, cheerwine, sun drop, pound cakes, and I could keep going. There are many great quotes in the novel, especially "Dreamers just need a little bit of uninterrupted space. Give them a minute to work, and butt out." And "The discovery of paradise is a choice". I also loved her knowledge of Hemingway, whom she also wrote a book on. Five stars!

[Neil Plakcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Jimmy Buffett fan, just like Livie Green, and have been to Key West enough times to know that Oliphant represents the island in all its wonderful weirdness. I kept stopping at places and saying, "Wow, I know that place," or "Gee, she described that so well."

Livie is a young woman in search of herself, and she flees a conventional life as a college professor (details there are spot on, too) to Key West, where she hopes to meet Jimmy Buffett and show him a song she has written.

There's a romance, but really the heart of the book is Livie's discovery of who she is and what she wants from life. A wonderful, page-turning read that was a lot of fun.

[Robert A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of a hallmark movie. Someone trying to run away to start over. Seems a lot people go to Key West to do that. But it was entertaining and an easy read. (Plus I’m a JB fan)

Kudos for using my favorite phrase “Post hoc,ergo prompter hoc” Patients use this daily in the medical field.

Also who doesn’t want to be sipping a beer in Key West when JB appears out of no where and sings “ Gypsies in the palace” before he flys off into the sunset.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Met the Author at the Gaston County Writer's Expo. I loved the humor and the references to NC culture throughout the book. I also learned a lot about Key West. I like Jimmy Buffet, but am not a Parrothead or familiar with his entire catalog, so I not sure I caught all of the references. An enjoyable book by a local author!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livie Green ditches her boring job and rins away to Key West? How could this not be a 5 star book for me?! This was such a fun read and I truly felt like I was walking the streets of Old Town right along with her.

**I received this complimentary copy from NetGalley for review**

[Jon Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that any Parrothead would love.

[Raylene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, light reading! Made me want to visit Key West.

[Angela Nepereny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy pool-side read. Kept my attention.

[Lisa Hale]

LOVED IT! It was inspiring, funny, refreshing and down right entertaining!

[Patty Gilson l · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleverly written!
Easy read…
This is the story of my life in my fifties.
If you love Key West (and JB), this is a perfect beach read for you.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! In the vein of the best chick-lit, Livie Green ditches her responsible life in academia for a toes in the sand existence on Key West. I absolutely loved this funny, witty novel about life as a beach bum.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It is a fun, quick beach read. Livie is living the life that so many people dream of. Just giving up the structured nine to five job and enjoying each day and whatever adventure it brings, It is a love story and a family story but most of all a story about an independent young woman. It made me want to go to Key West and disconnect for a while. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who just enjoys a good book that doesn't require a lot of analysis.