Times are tough during the prohibition and depression era in Southwestern Virginia, but Duke Kinkaid keeps the economy going through his dealings at the Emporium and the government he controls keeps the peace. He's sort of a benevolent despot. He also doesn't like being single so he runs through 4 wives, and this is the story of Sallie, the daughter of Duke and his second wife. I was reluctant to read this because I found the author's GLASS CASTLE was so devasting, but Sallie is a hero. She has all of Duke's best qualities, and none of the negatives. She's tough, a problem solver, and she holds her family close, both the one she was born into and the one she put together from pieces that didn't fit anywhere else. Highly recommend!!
Thank you to Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley, for the digital arc.

Tha k you NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with an ARC.

A slow moving generational drama, this book will appear to fans of Walls. The book is well researched and well written and will appeal to lovers of fiction and non fiction alike.

Many years ago I read The Glass Castle and to this day it remains one of my favorite books. While Jeannette Walls proved that she can write compelling nonfiction her foray into fiction was lackluster in comparison. I was looking for a sense of danger in this story about prohibition. Instead it was so much despair at every turn.

This is a story about family! A girl is born into privilege, but is sent to an aunt to live by her fathers third wife. Life there is very hard. Eventually she returns to her family to take over the family business. This is a story about a strong woman who must over come so much. I did, however, find the story hard to follow. There were lots of characters who were related ( or not related?), although I was confused, I was hoping things would make sense at the end of the book but they didn’t. Not her best book in my opinion.

One of the best books of 2023! Sallie Kincaid is the kind of character that stays with you - unforgettable. Jeannette Walls has been a favorite since she wrote The Glass Castle. She does not disappoint with this one. I am recommending this to readers who love Where the Crawdads Sing, Lessons in Chemistry, and The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. (All strong female characters that drive their stories).

I had a hard time with this one and will be honest i started on audio and the writer herself narrates. She probably shouldnt have. In the end I never finished the book which is sad because I adored her memoirs. I may come back to it but overall it felt like a slog.

This book has lots of family drama. I love the character development of Sallie as you can see her drive and desire to stand up for what is right. She is definitely a strong woman. This book had a great story line and is a great read. Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC.

I'm a huge fan of Glass Castle so I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Hang the Moon. In this novel, Walls writes about Sallie Kincaid, daughter to Duke, in Virginia during prohibition. Sallie's life is unraveling at every turn but she rolls with the punches.

Once again, Jeanette Walls delivers. Not as moving as The Glass Castle orHalf Broke Horses, but very entertaining. Love Sallie’s spunk and gumption.. a very good read.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I read The Glass Castle several years ago and really enjoyed it. Hang the Moon was well worth the wait.

The story takes place in western Virginia during Prohibition - a time when America was moving from a farming society to a citified one. Appalachian land is not conducive to farming and most families make moonshine liquor to survive. What will happen to these folks if they cannot sell their illegal liquor. Although Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the richest man in town, that's not saying much. There is very little money in this poor town.

This is a tumultuous time in American history - Prohibition came about just shortly before women were granted the right to vote. The automobile made drastic changes to society and, in particular, allowed women the means to travel without relying on others.

Hang the Moon brings all of this together in a very interesting coming of age story.

The Glass Castle is one of my most favorite books of all time, so when I saw Jeanette Walls had a new book out, I was excited to read it.

Hang the Moon is a historical fiction novel set in the South during the prohibition era. Sallie Kincaid was born into a life of privilege and comfort. She’s resourceful, sharp-witted and her father’s daughter, but when an accident with her younger brother happens, she’s cast out on her own. Years later, Sallie returns home determined to reclaim her place in the family and the business.

While I enjoyed Sallie and her feisty spirit, this book fell a little short for me. I think my expectations were set a little high when going into this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner and Jeannette Walls for an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

After absolutely loving THE GLASS CASTLE, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this new novel by Jeannette Walls. With a strong sense of place, Walls captures life in prohibition era Virginia so well. The writing was evocative and the characters were richly drawn. The pacing languished for me a bit during the middle of the book and I think I would have preferred the story if it was a bit shorter. I really enjoyed Sallie's character arc and her determination to forge her own path in the world. Overall, a solid read that historical fiction lovers will enjoy!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story didn’t grip me as much as I hoped it would. There seemed to be a bit too much going on and I wasn’t eager to pick it up. I did enjoy the strong main character Sallie Kincaid. I think lovers of historical fiction will enjoy this one. For me it was just okay.

I love Jeanette Walls' writing and this did not disappoint. Her main character is made of tough stuff and that is the crux of this family saga. But, the constant tragedy wore on me after a while.

Sallie Kincaid is a force to be reckoned with. She is the daughter of Duke Kincaid, thought to be one of the most powerful and richest men in Claiborne County, Virginia. Duke was someone you didn’t want to cross as he always had to have his way. Unfortunately, Sallie’s mother crossed him by not bearing him a son and she suffered for it with her life. After Duke married again, Sallie was sent away to live with her Aunt Faye. She ended up staying there for nine years. One day, a car arrived to pick her up and take her back to the Duke’s house. She is now eighteen years old. She still looks up to her father and wants to be just like him. She needs to prove that even though she is a girl, she can do the job of a man.
This story takes place during the Prohibition Era. Sallie was known to be a bootlegger and drove truckloads of homemade liquor at night to avoid being caught. She has trouble with the Bond brothers over a disagreement on land the Duke bought. Trouble seems to follow her as well as sadness. She loses those close to her and has to fight for her life at times. You will love Sallie for her strength and how she grows throughout the story.
Jeannette Walls writes beautiful, well written stories involving unbelievable characters. I loved her book “The Glass Castle”. There is quite a bit of family drama in both of these stories.
If you are a fan of historical fiction and dysfunctional families, this is the book for you.
Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of Hang the Moon in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Awesome new Walls book! I loved the feisty character of Sallie Kincaid. her tenacity and drive to stand for what is right and what is rightfully hers made this book a quick read. As usual, the author writes so descriptively I felt like I was right there!

This book is set in the 1920s during the prohibition era in east Appalachia Virginia. Sallie Kincaid is the youngest daughter of Duke Kincaid “The Duke.” Tragedy after tragedy strikes Sallie Kincaid’s family and Sallie takes on more and more of a part in the family business as the book goes on. Sallie is a strong, fearless female, taking her place in a male-dominated business and world. However, she is much more than that. She is the epitome of a hero, a woman every little girl should look up to. She is independent and demands respect from others. Throughout the book, Sallie learns about love and the unreliability of men through her own experiences as well as the women around her.

Jeannette Walls has a way with words. I fell in love with her writing back over a decade ago when I first read “The Glass Castle.” Her fiction books read just as well as her non-fiction. There is no one else that does storytelling as well as Walls. The research she puts into her books is extensive and it shows. Her characters are well-developed. As you read, you can picture the characters and feel as though you are there with them. I give this book 5/5 stars. I can’t wait to read the next book Walls writes!

Family drama at it's best from Jeannette Walls. She tells a solid story with Sallie, a strong woman in rural Virginia during Prohibition. This book brings in love, drama, family business, legit or not that only Walls can deliver. Well developed characters and lots of suspense. Escape to the 1920's with Sallie and you are in for an action packed ride. Highly recommend.

Hang the Moon by Jeannette Walls is a wonderful book. I love the story line and the characters. Great read.

Sallie Walls is a risk taker and her father pushes her to do it. Set in the early 1900’s, Duke is a big man in a small town. Sallie’s younger brother Eddie is quiet and shy and Duke want’s him to be more like Sallie. She decides to push him and a tragedy occurs and she is sent away.. When she returns many years later to take her rightful place in the family business there is resistance.. She enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger. A good story of a strong willed woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty and dig up secrets from the past that could ruin them all.