This author is well-known for her now-famous memoir detailing the colorful and often dysfunctional days of her youth. That familial theme echoes here too. I really like her laidback narrative style in this book, it truly captures the countryside folksy mindset of the place and era she writes about.

This historical fiction novel is set in the small town hills of Virginia during prohibition. It features the connections and disconnects often experienced in families and how we see the world through a very different, sometimes rose-colored lens. When we are young, naive, and impressionable we may place people we love on a pedestal they never deserved to be on and our illusions shatter and cut when they suddenly tumble off.

My overall lasting impression from the story is that we learn such hard lessons in life, but ultimately are stronger and better for it.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Hang the Moon for my unbiased evaluation. 4 stars

I wanted to love this book. I expected to love this book, based on my previous experiences in reading books written by Jeanette Walls. But, I did not love this book. The writing is simplistic, the plot is convoluted and the drama - marriages, divorces, cheating spouses, secrets, ridiculous feuds - is so heavy-handed it became almost laughable. It felt as though the convoluted plot had taken the place of any serious character development and the details of what it felt like and what it meant to be a female rumrunner in what was then man’s world were lost. A disappointing read from an author who has shown, in a number of her other books, that she can write a gripping, emotional story - just not this time.

As a young girl Sallie's stepmother banishes her to live with her aunt. Years later, after the death of her stepmother, Sallie is brought back to live with her father, Duke, and brother Eddie. Duke, the unofficial town ruler, trades in moonshine and handshake deals. When Duke dies, someone in the family must step up and take charge.

This story felt a bit disconnected. The plot seemed to change every few chapters, leaving the book feel extremely disjointed. I did not connect well with the characters and found myself a bit bored. . Although I like the author, this book just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Scribner publishing for the opportunity to read this book by one of my favorite authors. This book is historical fiction set in Virginia during the times of prohibition. This book was a little slow for me and it didnt keep my attention.

Great story about a family written in the time of prohibition. I absolutely loved the main character Sallie. The way she fought her way through adversity was very relatable.

I story that you sink into with a strong main character that works her way into your heart. You will cheer her on and be proud of who she becomes but also saddened by some of the circumstances she faces. This story portrays families illustrating the secrets and betrayals that often exist and the women who fight to carve a space for themselves in a patriarchal world. Thank you Net galley for for providing an ARC in exchange for honest feedback

Thought-provoking story about inequality between men and women, and between rich and poor. There is a huge struggle with expectations, relationships, and discerning the truth. Some things have changed with the times but some things will never change. I like the main character, Sallie, because she is a straight-shooter and does the best she can despite not the best circumstances.

I loved this book! The author has delivered a thoroughly entertaining story filled with action and believable characters that had me riveted from the first page. The writing is wonderful with prose that is richly atmospheric. Sallie's growth throughout the book was well done. Her growing realizations about her father resonated with me and gave depth to her character. This region is hard on women and the author thoughtfully and compassionately portrays their often hopeless circumstances. Great storytelling and fine writing make this a book I will enjoy recommending to all my patrons.

If I’d realized this Prohibition-era family drama was patterned on the lives of the Tudors from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, I probably would not have started it. I generally find that sort of thing to be gimmicky and limiting to the organic development of the story, and I found that to be the case here. A series of expected deaths and “promotions” occur based on character names. The main character largely does her family’s bidding, until it’s her turn to be “Queen of the Bootleggers.” The last section became more interesting, partly based on the exploits of a real female rumrunner from that era, and I think if the author had stuck with that instead of bringing in the Tudors, I would have enjoyed it more as a whole.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. This will appear on goodreads.
I must be the rare librarian who hasn’t read Glass Castle so I don’t have a barometer to measure this book. Based on true events and people, this story is a coming of age story in a completely disfuctional family during the prohibition era. Everyone is related somehow which is probably common in this region, and it surely was fun to watch how the characters were connected.
Duke Kincaid runs the county. When he dies, there is a clear line of succession, but then what?
Dukes daughter Sally must raise herself and figure out who she is and how she will lead. And she isn’t going to allow marriage to muddy her way.
This was as much fun as a rum runner on their way to Roanoke could have.
Now I want to read glass castle.
I think my patrons will enjoy this book. I could do it in book club. It’s a pretty clean read with not a ton of triggers.
4*

An interesting, convoluted story about a family during prohibition. Some of the coincidences were not very believable but I enjoyed reading about that timeframe and culture. Women's rights, or lack thereof, drives much of the story. The writing isn’t as thought provoking as her other books but I did enjoy it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Set in a small town in West Virginia Sallie Kincaid's father is the most powerful man in the county. They are in the business of collecting rent and selling their tenan'ts whisky. This takes place during prohibition and when Sallie is taking over the family business all kinds of problems arise. It is also a story of how in the end, the family sticks together through good and bad.

Jeannette Walls' new books has everything: romance, historical significance, excitement, family secrets, friendship--and I think it is the best one of her books yet. Sallie is probably one of my favorite heroines--she is tough yet vulnerable, calculating, but yet ruled by her instincts, independent, but realizing the need for help. Ms. Walls captures the south of the prohibition perfectly with the feuds, the "rum running" and the bosses of that period. As I read this book, I kept thinking it would make a wonderful movie, although I'm sure nothing could live up to the book.

I truly enjoy historical fiction, so this story was right up my alley. A well written tale about a gal trying to find her place as a woman in a time when men seemed to rule the world. We meet a strong-willed young lady who learns to stand on her own, and stand up for her community.

Another great book from the best selling author of “The Glass Castle”. Although a fictionalized story based on true event in Virginia during the years of Prohibition in America. Sally Kincaid was just a young daughter of a man “The Duke” who basically ran the town since he owned majority of the land and houses within the city. Sally learns early that everything and everyone must pay including her as she is send away to live with an aunt as the newest wife of the Duke does not care for Sally especially after an injury to her young son. Sally returns after 9 yr since the wife has passed away. Shortly after Sally is thrust into the family business all before her 18th birthday. She must decide to save the town like her father has for years all while learning deep family secrets about the man she has admired for years. Will she do what is lawful by government standards or fight for the town and the people in it to survive.

3.9. but rounding up to 4 I liked Jeanette Walls other books, Half Broke Horses and The Glass Castle. She spins a good tale on rural American life. In this historical fiction, set during 1920s Prohibition in Virginia, we meet Sallie Kincaid, the daughter of a scion from a wealthy family in that area and de facto ruler of a rural Virginia county in the mountains. Sallie lost her mother at a young age but was sent away to live with her impoverished maternal aunt due to an accident involving her younger half brother. Sallie returns to her family home and meets more challenges from an overbearing paternal aunt, her new stepmother, and then her older half sister who takes over the family holdings. Sallie has a lot of spunk and through unforeseen circumstances ultimately takes control of her father’s empire. The novel delves into many issues: complicated family relationships, family secrets, pain and loss, religious and moral fervor, rural life, inheritance, bootlegging, gang wars, and a Tudorian Henry VIII type saga. For the most part, a well written engaging novel with good character development; however I found the ending a little too clean and contrived. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy for a candid and unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sallie Kincaid is such an awesome character! I love her spunk and feistiness. She faces a lot of tough times and tragedies (no spoilers from me) and how she handles life can get a bit crazy. This was a fun book to read with a lot going on.

As always a book by Walls is a very good read, with realistic interesting characters, that hold your interest and keep you turning pages to see what happens next. Recommended for all readers who are looking for a good read set in the early part of the twentieth century

I have read the author's previous Memoirs and enjoyed them, especially "The Glass Castle", so was happy to be auto-approved for her new, historical fiction novel, "Hang the Moon". This one has a plucky MC, Sally Kincaid, daughter of a Virginia moonshiner, Duke. Lots of family drama in this one, which is sort-of the author's "thing", and it's also a coming-of-age story, as well. I found it interesting, and enjoyable & recommend to those into historical fiction that isn't set in WWII or Britain, lol! My sincere thanks to the publisher for the complimentary DRC, all ratings & opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Walls’ memoir Glass Castles, so I was really looking forward to this novel. However, I could not even get through the prologue. Any book published in this age with a Black maid manned Old Ida is going to be an automatic no for me.