The story picks up as Merilee moves into a rented house with her two children, still reeling from a divorce that took her by surprise.  She has to navigate the social waters of the parents of her kids' new school.  On the outside, everything looks perfect, as she makes new friends and begins to set down some roots.  However, still waters run deep, and all is not as it seems.  I really enjoyed her story and Sugar's.  They both move toward their climax, as White slowly (and deftly) reveals piece by piece.  I wish that some of the supporting characters had a little more "screen time" - it's hard to root for a relationship when you know so little about one of the players, and I guess the "twist" long before it was revealed, but neither problem was enough to stop me from racing to the finish line with my kindle hidden under the sheets so as to not wake my husband.  A fun, quick, read, with a reasonably satisfying climax and resolution.  Many thanks to Karen White and Netgalley for this free e-ARC.

Karen White is becoming a fast favorite of mine! She accurately portrays Southern and small town life.

I loved this book. It was so much fun and the characters were wonderful as was the mystery. It had a twist that I didn't quite figure out, and I always appreciate that in a book. If you're Southern, you're going to appreciate this book all the more. It was charming, nostalgic and yet poked fun of some of society at the same time without being mean.

Karen White has once again proved that she is one of the best author in Women fiction. I love the strong characters of women in her books. They really inspire me to be strong, confident and bold. This book is like a precious present wrapped in too many layers. One by one as the layers are removed slowly and gradually the book reveals its secret..... And you end up reading one of the most wonderful story of your life....

Another "guilty pleasure" I have been reading lately is THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT by Karen White. After a divorce due to her husband's scandalous affair, Merilee moves her two young children, Lily and Colin, across town in Sweet Apple, Georgia to a new school. There she begins to form a friendship of sorts with her landlady, a real steel magnolia named Sugar Prescott. Merilee is also befriended by Heather Blackford, a very rich, but unfulfilled mother at the school. This is a perfect blend of light romance and a murder mystery with "mean girl behavior" being telegraphed awkwardly and often. Gullibility, poor decision-making and trust issues certainly complicate life for Merilee in this novel full of secrets - both past and present.

Merilee is a mom just trying to do right by her kids.  She is willing to almost do anything to make sure her kids have the best life.  From page one, I couldn't wait to get time to curl up with this one and see where Merilee's and Sugar's adventures would go next.  I wanted to be completely swept into this small town in Georgia and read about how Merilee was going to adapt to her new life.

I am not a mom and don't have aspirations to be a mom so sometimes "mom" books just don't hit a chord with me, but this one did.  I loved Merilee was a working mom who found joy in her job and how driven she was to make her life and her kids lives better.  She was a character from the beginning it was just easy to root for and I wanted to know more and more about her.

Then there was Sugar.  What a lady!  I loved that she was the perfect antithesis to Merilee and at the same time a compliment.  

I was a fan of Karen White before reading this book and I continue to be a fan after this one.  She knows how to write females in a way that is honest but full.  Karen White was the right author to read during this busy time in my life, her book was the right escape.

I believe this is my favorite Karen White book to date! I love everything this read has to offer…it’s part mystery and thriller all with a splash of Southern flare. In Karen White’s newest novel we meet Merliee who has recently divorced and has decided to move her kids to the small town Sweet Apple, Georgia. She soon gets drawn into the school moms club whose leader Heather, quickly befriends Merilee and she might just have an interior motive in doing so.

She soon finds out that living in this small town everyone knows your business no later how hard you try and bury your past. She also soon develops a relationship with her landlady Sugar who despite not wanting to come attached to her new tenants can't help but relate to Merilee. Sugar herself has a story one that comes to light even though she has tried and forget about her tragic past.

What I really enjoyed most about this read were the colorful characters but the star was the relationship between Sugar and Merilee. Two women who at first look as different as night and day but once the story evolves you see how their stories parallel. The part of the novel that was my favorite was the storyline with Heather. I didn’t trust her from the beginning but I didn’t know where it was going but when everything happened…OMG! I won't spoil anything but it was jaw dropping and heart-stopping all at the same time. I have never would’ve thought it could’ve gone there but it did!

As a fan of Karen White, I didn’t think her writing could get any better but this novel just went to another level. While it’s a big novel you never feel it drag, it keeps you intrigued till the very end. I highly recommend this one hands down.

We all know that Karen White is one of the best authors on the market.  Once again, she has written a great book, The Night the Lights Went Out.  

Merilee was a mean girl in school.  Perhaps it was because of all the heartache she suffered.  Heartache continued to follow her through her adulthood.  

She finds out that her husband got her little girl's math teacher pregnant.  Needless to say, she is getting a divorce.  Now, she is struggling to be a single mom.  Her landlord and the maintenance man become her tribe of supporters.

Heather, a rich elitist, befriends her.  However, nobody knows why.  Heather is never nice, and she has little in common with Merilee.  People warn Merilee, but she pays them no mind.

The coincidences keep piling up until Merilee is arrested for murder of Heather's husband.  Finally, someone figures out that Merilee's past as a mean girl has followed her.

I simply love the southernisms that only someone who has relocated to the South will understand.  I loved this book.  I read it at every possible opportunity.  I recommend it.

Wonderfully written book by Karen White.  We carry her collection here in our library..she is always at the top of the list.

This is the second book from Karen White that I have read. The first, The Sound of Glass, was more of an unlikely sisterhood story. This story is more about unlikely friendships and which ones you can trust and which ones you can’t. Ms. White is a master of writing about the Deep South and the Southern Bells and Steel Magnolias who live there. The story telling in The Night the Lights Went Out, as well as The Sound of Glass, was superb.

Merilee Dunlap is a recently divorced mother of two, and Sugar Prescott is the nonagenarian who owns the rental house Merilee moves into after her divorce. Both women have secrets and both women need a friend. The story is told from four different perspectives: Merilee’s in current times, Sugar’s in current times, Sugar’s in the past, and by the unknown and observant author of a blog about the goings-on in the quiet little suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. I enjoyed this setup, particularly how the author handled Sugar’s flashbacks. So often, flashbacks are included as a way for the reader to know what happened in the past but they aren’t written in a way for the other modern characters in the book to know the information. Sometimes authors don’t keep this information clear and a modern character wounds up “knowing” something from a flashback they never had reason to learn. In The Night the Lights Went Out, Ms. White writes Sugar’s recollections as stories she is sharing with Merilee about her past. But rather than the story be all modern dialogue, the author switches the perspective to a flashback scene with Sugar as the narrator. She does a good job then of not having the “old” Sugar have the perspective of the modern Sugar.  I also enjoyed the blog posts. There were times I found myself noticing that we hadn’t heard from the blog author recently and hoped for a new post soon.

The side characters are also well developed. Often in novels with such interesting and complex main characters, the side characters become afterthoughts and wind up being a bit two-dimensional at best. Not here. Many of the secondary characters deserve stories of their own. I would have liked to see a bit more of Lindi Mathews, a local attorney and the other working mom at the prestigious private school, but even in her too-few appearances, she is a nuanced character.

Now, to my issue with the book, and this one is a personal one so it might not hold true for every reader. I figured out the mysteries early in almost every instance. I’m not sure that it was a fault of the author or if just somehow my brain leapt there on its own accord. There were a few side mysteries that were a surprise and just how far the “back guy” would go was shocking, but all in all, the big stuff?  I had it figured out early. And I’m not normally one who tries to solve the mystery early!  I really just like for it to unfold in the story and be taken along for the ride! As a result of constantly waiting for the other proverbial shoe to drop, the story wound up being extremely intense for me. Like Dan Brown intense! I was on edge and anxious and wound up having trouble sleeping until I got this book finished in the last couple days. Ack! I am still recommending the book. But I am glad it is over now so maybe my brain can settle down! 

If you are looking for a light, fluffy chick-lit novel for by the pool, this is not it. It’s only my second Karen White book, but based on what I know so far, her books aren’t it. They are however well written with characters you will love (or love to hate). If you’ve spent any time in the South (for me, 15 years in Mobile, Alabama), I think you’ll like this book. It helps if you can internally read the dialogue with a Georgia accent.  I especially enjoyed the blog author’s explanations of some Southernisms. I knew many already but even I learned a thing or two. Lord willin’ and the creek don't rise, I plan on reading more Karen White.

Merilee Dunlop is entering into a new stage of her life. She is recently divorced and is moving with her two children to Sweet Apple, Georgia. The divorce was amicable after her husband was found cheating with their daughter’s third grade teacher. She rents a cottage house from an elderly woman named Sugar Prescott.  Sugar at ninety-four is very opinionated and is the self appointed town matriarch.

Merilee has enrolled her children in an elite private school to avoid the gossip around her failed marriage. The children adjust quickly to their new life while Merilee struggles with her social status. Merilee feels different because she is a divorced, working parent who doesn’t play tennis. Heather Blackford is the poster child for this stereotype and is living the life that the local women crave. She is at the top of the social ladder and others seem to worship her friendship. Heather eventually befriends Merilee and starts to dominate her life with carpools and awkward gifts. At the same time, Sugar starts to take an active interest in Merilee and her children. They forge an unlikely friendship that becomes stronger as drama and secrets unfold. 

This is a story about a woman transitioning into a new phase of her life. She is forced to evaluate new acquaintances and along the way discovers a lot about herself. Karen White does a great job of blending drama, mystery, southern fiction, and romance in her new novel.

Blog: https://readingbetweenthepagesblog.wordpress.com/
Posted On: 04/21/2017

Sometimes you meet a book and it’s love at first site. That’s how it was between me and The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White. It all started with the cover – let’s just take a minute and admire how gorgeous the cover is. Once I got past the cover, it only took me a few pages to know this was a book I would love.

It’s told from the perspective of two women, Merilee and Alice aka Sugar. Merilee is the mother of two; Lily who’s ten years old and Colin who’s eight. She is recently divorced and is moving to get a fresh start for her and her kids. Sugar, who is ninety-three, is spunky, feisty, independent, and has a big heart although she doesn’t want to admit it. The story alternates from current day, to the early 1900’s, to blog posts from an anonymous person trying to educate newcomers on the ways of the south.

I absolutely adored this book! It is a mix of romance, humor, friendship, and mystery. Merilee is renting a Craftsman cottage on Sugar’s property. Despite Sugar’s independence and stubbornness, she and Merilee are destined to form a special bond. The two women find out they have more in common than they could have ever imagined. They each have their secrets and despite a lifetime of trying to keep them quiet, they find themselves opening up to each other.

Sugar is an amazing character. She’s funny without trying to be and is crusty in her delivery, but has a heart of gold. There were so many Sugar quotes that I would love to add here, but I am only going to include one that I feel captures her spirit.

     Sugar says, “Don’t go digging where you’re not wanted. Most people have secrets. And most of them should be allowed to stay hidden. No good has ever come from poking a stick down a hole. Sometimes you get a garter snake, but sometimes you get a rattler.”

I cannot say enough good things about this book! Dare I say… so far this is my favorite book of 2017.

I wanted to love this book, based on its other good reviews, but I couldn't get into it as much as I'd hoped. The characters never felt real to me--it's hard to explain but I was always aware that it was a novel, and there was no exciting hook compelling me to stick with it, to learn what would happen next. Still, it was an okay read and I'll tell people about it. Thank you!

I am always so excited to start reading a Karen White novel because I know I'm in for a treat. Her books are full of great characters, interesting storylines, picturesque Southern locales and plenty of suspense and plot twists. If all that sounds good to you, then you need to read her latest book The Night the Lights Went Out because it is perfect!

After being blindsided by her husband cheating on her, Merilee Dunlap is looking for a fresh start. She moves into an cottage owned by one of Sweet Apple's oldest residents Sugar Prescott. Sugar is determined not to become involved with Merilee or her two children, but Sugar begins to see something of herself in Merilee and finds herself sharing stories of her past. Merilee also makes fast friends with Heather Blackford, a glamorous popular woman who quickly draws Merilee into her world of wealth and privilege. Sugar Prescott has a short list of Sweet Apple residents that she likes and Heather Blackford definitely isn't on it. While Sugar tries to warn Merilee about Heather, Merilee believes that Sugar's concerns are unwarranted and that her friendship with Heather is true. 

I can't say enough good things about this story. I loved how it combined the suspense of the current storyline with the reflections of Sugar's backstory. Karen White always delivers a great read and The Night The Lights Went Out is certainly no exception! There is a reason she is one of my favorite authors and I know that once you read a Karen White book, she will be one of your favorites as well. 

I received this book courtesy of Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Although this was my first Karen
White novel, it will not be my last. The finely drawn characters, the portrait of life in small town Georgia, and the consequences of the choices we make in life, all add about to a very satisfying read.

In THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, Karen White intertwines the lives of two strong Southern women while telling a story of secrets, survival, starting over, and friendship. The star of this book is most definitely Miss Sugar Prescott. She’s a lifelong resident of Sweet Apple, Georgia, a place that may seem perfect on the surface, but what lies beneath is a different story.

Now in her mid-90s, Sugar is still tough, headstrong, and sharp as a tack. Sugar rents a cottage on her property to Merilee Dunlap, a recently divorced mom with two children in tow. Merilee’s life in Sweet Apple won’t be what she expected, but luckily she’s got Sugar on her side.

This book alternates between Sugar in the past (early 1930s) and Merilee’s ordeal in present day Sweet Apple. All around I just enjoyed Sugar’s story and character the best. Other parts I found a bit predictable and hard to believe, but overall it was an enjoyable read – nice blend of mystery, historical fiction, Southern drama, and a dash of romance. The ending was very exciting!

This book is definitely a 3.5 for me. I can’t pick between rating it a 3 or a 4 and I have even changed my rating on Goodreads a few times because of that. The story was very enjoyable and I finished it quickly because of that. I loved the setting and the characters and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Southern family stories with a bit of romance. But the final quarter of the book just threw me for a bit of a loop. I kind of felt like the rug was pulled out from under me and I wasn’t crazy about it. Like I mentioned, it might be because the past 3 books I’ve read have done that to me as well, but it didn’t leave me with a good taste in my mouth. In the end though, I would recommend this book and I look forward to continuing to read White’s books.

The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White follows newly divorced Merilee as she adjusts to a new home and placing her children into a new school.  The first friend she makes is Heather, the mother of her daughter's classmate.  Heather swoops Merilee into the hoity-toity social life that she belongs to.  Merilee's landlord, Sugar Prescott, is not a fan of Heather but Merilee sees no harm in being her friend.  All is not as it appears in small town Georgia and Merilee is about to find that out for herself in a very unpleasant manner.  The plot is a bit predictable but overall the story will keep your attention right up to the very end.  Read and enjoy!

Oh, Karen White. My introduction to her work was 2015’s The Sound of Glass and I was so enamored I swore I would jump right into her other novels. When I received an invitation to be a part of the tour for The Night the Lights Went Out, I couldn’t say yes fast enough!

A recent (and ugly) divorce has Merilee moving with her children to Sweet Apple, Georgia, just outside Atlanta. A new change of pace and scenery will do wonders for them all – or so Merilee assumes. What begins as a great new start at life – Merilee rents a cottage from 94-year-old Sugar Prescott who’s still stubborn and full of fire, the kids are doing well in their new, private academy, and Merilee even begins to make friends with the other school moms – quickly goes south when an anonymous blog starts shedding light on scandalous events…including the one that ended her marriage.

I have a feeling this review will be short and sweet – not that there’s not a lot to discuss, but because Karen hit yet another homerun and I just adore her. The juxtaposition of Sugar’s farm and her childhood stories right alongside the Stepfordesque tennis moms and their gated mansions, a setting so vivid I felt like I was there (not surprising, considering Atlanta is White’s hometown!), the blog posts scattered throughout the chapters. It all came together so perfectly. What really stands out in White’s novels, though, are her characters. They’re all so, so wonderfully crafted and feel like real, living, breathing people I could easily come across at the grocery store or while shopping.

The star here is clearly Sugar. 94 and full of spunk, Sugar doesn’t need more friends, thank you very much. In fact, she’s perfectly content with her childhood best friend Willa Faye and her grandson Wade. She lives for her shows and makes a point to get her daily steps in – what, just because she’s old doesn’t mean she doesn’t know what a Fitbit is! Sugar has lived on the farm her entire life and throughout the novel there are snippets of her childhood in the 30s when Mama lost one too many babies and fell into a dark depression, the night a man died on their kitchen table. Naturally I was completely sucked in to the historical aspect, but watching Sugar’s icy facade crumble as her friendship with Merilee evolves over the course of the novel was lovely.

Again, a short review, but don’t let that fool you. Karen White is a master at her craft and I loved The Night the Lights Went Out. A fantastic setting, excellent characters, and a story that swept me away all came together to make one phenomenal book. Fans of Diane Chamberlain and Liane Moriarty are sure to feel right at home with this one – and be prepared to have The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia stuck in your head!

Merilee Talbot Dunlap and her two children are moving to Sweet Apple, Georgia not far from Atlanta.  Merilee is recently divorced and not sure where she wants to settle.  So, she rents a small house behind the home of her landlady, Sugar.  It’s a time of adjustment for all.  Sugar appears to be a tough elderly lady but as the story progresses we find that she has a heart of gold, submerged beneath sarcastic retorts and much grumbling.  For one thing, she’s rough on Merilee’s lack of Southern cooking skills, including how to make real “sweet tea” and make vegetables palatable for children.  Merilee has done fine with her son and daughter and they like Sugar who makes amazing cookies and has a collection of bird books that are an instant hit.  
Now comes the interesting part as soon after Merilee and her children settle into a job and school, respectively, it seems there’s an Internet blogger who knows all about Merilee’s divorce.  That’s a very different blogger from the other blog that points out the humorous side of “Southern” living, and funny it is!
Other characters include a handyman friend of Sugar who volunteers to do all kinds of renovations and house fixing for Merilee and more if she’s willing.  Then there’s Heather, a socialite who controls the charity benefits and school events and artfully takes over every mother’s life, including Merilee.  There’s also Heather’s husband who seems like a regular guy living a very unhappy existence. 
No, this isn’t just a snarky Southern satire, although it certainly seems so!  The story progresses as Sugar and Merilee get closer and share the tragedies of their lives.  Just as the bond grows into a beautiful friendship, chaos looms large!  The very end of the novel jumps into a murder, an attempted murder and a mystery revealed that one could never have imagined when first starting this story!
Karen White continues to defy attempts to stereotype her writing.  That’s the beauty of her skills.  Something to appeal to mystery, romance, comedy, and adventure fill each of her novels, something to draw old and new readers alike for a pleasurable experience.