One of the best news I could have received: Random House via NetGalley asked me days ago if I wanted to read and review the latest book by Fannie Flagg: The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop. This book will be published this August 20th in the USA.


Oh: I absolutely return with joy, enthusiasm at


Whistle Stop, the imaginery little town in Alabama created by Fannie.

Her characters, Idgie Threadgood, Ruth Jamison, Sipsey, Big George, Buddy Threadgood, Ninny Threadgood, Evelyn Couch, are all unforgettable characters. Magnificient plot the one of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, I remember that I also cooked the fried green tomatoes. It was the first time that I ate them in that way and they were simply delicious!



As you remember, in that first book there is the essence of the South of the USA: religion, rebel spirit, violence perpetrated to a lady, a murder, racism, great food, friendship, love, departures, shocking events in grade to change the existence of people; it is a book plenty of humanity and real life in motion.


So, what about The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop, you'll ask?


I imagined at first only the isolated story of Stump, Buddy Threadgood's Jr. the son of Ruth Jamison and her disgraceful husband Frank Bennett: there is much more.


The community of Whistle Stop, Alabama, with its hairdresser, the café and many more activities was in fact, very united; when the town slowly slowly died, no one lost definitively connections with the rest of the community.


OK, life continued in other States for all the protagonists, sometimes distantly from Alabama, but persisted the curiosity of being updated, because roots are something that no one can remove or delete. Plus, the adventures experienced in the little town of Whistle Stop by all these characters were too unforgettable and fascinating.


The town had had also a potential journalist, Dot, who kept connected the entire community with a newsletter when she lived in Whistle Stop and later when she abandoned the area for another State thanks to a frenetic exchange of letters with the rest of the Whistle Stop community here and there, reported the most relevant news regarding everyone with a long letter sent during the Christmas Time every year. A tradition I know very well; some American correspondents of the South love to write a long letter every Christmas for telling what it is going on in their corner of the world keeping us updated.


This book, more modern and "mundane" under many aspects, is the reflections of our times; the various protagonists of these new stories are pretty old, some of them gone; who is alive is coping with ageing; this book is also a dream; the possibility of new beginnings for everyone.


The story of Buddy Threadgood is relevant in this sense; with the time he became a vet, he married a lady and has had Ruthie. Ruthie, once grown up, and, beautiful as her grand-mother Ruth was, married a boy, Brooks absolutely in love with her, althought persisted the skepticism of Brooks's mother, a pretty snob lady, desidering for her son someone else, much more rich, and more close to their social status.


Anyway, the marriage of Brooks and Ruthie was absolutely happy with the arrival of two children. Brooks had many dreams but unfortunately he won't realize most of them.


Buddy Threadgood Jr, old now, and with a sort of little dementia going on, before to fall too sick and not remembering anything, decided to run away from the Home where he was living in, searching for Whistle Stop and hoping to see another time his old native village.


Unfortunately his trip was deludent; the old places he knew so well, were, simply, unrecognizables.


Ruthie fell desperate when she understood that her dad escaped away, and at first she thought that he was dead. But he wasn't; thanks to this disappearance Evelyn Couch read the message published in a newsmagazine regarding the disappearance of Buddy Jr.


She immediately recognized Buddy Threadgood Jr.


Oh; Ninny had told her wagons of facts of Buddy. He lost his left arm at the age of 7; he was called Stump by Idgie.


Evelyn was grateful to Ninny for what she did for her.


Ninny was the best guidance she could have had; a help arrived directly from God.


Evelyn, met Ninny in a home where stayed also her husband's mother, another disgusting lady; the one of Evelyn was a sad, absolutely depressing existence, with a man uninterested to let her show manifestations of any sort of affection. Thanks to Ninny, Evelyn, the unsecure creature who cried most of the time eating chocolate for forgetting the ugliest part of the world became a successful seller of Mary Kay Cosmetics and much much more, becoming a multi-millionaire lady.


Evelyn called so Ruthie, asking to see her. Evelyn had a box of pictures and other items presented her by Ninny; a big gift containing the memories of her existence; many pictures of Buddy, Idgie, Buddy's mother.

Evelyn would have wanted to give this material to Buddy Jr.


Gratitude was so big in Evelyn, that she decided with Ruthie to restoring the old town of Whistle Stop! presenting to Buddy the old house where he lived in when little, modernized, restored, re-built.



As you will see there will be problems at first...


The book returns continuously in the remote past, and then in more recent years in a fluidity of space and time, in grade to motivate choices made by the various protagonists, reporting stories of people, anecdots of a little community who made the difference.


The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is a pleasant return home; in a home, Whistle Stop that crossed the destinies of many people forever connected thanks to solidariety, love, friendship, help, preserved memories, good tales, great recipes, solidity.

It's a beautiful portrait of the South of the USA, its generosity, amiability and hospitality, the ingredients for a great reading, with the positive, optimistic touch of Fannie Flagg that it is one of the best distinctive part of her writing.


Highly recommended.


I thank NetGalley and Random House for this ebook.

Publisher sent to me to review. I have read every one of her books.
Thrilled to read this as I am a fan of Fannie Flagg and a big lover of Whistle Stop Café-
both book and the movie! Both are classics in my world.

I started reading and I was immediately back in Whistle Stop, Alabama.
Idgie still makes me laugh.

Through Dot Weems' Newsflashes and newsletters
with her wit and wise sayings - I was laughing out loud.
Excited to catch up with old friends and to have more adventures with them.
I love returning to Whistle Stop!!

A must -read for all!!

Another reprise of Fried Green Tomatoes, but it goes further to Buddy’s life along with his daughter and her family. It brings back old characters and the usual funny and poignant stories. Thanks, Fannie, for another heart warming tale!

What joy it is to return to loved characters from Whistle Stop, Alabama. Fannie Flagg is a natural storyteller and this sequel proves that fact. Read this book!

Ohhhhhh my! This book lived up to all of very, very high expectations (and then some)! The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is the sequel to Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and I literally devoured this novel because it is absolutely fantastic! I adored catching up with the incredibly endearing characters- I forgot how attached I was to this crew! Reading this book is like chicken soup for the soul and a warm hug all wrapped in one! The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop is a 5++++ star novel that is most definitely going on my 2020 favorites list— a true MUST READ!

I absolutely LOVED THIS BOOK! It was like a long visit with cherished old friends.
Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe first introduced us to Evelyn Couch, Ninny Threadgoode, Idgie, Ruth, and Buddy, the wonderful town of Whistle Stop and all of the residents. I’ve read and re-read it so many times over the years, and was so happy to see that a sequel, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop was coming!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance copy, I was able to be an early visitor back to Alabama where Idgie charmed bees, Ruth and Idgie raised an amazing son, Bud, and Evelyn Couch got her life back and so much more when she became friends with Ninny Threadgoode.
This book travels back and forth in time and place, with Bud’s daughter Ruthie finding herself a bit adrift like Evelyn was in Fried Green Tomatoes. Each chapter was like sharing time with a warm memory, but learning more and making new memories as the pages turned.
I can’t recommend this book enough. Characters who we remembered fondly are brought back to life in it’s pages, and I found myself moved to happy tears when I read the last page. Please add The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop to your to be read list. Fannie Flagg’s warm, welcoming, funny, and charming words will pull you right in.

This feel-good book was just exactly what I needed to read these past few days. It's very reminiscent of "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe" with so many of the characters from the book and movie. This novel introduces family from subsequent generations and there were so many laugh-out-loud moments. I had to go back and watch the 1991 movie and re-live the pleasure of that movie. If you like Jan Karon or Philip Gulley, you will like the folksey, heart-tugging humor in this novel.

I have been a fan of Ms. Flagg's books all along. The only caveat I have is be sure you read Fried Green Tomatoes before embarking on this wrap up, which could so easily be titled Homesick for Whistle Stop. A pleasure as always

Variation on a song...What the world needs now, is Flagg, sweet Flagg.... As we continue to slog our way through this crapfest of a year, we need a break. Fannie Flagg to the rescue.

Mid-April I was remarking to anyone who would listen, “I NEED a new Fannie Flagg book!” She is my puppies and sunshine author who reliably dishes up comfort reads that soothe like macaroni and cheese with an apple pie chaser. Much to my amazed delight, an email arrived this week from Random House and NetGalley offering an eARC of The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop. Hallelujah!!

I immediately abandoned the excellent Vera Stanhope mystery I was enjoying and nestled in for an afternoon of pure delight.

Fannie brings us back to the town of Whistle Stop and reacquaints us with characters from Fried Green Tomatoes (among others) and shares what has been happening since we were last together. (You don’t HAVE to read FGT before this book, but you should.)

I cried, I laughed out loud. I devoured this book just like mac and cheese and apple pie...way too fast, knowing I should slow down and savor, but it was just too good to stop. Finishing the book was like looking at the empty dishes, basking in the aftertaste and looking forward to the next available offering.

Thank you Fannie, NetGalley, and Random House for this eARC in exchange for an unbiased review. This isn’t published until October, but we need it now!

It's so good to be back in Whistle Stop with all our old friends! I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book as much as this. I could just picture Ruth and Idgie in the cafe with Sipsey and Big George. Makes me want to go back and watch the movie again!

If you love Fannie Flagg and Whistle Stop you're in for a treat!

A delightful and triumphant return to Whistle Stop, Flagg provides more of the whimsy and humor For which she is so well loved. I haven’t torn through a book like this in a good while! Such a thrill to continue on with these well loved characters.

If you’ve read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, or enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes movie, this book is for you.

Short chapters jump around in time, from back in the 1930s, when a lot of the first book played out, to nearly the current day. All the characters from the first book are here: Idgie, Ruth, Ninny Threadgoode, Buddy, Evelyn Crouch and more. The primary focus is on Buddy and his family, especially his daughter, Ruthie.

Fannie Flagg cleverly weaves her plot so that wonderful connections are made, both between the past and present, and among the characters. It’s just a delight, and she revisits enough of the old days that you don’t actually have to read or re-read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café to appreciate the story—and yet, if you’re already familiar with the first book, you won’t feel like she’s just rehashing it.

There has been so much bad news in the country lately that I needed a break with a book like this to remind me of what’s really important: family and friends, and just being good to people. Read this book and see if it doesn’t make your heart swell—and with a lot of laughs and a little magic along the way.

I have been a fan of Fannie Flagg for a long time. What a treat to visit the old friends who popped up in The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop! Anyone who has read Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe or seen the movie will recognize Buddy, Ruthie, Evelyn and all the others who inhabited Whistle Stop, Alabama. Ms. Flagg skillfully goes back to the past to tie in the present. Even if you haven’t read Fried Green Tomatoes, this would be an enjoyable book. Coming as it did during a time of quarantine and civil unrest, this book was a reminder that friendship can be found in unlikely circumstances and make all the difference in the world. I can’t wait to see what Fannie Flagg writes next!

This reads like a precis of 'Fried Green Tomatoes' with a few added updates on what the characters have been doing since we last encountered them. I am so disappointed. It is thin, there's little character development and I feel like I've read a Christmas round robin.

I'm a long-time fan of Fannie Flagg and looked forward to revisiting the residents of Whistle Stop. I thought the beginning of the book was a bit choppy; I had to pay close attention to the time and location noted on each chapter. It was not clear until about the 40% mark who the main character was actually supposed to be. Once the focus of the story focused primarily on Buddy, the story was quite enjoyable. Of course, Flagg fills the pages with wonderful characters and terrific humor that is unique to her books.

Fannie is back a boy have we missed her.. All our favorite characters, and friends, are back. The novel updates us on everyone,, reveals secrets from the past, gives us hometown memories and asks ( and answers)) that age-old question, can you go home again? Filled with humor and yes, fried green tomatoes, the reader is transported back to Whistle Stop..

How long have I been waiting for this book? Oh about 18 years, after I finished Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I was so excited to find out whatever happened to Idgie. I feel li,e the most important people I the story are always at the periphery. While I was extremely excited for this book, and did indeed enjoy getting to go back to Whistle a Stop, I felt like everything was tied up with just too perfect a bow. And we need more Idgie.

Writing: 4/5 Characters: 4.5/5 Plot: 4/5

The ultimate feel good book, The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop takes up where Fried Green Tomatoes left off, following the beloved residents of Whistle Stop, Alabama as they disperse through the South. Told vignette style, we bounce between time periods, characters, and locales — like a collection of friendly gossip between friends about people they love in common. The main narrative arc follows Buddy and his daughter, Ruth, in the present. You may remember Buddy as the six-year-old who lost his arm in a train crossing accident in Fried Green Tomatoes. It’s an amazing journey.

The ending is absolutely delightful, and I won’t give it away with any hints. Let’s just say I’m in a much happier space than I was when I started. Thank you, Fannie Flagg!

Great for fans of Elizabeth Berg.

I could read the continuing stories about Whistle Stop every day of my life! Some of them are sad, some are totally happy but they are all entertaining. And so many lovely lessons for us all to learn. Some (crabby critics) will say that things fall into place to easily at the end but I think that’s part of it’s charm. It’s a feel good story, no doubt about it. And I loved it all! More! More!

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

I am so excited to read this, but I am first going to reread some of her other books, and I will review after.