Tale of dysfunctional family through the generations in a Southern town. Author Pamela Terry brings us THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES with a touch of magical realism tossed into the heady mix of standard Southern characters offered up for our enjoyment. My difficulties with the novel stem from the author’s decision to have every character’s thoughts or dialog turn very long-winded in her effort to show us “Southern”. It just wore on me as the book progressed. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

First of all the description in this book is perfection. I can smell all the flowers of the sweet south, I can feel the southern humidity and taste the southern breakfast. In the Highlands I felt like I was there among the picturesque scenery. It was just so lovely.
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Lila and her brother Henry return to home in the south upon news of the death of their mother. Reunited with their devastated sister Abby they have their hands full. Being back home reminds them of the death of their beloved father and now their mother is gone too.
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With their mother’s death secrets are unearthed that unravel all of their lives. Their entire lives change with these truths but what doesn’t change is the love they have for one another.
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With such a satisfying epilogue this debut novel definitely has me excited for her next book.
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Thank you to #Netgalley and #Ballantine for an arc in exchange for an honest review

An achingly poignant story of lives torn apart by a bigoted society and then stitched back together when the iron ruling matriarch dies. Three very young children are told by their mother in the early 70s South that their father had died. It is only almost some 40 years later that they realize it was all a lie. The family dynamic is tied up in the image of the small southern town in which they live. In order to escape the the bindings they have to leave. The dad leaves to become his true self and so too does the two oldest children as soon as they could. Only te youngest remains and it almost destroys her. Eventually what holds her there no longer exists when her mother dies. It is truly about facing your fears and accepting who you are.

What if the family you grew up in was nothing like you believed it to be when you were growing up? Their mother’s death sends Lila and Henry on an odyssey of discovery. The number of secrets in this family is mind boggling.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is Ms. Terry’s debut novel. I was drawn in by her enchanting writing style and poetic prose. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

I received a copy of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

When she graduated from high school, Lila left the small Georgia town where she grew up, determined to make her life elsewhere. A few years later, her brother Henry did the same, while their younger sister remained in town. But when their mother dies suddenly, Lila and Henry return to help Abby cope with the loss. As they learn more about their mother's death, though, long hidden family secrets are revealed that change all of their lives.

I'll admit that I was initially drawn to this book because of its gorgeous cover; the book summary sounded good, but I was a bit hesitant to read yet another author's debut novel, as so many debuts are disappointing. Fortunately, my fears were unfounded. The characters were well-developed, and the author made me care about all of them, even the ones I initially disliked. The descriptions of the places in the book made me feel like I was there, and the story itself was intriguing enough that it kept me turning the pages. I look forward to reading this author's next book.

A very different story. It is sometimes funny on this journey to unearth family secrets. When Lila gets the call that her mother suddenly died, she is reluctant to go back to her hometown, but she goes anyway. Her father died when she was young and that leaves her and her two siblings alone. There is always drama at a Southern funeral. Secrets come out and Lila's mother didn't want a funeral. That is unheard of in the South. The secrets come out anyway leading Lila and her brother, Henry to try to figure things out. What they find out is life changing. Lila and Henry always felt that their mother didn't like them and she would dote on their younger sister. Now they will finally get the answers to their questions.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is about a southern family in a small town. Author Pamela Terry brilliantly describes scenes, characters, and southern thinking. Ms Terry makes the reader feel like they are experiencing what is going on in the pages she wrote. I want to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an early copy to review.

This debut novel by Pamela Terry represents authentic Southern storytelling. It unfolds slowly and the reader gets to know the characters and plot as it is peeled back layer by layer like a Vidalia onion. So much of the story resonated with me as a Louisiana native whose mother was first generation Scottish-American. Lila's descriptions of Scotland are so on point and very similar to my exact feelings when I visited my mother's homeland for the first time. While I have never tried my hand at weaving, I have visited a sheep farm in the Highlands and purchased wool that I later knitted, so I feel as though Lila and I share that connection. Terry's descriptions of the Highlands and of the rocky coast of Maine drew me in as much as her pitch-perfect portrayal of Southern customs.

When I first started reading The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, I was struck by how Terry's writing reminded of the style of writing and quirky characters of Beth Henley, whose Pulitzer Prize-winning Crimes of the Heart dealt with family secrets, loss of parents, and siblings/cousins trying to deal with it all. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to learn that Terry was a fan of Henley's work. The opening line of the prologue to Terry's book, "The first time Mama died..." is so very intriguing and so very Southern.

I loved this book, and I look forward to future works by Pamela Terry, especially if she continues with her unique blend of Southern and Scottish themes. My only criticism, and it is slight at that, is I would have preferred that there be some unsolved business at the end, or at least one end of the ribbon not completely tied in a neat bow. Otherwise, a very enjoyable read indeed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel (Ballantine Books-March 16, 2021) in exchange for this review.

I loved this book! Reading it was like having someone sit down and say to you "let me tell you about my life and how I ended up where I am now". Such wonderfully written prose and well explored characters. I was drawn into the story and invested in the main character, Lila Bruce, from the get-go. Most of the story's action takes place mainly in the south where the Bruce family lived. There is heartache and loss in the book as well as hope and acceptance with a glimpse into the "southern" way of living. In a way this is the story of a woman trying to figure out where "home" is. It isn't the house/town she grew up in and it isn't where she lived her life with her husband. Lila always felt that her 'spirit" never felt "rooted" and she just figured that was the way it would always be for her. Then she gets the phone call from her sister telling her that their mother had died and she has to leave Maine for the house she grew-up in. Lila and her brother were never close with their mother the way their sister was. What seems to be a trip for a funeral for a few days turns into so much more when they unearth some family secrets.

Lila has no idea what a Pandora's box awaits her when her sister Abagail finds their mother Geneva dead in the muscadine arbor clutching a silver spoon. This is a story of family secrets- big secrets- and lies- big lies- that went where I wasn't expecting it to go. Lila and her brother Henry both left their small town while Abagail stayed behind. Their father died during the Vietnam war and this impacted their childhood in ways they still don't entirely understand. Now they're all in town, Henry is out of the closet, and Lila, along with her childhood best friend Melanie, is trying to reconcile what she remembers with what's happened. It's hard to review this one without spoilers- you deserve to be as surprised as I was. Know that this one moves back and forth in time, sometimes on the same page, which can be maddening. These are believable characters who you will feel for. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The advance publicity has compared this to Where the Crawdads Sing but it is distinctly different in both plot and tone. It will however appeal to readers who enjoy other Southern writers who employ first person storytelling in family sagas with strong female characters.

This is the story of a family reunited after the mother dies. They all struggle with issues that they must deal with in order to move on with their lives.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley.
Terry spins a gentle story about a dysfunctional family with deep southern roots. Her main character, Lila, has moved on from her hometown of Wesleyan but has not left the south behind. She returns home after her mother dies and reconnects with her younger sister. Her brother also returns home and together they uncover family secrets long buried. The obvious plot device is letters from their deceased father that send them on a journey first to their uncle's home and then on to Scotland to meet the man long thought dead.
Readers see all three of the adult children face their past and reveal more of themselves as the story advances. By the end, each has found peace with their life and their family's heritage. The rich descriptions of the various locales allow readers to travel along. I enjoyed the characters and felt Terry set the right pace to reveal layers and more of their emotional scars as the story progressed.

This novel, set in a small town in Georgia, finds Lila Bruce Breedlove back in town to mourn her mother, who was found dead in the muscadine arbor behind the family house.
Lila and her brother, Henry, escaped Wesleyan as soon as they could, but the youngest daughter, Abigail stayed around to be there for their mother, who could be quite domineering.
Lila, now a widow, travels from her home in Maine, where she owns a weaving business. Henry, who has never quite felt comfortable in Wesleyan since he is gay, owns an art gallery in Rhode Island.
Nobody can quite figure out what Geneva was doing out in the grape arbor in the first place, and why was she holding a spoon?
Henry and Lila are also concerned about some strange behavior from Abigail. They start digging around (literally) and come up with more questions than answers about their mother. Family secrets are soon revealed as often happens in Southern stories.
I enjoyed this well-told story. Terry has woven an intriguing tale of family.

This was a very good book! An unexpected death brings Lila and her brother Henry back to their hometown in Georgia where their younger sister Abigail still lives.. They uncover lifelong secrets and have many unanswered questions. Lila and Henry head to North Carolina and onto the Scottish Highlands to hopefully find answers. A great story of families and secrets ! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes you open up a book with no expectations beyond hoping for a good story with compelling characters. But from the moment I started this book, on the very first page, I knew I was about to read something very special. This book has a lyrical quality to it, with beautiful prose that I read over and over to FEEL all of the emotions in each word. There is incredible imagery within the pages of this extraordinary debut novel—I was instantly swept away to the setting, and intimately involved with Lila, Henry, Abby, and the rest of the intriguing characters. The story itself kept me reading long into the night, and up early each morning, so that I could return to it and find out what will happen next. There are so many layers to this book that centers around a family that is filled with long-buried secrets and betrayals that chart the course of the three siblings, whose lives twisted and turned as they searched for love and the hind of their heart. I highly recommend this debut novel for fans of Kristy Woodson Harvey, Karen White, and Diane Chamberlain. I look forward to reading many more novels written by this gifted author.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is the debut novel by Pamela Terry. This story, to me, is intrinsically Southern. It showcases small town, family, friends, church, main street, large networks of caring helpful friends, neighbors and acquaintances and delightfully smacks of Southern charm. The for three quarters of the book the setting is in Georgia. I loved Ms. Terry's descriptions of the landscapes and aura of Southern life in Georgia.

The main narrator Lila Breedlove who left her Southern home when she was 18 years old and never looked back. The story opens with Lila as a young widow living on an island off the coast of Maine. Lila, fittingly, reflects on her Southern roots: “The roots of its influence still run through me like vines, entwining memories and creeping under the doors of my dreams.”

The novel delves into the complex world of a Southern family, their relationships and dynamics. Lila has two other siblings, Henry and Abby. The story throws the three siblings together because of the sudden passing of their mother Geneva. As with most children there are secrets and mysteries of their parents that they knew nothing about. In this story Geneva has more secrets than most coupled with deceptions that were carried through her lifetime. The siblings father was not in the picture since Abby was an infant. Not all is what it appears to be as the siblings unravel their mother’s mysteries and hurtful secrets.

The characters were realistic, endearing and thoughtful. Southern tradition coupled with cultural nuance and unresolved childhood issues make up the foundation of this story. Geneva had a deep seated and overwhelming fear pertaining to Southern societal norms and in keeping up appearances in the face of societal judgment.

The last quarter of the novel takes place in Scotland specifically the remote island of Ben Mathan. The setting descriptions are emotionally and beautifully strong. There are no loose ends in story.

Ms. Terry’s debut novel is heartwarming and rich. She definitely has a gift for writing and her writing comes off as prose in many parts. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next. Well done!

I would like to thank the author, Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is reminiscent of Where the Crawdads Sing: part southern fiction and part mystery. After her mother’s unexpected death, Lila and her siblings uncover a series of lies that her mother was fabricating for their entire lives. From there, we see how each of the siblings work through grief and uncovering new truths. It was slow at times, but still kept my attention. I enjoyed it and would recommend if you’re looking for something a bit more literary.

What stands out to me the most in this beautifully written book is the writing itself. I am not even sure I can explain it to the level it deserves, but I will try. I felt like every single word was carefully chosen, and was crafted together to create such descriptive, eloquent, and lyrical phrases and sentences. The writing was sophisticated and impressive, yet not difficult to read or comprehend.

My favorite books are ones that are about family and I was beyond happy to read about this southern family. There is love and sadness, truths and lies, betrayals and forgiveness. I was incredibly touched and moved a few times in the novel, genuinely emotional.

One particular part that I noted because I loved it so much and it struck a chord with me as it is so important and meaningful to me. “ There’s something about this place that makes me feel like I belong here or something. Is it just me? I mean, it’s what Daddy used to tell us, isn’t it? This is where we came from? This is our starting place? This is our home?” I hadn’t defined the feeling even to myself, but I knew what my brother meant. “They call it ancestral memory.”

This is simply a beautiful novel and I commend the author for her obvious talent in her debut novel.

Thank you @randomhouse for gifting me this book! #TheSweetTasteofMuscadines #PamelaTerry #NetGalley

Publication date: March 16, 2021

I do not normally read this type of book, and I’m not sure what made me choose to do so now. When I started it, I was just going to read the first chapter or so because I had things to do and I really didn’t expect it to hold my attention, especially within the first few pages. I could not have been more wrong.

This story immediately pulled me in. With it’s lush descriptions and emotion pouring out of every word, I was quickly swept up into Lila’s current life, as well as her past. With each word I found myself immersed in the southern atmosphere she grew up in. I cannot recall another book that evoked such a feeling of being present in the story, as The Sweet Taste of Muscadines did.

I found myself loving each of the siblings and captivated by the way they dealt with the issues at hand. The plot is multi-layered but so beautifully woven together, I didn’t even recognize its many dimensions until I reflected back on it. This has a fast pace and while it richly paints a picture of life in the South, it never bogs down or becomes repetitive. I was unable to stop reading once I began. How is it possible this is this author’s debut novel? I’m astounded at her talent and would not be surprised if this were to ever be made into a movie.

About:

How can you not be drawn into the story with a hook line such as this in the Prologue spoken by the book's narrator, Lila, as a child:

‘The first time Mama died, I ran off to hide in the muscadine arbor.’

The story centers around three adult siblings, the eldest Lila, Henry, and the youngest, Abigail, as they all return to their childhood home in Wesleyan, Georgia, after the sudden and suspicious death of their mother, Geneva, her body found under the muscadine arbor behind the estate.

‘[A]s they uncover more about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending [them] on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES reminds us all that true love never dies.’

My Thoughts:

In a word, WOW! I cannot recommend reading Pamela Terry’s debut novel, THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES, high enough, Dear Readers, but be prepared for the tears to flow.

As I read this book, my mind kept circling back to how I feel each time I watch STEEL MAGNOLIAS, a narrative set in the south featuring southern women, wit, charm, and heartbreaking moments that never fail to bring me to tears.

Terry’s writing, to me, is outstanding!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House LLC.), for loaning me an eGalley of THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES in the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release—March 16, 2021 (Subject To Change)