I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. The author did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I love anything written about small towns, and Viola Shipman's writing was so great! I would highly recommend it!

I was pulled into this from the mention of Fried Green Tomatoes in the synopsis. I love that movie. The small town atmosphere in Famous in a Small Town is amazingly well done, I really liked Mary, Becky, Benji and Ashley. They all had distinct personalities. The plot was fun and engaging.

Thanks to Viola Shipman

Super cute and well done story with a cast of characters that you will fall in love with. The whole book was very well done.

Found family is one of my favorite themes in books, and I also love a small town setting, which Viola Shipman nails every single time. As ever, rich with nostalgia and all the charm of a Michigan summer. You just have to meet Mary. She’s in her 80s and the reigning champion cherry pit spitter for her town, since she was a teen. No one can beat her, and she runs her family’s Very Cherry General Store.

Becky and her best friend take a trip to the town of Good Hart, and there they meet Mary. Becky spent most of her holidays in Good Hart with her grandparents, and it brings all the nostalgia when she arrives. Oh my gosh, I loved this book.

I was recently wondering why I didn’t go to summer camp as a child (while reading a camp-centered book). I didn’t because summers were for long visits with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family. Famous in a Small Town gave me all the feels about those summers well spent surrounded by people I loved. Summer was and is family, and it’s about slowing down to truly savor those moments. This book captured THAT.

I received a gifted copy.

The setting of Famous in a Small Town by Viola Shipman book is beautiful. The small town intrigues are entertaining. The individual histories of the women make for good stories. The bonds of friendships - old, new, and rediscovered - are lovely to read about. However, the emotional bond attempted in the book fails to completely connect for me. An entertaining summer read but perhaps not as engaging as some of Viola Shipman's other books.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/11/famous-in-small-town.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Excellent book!
Make sure you have plenty of tissues for that ending!
Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Great narrator.

I have enjoyed many Viola Shipman/Wade Rouse books. I love the beautiful setting and how the story revolved around cherries. Mary and Becky were both interesting main characters. I did feel like the story got repetitive and a bit preachy towards the end, but overall it was a good read!

This was a super sweet summer story and it sold very well in our store. Sorry for the delayed review.

Famous In A Small Town is a beautifully crafted testament of legend, friendship, and the power of women. As always, Viola Shipman tips a hat to the beauty of small town Michigan that I swear will make this Canadian girl visit one day and when I get there I'm sure it will feel like a familiar home. But more than that, Shipman offers a sweetly magical nod to the beauty of strength, family (by blood and choice), nostalgia, and destiny. This is the perfect summertime read but also a sweet as (cherry) pie delight when you want a comforting, feel-good novel.

I truly enjoyed Famous In A Small Town. I don't always appreciate the author's notes or other notes included in novels, but I appreciate them in this one.

Mary Jackson earned her moniker "Cherry Mary" when only a teenager, as she spit a cherry pit to victory. Now eighty, she runs the family general store in Good Hart and waits for the arrival of a stranger that she believes will carry her legacy.

Becky Thatcher came to Good Hart with her best friend, after her boyfriend proposes buying real estate instead of getting married. At forty, Becky feels that her life is at a crossroads. Meeting Mary, Becky starts to think that Good Hart might be part of her future.

Viola Shipman always does a good job of bringing characters and their setting to life, with Famous in a Small Town no exception. I would give this novel three and a half stars if the rating system would allow, as the story itself gets a little too repetitive. The ending is telegraphed early on, but Famous in a Small Town is still worth reading. I like how the store and town are all based on a real place, which the Author's Note explains. A good beach read, Famous in a Small Town has good characters worth getting to know.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

While it took me a while to settle into this story, it turned out to be a very interesting one! You can sure tell from the writing that this author truly loves Northern Michigan. The characters in this book are unique and the linking of the characters together brings the story to an absolutely lovely ending. It is a heartwarming story that is definitely worth the read.

this was just such a fun and delightful read! i really liked this and it was so much fun!! if you're into this type of book, you should definitely check this one out!!!!

I loved this book! The years of friendships, the women knowing their strengths, the Tunnel of Trees. I have never wanted to visit Michigan more than after I read this book. This might be one of my favorite found family stories and favorite by Shipman. An absolutely perfect summer read.

Becky has come to a point in her life that she is evaluating her future. So she goes on a vacation with her best friend Q.
Mary is at the end of her life with a country store that has been in her family for years.
This is one of the best books I have read all year. My 83 year old mother read this book to and loved it.
Thanks to Graydon House and NetGalley for the ARC.

Cherry Mary Jackson has run her family store for most of her life and she has been patiently waiting for her successor. She has dreamed for years and finally Becky Thatcher shows up in Good Hart, Michigan to put her life back together. I loved this story. In fact I love most anything written by Viola Shipman. He has an insight to family dynamics that is astounding since most of his books deal with multi-generational women. Read this one.

The story is almost too sweet, with a small town good old folks type of appeal. The setting is my favorite part if the book, as the descriptions of Northern Michigan are appealing. Becky and Q go on a girls trip after Becky breaks up with her longtime boyfriend when he admits he never wants to get married. Mary is the other main character in the book, an 80 year old woman who is looking to ensure her legacy in the general store and Post Office run by her grandmother, her mother, and now by Mary. I know now that this author’s books are not for me, just too schmaltzy and sweet, but I can see how they could appeal to others. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Author Viola Shipman knows how to pull readers in and leave them feeling warm and fuzzy after finishing each beautiful story. It took a minute for me to get into this book, but once I did, I could not stop—captivating characters and story.

Loved this sweet magical story! I am.from a small town, so I'm a sucker for small-town tropes! This one was done absolutely perfect. The Author captured the feeling of being in a small-town and she did a great job capturing how the people are too. Absolutely loved this plot.

Every time I read a book by Viola Shipman I begin planning my Michigan vacation. Driving the coast and stopping in all the small towns. Walking and seeing the lake. Going all the way up to Mackinac Island where you can’t drive. Just imagine slowing down your pace for this trip!
I loved that Becky was from St.Louis, where I grew up. Most of the references were spot on and I will forgive the small errors.
These may seem like simpler stories but they are full of lessons, love, and family. I find them comfortable and peaceful, such a great feeling.
Perfect for your summer reading. Don’t miss this book.

‘Famous in a Small Town’, by Viola Shipman is another perfect summer read. Since beginning to read Viola Shipman books, I have add Michigan to my “must visit” list. Ms. Shipman has a remarkable way of bringing different coastal towns of Michigan to life. Thoroughly enjoyed this latest book, easy to read and the characters are so relatable. Thank you once again!