I can't even put in words the love i have for this book and the ending oh my god! This author captured the dynamic between all the characters and i have never laughed or cried more than when i read this book! 10/10 stars!

"Sizzling small-town life in the American South with its secret history, vivid characters, and juicy dramas." Yep... All that and more. This book had me hooked from the first sentence right through to the last. I was entertained, I enjoyed it so much that once I got started I had to keep reading. I think we all know someone like Posey Burch Jarvis and this book brings her off the pages and into your world.

This is such a fun, well written and quirky book, how could anyone not like it. Fun, crazy and a book that develops throughout. I enjoyed every minute of it and now I want more. Can't wait to see what this author writes next.

Thank you NetGlley and Harper Muse for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

*The Empress of Cooke County* is a masterfully layered story about a mother and daughter whose lives are deeply entangled in dreams, delusions, and the heavy weight of unspoken expectations. It’s an emotionally charged exploration of small-town life, ambition, love, and the invisible ways family can both nurture and stifle.

At its heart is the complicated relationship between Posey and her daughter Callie Jane. Posey is a deeply flawed yet fascinating character—driven by old heartbreak, social status, and a fierce desire to craft a better life for Callie Jane. Her belief that she’s doing everything “for her daughter’s best future” becomes both a crutch and a curse. Through Posey, the novel delicately touches on themes like covert addiction, buried traumas, and the suffocating grip of parental control disguised as love.

Callie Jane’s arc is poignant and empowering. Initially quiet and restrained, she slowly begins to rebel in subtle but meaningful ways—from choosing her own dress for church to rejecting the path laid out for her by both parents. Her yearning for autonomy and her eventual determination to break away from Sparks, the stifling town she grew up in, is deeply moving. Her relationship with Vern—her “dad,” despite biology—is the emotional backbone of the novel. Their bond brought tears to my eyes in the final chapters.

The reveal that CJ (Dr. Callen James) is Callie Jane’s biological father is handled with restraint, with Callie ultimately declaring that Vern was and always will be her true father. His love for her, his sacrifices, and his unassuming support shine throughout the book. Even in his final moments, his presence lingers—his legacy guiding Callie Jane to finally follow her dreams and leave Sparks behind.

The story’s pacing is deliberate but rewarding. The introduction of characters like Evangeline and CJ (the doctor) enrich the tapestry of Sparks’ tight-knit community. The subplot about the peeping tom adds suspense and ultimately folds back into the main arc in a shocking climax that sends Posey to prison, still deluded and selfish. Posey never gets a redemption arc—but that feels honest. Some people don’t change, and the novel doesn’t force a neat resolution where one isn’t earned.

Parman’s prose is elegant, and the recurring metaphor of the tarot card—upright for luck, reversed for misfortune—is a beautiful lens through which to view both Posey and Callie Jane. Two women chasing dreams in opposite directions, yet forever tied by a fragile thread of blood and expectation.

The small-town setting is rich and alive with gossip, judgment, and interwoven lives. Side characters are compelling, and even the briefest interactions ripple across the story’s emotional landscape.

While I give it 3.75 stars, that’s not a knock—some of my favorite reads fall into this category. The emotional depth, the subtle commentary on womanhood, parental control, and personal growth hit me hard. I laughed, I ached, and I cried. *The Empress of Cooke County* is a quietly devastating, ultimately hopeful novel that lingers long after the final page.
(For Netgalley I'll round it up to 4 ⭐)

3.5 rounded down. A great debut and I'm looking forward to more from Parman, especially with the "groovy" 1960s vibe. The back story about the great-aunt would be interesting. There are several subplots going on here, so even if you *think* you know what's going to happen, more will than what you expect.

Once I realized the main income for Posey and her husband Vern was a thrift store--and yet she drives a Cadillac and gets her hair done weekly--Parman explains how their other household expenses are covered. That would be something that would bother me as I was reading it--"how in the world can they afford anything?" I understand that reading is an escapist outlet, but things have to be somewhat realistic.

Speaking of which, a "beehive" hairdo--
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b9/d8/3a/b9d83a1c9ff87607608220da8d68ee70.jpg" width="300" height="400" alt="beehive"/>

Remember that rumor that claimed that women with beehives were dying because spiders or other deadly bugs took up residence in the hive. Snopes.com has declared this legend false.

So you have the conniving mother and sweet, starry-eyed daughter here--guess which story line I enjoyed more?

Catios exist! But usually outside, not inside.
<img src="https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.RkgQMVyM294CPUoKDnm4PAHaFj?r=0&cb=iwp2&rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain" width="400" height="300" alt="catio"/>

The title comes from the idea that a queen rules a country, but an empress (such as Queen Victoria) rules the world.

Thanks to Harper Muse and Netgalley for an ARC. Legalese--"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

This was such a good read!

I loved the relationship dynamics of the family, the retro small town setting, and the characters of this book. I think most people from a small town can relate to the “stuck” feeling of both Posey and Callie Jane, and I really appreciated Vern as a character. The addition of a Peeping Tom to a small town filled with gossips really added to the story, and it added almost a levity to the story with the way “news” spread through the town.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and finished it in a day!

Thank you to Harper Muse and the author for this ARC!

Posey Jarvis is the self-declared Empress of Cooke County, and when she unexpectedly inherits her aunt’s derelict mansion, she dreams of fixing it up and hosting her 20th high school reunion there. Meanwhile, Posey’s daughter Callie Jane dreams of life outside her small Tennessee town and refuses to play by her mother’s rules anymore.

This book alternates viewpoints between Posey and Callie Jane, and the differences between them are stark. My favorite character was the new hairdresser in town; I would have loved to see the town from her point of view. This story was OK, but I didn’t love it.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman is an amazing story.
Elizabeth‘s writing is as sharp and witty as ever, with plenty of humorous and touching moments.
From the first page to the last, I was completely engrossed in the story. The characters were richly developed, the plot was captivating, and the writing style was flawless. I found myself unable to put it down, eagerly flipping pages to see what would happen next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman!

The Empress of Cooke County tells a riveting story of Posey Burch Jarvis, a woman who believes the world has jilted her in more ways than one and that of Callie Jane Jarvis, Posey’s daughter, attempting to find herself in a world that appears to be too cruel.
Posey has spent the last near-20 years pining after a man named CJ, whom she had a week-long affair with when she was 19-years-old, culminating in a pregnancy and Posey all alone. That pregnancy resulted in the sweet, mild-mannered Callie Jane. Now 18-years-old and ready to get on with the life she dreams of, Callie Jane finds herself unwittingly engaged to her childhood best friend Trace.
The results of this story ends with Posey having the world she’s known forever ripped out from under her by her own actions, and Callie Jane coming to terms with her own life and learning that she must live that life by her own terms, and not anyone else’s.
In this story, you will be rooting for Callie Jane to grow a backbone and be able to stick up to her mother, the woman you will loathe from the very first page. This author has an uncanny way of getting you to hate one of the two main protagonists from the very first word written on the page. You will spend the rest of the 300+ pages wondering if Posey will learn that consequences come with the actions she has chosen, and cheering when that happens.
Well done to Elizabeth Bass Parman on a wonderful, coming-of-age story for Callie Jane and a guidebook on not what to do with your life from Posey. I originally chose this book as an ARC specifically because Cooke happens to be my maiden name, so I immediately was drawn to it, and I’m so glad that I did. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
Thank you to Harper Muse, Netgalley and author Elizabeth Bass Parman for this complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review

This book follows mom, Posey, and daughter, Callie Jane. It takes place in 60’s Tennessee. Posey is all about keeping up appearances and she just wants three things in life - be loved by her daughter Callie Jane, own a mansion, and marry CJ.

When a long lost aunt leaves Posey her mansion, she now has two out of three! But owning a mansion isn’t all it’s cracked up to be if that mansion is dilapidated. Posey will fake it until she makes it because in her mind this mansion is how she will finally make CJ see that she is doctor wife material.

Callie Jane - well she’s accidentally engaged and feels completely trapped in the small town of spark where she was born and raised. How does one get accidentally engaged? You’ll have to read this gem to find out!

There’s some laugh out loud moments in this one, and I definitely found myself empathizing with Callie Jane. She’s just a young girl who is trying to find herself but struggling with the fact that Bri by true to herself might mean hurting the people around her.

Don't hate me, but I just didn't love this one like I thought I was going to! I don't think it was the books fault either, I think based off the description and the cover I was expecting it to be something other than what it actually was. Unfortunately I was more looking forward to what I had imagined it to be than what I got, but I do think it's still worth reading! It still kept me wanting to know what happened!

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for my early copy!!

In this interesting and fascinating dual-perspective new historical fiction novel, readers explore the lives of Posey Jarvis and her daughter Callie Jane as they live a mundane life in Spark, a town in Cooke County, Tennessee. As the self-proclaimed empress of the county, Posey is invested in idolizing Jackie Kennedy, avoiding her husband Vern, and controlling Callie when she inherits a derelict mansion from an aunt just in time to host her twentieth high school reunion. Callie Jane, accidentally engaged and worried about her wedding, is fed up with her mother and has no desire to remain in Spark for the rest of her life. Following two very different women who are desperate to escape their real life for the rose-tinted past or a far-away future, this novel is definitely not what readers are expecting, but Elizabeth Bass Parman absolutely delivers on the characters, setting, and twists and turns in this Southern historical fiction novel. The tension between Posey and Callie Jean is well-written and adds a great layer to the novel, while their internal struggles humanize them and further develop Spark and its community. Incredibly written and definitely fascinating, readers will struggle to put this new historical fiction title down.

This was ok to start. I really didn't like the main character, Posey, right from the beginning. It seemed like there was some hopefulness with some of the other characters but I hated the ending and what Posey did. Not that great of a book.

"The Empress of Cooke County" is a fun story about Posey, a woman who wants to be the most popular lady in her small Tennessee town in the 1960s. But things get complicated with family troubles, nosy neighbors, and a creepy stalker. This book has lots of funny and exciting moments, plus you'll get to know some interesting characters. If you like stories about strong women and a bit of mystery, you'll probably enjoy this one!

A delightful read based in the snall town of Spark, Tennessee in the 1960’s. As a child of the 60’s this book resonated with me. I loved the characters and their dilemmas. There are several twists in this charming and entertaining story, which is sure to keep the reader engaged.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I liked most about this is that the points were driven home by a few really well done allegorical characters and in a short amount of pages. I've been into short reads lately and I really enjoyed every minute of this tale from a small town in the backwoods of Tennessee. Very much a story about wanting more than we have and ignoring what we do have - I loved almost every part of this. I smiled so many times while reading and then in the very end clapped my hand over my mouth in the most Southern way possible at the turn of events!!

The story centers around a fiercely independent woman navigating life in a small town, and Parman's sharp wit and vivid descriptions really brought the setting to life.

I loved the way Parman mixed humor with poignant moments, making the characters feel relatable and real. However, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, especially in the middle where it dragged a little.

Overall, The Empress of Cooke County balances charm and depth beautifully, offering a heartwarming and thought-provoking story. Definitely a gem for anyone who loves character-driven narratives!

Be ready to be transported to the 1960's in small town Tennessee. The main characters in this book, Posey and Callie Jane, are well defined and though not necessarily likeable, they are relatable. It is the cast of supporting characters that give the book it's fun, and keep you reading.

Wow! THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY was not at all what I was expecting. It was much darker than the description and cute cover suggest, which is not usually my cup of tea, yet I found myself racing through pages because I had to know what happened next. Parman's plotting kept me guessing, and the ending was mostly satisfying. I found the characters to be nuanced and realistic. I especially enjoyed seeing Callie Jane find her voice and inner courage, and Posey Jarvis is the type of complex woman you love to hate but equally pity. I also appreciated the subtle symbolism of numbers in the characters' lives and how the Empress tarot card mirrored the contrast between Callie Jane and Posey's personalities, adding a unique layer of depth. Overall, Parman's thought-provoking debut is an incisive, Southern story I certainly won't forget any time soon.

Loved this story!
Posey is the self proclaimed Empress in this story. She trying hard to overcome her roots and this leads us to a take of family secrets! Meanwhile her daughter is just trying to fit in.and her husband just is going along- until he doesn’t!
A fun southern take full of laughs and “no she didn’t” moments.



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