Book Reviews: The Empress of Cooke County
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Author: Elizabeth Bass Parman @elizabethbassparman
Publisher: @harpermusebooks
Thank You to @netgalley for this ARC

Set in the South during the 1960’s this was a delightful debut novel. Posey Jarvis is married to an older man named Vern and lives in the small town of Spark, Saturday Tennessee. Posey’s life is just normal middle class. Everyone is spark loves Vern and this is hard for Posey as she wants so much more than Vern has been able to give her. Posey has a tendency to drink a bit too much which seems to affect her outlook on life. Callie-Jean is Posey and Vern’s 18-year-old daughter. She is engaged to her best friend. She wonders what her life would be like if she marries him. Will it be like her parent‘s, just basic normal? Callie Jean may not really want to be married but make this decision she will to have the courage to say no and chase her dreams .
Posey inherits a rundown mansion from her aunt and since Posey now has this mansion, she ends up final finagling her way to hosting her 20th class reunion. Posey does all of this and hopes to see her old high school flames CJ. CJ happens to be a doctor now and is happily married. But Posey is dreaming of what life would be like with CJ. The problem with Posey is she isn’t happy with what she has and she thinks she would be happy with that which She doesn’t have. Posey needs to learn how to be happy and if she doesn’t, who knows where she’ll go from here. Callie-Jean’s storie is better than Posye’s. Callie-Jean starts to find her voice, and is starting to find what she really wants in life. A secret revealed that affects Callie-Jean’s life and makes it a bit topsy-turvy. She eventually stands up to her mother and lets her voice be heard. Callie-Jean loves her father and is finding it hard to see how her mother treats him. The end of this book was well not quite as I thought it would be. It is very much an emotional whiplash. This book is a true Southern fiction and I a wonderful read. I am going to be looking forward to this author’s next book!

#southernfictio #harpermuse #debut #womensfiction #southernfiction #read #bookstagram

The Empress of Cooke County had a slow start and took a while to get me hooked but once it turned into a bit of a mystery I was in! The POV flip between mother and daughter definitely kept it interesting.

This is a somewhat darker story than the cute cover might have you believe, and while I don't want to give away the ending of the book, this one has a surprisingly satisfying conclusion. This is filled with gossipy, sassy Southern small town charm that still shows the limited options for women in mid-twentieth century America. I really enjoyed this quick and fairly short debut, and I'll be eagerly watching to see if more comes from the author!

I was really looking forward to this one since it sounded like a fun, 1960s historical fiction romp and while there was a lot of small town Southern charm with a cast of quirky characters, this domestic dramedy was darker than I was expecting at times (mother-daughter drama, small town politics plus a murder).

The book explores wealth, identity, love and finding the courage to chase after one's dreams even though it might go against parental expectations and was good on audio narrated by one of my favs, Brittany Pressley. Somehow though it just felt a little flat for me. Okay but not great maybe owing to it being a me thing or a wrong mood, wrong time thing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. Worth a read but I wouldn't rush to recommend it.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A narcissistic woman with a devious plan gets a comeuppance.

In 1960s Spark, Tennessee, Posey Jarvis is eager to make the town forget her humble beginnings and acknowledge her as "empress." She certainly looks the part in her thrifted designer clothes and Cadillac and when she unexpectedly inherits the grandest (albeit dilapidated) house in town from her aunt, Posey believes things are finally falling in place. She will lure the doctor she had an affair with as a teenager and he will realize he really loves her. Sure, she'll have to divorce Vern, her presumably loyal husband who saved her from single motherhood.

But there are a few hurdles. Her teenaged daughter, Callie Jane, is suddenly thinking for herself, wanting to leave for California and break off her engagement with Trace, soon-to-be grocery store mogul. And Vern is disappearing for hours at a time, coming home with flimsy excuses and smelling of fried chicken.

Instead of things falling into place, they fall apart. This small-town story is by turns heartbreaking, hilarious, inspirational, and sad. #TheEmpressofCookeCounty #NetGalley

This book was kind of a lot of nothing going on. The only likeable character was the daughter, and she really had to grow on me. The mother was horrible from the beginning. The father was weak. The baby daddy was a jerk. There isn’t much I liked about this book except the ending.

The empress of Cooke county is a southern family story, the tone of which is similar to lessons in chemistry. Posey is an overbearing mother trying to live the socialite lifestyle that she had a taste of 20 years prior. Posey inherits a derelict house from her aunt and sets her mind to rebuilding it believing it will open a door to the life she feels she has been denied. Meanwhile, her daughter Callie Jane, is struggling under the weight of her mother’s expectations and is engaged to man she doesn’t love to try to please her mother. Affairs and secrets abound in the family, but when tragedy hits the two women put their lives on hold
To find common ground together.

This is a quick read that is atmospheric with witty and sharp dialogue. The novel is light hearted but takes a sudden turn near the end that shifts the tone slightly, if you liked palm royale or lessons in chemistry, you will enjoy this read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This southern fiction story was a cute book that kept me entertained throughout with well developed characters. Posey, the mom is the self declared empress of Cooke County. She and her daughter Callie are as different as can be and are always butting heads. Posey tries to dominate her daughter as well as her husband without the results she desires. They begin the reclaim their lives but a tragedy occurs and lives are put on hold. Slowly love prevails and Callie finally begins to try to find herself and forge a new life. This is a very engaging book and a quick read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an EGalley of this novel
#TheEmpressOfCookeCounty #ElizabethBassParman #NetGalley

Unhappily married, secret gin drinker Posey Jarvis, envisions herself as the Empress of her small town emulating her idol Jackie Kennedy from her tiny house in Cooke County. Her daughter Callie Jean constantly disappoints Posey along with her husband Vern who possesses no similarities to JFK, much to Posey's consternation and bitterness.

Posey returns again and again to the memory of a night spent with one of Cooke Counties elite almost 20 years before and decides she will do anything to gain his attention once again. When a distant aunt leaves her a derelict mansion, Posey knows this is her way to live in her own Camelot, and sets about hosting the reunion party of the century.


Meanwhile Callie Jane struggles under the weight of her mother's disappointment, when she suddenly finds herself engaged to her best friend she knows that this must be the catalyst for change otherwise she'll end up working in her father's Emporium forever,

A small town full of secrets and hush-hush goings on, Cooke County is about to see some changes

A pleasant surprise!

Synopsis: Set in the small town of Spark, Tenn., in the 1960s, The Empress of Cooke County is a novel about family, love, pride and gratitude. Posey Jarvis inherits a crumbling mansion and aspires to make her former high school classmates — and an old flame — jealous of her new “lifestyle.” Daughter Callie Jane is itching to escape the small-town life and head to California. And Posey’s husband, Vern, just wants his family to be happy. Is the grass always greener on the other side?

This book gets a bit darker and more serious than the cover image and font imply. Yes, there are lots of typical small-town, beauty-shop-gossip tropes, but there’s also some more serious topics/events (no spoilers). I did not expect to have a sleepless night of reading this, but I couldn’t put it down.

I love a book where I don’t know where the next chapter goes, and The Empress of Cooke County does just that.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced reader copy of #TheEmpressOfCookeCounty.

Not sure exactly what to say about The Empress of Cooke County. I thought it was going to be a light, spoof, of small-town Southern living. While it has some humorous moments, the ending is very dark, unexpected, and seems to come out of nowhere. It can’t be classified as a dark comedy, more like a tragedy. The book description is very misleading, stating that it is full of Southern charm and unforgettable characters, neither of which, in my opinion, is true.

The book takes place during the 1960’s in a small Southern town, where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Posey Jarvis is a vain alcoholic, who at least in her mind, has had a difficult life and never seemed to get what she wanted. She is married to Vern, a kind, older man, but fantasizes about being married to CJ, a married doctor with whom she had an affair when she was nineteen, and who disowned her after he found out she was pregnant. An opportunity arises where she thinks she will be able to win CJ back. Posey’s daughter, Callie Jane, is engaged to be married to her life-long boyfriend, whom she does not love like that. She has her own dreams and wants to move to California to pursue them but feels obligated to stay and help Vern in the general store he owns and runs.

The book alternates chapters between Posey and Callie Jane. While the book was very well written, Posey is an unlikable character, who was extremely self-centered and is never satisfied. Why she thought that she could win over someone who told her she was just a fling and beneath him twenty years ago is a mystery, which makes it difficult to enjoy the premise of the book. The book talks about beehive hairdos and the Beatles, whom Callie Jane loves, but other than that, there are no further references to anything that was happening during that time period.

I enjoyed reading Callie Jane’s chapters. I definitely found myself rooting for her as she gets up the nerve to tell off her mother and follow her dreams. It was endearing that she made it clear that Vern was her true father, even after she learns the identify of her biological father. Most of the other characters have bit parts and are only there to help Posey with her scheme. Evangeline was a likable character, but it stretches the imagination to believe that during that time period in the South, people would be so understanding that she was a lesbian.

The book did rely somewhat on coincidences to bring it full circle. I also did not feel the epilogue added anything. The book could have easily with Callie Jane’s last chapter.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

The writing in this book is absolutely awful. Save your money and your time and give this book a hard pass.

This book was a wild and unexpected ride! I certainly did not see any twists or turns coming, and I couldn’t put it down! Excellent book. Thank you for the advanced copy!

It’s the 1960s. Posey wants it all— a fine house, a wealthy husband — a life far different than the one she had as a child. When she found herself pregnant by a married man, Vern, a quiet unassuming man, offered to marry her. He was a wonderful father to Callie, but they were never truly happy. When Posey’s aunt leaves her a mansion and a little money, she tries to realize her dream. The Empress of Cooke County, by Elizabeth Parchman, takes place near Nashville. It was a very interesting tale that shows us pride goes before a fall and humility is something to be honored.

This was a fun read! The ending, while a little heartbreaking, was satisfying. I enjoyed seeing her get what she deserved. I'd be interested to see a follow up to this book.

EXCERPT: Posey smiled wistfully as she recalled what had transpired while Frances was on the far side of the globe. Before Frances's plane had reached cruising altitude, CJ had whisked the then nineteen-year-old Posey Burch from her dumpy apartment and into his stunning home for seven whole days of uninterrupted passion.
CJ had downshifted the white Jaguar as he turned into the driveway that day, the growl of the engine thrilling her with its power. She gasped as the three-story house came into view, silently vowing to one day live there as CJ's wife.
'My God, it's a mansion.'
'Yep. She calls it Eden Hall.'
The last day of their weeklong rendezvous, CJ had been tense. He yelled up the stairs, 'Damn it, Posey, hurry! Her plane lands in twenty minutes.'
A lovestruck Posey lifted the flask from his dresser and tucked it into her suitcase before slamming the lid. Impulsively, she dropped one of her monogrammed earrings among the hand creams, pens and bookmarks in Frances's nightstand. Her mother had saved for over a year to buy them, but to get what you want to get, you have to do what you have to do.
Sure of her future, Posey gave the earring three full weeks to get the ball rolling. When she realized her plan had failed, that here would be no announcement from CJ that he was divorcing, she was equal parts furious and heartbroken. In an effort to lessen the sting, she vowed to possess a house even finer than Eden Hall. How to accomplish that goal was unclear, but if Frances could get a mansion, so could she. And once CJ saw her as a successful hostess in her own magnificent home, it would be only a matter of time before he came to his senses and married her.

ABOUT 'THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY': The chatter at the Curly Q beauty shop is about who'll be first to get a new blue Foodarama refrigerator from Sears in their small town of Spark, Tennessee, but Posey Jarvis and her daughter Callie Jane find themselves facing a crisis--one that will change both their lives forever.

Thirty-eight-year-old Posey Jarvis is the self-appointed "Empress" of rural Spark, in Cooke County, Tennessee. She spends her days sneaking nips of gin, following every word about her idol and look-alike, Jackie Kennedy, and avoiding her stalwart husband, Vern. She is also struggling to control her newly defiant daughter, Callie Jane, who finds herself accidentally engaged to Trace Humboldt. When Posey unexpectedly inherits a derelict mansion from her quirky old Aunt Milbrey, she finagles her way into hosting her high school's twentieth reunion there. Possums are nesting in the parlor and the stench of cat urine permeates the sunroom, but she must be ready for the big day, so she needs to work fast. She cares nothing about seeing her classmates, but she cares deeply about seeing the love of her life, a man who dumped her twenty years ago.

Callie Jane has had enough of her mother and working her boring job at Jarvis Emporium, a junk shop owned by her father. She breaks her engagement, moves out of her parents' house, and sets her sights on moving to California. Her domineering mother, stultifying future, and even the creepy peeping Tom terrorizing the town will be in her rearview. But then a shocking act of violence changes everything, and Callie Jane must determine how far she will go to save someone she loves.

MY THOUGHTS: A cautionary tale about greed, envy and being grateful for what you have.

Posey Burch Jarvis and her daughter Callie-Jane are polar opposites. To Posey all that matters is social standing and appearances. Callie-Jane is more realistic, down-to-earth. She loves her daddy, the Beatles music and her best friend, Trace. Posey is manipulative and a drunk. Callie-Jane doesn't like to make waves and wants, one day, to live in California. The only thing they have in common is that they both have goals and dreams, but the obstacles preventing them from being achieved seem insurmountable. Until one day something happens that changes everything.

I thought this was going to me a humorous book, and it does have its humorous moments, but mostly it's kind of tragic. Posey would have to be one of the most narcissistic characters I have read in a long time. She is impossible to like. She is mean, ungrateful, a snob and a liar.

The part of the story that doesn't focus on Posey is sweet and heartwarming. It's definitely a contrast!

I felt sorry for Callie-Jane. She has a daddy she adores and the mother from hell who is determined to rule her life. It's a wonder Callie-Jane is anywhere near normal! Her struggle to find a way to live her own life was the highlight of this read for me.

I liked The Empress of Cooke County, but I didn't love it. I did particularly enjoy the 1960s atmosphere, the small-town vibes and Callie Jane's story.

I was lucky enough to be granted access to both the audio and digital versions and, overall, I believe I preferred the audio. Brittany Pressley is an excellent narrator and made the characters come alive.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#TheEmpressofCookeCounty #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Bass Parman grew up entranced by family stories, such as the time her grandmother woke up to find Eleanor Roosevelt making breakfast in her kitchen. She worked for many years as a reading specialist for a nonprofit, and spends her summers in a cottage by a Canadian lake. She has two grown daughters and lives outside her native Nashville with her husband and maybe Maltipoo, Pippin.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Muse via NetGalley for providing both the digital and audio ARCs of The Empress of Cooke County by Elizabeth Bass Parman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Oh goodness Posey is quite the character. All Posey wants is the recognition she thinks she deserves. Goals have been set and they must be accomplished. Sadly, she misses what she has in front of her. This book is fun and quirky. I love that it is written from the perspective of Posey and her daughter Callie. I think watching Callie grow and figure out that life only traps you if you allow it to be beautiful. There is just so much about this book to enjoy. This is a perfect book group book and one that I am looking forward to recommending.
Thank you so much to Harper Muse and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Such a fun book! It perfectly captures the gossip and drama of a Southern small town. I loved the sense of place and time.

Another one of those books of which I let myself be guided by the cover and went blindly with the synopsis.

I am surprised with the story that I found in these pages, as it is a story of mother and daughter, where we see how both are sorting their lives.

On one end we have Posey Jarvis a married woman with an 18 year old daughter, who feels that her life is not as glorious as she wished and is still pining for a man with whom she had an affair 20 years in the past and who expects everything to be for her.

While on the other side, we have Callie Jane the daughter of Posey, who is looking for a way to get out from under her mother's rule and be able to experience her adult life.

This has been one of the few books in which I hated a main character from beginning to end, the author knows what she is doing, because I wanted to go in and pull Posey's ears, that desperate woman.

A good read that surprised me and took me out of my comfort zone a bit.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.