“Pedersen’s expert character development and winding plot is aided by short, clipped chapters that bounce back and forth in time, showing the differing perspectives of women in Sunshine's family. Pedersen skillfully crafts a slow burn of a novel that eventually opens up to expose generations of family secrets, and more importantly, the value of unearthing truth.” —Booklist

"Told with vision and compassion, The Crocodile Bride is a novel about a strong-minded, resourceful girl who breaks from her dark family history and hopes to live out a better story herself." —Foreword Reviews

"Pedersen’s stunning debut depicts difficult subjects like alcohol addiction, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. While Sunshine is the central figure, the legacy of family trauma is told by several generations of Turner women. Ultimately, that trauma can subside when women share their secrets, stumbling over the language needed to tell what happened both around and to them. Fans of fiction about Southern women or about the formative years of girlhood will love this quick, captivating read that tugs at the heartstrings."—Library Journal

"Ashleigh Pedersen’s The Crocodile Bride brings us Sunshine, an unforgettable girl who stands alongside our region’s greatest literary protagonists. As Sunshine and her family face a transformative summer together, the author captures the secrets of the Louisiana bayou perfectly—its spooky fairytale magic, the brooding fortitude of its denizens. With indelible images and a beautifully crafted, multigenerational cast, The Crocodile Bride cradles us confidently as we watch this mystic, poignant saga unfold through the fractured lens of Southern childhood." —Leah Hampton, author of F*ckface

"Ashleigh Bell Pedersen reinvents the coming-of-age story. In her gifted hands, the world of budding girlhood is dangerous, marvelous and strange. This novel is transcendent." —Irina Reyn, author of What Happened to Anna K. and Mother Country

"I can’t stop thinking about this brilliant debut novel about generational secrets and family silences, and the healing powers of storytelling. In the sweltering, lush, rich landscape of rural Louisiana circa 1982—with swamps, crocodiles, Junebugs, myths, and ghosts—11-year-old Sunshine Turner is acutely perceptive and heartbreakingly trusting, and a resilient survivor. With echoes of Carson McCullers and Dorothy Allison, Ashleigh Bell Pedersen writes in a style all her own. The Crocodile Bride is a generous, tender novel with unforgettable characters and a perfect, transcendent ending." —Carter Sickels, author of The Prettiest Star

Publicity and Outreach

CONFIRMED: Review timed for pub in the New York Times

CONFIRMED: Review timed for pub in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune

CONFIRMED: Review timed for pub in Chapter16

CONFIRMED TRADES: Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, Booklist, Foreword Reviews

CONFIRMED: Placement in SIBA's Special Southern Bookseller Review Edition

CONFIRMED: Lone Star Lit Texas Books Preview, Largehearted Boy Book Playlist (April)

Robust Indie Next campaign to indie booksellers and supporters of The Prettiest Star. Outreach to enthusiastic readers of Carmen Machado, Jesmyn Ward, and Helen Oyeyemi

Influencer-led Instagram campaign using the hashtag #thecrocodilebride

Coverage on literary sites and off the book essay placement

Promotion through the Cold Mountain Fund Book Series

Southern tour including book events in TX, LA, GA, SC, NC

Outside publicity provided by Nectar Literary

The book has already sold in France and will be published in spring 2023 by an imprint of Bragelonne.

Audio edition will be released by Tantor Media