The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
by Allyson Rice
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Pub Date Jan 03 2023 | Archive Date Jan 31 2023
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Description
On a Tuesday afternoon, Chicago-based sisters Jesse Chasen and Jennifer McMahon receive a phone call notifying them that the birth mother they had no knowledge of has died, leaving behind a significant inheritance. But in order to obtain it, they must follow a detailed road trip she designed for them to get to know her—and that includes finding a brother they never knew existed.
For the next week, this ill-assorted trio treks across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia to meet their mother’s old friends, from circus performers to a juke joint owner, each of whom delivers a shocking vignette into the life of a young mother traumatized by loss and abuse. Along the way, these three siblings—Jesse, whose fiery exterior disguises a drifting musician stuck in a rut; Jennifer, whose carefully curated family life is threatened by her husband’s infidelity; and Jack, whose enigmatic Jackie, Oh! persona in the New Orleans drag queen scene helps him escape the nightmares of Afghanistan that haunt him at night—must confront their own demons (and at least one alligator). But in chasing the truth about their real mother, they may all just find their second chance.
A story of family trauma and transformation, The Key to Circus-Mom Highway is a profound, often hilarious, reminder that the family you'd never have chosen may turn out to be exactly what you need.
A Note From the Publisher
Allyson Rice is a writer, mixed media artist, and producer currently splitting her time between Los Angeles, CA, and Rehoboth Beach, DE. She’s a graduate of Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication. After spending many years as an actress on stage and on television, she left the business and spent the next decade running personal growth retreats around the country. After that, she pivoted to focus on her own creative work.
Random author trivia: 1) She’s been skydiving, paragliding, bungee jumping, ziplining through a rainforest, and scuba diving with stingrays; 2) she has an extensive PEZ dispenser collection; 3) she played Connor Walsh on As the World Turns for seven years; 4) she’s been in the Oval Office at the White House after hours; 5) she’s related to the Hatfields of the infamous Hatfield/McCoy feud; and 6) her comedic rap music video “Fine, I’ll Write My Own Damn Song” won numerous awards in the film festival circuit (now on YouTube).
Also available from Allyson Rice is her line of women’s coloring books (The Color of Joy, Dancing with Life, and Wonderland), and The Creative Prosperity PlayDeck, an inspirational card deck about unlocking and utilizing your creative energy in the world. She’s currently at work on her second novel and her fourth women’s coloring book.
Advance Praise
“A road trip takes three siblings through their mother's eye-opening past in this novel...Although it steps into grim territory, Rice's tale provides ample comedy...Characters, meanwhile, bond in fun, unexpected ways...This breezy, charming tale incisively shows a family's bittersweet facets.”
–Kirkus Reviews
"In this rollicking family dramedy, debut author Rice sends three lovable siblings on a zany yet touching road trip… Comedy marks every page as Jess slings sarcastic one-liners and wacky characters intervene in every quirky destination… Rice’s sharp observations of society’s absurdity verge on the satirical and even on occasion veer toward delightfully crude. To offset the humor, solemn moments add depth to the siblings’ inner journeys… Fans of family drama, road trips, and non-stop laughs will love this cross-country adventure.”
–BookLife/Publisher's Weekly
A "feverish, entertaining novel...The sisters' tongue-in-cheek poking at each other mixes with childhood flashbacks, heightening their shared exasperation and affection for each other...The truth about Angie's past may be somewhat macabre, but the novel evades despair well. A tall tale featuring violence and bayou gators, The Key to Circus-Mom Highway is a zany novel in which two adoptees rediscover their family roots."
–Foreward Clarion Reviews
"[A]n engrossing story... Allyson Rice creates a rollicking good read that is filled with humor, wry life observations, and odd family interrelationships as these shared experiences evolve. She is especially astute at presenting contrasts in perspective and perception within these encounters... The result is a fictional portrait of sibling drama and life events which excels in the unexpected, teaches (by way of example) how disparate personalities can come together; and offers thought-provoking scenes of disconnection and connection. This will attract not just libraries seeking good leisure reads about sibling relationships, but book discussion groups focused on family trauma and drama."
–Midwest Book Review (D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer)
“5 stars… Must read 🏆
The Key to Circus-Mom Highway was an extraordinary story, exciting and enjoyable, from cover to cover…The three siblings are delightfully fun, yet each is hiding secret sorrows or traumas that come to light over the course of the story. Their no-holds-barred banter had me laughing out loud as the pages flew past. But even after the story is over, I’m still thinking about these sisters and brother and their families and hoping everything in their lives worked out as if they were real people…The plot moves fast, and there’s never a dull moment with these three. Then, just as I got comfortable with where the story was going, a twist or turn occurred, sending any feeling of complacency out the window… With engaging main characters in triplicate and a second chance plot, I recommend THE KEY TO CIRCUS-MOM HIGHWAY to contemporary fiction readers who enjoy a modern quest story and witty dialogue.
–Reedsy Discovery
“5 stars…Zany, humorous, wacky, outlandish! I loved this book…The author was able to flesh out her characters which allowed me to imagine this road trip in full detail. I am very glad that I picked up this book and hope for more from this author.”
–NetGalley Review (Katherina Martin)
“5 stars… Filled with heart, humor, and sibling drama… Allyson Rice weaves a captivating character-driven drama following the misadventures of three adult siblings in search of their mother's past… their constant back-and-forth banter was among the highlights of the book for me. There were multiple scenes where I found myself chuckling out loud. Recommended to readers who savor humor-filled character-driven dramas.”
–Pikasho Deka, Readers' Favorite
"5 Stars... A fantastic novel everyone should read... It was all comedy, drama, heart, family....Multifaceted."
— Jennifer Ibiam, Reader's Favorite
"5 Stars... The Key to Circus-Mom Highway is a twisted trip through the past and present... Allyson Rice relates how a first impression is not always the best or most accurate representation of a person, as Jennifer, Jesse, and Jack unravel their mother’s past while dealing with their feelings of abandonment... Overall, the book was filled with diverse characters who made the reading experience fuller and more enjoyable. I recommend The Key to Circus-Mom Highway to experienced readers who enjoy chick lit, a little humor, and stories about the emotional growth of fictional characters."
–Courtnee Turner Hoyle, Readers' Favorite
Marketing Plan
Looking for ARC reviews. Author is available for podcast and blog interviews, Q&As, as well as book signings and book club events (Suggested Book Club questions available upon request)..
Looking for ARC reviews. Author is available for podcast and blog interviews, Q&As, as well as book signings and book club events (Suggested Book Club questions available upon request)..
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780982185551 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Katherina M, Reviewer
Zany, humorous, wacky, outlandish! I loved this book. Sisters Jennifer and Jesse find out that they were adopted and their parents, who are dead, did not tell them. They are told that their biological mom is dead and in order to collect their inheritance, they will need to jump through some hoops. As they go on a road trip, meeting friends of their mother's along the way, they find a brother and some other very entertaining characters. The author was able to flesh out her characters which allowed me to imagine this road trip in full detail. I am very glad that I picked up this book and hope for more from this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Total Human Press Publishing and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
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