"Excellent--as good as The Help"
Great story. Well written. Really well read. I ended up listening nonstop from beginning to end. That happens only with the greats. This would be an excellent travel listen
"Beautifully read and beautifully written"
Reading the story overview,I was worried that it would a bit cringeworthy with the whole teenage drama, family tragedy but it was a well written and engaging story which was read to perfection by the author. I really enjoyed listening to the the story unfold and the authors accent added beautifully to the listening experience.
"Great Narration by the Author"
Normaly when I see an audio book narrated by the author I view it with trepidation. Sometimes they are good, but most times not so much. However, this author brings her characters to life with her narration. Wish she would narrate books witten by other authors. This was a very good story also.
"Superb!"
Joshilyn Jackson continues to impress me! I've listened to "The Girl Who Stopped Swmming" "Gods in Alabama" and "Between, Georgia" and while those were all fantastic, "A Grown-Up Kind of Pretty" is my favorite.
Jackson, who has the rare ability to narrarate as well as she writes, crafts a tale of three women (grandmother, daughter, granddaughter) and an unearthed (literally) secret that changes their lives. It's part chick-lit, part mystery, part southern gothic, part contemporary fiction.
Great story, well developed characters, wonderfully written, pretty prose, fantastic narration -- what more could you ask for??
"Another Southern Jewel"
Heart wrenching story of three generations of southern women, a tiny grave in the back yard, characters flawed and painfully real. I wanted to listen nonstop. Made me want to cry, cheer, and root for them all.
"ENJOYABLE LISTEN EVEN BETTER THE SECOND TIME"
Not concentrating at the start of the book caused me to miss the chapter headings and the fact that i was listening to the three generations one after the other..............once I started to concentrate I was completely engrossed as the story unfurled. Joshilyn Jackson knows how to spin a good yarn and while I preferred Catherine Taber as a narrator( Gods in Alabama) I was engrossed in the story right until the end.
You don't need to be a Southerner to enjoy this book, this tale resonates with so many cultures and so many generations. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good story with a few twists and engrossing characters.................
"Good Story with Strong Female Characters"
This is a good story. The female characters are flawed but likable and have a realistic slant on life. You feel like you could have known these characters and find yourself routing for them to have their happy ending. The author chooses to narrate her own work, which is a mistake, as she does not have the voice for it.
"A Grown Up Type of Book"
The first thing that amazed me about this book was the fact that the narrator was the author herself. In the past I’ve listened to books that the narrator reads and for the most part they are quite horrible. Just because someone can write doesn’t mean they can read.
Thankfully, this was a wonderful exception. I think if I’d known she was the narrator before I bought it I might have passed it up. As it was, I looked about ½ the way thorough the book to see who was reading it because she was so fun to listen to!
Secondly, this is a great story. There are three very distinct people in this book and each is given a wonderful “voice” and purpose for being. The way it is told and the way they intertwined kept me enthralled to the end. I would highly recommend this book.
"Engrossing Read!"
The story was a good one.
No I hate to say it but that is what I did find difficult. Usually a reader will differentiate the characters with a slight or great change of voice. Not in this case, it was difficult at times to tell the characters apart when they all sound the same.
Great read! Enjoyed the story immensely!
"GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT"
I bought this on a whim knowing nothing about the author or the book, just that the premise sounded interesting. About an hour in I came back and put all of Ms. Jackson's books on my wishlist- she's the kind of writer/reader who tells a great story and someone I wanted to curl up and spend my entire day with.