I absolutely loved this book. It had a good mystery that kept me wondering, but there’s more! The beautiful descriptive language in this book is something that really drew me in to the world of the story. I felt like I was there experiencing it all with the characters! Well done!

I love books about the South (even though I've only visited a couple of times). The descriptions are wonderful and I felt like I could actually taste the succulent muscadines in several scenes. But mostly I love books about families and the complications that make us so vulnerable and flawed. Lila, Abigail, and Henry must uncover the secrets long-hidden when their mother dies suddenly and they have no clues. So begins the "hunt" for what happened and why. This is one of those novels to savor and appreciate. If you love family dramas this is the book for you!

I love a good family mystery set in the south. Being from the south myself, I can tell you that Pamela Terry's descriptions and depictions are spot on. There were multiple times in the course of reading, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, that I had woah moments because everything being described is exactly how it was growing up. This story, while it had me laughing out loud a few times, also had me wiping a few tears too because it is heavy. The secrets the matriarch of the Bruce family carried to her grave, eventually unravel what's left of her family. It takes a whole lot of pain and discovery to weave them back together again.

Thank you NetGalley, Pamela Terry and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the ARC of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines. This is my personal review.
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a book with a little bit of everything. The family dynamics of the three siblings is so well written. It combines so many feelings as you read it. It is a debut book by the author, and she does a beautiful job of letting the reader know each of the siblings – Lila, Henry and Abigail.
The publication date for the debut is March 16,2021.

This debut family novel is simply wonderful and has me happily anticipating further books from this author.

I won’t say a lot about the plot as I don’t want to get into spoiler territory, but it is about family, its messiness and how we are shaped by it. It has some surprise twists, some heartrending moments and much to say about time/place/period and how those relate to one’s sense of self and finding one’s true home. Anger, loss, humor, and forgiveness all play a part here as well.

The settings are varied (Maine, Georgia and Scotland), and while being a lifelong southerner myself (as the author is), I didn’t necessarily see some things as the protagonist does, I can appreciate and derive humor from her viewpoint.

My very favorite thing about the book is the beautiful, poignant writing. It flows, it evokes time and setting effortlessly, and it is simply a pleasure to get lost in. Highly recommend.

Much thanks to both #BallantineBooks and #NetGalley for providing me an early ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

A very good book for a debut
novel. The author may just join the ranks of our other great Southern women authors. I actually had to look to see where the author lives and was quite shocked to see that she lives in the south. She was not kind to the "southernisms" that make up the south and seemed somewhat jaded in her viewpoint to the point that most southern people welcome the type to stay in the north with that attitude in a very particular phrase of language. However, the book really isn't about the south, it's a misnomer to call it southern as it is more about a family ( that could be anywhere) and homosexuality. The book jacket gives no indication of the subject and one is blindsided by finding this as a central theme. Some may stop reading once they figure this out and maybe they should be warned beforehand. The relationship between the "gay" brother and sisters is exceptional as is all the detailed scenery descriptions. They will transport you to another place and make you want to see Scotland for yourself. My biggest irritation was the overuse of the word hubris, just say pride or prideful and be done with it. Overall, an excellent book that I enjoyed reading.
I was provided an advanced reader copy and was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a beautifully written book by Pamela Terry. Her prose was heartbreakingly exquisite, with a lyrical narrative.

Siblings learn of stunning family secrets after their mother's sudden death and go on an adventure to learn more. Set amongst the wonderful landscapes of Scotland and the South, with a special blend of family drama and mystery, The Sweet Taste of Muscadines was unputdownable.

This debut novel visits the complex realm of family dynamics of which I hope is the first of many from the much talented Pamela Terry.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballatine and Pamela Terry for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. ❤️️

It started well, but bogged down as it got predictable. Perhaps when we're not mid-pandemic I'd enjoy it more.

What a beautifully written debut novel! At first, I was a bit leery of the flowery descriptions, but I soon became enamored of the story. This one's a keeper!

Excellent!! Reminiscent of Dorothea Benton Frank, the narrative is lyrical. Characters are relatable, and unexpected twists and turns kept me turning pages until way too late at night. Highly recommend it!

I read a lot of books! A lot! Especially, during the past year of the pandemic. I have not read a book in a very long time that I enjoyed as much as The Sweet Taste of Muscadines! Pamela Terry has a real winner! The cover is beautiful and what first drew me to the book! It brought back memories of our muscadine arbor and muscadine jelly! Many exciting adventures await a child inside the arms of a muscadine arbor! Great story, marvelous characters, amazing settings! Scotland was described in a way that made me want to visit there & I've never even given traveling to Scotland a real thought before. But, the very best setting was the Southern one! Ms Terry knows her South! She knows the Southern people, Southern food and Southern weather! I wanted more of her South.....Michael Lee West could have done no better! And, then there’s the story! Secrets and lies! Many of them! What a great story with an ending that is perfect! Don’t miss this wonderful novel & I eagerly look forward to Pamela Terry’s next book!

Usually I either really like, or dislike, books that I read - after reading this one, I am feeling ofdly on the fence about it. I love reading Southern fiction, and this book has a taste of that in it. There are some interesting characters, and I can definitely relate to Lila's mixed feelings about moving home.

Of course, as with any good story, there is a bit of a twist - I enjoyed seeing where it went, but it felt oddly emotionless to me. In a story that is filled with such vivid depictions by the author, the emotions just felt flat.

I am sorry about not being able to give a more definitive opinion; it was an okay book that was well-written, but just didn't have enough emotional connection for me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars, rounded up
I’m usually not a fan of anything that smacks of women’s literature. But a comparison to Where the Crawdads Sing drew me in. It lacks the dark gravitas of that book, but it’s lovely in its own right.
Lila Bruce returns to her southern home upon the death of her mother. She’s joined by her gay brother as they deal with the sister that stayed behind. All the characters are great, especially Abby the sister who is finally revolting after having lived under her mother’s thumb all those years.
This is a beautifully written book and I adored Terry’s descriptions and her choices of phrases. For example, “the south is as tenacious as mint in a garden.” It was like she drew pictures, I was able to see each and every location.
It’s a big hearted book. These are people I’d like to know, that I would happily spend my days with.
Terry incorporates numerous themes in her story - religion, family and home, forgiveness. She tackles each with insight and I found myself highlighting numerous passages.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

What would you do if you discovered a huge family secret that has festered for decades? Lila, Henry, and Abigail have always been told certain things by their mother. But her death rips the facade down. I thought the plot was plausible, although a bit extreme. I also thought it showed the selfishness of one character, putting his needs above his own progeny. It was a decent read. I think,the author captured southern characteristics quite well.

Overly "sweet" and achingly descriptive, as if author wanted to show off how adroit she was at adjectives. Political undertones and agendas were a turn off for me. I read to escape such things nit have them pounded at me again.
That being said, it is a breezy read of family secrets that tugs at the heart. But much more suited for romance lovers and not mainstream.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a beautifully written story by Pamela Terry. Her prose about being Southern immediately captured my attention. She says “Growing up in the South is not for the faint of heart. An enigmatic place at the best of times, it is paradoxical to the core.” Truer words have not been spoken!

This novel is about Lila Bruce Breedlove who left her small hometown of Wesleyan, Georgia when she was 18 and never wanted to come back to live. Her father, who had been a Baptist minister, died during the Vietnam War. After his death, her mother Geneva was very distant. When the novel starts, Lila is a widow, living on an island in Maine. She owns a successful weaving business. Likewise, her younger brother, Henry, also left Georgia for college. Because of his homosexuality, he never felt comfortable in returning. He owns an art gallery in Rhode Island where he lives with his partner, Andrew. Their younger sister, Abigail, had always been their mother’s favorite child. Abigail remained in Wesleyan and considered Geneva her best friend.

One day, Lila and Henry get a call from Abigail telling them that their mother had died unexpectedly. Abigail found Geneva lying inside an old muscadine arbor holding a spoon. When Lila and Henry return to Wesleyan, they must deal with Abigail’s bizarre behavior, as well as a startling discovery they dig up inside the muscadine arbor. Once they realize what they knew of their mother and father had been a lie, the two of them travel to Scotland to find the answers to the questions raised by the long-buried secrets.

This story is about having a sense of home and a feeling of belonging to your ancestral roots. It also deals with family love, family secrets, saving face, and forgiveness. Pamela Terry is a gifted storyteller. This is the first of what I hope is many novels by her.

4-Stars. I would not recommend this to a book club where members are uncomfortable with discussing homosexuality.

I loved this book! Siblings Lila, Henry and Abby are young when their father is killed in the Vietnam War. The family soldiers on and continue living in their small southern town in Georgia, but with some definite dysfunction. Lila and Henry move on (and out) as soon as they can, but Abby stays and is the only sibling to have a close relationship with their mother. But does she really?
After their mother dies in 2011, Lila and Henry come home and, with Abby, they undertake the difficult work of burying their mother. Along the way, a number of striking family secrets are revealed and the siblings set off on a winding and interesting journey.
The book is beautifully written and I loved how the author captured life and attitudes in a small southern town in the 1970’s and in 2011. It also tackles difficult relationships, and I was especially moved by the way the author draws the reader into the complicated state many experience when losing their mother. I now want to go to Scotland and hunt down and try a ripe muscadine! And look forward to Ms. Terry’s next book!
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of 3 siblings raised in Georgia. Lila, Henry, and Abigail are raised by their mom after their dad dies in Vietnam. As soon as they are grown Lila and Henry leave home and Abigail stays at home with their mother. When their mother is found dead, Lila and Henry return home. As the siblings try to figure out what happened to their mother, they uncover many family secrets. They travel to Scotland to find out the truth. This was a very good book and shows the love between family. I loved the descriptions as I felt I was in Scotland and Georgia. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

This book caught my attention right from the beginning and took me to the South and then this Scotland.

Lila lives in Maine and receives a call from her sister that their mother has died. She flys home and meets up with her brother, Henry, who is gay and runs an art studio.

Their sister, Abbie, still lives is Wesleyan and is the one who found their mama. Their Mama has requested no service so they decide to have a reception at the house. They realize something must be in the muscadine arbor as that is where their mama was found. They uncover a tin that contains many family secrets. Their father, who they believed was dead might still be alive and even though he had been a preacher, he is gay.

These revelations send Lila and Henry to Scotland and they are able to be reunited with their father. Abbie is reunited with her high school sweetheart and they get married

I really enjoyed this debut novel. Thank you for the early read.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Grp – Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

I am usually skeptical of debut novels, but couldn't wait to read this once I had considered the description and saw the cover. And I was rewarded with a beautifully written story of families, siblings, and secrets. Everything was described so vividly - without being overwrought - from the weather, the landscape, the scents, and the emotions of love and loss. I found myself impatient to return to the characters and their story, and I was sorry when I came to the end. This is a novel in which to immerse yourself - I highly recommend it!

#TheSweetTasteofMuscadines #NetGalley