I do not normally read this type of book, and I’m not sure what made me choose to do so now. When I started it, I was just going to read the first chapter or so because I had things to do and I really didn’t expect it to hold my attention, especially within the first few pages. I could not have been more wrong.

This story immediately pulled me in. With it’s lush descriptions and emotion pouring out of every word, I was quickly swept up into Lila’s current life, as well as her past. With each word I found myself immersed in the southern atmosphere she grew up in. I cannot recall another book that evoked such a feeling of being present in the story, as The Sweet Taste of Muscadines did.

I found myself loving each of the siblings and captivated by the way they dealt with the issues at hand. The plot is multi-layered but so beautifully woven together, I didn’t even recognize its many dimensions until I reflected back on it. This has a fast pace and while it richly paints a picture of life in the South, it never bogs down or becomes repetitive. I was unable to stop reading once I began. How is it possible this is this author’s debut novel? I’m astounded at her talent and would not be surprised if this were to ever be made into a movie.

About:

How can you not be drawn into the story with a hook line such as this in the Prologue spoken by the book's narrator, Lila, as a child:

‘The first time Mama died, I ran off to hide in the muscadine arbor.’

The story centers around three adult siblings, the eldest Lila, Henry, and the youngest, Abigail, as they all return to their childhood home in Wesleyan, Georgia, after the sudden and suspicious death of their mother, Geneva, her body found under the muscadine arbor behind the estate.

‘[A]s they uncover more about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending [them] on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES reminds us all that true love never dies.’

My Thoughts:

In a word, WOW! I cannot recommend reading Pamela Terry’s debut novel, THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES, high enough, Dear Readers, but be prepared for the tears to flow.

As I read this book, my mind kept circling back to how I feel each time I watch STEEL MAGNOLIAS, a narrative set in the south featuring southern women, wit, charm, and heartbreaking moments that never fail to bring me to tears.

Terry’s writing, to me, is outstanding!

Thank you, NetGalley and Ballantine Books (Penguin Random House LLC.), for loaning me an eGalley of THE SWEET TASTE OF MUSCADINES in the request of an honest review.

Scheduled For Release—March 16, 2021 (Subject To Change)

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley--thank you!

"Maybe the wisest thing any of us can do is listen to our own soul's voice while we can still hear it."

My grandfather made muscadine jelly when I grew up, from his own modest vines in Helena, Arkansas. "Musky-dime," was the way it sounded to me as a child. I was excited to read this book because of these shared roots.

When Lila, a 40-something year old widow and artist living in Maine, receives news of her mother's unexpected death in the family's muscadine arbor, she returns to Georgia and discovers a family mystery she could never have anticipated.

This book drew me in immediately, with snappy, well-written opening chapters. I really related to Lila, a southerner who chose to leave her home and move to Maine yet was always left with a feeling of something unfinished--some home she had never truly had. That melancholy was a satisfying place to begin emotionally.

The story quickly slowed down. 20% of the book had passed before Lila and her brother arrived in their hometown in Georgia. So it took a long time to get going. Yet, strangely, the major reveal of the book comes right at the midpoint, a bit early, resulting in a rather dragging second half. I felt the book had a bit of a pacing problem. At times, I wondered if the story might have benefited from being told by a different narrator--was this really Lila's story? The queer love stories in the book could have had more depth and richness, and I wished Abigail, Lila's sister, had been a little more vibrant.

Overall, it was refreshing to see southern contemporary fiction attempting to tell these kinds of alternative histories, but a few things left the taste of these muscadines a bit sweet-sour for me.

This book explores the very complicated relationships between siblings and their mother. And how they deal with the lie that shaped their childhood. It took me quite awhile to get into it but I enjoyed it. I highly recommend it. I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest review.

I received a free electronic ARC of this southern novel from Netgalley, Pamela Terry, and Ballantine Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this book reflects my honest opinion of this work. Pamela Terry writes an interesting tale with companionable folks, told in a drawling southern accent. This is a debut novel - she is an author I will follow.

While the kids were still quite young, their much-adored preacher father, Pennington Breedlove, was lost while serving in the Vietnam Conflict. Mother Geneva was an overbearing, self-centered woman without much in the way of motherly instincts. Both Lila and Henry found solace in the wilder parts of their homes' acreage, and especially the muscadine garden and child-sized arbor. After their father's death, Geneva treats them much differently than she does the baby, Abigail. Neither of the older children understands why their mother basically ignores them, and both carry guilt, pain, and anger against Geneva but adore Abigail anyway.

Both Lila and her brother Henry escaped their deeply southern home as soon as possible - attending northern colleges and establishing careers and lives up there over 20 years ago. They miss their baby sister Abigail, who remains in the family home with mother Geneva into adulthood, a girl much doted on by Geneva and seemingly content. Lila recently lost her beloved husband but has a settled home and a career as a weaver of some repute. Henry too has a compelling career and settled life with his partner Andrew, a relationship of over 15 years. Henry is still not out of the closet, however, in Georgia.

At the sudden, questionable death of Geneva, they return home to Wesleyan, Georgia to bury their mother and comfort sister Abigail, help her establish her future plans. But Geneva, in her own troublesome way, has planned her life's end through her lawyer - no funeral, no viewing, no burial - cremation only, with no services of any kind. Friends who wish to make a symbolic gesture are welcome to send flowers to the house. Death without the traditional patterns of mourning is not an easy thing to accomplish in Georgia. Even though Penn's remains were never found, they had a funeral and wake, with all the pomp necessary to give him a good send-off. That is the way death is handled in the deep south. What was Geneva thinking? And what was she doing with a silver serving spoon in hand, semi-hidden in the tiny muscadine arbor, when she passed away?

3 1/2 rounded up. Lila escaped Wesleyan, Georgia as quickly as she could. She never felt as though she truly fit in, and her rocky relationship with her mother did not help things. When her mom is unexpectedly found dead, she is forced to revisit those things from her childhood that dramatically shaped her life. On top of that, all sorts of secrets start to come spilling out that will forever influence her life going forward.

The characters in this book are very well created and I truly felt I got to know them. I wanted to sit in on some of their family chats and just immerse myself in the crazy of their lives! Overall I really enjoyed this story. Some things maybe fell into place a little too well, but for this book, I didn't mind at all! There were all sorts of twists and turns that were fun to follow. The same-sex relationships were not over the top or uncomfortable to read about, which I appreciated. They were treated as normal human beings, no agenda being thrown in with it (besides the normal cultural norms of a conservative Southern town).

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A beautifully written story of a family and of place. Lila lives in Maine but is from a small town in the South. She returns home when her mother dies, along with her brother, Henry and her sister, Abigail. Always closer with Henry, particularly after their father dies, Lila is not as close to Abigail, in looks and/or personality. Descriptions of the Southern gardens, the scents, the atmospheric feeling, was poetic at times, as well as the descriptions of Scotland. Lila’s mother left wishes not to have a funeral, to avoid the secrets and scandals that often arise in Southern funerals, but a secret is revealed anyway that will shake Lila’s, Henry’s and Abigail’s world. This is a must read for lovers of women’s fiction, and I thank NetGalley for the privilege of reading the ARC.

What a stunning debut! I am a sucker for southern fiction (I adore Kristy Woodson Harvey and Joshilyn Jackson), so reading this was a treat and exceeded my expectations. I am looking forward to more of Terry’s books to come.

I simply fell in love with her writing. Though, initially hesitant as the beginning felt a slower pace, I couldn’t help but be drawn in by her elegant prose. My favorite lines came from the second chapter where Terry describes the South as: “an enigmatic place at the best of times” ... “a land where heart-stopping beauty and heartrendering ugliness flourish in tandem, a land of kindness and hate, of ignorance and pride” ... “tenacious as mint in a garden.” I found myself rereading these lines several times and highlighting them. I also love how she tied the prologue and epilogue together, mirroring each other in many ways.

Terry expertly crafts a family story in The Sweet Taste of Muscadines, weaving suspense in with heart. It is filled with family secrets and drama, happiness and sadness, forgiveness and love.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book because I love southern fiction and family drama. Pamela Terry has great character development with the right combo of love, loss, growth and change. I love the way the author describes every detail so well, it’s very easy to imagine everything in your mind (especially the foliage)....The descriptions had me picturing Georgia, which I have visited many times.

I was so pleased while reading this family's story. The people became my friends as I read. Some authors write just above my head, but this author wrote a family story which ended with me wanting to read more and become friends with the Bruce clan. I connected easily to the story, characters and loved every page.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

After their mother dies, Lila and Henry discover family secrets that change their lives forever.

An okay read, I liked the writing style and the way the story flowed.

3.25☆

I received a copy of this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I felt connected to Lila right away and was invested in her story.

Lila and her brother Henry go back to their childhood home after their mother dies suddenly. Their younger sister, Abigail took their mother's death pretty hard and dyed her hair, changed how she dressed. In looking into her mother's death more, they uncover some secrets that change their perception on how they grew up. The secrets revealed send Lila, and Henry on a journey to find out more about their past.

In this delicious novel we read about the journey that two adult children take to find out about their deceased mother's past. Lila and Henry find out that they never really knew their mother like they thought. Their journey also reminds them that true love never really dies.

I loved this book so much!!!!!!!!!!! This is my first Pamela Terry book and it won't be my last. Her style of writing really pulls you into the story and charms you in ways you didn't think it could. I highly recommend this book

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance ebook of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines by Pamela Terry. This book is a treasure and I know it will be one of my favorite books of 2021.

Lila and her brother Henry are called back by their younger sister Abigail to the small southern town where they grew up when their mother passes away unexpectedly. It turns out that Wesleyan GA holds many secrets. The siblings face their losses, and their discoveries, in different ways - strength, humor, meltdowns - and ultimately create a stronger family bond.

I loved every character - the writing is excellent, the dialogue is genuine and not contrived. I was delighted and highly recommend this book.

Lila Bruce Breedlove is going home. Home to Wesleyan, Georgia, having left as soon as she could, she isn’t looking forward to going back. While she and her brother, Henry, left and went on to make their own way up north, Abigail, their younger sister stayed. Which makes sense to Lila as Abigail was more like her mother.

Geneva, their overbearing mother has been found dead. Feet up in the muscadine arbor. The same arbor that Lila used as a hiding place as a child. But what in the world was she doing in there? Lila and Henry know they need to go home and find out what happened as well as deal with their past.

In a small southern town, appearances are more important than facts. And the facts that come out as they go about closing out their mother’s life are going to turn everything they ever thought they knew upside down.

Being from a small Georgia town, this could have been any number of people I knew. My own mother just died and good grief the things we found out! Ms. Terry understands this side of the southern culture well. I was moved and I laughed as well.

Very well done!

NetGalley/ April 20th, 2021

This book had so many twists and turns. One surprise after another. A mother dies and secrets start coming out of the walls. Two sisters and a brother had no idea what they were in for when they went back for her funeral. Abby had lived in the town her whole life and was shook to her core. I got a kick out of her change but understood it came from grief. Henry and Lila were very much alike and why came out little by ilttle..
It's hard to write a review of this book without giving away spoilers. I'll just say, Read this book. You will enjoy it

Lila Bruce returns home upon the death of her mother under strange circumstances. Her brother comes home with her to meet up with their other sister, who stayed in their hometown with their mother. Their sister,Abby, goes through a revolution of sorts, after being under their mother’s thumb all her life, feeling like she can finally be herself now that she doesn’t have to answer to her mother, And their brother Henry comes out now that their judgmental mother is gone as well.
Once they are all home for the funeral, they start looking into the details of their mother’s death and find a tin with letters from their father dated after their mother told them he died in the war. So Lila and Henry set out to find him to figure out what really happened to him and why he left them.
This was a many layered book, and although it was somewhat predictable, I enjoyed seeing how the characters would handle the situations as they presented.
Nice little story about family secrets, love and acceptance.
Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this arc in exchange for my review.

The perfect Southern family, beautiful wife, three children, and a husband that is the preacher of the local church. They had it all, or so it seemed, but struggles were hidden along with long held secrets.
This story actually begins with the death of the matriarch, and her body being found under the arbor of the muscadines, a place filled with family memories.
As the three siblings arrive to bury their mother, the facts of their lives begin to unfold, and closely held family secrets begin to unravel, and we embark on a journey that airs all of their laundry.
I loved the gift of weaving as we travel from Maine to Scotland, it will warm your heart. I also loved the ending here, so keep reading, and see how everything works out! Surprise!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I cant forget the publishers for approving as well.

This book was smooth sailing all the way through. We get to meet Lila and her amazing brother and younger sister. Their mother passed away and now Henry and Lila have to go back to the place they disliked the most while growing up, they lived in the south where everything is so different, and these characters are so eccentric, I loved it. Oh wait, cant forget about the mysteries that they uncover about their own mom and dad, you think you know a person and then out of nowhere its like they are strangers.

Worth the read.

A beautifully written captivating story of what happens when lies and secrets are found out. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by Pamela Terry.

The Sweet Taste of Muscadines
By Pamela Terry

A Delightful and distinct Southern debut novel

SUMMARY
Lila Bruce Breedlove and her brother Henry return to their small southern hometown of Wesleyan, Georgia when their elderly mother, Geneva dies suddenly and strangely in the muscadine arbor behind the family home. As they sibling uncover more about Geneva’s death, shocking secrets are revealed that may upend the family’s history as they know it. The two siblings embark on a journey to find the truth about the death of their father, who died when they were young.

REVIEW
The Sweet Taste of Muscadines is a captivating blend of characters, setting and story in this delightful debut novel. Author Pamela Terry has woven a moving tale of drama and suspense in a distinct and delightful Southern voice. The characters are colorful and the writing is beautifully descriptive.

Author Pamela Terry is a lifelong southerner and an internationally popular blogger. Her blog From the House of Edward was named one of the top ten home blogs of the year by London’s The Telegraph. She lives in Smyrna, Georgia with her husband and three dogs, and travels to the Scottish Highlands as frequently as possible.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Ballantine Books
Published March 16, 2021
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com