I found this book to be problematic and tone-deaf. The protagonist has a pretty weak character to begin with and unfortunately, she never really finds her legs. Fans of historical fiction during slave times will like it, but the lack of character development and the dialogue did not seem natural.

Gritty, heavy, and dark, Shadows of Pecan Hollow was difficult to finish. Kit is a resilient and resourceful girl/woman who makes her way through life the best she can. Her toxic relationship with (and without) Manny is interesting, from start to finish. Life in the small Southern town of Pecan Hollow seems authentic. The author writes well; this just wasn't the book for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you William Morrow for gifting me a copy of this book to review via NetGalley. The part of this novel that took place in the 1970's was by far the best. This was a powerful depiction of how an abusive relationship begins and continues, and I had the chills during that entire portion of the novel. The modern day parts lost me a bit: there were a few details the author chose to include that I found questionable, including Manny's POV seemed unnecessary, and the story somehow felt like it dragged in the end even though there was a lot going on.

Shadows of Pecan Hollow gave me a little bit of "Where the Crawdads Sing" vibes, with the slow-burn and the intense character development. I loved this book, and while slow at times, it made me truly feel for the characters and what they were going through.

I love books that truly can connect me with characters who are vastly DIFFERENT than me and make me FEEL something for them. This book will have you questioning humanity, it'll have you in tears, and it'll stay with you for a long time.

This book flipped from the past to the present and I think it was woven together seamlessly. Can't believe this was a debut!! Such beautiful writing. This was a heavy read, but it was exactly what I needed.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this novel!

Really impressive debut novel! The characters were unlike any I have known and yet I felt that I knew them by the end of the third chapter. I wanted to take Kit aside and tell her all the things I knew she was going to do and shouldn't because I felt like someone needed to be her mom!!

Some might say the book was small town predictable but I would disagree - there was enough mystery to keep me captive and holding my breath!

Many debut novels could use a little more editing and I think that is true here but that didn't stop me from truly enjoying this novel and hoping that Caroline Frost publishes another soon!!

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for a chance to read!

When Kit was thirteen she ran away from home and was adduced by Manny. He groomed her to be his partner in crime. They became known as the Texaco Two. About twenty years later Kit is living in Pecan Hollow with her teenage daughter and Manny has just been released from prison. Kit is afraid he is going to bring trouble to her quite life now. This was an interesting read. Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

Shadows of Pecan Hollow by Caroline Frost is a surprising debut novel. I had heard some buzz on the book being similar to All the Ugly and Wonderful Things and while there maybe some similarities I wouldn't compare them at all.

Shadows of Pecan Hollow starts us in 1976 with a vague prologue about a couple who clearly are in some trouble. Part 1 of the book is about Kit and her daughter Charlie and their life in Pecan Hollow in 1990. Charlie has behavioral problems and Kit feels disconnected from community. Part 2 takes is back to 1970 and is about Kit's past and her relationship with Manny. There is grooming here and a very unhealthy relationship between them We find out about how Kit was raised and how Charlie came to be. Part 3 we are back to 1990 and how Charlie's past and present come together.

Frost developed deep characters and I really enjoyed the way she wove these story lines. Shadows of Pecan Hollow is character driven and a lot of the book is development of these characters.

I loved the realization and growth Kit makes.

There is some scenes of animal death that could be hard for some readers and of course the age gap/grooming relationship.

First things first: this book reminded me less of Where the Crawdads Sing (as promised by the jacket) than it did We Begin at the End. Kit is how I imagine Duchess to have grown up as. Secondly, this is a debut novel. Caroline Frost smashed it out of the park.

This is the story of Kit. I don't think we ever learn her real name. She's unwanted, shuffled from foster home to foster home until she runs away and falls in with Manny, a criminal. Their relationship changes over the course of time, but it's never a healthy one. Finally, Kit breaks free to start a new life.

It was a little difficult to relate to Kit and her life experiences in the first part of the book, never having been in her shoes, but that is what made her interesting to me. I was rooting for her from the beginning, for things to turn around and for her to feel loved and to feel as if she belonged. She was one tough cookie.

The writing is lush and descriptive and engaging. Kit, like Success, is going to stay with me for a long time. I look forward to reading more my this author.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the chance to read and review this fantastic book. The opinions expressed are given freely and are all mine.

Shadows of Pecan Hollow was an absolutely excellent thrill ride. Manny was a crazy con man who had not a worry in the world of ever getting caught. He was a smooth talker who stole his way through life. Kit was fierce, in a "don't mess with me or I'll make you sorry" way. Her horrible childhood determined the devastating path she followed. Only after thinking she had finally left her desolate past behind, does the nightmare of her dreams appear on her doorstep. Then she truly feels like the shadows of her past are following her and making her nightmares a reality.

Ok how are we not all talking about this book? It was SO good! While I do want to say upfront that this definitely isn’t a book I would hand to anyone (look up trigger warnings if you’re a sensitive reader), personally, I LOVED it.

The writing was immersive and beautiful. The story was tragic and heartbreaking and had just enough redemption by the end to make me want to hug it. I thought this book was the perfect blend of character-driven and plot-driven. Even though none of the characters was exactly likable, I felt like the author really let us into who they were in a way that made me empathize with them.

If you like gritty, tragic, coming-of-age and redemption stories, definitely check this book out.

Kit is a scrappy veteran of the foster care system when she meets the equally tough Manny. Unaccountably, he takes her in and the two keep themselves fed and housed through crimes big and small. As Kit grows up, their relationship shifts from brother/sister to lovers. When Kit finds herself pregnant, their differences become insurmountable.

Fourteen years later, Kit is settled in Pecan Hollow with her daughter, Charlie. They’re semi-pariahs, but existing. When Manny shows up, fresh out of jail, and supposedly born again, Kit watches helplessly while the community and Charlie fall for his con.

This novel is memorable and fascinating. I found it hard to read, and given its length, it’s a commitment. However, the story will haunt me. #ShadowsofPecanHollow #NetGalley

The main character, Kit, was abandoned by her parents and was in the foster care system. She suffered from long lasting trauma from her tragic beginning..

Kit is lured away by Manny with the promise of a meal, fresh clothes, and his dedicated attention on her. He grooms her to be his partner in gas station robberies and ultimately their relationship turns physical. Despite her unhealthy dependence on him, Kit manages to run away and start a new life for herself. Things take a major turn when Manny is released from prison and is reunited with Kit.

This book has impeccable writing. Pecan Hollow is a slow burn, gradually building up to a wild ending. The slow place mimics the slow, small town where Kit ends up. I’m in awe of what the author accomplished with this book.

I love and thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. I will be recommending this to everyone. Go grab a copy right now, you won't be sorry! 🙌🏼

In 1970, Kit was 13 years old, and desperate for a family. In and out of foster care. Manny Romero abducts her and takes on a "fatherly figure" role. He grooms her into who he wants her to be. Together, they commit robberies and crimes and become known as the Texaco Twosome. Eventually, things take a turn and their relationship turns twisted and dark. (Be warned, there are tons of triggers in this book). Kit decides she needs to take off. She starts a new life in Pecan Hollow. She's doing well for herself, until Manny, fresh out of prison, shows up again, and throws Kits life completely into chaos again. This book has lots of dark aspects and characters, but I still was rooting for them. This is a must read debut, and I can't wait to read future books by this author!!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I wanted to love this and it was so anticipated for me but it just fell a little short. Longwinded at times, I wanted more backstory and I honestly thought this would be a little darker/grittier. Not a bad story, but I'm not sure I'll be pressing this into peoples' hands. Very character driven.

This book had such a beautiful setting. I’m always looking for books that give an almost immersive experience with their setting. I enjoyed the fast paced characters and the lingering questions, which were all answered. Definitely a book I will be recommending!

Shadows of Pecan Hollow by Caroline Frost is a well-written, suspenseful book about Kit Walker and her daughter, Charlie. The book opens with them living in Pecan Hollow with Kit trying to remake her life after a life on the run with Manny Romero. Life seems to be going okay for the two until Manny shows up in their town.

Not my favourite as this was being compared to Where The Crawdads Sing. I didn’t like that book and it’s style and so I don’t think I’ll enjoy this premise.

Kit was a thirteen-year-old runaway when Manny took her in. Manny was a con artist and thief and trained Kit, at first, to be his helper, and then to be his accomplice. Kit had no one else and when she got a little older, she also became Manny's lover. After Manny went to jail, Kit had their baby and went straight. Years later, Manny gets out of jail and goes to find Kit- to get revenge, to control her again, or to ruin her life.
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was very, very slow paced. I did not like the writing style at this pace at all. The last quarter of the book picked up and almost redeemed the whole book for me but reading this really felt like work. I hated all the characters in a character-based book and really needed more action. I think Frost could be a promising writer because I did like the storyline that it had, but I just wanted more on that promise.

Thang you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

She exhaled. There was a subtle shift within, like the baby was changing position, then a settling. Had she imagined it? But it had been as real as a smile, there one moment, gone the next, leaving only a happy feeling behind. The child, she realized, had chosen to move and seek comfort. True, the little one was a part of her, and made of her, but it was also separate from her, capable, even now, of choice.”

Set in Texas in the 1970s & 1990s, we follow thirteen-year-old Kit, a runaway orphan. Desperate for any kind of connection, she unwittingly teams up with Manny who is, at his best, disastrous.

4.25
This has violence and trigger warnings galore, but even with those cringeworthy aspects, this is a fantastic debut novel!
I personally struggled a bit with some particular content in five or six chapters, but I reached out to Melodi, who’d just finished it, and got the affirmations I needed to keep with it. I’m so glad I did because this was one of the better books I read in January!

An interesting combination of historical and suspense, this will have you completely invested in Kit’s life and on the edge of your seat by the end!

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

The blurb on the book is what drew me in and intrigued me, the writing is what really kept me reading.
This is one of those books where you wonder why more people are not talking about it.
I've seen comparisons to other books ( where the crawdad's sing, We begin at the end etc.

But it stands on its own
The characters are so well written and i was drawn into the story despite cringing and being uncomfortable and disliking a few characters.

I'm trying so hard not to give it away, but it's gritty its raw and it left me still thinking about it days after I put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.