In the sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, Cussy Mary's daughter, Honey, finds herself alone at sixteen. Both of her parents have been arrested for interracial marriage. Honey must return to Troublesome Creek and find a way to live on her own and make a living or the mean social worker will send her to the labor prison until she is twenty-one. Honey must take over her mother's old traveling book library route and protect herself in a cruel world.

I really liked the first book and found the real-life historical elements of the Blue people of Kentucky riveting. This one was more of the same, so if you're a fan, it is worth the read. It would also be fine as a stand alone book (you don't absolutely have to read the first one). However, I didn't like this one as much as the first. I know it's a sophomore and sequel book problem, but this one was too slow and uneven for my taste. I did switch to audiobook and enjoyed it a little more (the audio version is good), but in this case, I could have taken or left this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Net Galley and SourceBooks Landmark for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book is a great follow up to the first one. It delves deeper into the insidious nature of discrimination against both women and people of color. The story was enjoyable, albeit a bit slow moving. Everything I loved about the first novel, is expanded upon in this one.

The Book Woman’s Daughter follows the first book The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I read it as a standalone, having not read the first book.

It is the story of Honey Lovett, one of the blue people of Kentucky, which I had never heard of. I do enjoy when historical fiction teaches me about something I know nothing about. When Honey’s parents are arrested, she must set out on her own to fight for emancipation to keep from being sent to a reform school.

Luckily she has some people on her side, because those that aren’t on her side are very mean and nasty. Very nasty.

There is domestic abuse and some threatening to hurt animals. I loved the relationship that Honey had with her mule and I loved the relationship that another little girl had with her rooster. I spent most of the book, hoping that no harm would come to the animals. There was just so much meanness, all against women.

It was an interesting historical fiction about a subject I knew nothing about, all the domestic violence and the bullying left me with a sick feeling though.

The Book Woman's Daughter was an excellent follow up to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. Lots of familiar characters the reader gets to see through the eyes of Cussy Mary's daughter, Honey.

The Books Woman's Daughter starts with 16 year old Honey having to flee her parent's home as they are arrested for breaking miscegenation laws and her father "breaking" his parole. Ah, did we miss the down-right awful racism of Kentucky? Honey, and her trusty stead Junia, make there way to Troublesome Creek. The plan is for Honey to stay in the care of old Retta, now a staggering 91 years old. The state, however, wants to send Honey to the Kentucky Child's Reform Home where she would have to work hard labor until the age of 21.

Now back in Troublesome, Honey meets the women who go to shape her young adulthood: Pearl, the young independent fire tower lookout, Bonnie, one of the first female miners in town, and Guyla Belle, a young housewife and mother. Honey sees an advertisement in town the the library is now looking for a new assistant outreach librarian to work in the hills delivering books, just like her mother did years before.

This book centers around freedom. The freedom Honey is seeking from the court and her own life. The freedom women gain by being able to support themselves through their own jobs. The freedom books and education bring to those living in remote rural locations.

As a standalone novel, I thought this book was a great story of a young woman coming in to her own and fighting for herself. It did a wonderful job showing what women were facing in rural Appalachian Kentucky in the early 1950s. I just thought it lacked that certain spark that made the first book so compelling? Maybe it was because the first book was so much more fleshed out? The first book just seemed to be more of a complete story, where this just felt like more of a long epilogue? I still liked it, I just didn't love it the way I did the first novel.

I absolutely ADORED “Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” and squealed when there was a story of her daughter!!! I truthfully didn’t know much about the packhorse librarians prior to reading about the book woman.
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-When Honey’s mother and father are imprisoned, she must do everything she can to stay out of the foster care system. That’s when she sees an ad for a librarian to deliver books to patrons in the hills. She loved getting to do what her Mama did.
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Highly recommend this one- out May 3rd. Add it to your TBR list now! In the meantime, read the first one!

The Book Woman's Daughter was a great, easy read and continuation of the first book. I loved the Blue aspect of the main character Honey, who wasnt completely head to toe blue, but instead it shows up when shes feeling strong feelings. Her struggles and unwillingness give up made her extremely likeable and relatable. Her story only would have been better if there was a bit more in the beginning of the story where it showed her relationship with her adoptive mom, Bluet. I was missing that piece. The rest of the book was fantastic though.

This was a beautifully written and outstanding read! It's engrossing from beginning to end. Honey Lovett, is striped of all the things she loves. First, her parents by the government when her parents are jailed for loving each other. Then she loses those who are closest to her all while her freedom is up in the air.

With that said, Honey works hard to prove that she deserves her emancipation and is capable of caring for herself. Like the Book Woman before her, her mom, Honey is grateful to acquire the position of Assistant Librarian or Book Woman. Honey loves her job and helping the community achieve literacy and escape through the stories that books provide.

In the end, Honey learns that she is courageous and special. She also learns that she is just what the people needed.

One of the quotes that stood out for me in the book says, "Laws about females never make a lick of sense because they're made and run by men and meant to keep us in bondage." I think this is such a relevant quote that speaks to today's current issue surrounding women's bodies and abortion. It's a shame that in the world we live today, that this quote is ringing truer than ever.


I just reviewed The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson. #NetGalley

If you liked the Book woman of Troublesome Creek you will adore this follow up. It mostly centers on the daughter of the book woman who is suddenly alone after her parents are arrested and sent to jail for their mixed marriage. Cussy is a Blue and her husband is white. A violation of Kentucky law. Although the author created these characters their lives are based on real life Kentucky people. Shocking story of how mistreated minor children were. And equally shocking how mistreated women were. Honey and her troubles will tug at your heartstrings. The book ends a bit abruptly but it seems clear that the author plans to write more about Honey and eastern Kentucky. I can’t wait! This book was provided to me through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.

The Book Woman's Daughter is a stand-alone sequel to Richardson's The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I may have enjoyed The Book Woman's Daughter even more than The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. An ode to the power of books and literacy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER opens with Honey Lovett’s parents sending her to live with their family friend, Retta, in Troublesome, because they are being arrested for violating the despicable anti-miscegenation law and face an upcoming trial. See, Honey and her adoptive mother Cussy (the original Book Woman), are the last of the true blue-skinned people of Kentucky. ⁣
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Honey is only 16, and could be sent to the Reform School until she is 21 if her parents lose their trial. So, Honey heads off to Troublesome on her mother’s trusty mule, Junia.⁣
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Shortly after arriving in Troublesome Honey meets the dynamic 19-year-old Pearl, who has been hired by the State as the town fire lookout. It is a joy reading about the growth of their friendship into one as close as sisters.⁣
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Honey is hired as a librarian assistant for the recently revived Library Outreach program, a facsimile of the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project that her mother was a part of. And just like her mother before her, Honey captures the hearts of her patrons. ⁣
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But, like her mother, Honey also faces hatred and threats by the abusive husband of one of her patrons. Unfortunately, the Sheriff is his cousin. ⁣
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Honey’s bravery and fortitude in the face of great adversity is inspiring. ⁣
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The lawyer that Honey’s parents hired for her, Bob Morgan, is a true gentleman and a capable lawyer. But unforeseen obstacles arise and it will take Bob, Honey, and all of Honey’s supporters to ensure she may keep her freedom. ⁣
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This is a gem of a story. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy to enjoy.
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Thank you, @bookmarked @sourcebooks @netgalley for the free e-galley.

Having only been a moderate fan of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, I was surprised to find that I enjoyed this book far more than the first one. It is possible that this was because I had a familiarity with the territory, but I also think that Richardson put a lot of care into keeping the stakes high in this one, and she added more heartwarming characters that helped to support the main character, Honey, in her many trials. Honey's adopted parents are in prison for miscegenation, and she is a minor who is in serious danger of being sent to the horrible House of Reform if she doesn't have another guardian. Honey takes a job as a traveling book woman, too, and helps anyone that she can, and there are plenty of people who need it. As Honey works to be granted her emancipation, she befriends many lovely people in her community. A compelling read, there is enough at stake always to keep the reader from wanting to put the book down, but then it is uplifting and leaves a warm feeling because of these relationships.

Having recently finished “The Book Woman’s Daughter” by Kim Michele Richardson, I am happy to have had the chance for the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy; thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark! A second thank you is included in this review as I also was sent a physical copy from a recent Goodreads Giveaway!

This is a satisfying sequel to The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, as the prejudice and drama continue with Honey Mary-Angeline Lovett’s story. The pride and dignity of this young woman shine strong as she does her best to overcome the obstacles in her path. Although the drama was constant for Honey; alone and without the support of her family, she found it instead from friends who knew and cared for her; and from the strength she gathered from within.

Learning more information is always one of my favorite parts of reading, and having a physical copy of this book was truly a gift. As well as the e-copy, the back of this story was filled with a wonderful Author’s Note, a variety of images, and even more history! I enjoyed the well researched details and moments I spent being back in the hollers of eastern Kentucky again, meeting more beloved book patrons, furry (and even feathered) friends.


“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.”
- As long as you have the books, you’ll always have that light.”

Being a “blue” in Kentucky was always going to be hard for Honey Mary Angeline Lovett, but when her mom and dad were sent to jail for having a mixed race marriage, Honey was left all alone.

At 16 years old, Honey goes back to Troublesome Creek where her mother had been the packhorse librarian. Honey has to fight for her freedom or risk going to a reform school. She takes up her mother’s old route and meets lots of people along the way….most will help her but not all. Honey finds that strong women help each other out and that books can change a person’s life.

It was great revisiting this setting. I loved all of the characters and getting to see how Honey deals with being a “blue” and a female on her own. I will forever pick up books set in Troublesome Creek.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to jump into this book! I loved the first book and getting to know the characters and the town. And this newest installment did not disappoint! I was thrown right back into Troublesome, but several years later. We get to visit our favorite characters and we get to make new friends too. Even though years have passed, some things haven't changed and Cussy Mary's daughter has to face the same bigotry that she had to face. But Honey has some great friends to help her along the way. There were aspects of the book that made it feel like an epilogue to the first book, the ease at which everything is familiar, but this second book revolves more around women's rights and sisterhood and women standing up for and supporting each other. This is a cozy read for a rainy weekend that continues to educate us about the past but it still so relatable to the present.
Thank you NetGalley for my digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

This was SUCH a good book! As the author says in the afterward, The Book Woman’s Daughter is both a stand-alone and a sequel. I think I liked it even more than the first one! Honey Lovett is part ”Blue,” due to a genetic haemoglobin mutation that renders the blood brown and skin blue. She’s also fighting a misogynist and racist system that has jailed her parents and forced her to fend increasingly for herself. Set in 1950s rural Kentucky with wonderful characters and an evocative setting, we watch Honey become even more of a strong and determined young woman as the novel progresses. Highly recommended! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A worthy follow-up to the first book, and a lovely tribute to the women of Appalachia. The story again features packhorse librarians, but this time also examines the roles of female fire tower watchers and traveling nurses. The novel celebrates the power of words and community, and the ability of both to overcome adversity.

Dang, it!! I loved and was a big fan of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. I did a Q & A with the Kim Michele Richardson and then loved it even more. I loved her passion for her characters and story, which shone through in the story. I thought I would love The Book Woman's Daughter just as much, but I didn't.

I have a lot of thoughts about books, and after reading, I ask myself some questions. Here are some of them.

What were some of the themes explored in the stories?

Some meaningful and compelling themes around the treatment of women, independence, and discrimination are touched on and are explored dramatically.

Are the characters likable or unlikeable and easy to connect and relate to? Do they change and grow with the conflicts they experience?

Honey is very likable and delightful, and she will appeal to many readers and her conflicts will evoke many emotions. However, I found her uninteresting, and I struggled to relate to and connect with her conflicts. Her challenges and struggles felt cinematic and fell into stereotypical behavior. My drama meteor hit its capacity, and I was glossing over part of the story. I felt like I was watching the scenes rather than experiencing Honey's challenges and feeling with her.

How did the setting add to the dynamics?

Kim Michele Richardson beautifully creates a fantastic sense of place and time through her descriptions.

Did the stories have me think deeply, challenge my thoughts, and see something different? Or learn anything new?

Nope, whatever was there got lost in the drama.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, This is a very likable story, and many reviewers here loved it. It will appeal to most readers. The drama drives the story, and I have learned that I read books quite differently than most people do and what I like and don't like from a story is very different than most.

The Book Woman’s Daughter follows Honey as she fights for her independence after her parents are unjustly imprisoned. Just like her previous book, the author introduces several strong female characters who come to depend on the books that Honey delivers as a packhorse librarian. If you loved The Book Woman, I think you’ll enjoy this follow up as well!

I'm not sure what took me so long to read the first of these books, but once I did I was dying to see what happened next. I jumped on the chance to read this and I think I liked it even more than the first. Honey was easy to root for, and I was hooked to see what she would get into next. I was happy to see some of the old characters come around again in new ways. This book is hopeful and inspiring and I always love reading about Appalachia, though I'm not from KY, it's close enough to WV to feel like I'm reading about home.

I'm so glad that the story of the Pack Horse Librarians continued on with Honey. I loved The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and this is a wonderful sequel. I love that historical fiction gives me the opportunity to learn about people, places, and times in history that I might never have considered without learning about it through a fabulous story.

While I love the characters (most of them as some are easy to hate), what I love most about this book is knowing that books and literacy truly are life-changing! Be sure to read the author's note at the end.