Best selling author Jeanette Wallls takes us back to prohibition with her new move Hang the Moon. Sallie Kincaid had lived a hard life. Her mother dies when she was small and Sallie is then sent away by her father’s new wife. Her father, the charismatic “Duke”, leads a mountain town in Virginia during the prohibition. The Duke runs the county and more or less takes care of the people. When trashed strikes, Sallie finds herself back home as a young woman. More and more tragedy and hardship leaves Sallie now in charge. With much grit and determination and no nonsense ways, Sallie takes on her new position full force.
Walls does an excellent job of developing her characters. All kinds and very unique. That and history thrown in had me enthralled the entire book. This is one of my favorite books of 2022! It’s a must read.
*** huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

When I saw Jeannette Walls had a new book, I was so excited. "The Glass Castle" is on my "everyone must read" list. This book just didn't have "it". I found it to be a bit boring in fact. None of the characters were especially likable or endearing. I was quite disappointed in the story line.

Jeanette Walls' latest book, Hang the Moon, tells the story of headstrong, likable, Sallie Kincaid who is sent away to live with a poor cousin when her stepbrother is accidentally hurt. Her father, Duke, a small town businessman and kingmaker calls her back years later when the stepmother unexpectedly dies to care for that same stepbrother, Sallie takes an interest in the family business and is soon helping her father collect rents and run their store. Sallie hears whispers, but it is upon her father's unexpected death that she really begins to uncover family secrets, feud with a volitale local mountain clan, and run bootleg liquor like a mob boss.

The strength of this book is in its main character, who is likable no matter how crazy the story gets. The weakness is in how many times the Kincaid men's philandering surfaces as a plot point. This is one of those books that is a fun ride while you're in the middle of it, but leaves you feeling like you'd not want to read it again.

Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of a wealthy land and business owner. He doesn’t just rule the home roost but the rural Virginia county folk as well. She lost her mother when she was very young and was later sent away by her step-mother to live with a destitute aunt. She is allowed to return to the family home nine years later to help care for her half-brother.

However, given Sallie’s proclivities and her natural forthright habits, she appears to be more comfortable in an enforcer/collection position than that of nurturing. Through a series of unforeseen tragedies, she is suddenly thrust into the position of heading the Holdings.

The Holdings of course are driven by the illegal sale of spirits, but the mountain people have a stranglehold on their grudges as well as their illegal activities.

The novel tackles a number of issues from complicated family secrets
and the woman’s position in the family to moral and religious passion, bootlegging, and gang wars. Sallie is a strong female protagonist. I applauded her triumphs and understood her attitude. It’s a complex and classic study of a culture peculiar to the area and the time.

The narrative is engaging and highly entertaining, the voice authentic not just to the time but to the geographical area. 4.5 stars

Although the story was at times slow, overall, I really enjoyed Hang the Moon. A good reminder to persevere throughout life's struggles.

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This author is well-known for her now-famous memoir detailing the colorful and often dysfunctional days of her youth. That familial theme echoes here too. I really like her laidback narrative style in this book, it truly captures the countryside folksy mindset of the place and era she writes about.

This historical fiction novel is set in the small town hills of Virginia during prohibition. It features the connections and disconnects often experienced in families and how we see the world through a very different, sometimes rose-colored lens. When we are young, naive, and impressionable we may place people we love on a pedestal they never deserved to be on and our illusions shatter and cut when they suddenly tumble off.

My overall lasting impression from the story is that we learn such hard lessons in life, but ultimately are stronger and better for it.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of Hang the Moon for my unbiased evaluation. 4 stars

I wanted to love this book. I expected to love this book, based on my previous experiences in reading books written by Jeanette Walls. But, I did not love this book. The writing is simplistic, the plot is convoluted and the drama - marriages, divorces, cheating spouses, secrets, ridiculous feuds - is so heavy-handed it became almost laughable. It felt as though the convoluted plot had taken the place of any serious character development and the details of what it felt like and what it meant to be a female rumrunner in what was then man’s world were lost. A disappointing read from an author who has shown, in a number of her other books, that she can write a gripping, emotional story - just not this time.

As a young girl Sallie's stepmother banishes her to live with her aunt. Years later, after the death of her stepmother, Sallie is brought back to live with her father, Duke, and brother Eddie. Duke, the unofficial town ruler, trades in moonshine and handshake deals. When Duke dies, someone in the family must step up and take charge.

This story felt a bit disconnected. The plot seemed to change every few chapters, leaving the book feel extremely disjointed. I did not connect well with the characters and found myself a bit bored. . Although I like the author, this book just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Net Galley and Scribner publishing for the opportunity to read this book by one of my favorite authors. This book is historical fiction set in Virginia during the times of prohibition. This book was a little slow for me and it didnt keep my attention.

Great story about a family written in the time of prohibition. I absolutely loved the main character Sallie. The way she fought her way through adversity was very relatable.

I story that you sink into with a strong main character that works her way into your heart. You will cheer her on and be proud of who she becomes but also saddened by some of the circumstances she faces. This story portrays families illustrating the secrets and betrayals that often exist and the women who fight to carve a space for themselves in a patriarchal world. Thank you Net galley for for providing an ARC in exchange for honest feedback

Thought-provoking story about inequality between men and women, and between rich and poor. There is a huge struggle with expectations, relationships, and discerning the truth. Some things have changed with the times but some things will never change. I like the main character, Sallie, because she is a straight-shooter and does the best she can despite not the best circumstances.

I loved this book! The author has delivered a thoroughly entertaining story filled with action and believable characters that had me riveted from the first page. The writing is wonderful with prose that is richly atmospheric. Sallie's growth throughout the book was well done. Her growing realizations about her father resonated with me and gave depth to her character. This region is hard on women and the author thoughtfully and compassionately portrays their often hopeless circumstances. Great storytelling and fine writing make this a book I will enjoy recommending to all my patrons.

If I’d realized this Prohibition-era family drama was patterned on the lives of the Tudors from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I, I probably would not have started it. I generally find that sort of thing to be gimmicky and limiting to the organic development of the story, and I found that to be the case here. A series of expected deaths and “promotions” occur based on character names. The main character largely does her family’s bidding, until it’s her turn to be “Queen of the Bootleggers.” The last section became more interesting, partly based on the exploits of a real female rumrunner from that era, and I think if the author had stuck with that instead of bringing in the Tudors, I would have enjoyed it more as a whole.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review. This will appear on goodreads.
I must be the rare librarian who hasn’t read Glass Castle so I don’t have a barometer to measure this book. Based on true events and people, this story is a coming of age story in a completely disfuctional family during the prohibition era. Everyone is related somehow which is probably common in this region, and it surely was fun to watch how the characters were connected.
Duke Kincaid runs the county. When he dies, there is a clear line of succession, but then what?
Dukes daughter Sally must raise herself and figure out who she is and how she will lead. And she isn’t going to allow marriage to muddy her way.
This was as much fun as a rum runner on their way to Roanoke could have.
Now I want to read glass castle.
I think my patrons will enjoy this book. I could do it in book club. It’s a pretty clean read with not a ton of triggers.
4*

An interesting, convoluted story about a family during prohibition. Some of the coincidences were not very believable but I enjoyed reading about that timeframe and culture. Women's rights, or lack thereof, drives much of the story. The writing isn’t as thought provoking as her other books but I did enjoy it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Set in a small town in West Virginia Sallie Kincaid's father is the most powerful man in the county. They are in the business of collecting rent and selling their tenan'ts whisky. This takes place during prohibition and when Sallie is taking over the family business all kinds of problems arise. It is also a story of how in the end, the family sticks together through good and bad.

Jeannette Walls' new books has everything: romance, historical significance, excitement, family secrets, friendship--and I think it is the best one of her books yet. Sallie is probably one of my favorite heroines--she is tough yet vulnerable, calculating, but yet ruled by her instincts, independent, but realizing the need for help. Ms. Walls captures the south of the prohibition perfectly with the feuds, the "rum running" and the bosses of that period. As I read this book, I kept thinking it would make a wonderful movie, although I'm sure nothing could live up to the book.

I truly enjoy historical fiction, so this story was right up my alley. A well written tale about a gal trying to find her place as a woman in a time when men seemed to rule the world. We meet a strong-willed young lady who learns to stand on her own, and stand up for her community.

Another great book from the best selling author of “The Glass Castle”. Although a fictionalized story based on true event in Virginia during the years of Prohibition in America. Sally Kincaid was just a young daughter of a man “The Duke” who basically ran the town since he owned majority of the land and houses within the city. Sally learns early that everything and everyone must pay including her as she is send away to live with an aunt as the newest wife of the Duke does not care for Sally especially after an injury to her young son. Sally returns after 9 yr since the wife has passed away. Shortly after Sally is thrust into the family business all before her 18th birthday. She must decide to save the town like her father has for years all while learning deep family secrets about the man she has admired for years. Will she do what is lawful by government standards or fight for the town and the people in it to survive.