Thanks #netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. Listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I loved this book and cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this. Loved the characters and storyline. Highly recommend.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book. The book is narrated by the Author. He did an excellent job narrating. I believe that he added the emotion needed in the exact places because he wrote it. The first segment I started to get lost. During the character building portion you learned all of the backstory needed to follow all the characters. I had to pay close attention. By the second segment I was hooked. The misfortunate events that birthed this story was heartbreaking. Discovering your "Kinfolk" in an unlikely place. This book deals with Alcohol addiction, teen pregnancy, suicide, fostering, bullying, and love. Love that runs deeper than blood. Love that comes from understanding another persons trauma. I was sad to reach the end of the book. I was so invested in the characters and loved them too. I wanted to hear how their lives turned out.
If you start to feel like the book is slow, stick with it! I promise all of that information is needed as the story progresses. Excellent book. I would recommend this title to anyone that reads contemporary fiction, light religious fiction, and friendship.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review!
For me it's very hit or miss when an author narrates their own books but it was great in this case. I really enjoyed him singing the songs in the story instead of just saying the words like most do in other audio books. I will say that it was a bit confusing at times when there was a transition between characters and settings and it took a few seconds to realise we weren't in the truck with Benny and Nub anymore & we were now listening to what was happening with Sug (not just those characters specifically, that's just an example). I enjoyed the story overall but I think it would have been more enjoyable to me as a written book than audio because I'm sure those types of transitions are more obvious in written form. Overall great story, awesome characters/character development, great narrator.

Each character has their own story to tell and the way they all come together is truly done in an extraordinary way. The author is very descriptive and will make you laugh out loud with humor and give poignant scenes that make you cry. It's an excellent book about being down on your luck and needing a second chance but at the same time offering someone else who could really use it a second chance too. thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have a massive book hangover from this, in the very best way possible. It has taken me a few days of processing my emotions to be able to write this review.

I'm a bit flabbergasted at how good this was. I'm a reader of about 90% romance, so this was a bit of a step outside of my "normal", but my gosh am I glad I took that step. I was immediately enraptured by Sean's writing style, which is equal parts lyrical, descriptive, profound, and hysterical.

This novel takes a deeply poignant and emotional look at life in the deep South in the 1970's. Our motley crew of characters seem to have nothing in common, yet are bound together by trauma, grief, and circumstance.

Nub Taylor has disappointed so many people in his life that he's unsure he can ever change, until he meets down-on-her-luck teenager Minnie Bass. They strike up an unlikely friendship, and he ends up taking her in when she needs someone the most. Nub sees this as a chance to make good on the childhood that his own daughter, Emily, missed out on due to his drinking problem. Minnie has endured much trauma in her short life, including her mother committing suicide and her father serving life in prison. She is alone, and pregnant by a deadbeat high school boy.

Sean has a deep understanding of how to write characters that are relatable, lovable, and easy to empathize with. He describes settings in a way that make them easy to conjure up in your imagination. His use of simile and metaphor is unparalleled and often had me laughing out loud.

Some of my favorite quotes:
"His mind was filled with 100 gallons of regret, his heart was filled with several thousand watts of pain. He had missed her life because he'd refused to fight for her, because he was too drunk to be present."

"The old Baptist woman was about as warm and fuzzy as a frozen banana."

"Sweetie, one cold morning a long time ago, a girl not much younger than you came into town riding a donkey, and she had a baby. That boy went on to change the entire world." "You mean...Jesus?" "No, Jimmy Rogers."

"The congregation exuded about as much enthusiasm as a graveyard."

"Soon the rest of the congregation was up on its feet, applauding one pregnant child, one stroke victim, and one drunk."

This book was wonderful- honest, redemptive, and occasionally laugh out loud funny. There are many times that the author is not the right choice for the reader, but this time it was spot on. The narrator's voice was everything in building the characters and overall setting.

Although I don't think I can use it in my classroom, it will definitely be on the shelf and a recommendation for my kids.

I feel I must start this review with a disclaimer. Sean Dietrich is my favorite present day author. With that being said, I do try to be objective when I am reading a book for review purposes. If I hadn't been reading this for review, however, my reaction and review would be the same.

Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, writes from the heart. Whoever said that writers write what they live would reinforce this idea after reading Sean Dietrich's latest book - "Kinfolk". Full of emotion and characters who are so real the reader feels that they are best friends by the end of the book, this book is one that is easily read in one sitting. Once I started it, I just could not stop.

The book starts with a very difficult scene - a suicide and the grief that follows in a small Alabama town in the 1970's. If you are familiar with Mr. Dietrich's back story you can understand that that is a real and personal subject matter to him and one that he writes about often. But just like the author, the main character, Nub, is able to overcome the sadness and the life situation that he found himself in and is eventually able to live a life with love and happiness.

This is not an easy book to read at times due to the themes of alcoholism, suicide, loss, racism, and crime but the overall theme is love and that is indeed the message that the reader comes away with in the end. Redemption prevails as a strong theme and what a joy it is to read this book to see how the story unfolds.

The author has a unique way of telling a story. His true Southern charm bleeds through every page and his witty descriptions had me laughing out loud several times. He definitely knows how to evoke an image in your mind as you read with his descriptions.

The main characters, Nub, Emily and Minnie are so well defined and described that it was easy to fall in love (and sometimes dislike) at their antics and actions. They are just plain folk who are the type of folks that we run into every single day in our lives. Thankfully these were ones that were not ignored and it reminded me that each and every person has worth and value in this world despite their circumstances. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that.

If you have the chance to read this book I would highly recommend that you pick up a copy. Better yet, get an audiobook so you can hear the author read it to you in his own voice. This was one that I listened to at regular speed and did not speed up because I wanted to enjoy every drawn out word and hear every inflection of Mr. Dietrich's voice.

Huge thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me an advance copy for review. This is my honest review of Kinfolk.

I loved this book more than words can say. I already pre ordered it and a couple other books by Sean of the South. I’m definitely a new fan!

Video review here:
https://youtu.be/FKMUaALX8cY

Well, this started off heartbreaking and didn't really get any better as far as happiness is concerned. Full of tragedy but also hopeful and determined hearts woven together in a beautiful story.
This was my first Dietrich novel, but it's definitely not my last! I loved his storytelling so much and enjoyed the narration even better! Perfection! Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for the chance to discover another great writer!

Narrated by the author and he does a great job!!! Absolutely loved the authors note at the end and the couple of scattered facts about The Ryman and Grand ol Opry that are incorporated into the story.

My second novel by this author and absolutely love his ability to tell a small town story that has every emotion present. You will gasp, cry, feel fear, mystery, joy and much more.

Love before her, Love behind her, Love above her, Love beneath her.

Love on the crown of her head, Love on the soles of her feet, Love way down in her heart.

These are the words/song that start the relationship between “Nub” Jeremiah Taylor and “Minnie” Minifred Bass and so it’s appropriate that these words close out their story as well. Story gives segments of several characters and weaves all these characters lives together beautifully. I loved the characters and that they each have flaws, and are so relatable.

Can’t recommend this book enough!! Please check it out!!

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Harper Muse for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

First of all - why did I not know about Sean of the South? That vooooiiiiiice! He has completely spoiled all future audiobooks, with his deep, gravelly narration. I could listen to him forever, and shall be seeking out his back catalogue. 'Kinfolk' is a cracking book. It's just a brilliant story, populated by wonderful characters. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. I'm hooked! found the Author's Note at the end very moving. Sean, I love you too, man. Bring us more (audio)books soon, please!

Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, Nub to all who know him, has seen a lot of living. Not all of it good. Years of too much drinking have gotten him in too much trouble to list, but losing his wife and the respect of his daughter were the hardest. After an accident that should have killed him, Nub shares a hospital room with fifteen year old Minniford Hazel Bass. While her singing greatly annoys the grumpy old man, she somehow gets under his skin and soon he’s become her savior, but can a leopard change his spots. His daughter, Emily, is going through her own crisis at the moment and thinks he’s crazy! How can he be there for Minnie when he was never there for her? When Nub takes Minnie in he has no idea how much things are about to change or how much he’s bitten off, not to mention the danger he and Minnie are now in. Is it too late for Nub to change or does he finally have the chance to redeem himself after all these years? This was a heartwarming, beautiful story about change, redemption and unconditional love. Once again Dietrich takes us on an unforgettable journey. A journey that will make you laugh out loud, shed some tears, but most of all give you hope. A dual read/listen, this book was voiced perfectly by the author himself, this book is not one that will be forgotten anytime soon as he brings this powerful story to life showing us that love and forgiveness are the most important things of all! Thank you to Harper Muse and Netgalley for an ARC AND ALC of this book.

Just a fun book! And I love that the audio version is narrated by the author. His Southern twang adds an extra bit of authenticity to this novel which takes place in Alabama in the 1970s. Well-developed individual characters who all are pulled together around a 15-year-old pregnant teen. The old town geezer who drinks too much discovers that he is offered a second chance in life, and helps the teen, reconnects with his own daughter, and discovers love and forgiveness. Most enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for my ARC copy.

I first read something by Sean Dietrich on Facebook. A friend had shared it and I read it and I immediately started following his page. But I didn't know he had written a book, turns out he's written several and after reading this one, I'm going to find those others and read them too.

He is an amazing storyteller and boy was this an amazing story! I don't often cry when I read but this one had me crying, laughing out loud, and everything else in between. I don't even know how to write this review because of all the emotion I feel. For someone who didn't have her daddy around when she was younger but then later developed a close bond with him, I really related to this story on so many levels.

Each character has their own story to tell and the way they all come together is truly done in an extraordinary way. You want to not like Nub Taylor but I'm telling you that you're going to love him and a lot of the other characters too. It's told in a deep southern, down on your luck, country boy with smart-alecky responses tone and I loved every minute of it.

The release date is in November, perfect timing for Christmas and I've already made the list of who I'm going to buy it for.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

From the outside, it doesn’t look like Nub and Minnie have much in common. He’s an elderly drunk who works as a laborer for the government, and she’s a high school student working at Waffle House to make ends meet. Not exactly out of place in the 1970’s, but not exactly accepted by the community either. No one had any idea how much would change for Nub and Minnie when fate brought them together as hospital roommates one night.

Sean Dietrich’s Kinfolk is a story of redemption and forgiveness as Nub and Minnie piece their lives together after tragedy. It’s also the story of choosing the family that is best for us and finding support from our community. Dietrich beautifully shows how a compassion and kindness can help someone to blossom into the best versions of themselves, whereas discrimination and hatred can break them down. Set in Alabama, Dietrich also incorporates southern favorites of church revivals and the Grand Ole Opry while showing that being down on your luck doesn’t mean you are a lesser person.

I give Kinfolk 4 out of 5 stars. This book started from a very dark place with the introduction and dedication, but progressed to a place of hope. I appreciate the way Dietrich included details about each scene that brought them to life off the page. The final scenes at the Grand Ole Opry felt disconnected though, as if there was a conversation or event missing from the final novel. The disjointed story left me a bit lost and wondering if a scene was sitting in the editing wastebasket. I chose the audio version of this book and was excited to hear the author read his work. This book is the same class with Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove and John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – southern gothic fiction with a great redemption arc.

If you are a fan of southern gothic literature – this is the next big release you should pick up! I would also recommend this book for readers looking for a great “read by the author” audiobook. Given the discussions of suicide and death, this may be better suited for more mature audiences over 13.

The beautiful cover artwork caught my eye on my Netgalley shelf immediately – the farmhouse set against the sunrise reminded me of my own upbringing in a more rural small town environment where everyone knew your business and the church ladies judged you more harshly than those you may have wronged. Dietrich’s fictional community could have been pulled straight from my hometown.

Kinfolk will release on November 14th – preorder your copy today!

My honest review is freely provided in return for the kindness by NetGalley and the author/publisher in providing me with this book to review.

Kinfolk is about second chances and redemption. There’s a redeeming quality found in this story about a 62yo recovering alcoholic and a pregnant 15yo who has no one left in this world to depend on who find each other. Life has been far from kind to both Nub and Minnie, and there’s much surrounding their lives that they have no control over. What they have in common is a deeply rooted understanding about what each means to the other.

This is my first Sean Dietrich book and it won’t be my last. It easily makes it onto my 2023 favorites list.

With its heartbreak, dry humor, southern Alabama setting, laidback personalities, and a perfect match in narrator (the author), Kinfolk is a quintessential audiobook. This would be a great one to listen to while on a long road trip. Highly recommended!

Small towns can be welcoming and protective or judgmental and ostracizing depending where you fall on their scale of propriety.

Drunks , criminals, and pregnant teens don’t land on the good side. But they can come together to be family and do well regardless.

Minnie is too tall and big for most people to stand. She thinks her daddy died in the Korean War and her mother just died from suicide.

Nub is the town drunk. He’s barely been in his bio daughter’s life and has been a series of poor decisions.

Sugar worked with and crossed the wrong people and is now trying to protect his daughter as best he can.

By far the two imperfect men who serve as bio and foster foster to Minnie as intriguing in their attempts to do right by her. The struggle is real as we say.

But the family formed and love found is what makes this book.

I adore Sean Dietrich’s writing. I was so excited to receive this audiobook and be able to put a voice to the words. This is not the type of book I typically read, but living in AL it just felt right. I loved it. Sean has a way of making you feel like you know each and every one of his characters. It feels as if they are your family… or your Kinfolk, as it may be. The snowstorm that he talks about in the first chapter took the life of my great-grandmother. My mama has told the story a million times. I could imagine each and every scene of this book after that like, I was there. The story of Nub and Minnie, an unlikely friendship, was sad and poignant, but hopeful. I highly recommend the audiobook so that you can hear this in Sean’s voice.

Kinfolk... the people who are related to you by blood. But sometimes, it is so much more than that. Sean Dietrich has done it again. I adore his way with words. There is always a gift in them and I am so grateful that I got the chance to read/listen to this story, read by the author himself. It is the story of Nub Taylor, Minnie Bass, and the folks they call family. Nub is the town drunk. His child is in her forties and they are estranged. His ex-wife hates him and the town of Park, Alabama (population around 1000), hates him too. Minnie is a very tall young lady who is an outcast, as she is as poor as they come. And in the seventies, Nub and Minnie will find each other. In the process, they will find family, and, just maybe, bring some healing to themselves and their town. I laughed out loud so many times during the telling. I also dabbed my eyes and wished it wouldn't end. When I realized I was moments from finishing it, I wanted to rewind and listen some more. Dietrich has a gift, and I am so grateful he shares it with us. Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher. #Kinfolk

ARC Audiobook review
Publish Date: November 2023

It’s the 1970s in Southern Alabama, “Nub”, Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, a sixty two year old, has been told his whole life he is worthless. From his ex wife and daughter.

Nub met 6’5” fifteen year old Minnie, a Waffle House employee, a bizarre and unlikely friendship forms. Minnie’s father is a convicted murderer, mother dead and gone. Minnie has the most beautiful Grand Ole Opry worthy voice, with the will to preform and no where to. However, she ends up pregnant, thank you to her abusive high school boyfriend.

This book is heartbreaking but does bring the pieces of your heart back together. It covers some really dark topics; suicide, murder, teen pregnancy, cancer and so on. A raw story that shows the ripple effect of suicide of a parent. Followed by more death and coping with the grief with time.

"People are what makes life worth it. People are the buried treasure. People who understand you. People who will bleed with you. People who will make your life richer. Your people, kinfolk.”

Thank you Netgalley, Harper Muse and Sean Dietrich for the opportunity to hear this audiobook.