Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the free audio book in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by the author, whose timing, pacing and southern accent make this such a fantastic listening experience!

I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this!!! The setting is rural Alabama in the 1970's, about as southern as you can get. The story includes a cast of characters, all southerners living in Park, and all are "down on their luck" trying hard to turn things around. We have the alcoholic barely scraping by, the prisoner, a daughter with terminal cancer, and the unwed teen mother, all of whom are broke and broken.

This is such a funny, bittersweet tale of the misery that some people just cannot seem to shake but who are making the best of what they have. I loved Nub, Bennie, Mimi and Emily. Their lives are so heartwarming, rich, funny, and loving.

Be prepared to have your heart ripped apart and then put it back together.

6 stars!!!!!

I enjoyed this book but I struggled to get through it a bit.

Sometimes it’s the most unlikely meetings that give us life’s greatest gifts. 1970s, Southern Alabama. Sixty-two-year-old Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, or “Nub,” has spent his whole life listening to those he’s loved telling him he’s no good—first his ex-wife, now his always-disapproving daughter. Sure, his escapades have made him, along with his cousin and perennial sidekick, Benny, just a smidge too familiar with small town law enforcement, but he’s never harmed anyone—except perhaps himself. Nub never meant to change his ways, but when he and fifteen-year-old Waffle House waitress Minnie form an unlikely friendship, he realizes for the first time that there may be some good in him after all. Six-foot-five Minnie has been dealt a full deck of bad luck—her father is a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, her mother is dead and buried, and she has a Grand Ole Opry–worthy singing voice with no place to perform. Oh, and there’s the small fact that she’s unexpectedly pregnant, courtesy of a no-good high-school boy. Gradually, Nub realizes the gift he’s been a second chance to make a difference. Beloved Southern writer Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, once again brings people and places to life in this lyrical song-turned-story about found family, second chances, country music, and the poignant power of love and forgiveness.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced audio book. First off, I really love when the author is the narrator. Sean does an amazing job narrating this book, including the singing, which I wasn't sure about when he first started. Not only was he a great author and narrator, but the story was pretty good as well. 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. Surprisingly enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Netgally and Harpermuse audiobooks for the advanced copy.
Publication date November 14, 2023

Southern Alabama in the 1970s. The story of Nub Taylor, a talented musician who could play anything with strings.
Nub loved music but missed out on many opportunities due to the drink! He also let down and embarrassed his wife and child.

After finally realizing he's hurt so many people in his life, he decides to try and turn things around. It's not an easy feat, but Nubs has hopes of leaving a better legacy behind. To do something good to help people not to make the same mistakes he did.
You meet many wonderful thought-provoking characters throughout this book, and I loved the message of hope and found family.
It's a powerful book choice and hope, and the people who make your life richer.

Your kinfolk ❤️

Oh, I’m glad I read this one. The book is populated with southerners down on their luck: an old alcoholic, a convict, someone with terminal cancer, old has-been musicians, an unwed teen mother, as well as other folks, both broke and broken. It’s heartwarming without being sappy, funny, and loving. It will rip your heart apart and then put it back together.

Thank you to Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley.
The setting of the book is Southern Alabama in the 1970s. I loved the story of Nub, Emily, Minnie, Sug and cousin Benny. Heartwarming story of tragedy, heartbreak and triumph. A great reminder that sometimes people and friends are the family that you choose. Generational curses can be broken and lives can be changed with change, love and forgiveness.
Having grown up in a Baptist church I definitely got all of the Baptist jokes and loved them. Several made me laugh out loud.
“Baptist churches always fill up the same….back to front.”
“Exuded as much enthusiasm as a graveyard”
“You were either a Minnie admirer or you suffered from a case of fundamentalist hemorrhoids”
This book is different than what I usually read and it came as a welcome change! I loved the character development and overall themes. During the first couple minutes I thought it was going to be very dark, but it ended up being a story of hope and light.
The publication date for this book is November 14, 2023.