"The Empress of Cooke County" is a fun story about Posey, a woman who wants to be the most popular lady in her small Tennessee town in the 1960s. But things get complicated with family troubles, nosy neighbors, and a creepy stalker. This book has lots of funny and exciting moments, plus you'll get to know some interesting characters. If you like stories about strong women and a bit of mystery, you'll probably enjoy this one!

A delightful read based in the snall town of Spark, Tennessee in the 1960’s. As a child of the 60’s this book resonated with me. I loved the characters and their dilemmas. There are several twists in this charming and entertaining story, which is sure to keep the reader engaged.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I liked most about this is that the points were driven home by a few really well done allegorical characters and in a short amount of pages. I've been into short reads lately and I really enjoyed every minute of this tale from a small town in the backwoods of Tennessee. Very much a story about wanting more than we have and ignoring what we do have - I loved almost every part of this. I smiled so many times while reading and then in the very end clapped my hand over my mouth in the most Southern way possible at the turn of events!!

The story centers around a fiercely independent woman navigating life in a small town, and Parman's sharp wit and vivid descriptions really brought the setting to life.

I loved the way Parman mixed humor with poignant moments, making the characters feel relatable and real. However, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, especially in the middle where it dragged a little.

Overall, The Empress of Cooke County balances charm and depth beautifully, offering a heartwarming and thought-provoking story. Definitely a gem for anyone who loves character-driven narratives!

Be ready to be transported to the 1960's in small town Tennessee. The main characters in this book, Posey and Callie Jane, are well defined and though not necessarily likeable, they are relatable. It is the cast of supporting characters that give the book it's fun, and keep you reading.

Wow! THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY was not at all what I was expecting. It was much darker than the description and cute cover suggest, which is not usually my cup of tea, yet I found myself racing through pages because I had to know what happened next. Parman's plotting kept me guessing, and the ending was mostly satisfying. I found the characters to be nuanced and realistic. I especially enjoyed seeing Callie Jane find her voice and inner courage, and Posey Jarvis is the type of complex woman you love to hate but equally pity. I also appreciated the subtle symbolism of numbers in the characters' lives and how the Empress tarot card mirrored the contrast between Callie Jane and Posey's personalities, adding a unique layer of depth. Overall, Parman's thought-provoking debut is an incisive, Southern story I certainly won't forget any time soon.

Loved this story!
Posey is the self proclaimed Empress in this story. She trying hard to overcome her roots and this leads us to a take of family secrets! Meanwhile her daughter is just trying to fit in.and her husband just is going along- until he doesn’t!
A fun southern take full of laughs and “no she didn’t” moments.



#TheEmpressofCookeCounty #NetGalley

The Empress of Cooke County was a terrific read. I was hooked from the beginning, and the story flowed with same level of pleasure through to the end.
The book was a bit of a surprise for me, as I was expecting a light and perhaps silly tale. Rather, I found a much deeper and thoughtful story about a family in a small town in Tennessee who deal with many real life's challenges and then some. I grew to love dad, Vern, and daughter, Callie, but was totally disgusted with mom, Posie, the self-appointed "Empress of Cooke County". There were other surprises that I will save for readers to discover. The ending is a bit bittersweet, but satisfying.
I would highly recommend this title to fans of small towns, the '50's, interesting personalities, independent spirits, difficult family relationships, and love conquering all. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I'll be watching for more from Elizabeth Bass Parman.

This was a debut that bodes well for the success of the author. From the cover I was expecting a light-hearted southern romp and it was...for the most part. This is the story of a dysfunctional mother/ daughter relationship and the man that's caught in the middle. The author certainly kept me reading as I just had to know what was going to happen to Posey and the mansion that she had inherited. While parts were much darker than expected I enjoyed the story overall and recommend it.

Enjoyed this more than I expected to! I founder her super relatable in the grumpiest of ways. Enjoyed this writing style and will be on the lookout from more from this author.

The Empress (or Posey) is a woman who lives a delusional life thinking that she can control outcomes based on the stories she tells herself. I loved the characters. Posey and Vern and their daughter Callie The author has developed every one of them including all the ancillary people into real personalities.
Callie is the result of a fling Posey had years ago with a married guy who was well above her station. Posey thought it was love but of course it was a momentary thing.
She becomes pregnant and when she tells him, he tells her he wants nothing to do with her or the baby. This is when Vern comes into the story. An upstanding member of the small town they live in, he owns the Emporium (a store selling used items). He marries Posey and raises her daughter but Posey is always thinking of how to become good enough for her fling to divorce his wife and marry her.
No spoilers here but the character development is excellent and the descriptions of the 60s small town south are right on.

I was glad to finally have read this. It was interesting to see the 1960s dynamic in the South, and honestly, how little has changed. It was a fun read and I know just who to recommend it to in my group!

I had such high hopes for this book. I had recently read Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and had high hopes for a similar experience. This book did not deliver that level of enjoyment, to the point that I couldn't bring myself to finish it. It just wasn't engaging for me, and I didn't get attached to any of the characters.

This book was a little over the top for me and it was really hard to get past some of the plot points. The daughter is so unhappy and no one notices or seems to care. This was not the book for me.

This book is a great read! I am from the Deep South and felt so many themes that are prevalent and relevant and brought the reality to the pages. I was a little shocked by how the book ended, but not really surprised. If you have ever lived in a small town, you know the characters of this book well. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes coming of age stories, and also somewhat of suspenseful reads.

I loved this book! At times laugh out loud funny and at times utterly heartbreaking, this story portrays one woman's desperation to return to the past she imagined while her daughter longs for nothing more than spreading her wings toward the future. Thanks #NetGalley #HarperMuse

I could not get invested in this story. It was a lot of characters and a lot of jumping around. I had a hard time following.

Thanks Harper Collins for the ARC and Audiobook!

This one was so easy to read, I flew through the audiobook in less than a day! Britney Pressley can do no wrong and listening to her is like listening to an old friend talk!

I usually don't love southern vibes, but was surprised with how much I enjoyed this one! I think this will be a big hit! I'm always down for this kind of women's fiction and for mother/daughter drama and genre blends, so this fit the bill for me!

This is out now!

This was a very fun read, and sure there is a little tragedy thrown in towards the end but overall it was a joy to read. It's about a mother and daughter who are so very different in personality and temperament that they don't know what to do with each other. Posey, the mother figure is shallow and conniving but I still liked her because she was so self unaware that she was funny. Calle Jane, Posey's daughter is the polar opposite of her mother and has to learn to stand up for herself to realize her own happiness. I loved that the story is based in the south, I love good southern fiction. I highly recommend this delightful and heart felt story by Elizabeth Bass Parman. 5 solid stars.

I loved this debut novel and look forward to reading more! I enjoyed the 1960s atmosphere, the small-town vibes and Callie Jane's story. Her mom Posey is a woman who has spent her life wanting something more & not appreciating what she had. The two have a messy relationship, however Callie Jane has a beautiful relationship with her father and friends. I did not expect the ending at all but liked how it played out. Great book!

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.