I don’t often read Deep South books, but when I do, I fully expect the trademark melodrama found in this region of the United States. That portion of this story did not disappoint. I actually happened to be in the right mood for melodrama when I read this book, so that part tickled my fancy. Those moments of craving a bit of melodrama are rare for me, and it’s even rarer that I find a book with the perfect amount of melodrama to satisfy the craving. This book held up well to that challenge.

The gossip did drive me crazy in the first half of the book.

I love that this book felt like a memoir, especially since the author says it’s based on a true story. Finding the memoir tone in a fiction book is tricky to do, but Mrs. McHale has it down to an art.

The themes of friendship and reconciliation resonated with me. They’re what kept me reading when I wanted to set the book aside.

The love relationships in this one were not my style or taste.

I liked the quirky sweetness in the friendship among Carrigan, Ella Rae, and Laine. Their bond was endearing.

Content: alcohol, sex as a focus/theme (talked about, hinted at, etc. but not shown), marital affairs, expletives, tobacco, profanity, sexual term, pre-marital sex, drunkenness, crudity

Female friendship at its sassiest and truest way. Until the bad news came - and even then. And forever and always.

This is the sassiest read published by the Christian publisher I have ever read! Witty, funny, fierce - and absolutely heart-wrenching.
Carrigan, Ella Rae and Laine have been friends since forever. And who cares that they are all different! Carrigan, the narrator, and Ella Rae are true Southern spice girls with good hearts, crazy ideas, "All Eyes On Me" attitude, fast tongue and even faster fists (in Ella Rae´s case). Laine is their voice of reason, the true goody two shoes. But they complement each other, they fight the mean girls, they shop, drink, drive and have fun (unless we talk about Carrigan´s suddenly a bit cold husband, Jack, which is not such fun). Until the diagnose. Until their little bubble collapse with the bad news. But they keep on loving and laughing and being hilarious and true and heart-touching till the end. But is there even an end, even if your loved one dies and God is silent about the burning question of "why"?

This is the deep, larger-than-life story about the love relationship, which is called "friendship". Because Carrigan, Ella Rae and Laine are the other true loves of their lives in a sense, they are in that friendship wholeheartedly, bad-mouthedly, fiercely and fully committed to be there for each other. And among the chicken wings, bad and good decisions, drinks here and there and their men and families they continue to hold each other´s hands. And they mature and evolve.
And I'll drink to that, girls.

Sassy masterpiece with the soft voice of God among the pages. And such, such fun! Full of all the right flavours. Laced with tears sometimes, yes. But this is the flavour of life lived fully.
Recommended read.

The beginning of McHale’s novel is a bit slow, but it gains momentum quickly. The book is filled with love, friendship and learning to hold on even when life is hard; but it is also about letting go. Thick with Southern charm, readers will warm to the characters and wish they were friends with these wonderful women. A beautiful story to savor.
Since they were young girls, Carrigan, Ella Rae and Laine have been the best of friends. Now that they are adults, they lean on each other even more, because life just keeps getting more complicated. Carrigan isn’t sure what is going on with her marriage, and the other two women are trying to keep her from making irreversible mistakes. When they discover some devastating news, the three must band together in a way they never have before.

Excellent addition to Southern, homespun Christian fiction.