Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Released: May 28, 2013
Source: Borrowed from the Library

Beth Hoffman’s bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettable characters. Now her unique flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines in her compelling new novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky. It’s a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family—and to find herself at last. But first she must decide what to let go of and what to keep.

Looking for Me brilliantly melds together themes of family, hope, loss, and a mature once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. The result is a tremendously moving story that is destined to make bestselling author Beth Hoffman a novelist to whom readers will return again and again as they have with Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Joshilyn Jackson.

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[I’m trying out a new “short and to the point” review format, because, well, I need to write them faster. (It shouldn’t take hours to write up my thoughts on a book, and sometimes, it does! My reviews aren’t literary critiques, for goodness’ sake!) So here goes…]

I picked up LOOKING FOR ME on a whim from the library – just happened to spot it on the New Releases shelf. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Beth Hoffman’s writing, and I’m happy to report that they are ALL TRUE! She is an amazing storyteller.

I loved everything about this book – the down-to-earth, engaging characters, the poignant story, and the two beautiful settings. I savored the lovely descriptions of majestic Charleston and the awe-inspiring beauty of Teddi’s Kentucky home. Teddi was a charming character, very likable, and I enjoyed sharing her journey of discovery – about herself and her closest family members. The main part of this book was set in the early 1990s, before computers and smart phones took over people’s lives, and that added to my enjoyment. I thought the ending was perfect. Bittersweet and very fitting for this story.

My copy of SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is calling to me from my TBR pile…

Rating: 5 Stars