Reviews

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

larrrn's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

sdecoste's review against another edition

4.0

Edith and Helen are two sisters who grew up on a farm. Edith got married and started a family. Helen was always drawn to a different life. She loved beer! And she discovered she had a knack for making it. To get into the brewery business, she persuaded her father into leaving the farm entirely to her when he passed. As you can imagine, this caused a rift, 50 years worth, between the two sisters. Edith's life was not easy, financially. She made pies at a nursing home and worked part time at Arby's. But without her granddaughter Diana's help, she might have ended up in dire straights. Diana, it turns out, has a knack for making beer also. While Helen's endeavor turned into a multimillion dollar business, Diana's small brewery and taproom soon made a name for itself, with the unexpected help from some grannies. A fun read. A great story.

annarosereads's review against another edition

3.0

Loved the portrayal of strong Midwestern women. There is A LOT of beer talk, which made no sense to me.

readcraftsew's review against another edition

4.0

Such fun!
A great family story, with all the drama that family entails.
2 sisters, 1 inherits the family farm and sells it to fund her brewery, the other, the good sister, left to get through life with no inheritance, but with a loving husband.

Time travels fast in this novel, until it's time to slow down and dig out some details.

I adored the characters, they were real and fully formed. You could see running into them on any street corner in Minnesota and carrying on a delightful conversation!

All in all, I'm so glad I read this. This was the light hearted, but heart hitting book I needed after reading quiet a few very heavy books.

kstracke's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed the character development, and a lot of the Minnesota references, but I wish the sister relationship had been fleshed out more.

bethanygladhill's review against another edition

5.0

I adored this book, which seems simple st first but has a whole lot to say underneath. If also made me want a beer.

summersas33's review against another edition

5.0

This book has important themes with interesting and complex characters. It will leave the reader reevaluating her life choices and treatment of others. The writing is excellent.

linzgaff's review against another edition

4.0

4.25 stars. As a woman that loves beer and has worked at a brewery, I really enjoyed this tale of sisterhood and beer. It’s well written and engaging, and worth a read even if a cold malt beverage isn’t your thing.

nicolefrailedits's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

iswim41's review against another edition

4.0

For me, the only reason I didn't give this five stars is because there were spots where I skipped over because of the technical stuff. If I brewed beer maybe I'd be more interested. Of if I were a beer oficionado. I love beer and have had a lot of bad and good beer. I've had most of the beers mentioned in here, too. I am not a fan of fruity beer. I've added my own lime to Corona, and I like a Leinie Summer Shandy.

Anyway, there is much to like in this book other than beer. The Minnesota location. The family dynamic and the ending. A note: I did not know the author was a man until I read the ending credit stuff.