Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber

5 reviews

ordinarypickle's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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bookish_leslie's review

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hopeful slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

What To Expect:
  • Dual POV (Emme & Cora Bee)
  • American South
  • Family secrets
  • Healing from the past
  • Magical realism
  • A sense of community
  • Special connections with nature
  • A little bit of mystery
  • A little bit of romance (no spice)

Themes:  belonging, family, home, roots, stability, nature, secrets, community, friendship, healing, hope, trust, self-growth, intuition, love (of all kinds), acceptance

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My Thoughts:
 
This book admittedly took me a bit to get into, but once I did, it felt like a warm hug. 

It covered some pretty heavy topics - like domestic abuse, childhood trauma, divorce, grief, and recovering from addiction, among others - but I thought the author did an amazing job of giving these topics enough gravitas to feel weighty and real, without making them feel oppressive or completely depressing. And any heaviness was balanced so well with warmth, the beauty of nature, and just a touch of romance, mystery, and magic. 

I loved the setting. The flowers, that garden, the food, the bees, the gazing pool, the open-air market, Hickory Lane…it all felt so immersive and atmospheric.

"The dining table had been decorated with jars full of flowers of varying colors, heights, scents. Caladium, salvia, violas, snapdragons, or "snaps" as Glory called them. I'd learned their names - and forgotten half a dozen others as Glory and I had strolled through the garden earlier. Votive candles set into pale-pink glass holders flickered along the table runner. The glass and silverware sparkled in the early evening sunlight, while dust motes floated lazily through the air. The roast chicken and whipped potatoes, pull-apart rolls, green bean salad, and cucumbers and onions soaked in Italian dressing had been consumed."

I really loved some of the characters, too. Glory was so warm and inviting and just oozed Southern charm. I’m not sure how I would feel about Dorothy in real life, but in print she was a lot of fun. I liked watching Emme slowly unfurl, set down some roots, and start to heal, and I enjoyed her blossoming friendship with Cora Bee, too. The chapters bounced back and forth between Emme & Cora Bee’s POVs, and I will say that it was sometimes hard to differentiate whose POV I was in because, while their characters were quite different from each other, their voices seemed almost identical. The two love interests, Jamie and Chase, were also pretty interchangeable, though I did like how kind both men were.

While I sometimes yearned for a little…more (of what, I’m not totally sure), I thoroughly enjoyed my overall experience of reading this book. There were a few things that didn’t make sense to me, and I didn’t love the epilogue, as I felt it tried to tie things up a little too neatly, but I was intrigued with the slight mystery, fell in love with the bits of magic, felt invested in the characters, and desperately wished I, too, could spend some time with Glory in the kitchen or in her flower garden. 

This was my first time reading this author, and I definitely plan to check out some of her other books. 
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justagir1's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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caseysbooksandbrews's review

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emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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chaptersofchase's review

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emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

5.0

Thank you, Forge Books, for the gifted copy of In the Middle of Hickory Lane. {partner}

Genre: Magical Realism
Format: 📖
Pub Date: 7.26.2022
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

"I think darkness can be peaceful. Sometimes you can see more clearly in the dark than you can the light. The absence of color makes you focus more intently."

Just add In the Middle of Hickory Lane to my growing list of books by Heather Webber that have swept me off my feet and transported me to the world of small-town southern magic.

Webber always writes with an immense appreciation for nature and how it protects and nourishes our bodies. While In the Middle of Hickory Lane felt different from her other books, it inevitably gave me the same feelings that all the others left me with… love. Love for the characters, the setting, the magic, and the message.

I cherish Webber's character development in her stories, but Hickory Lane felt different to me, and I think it's because the characters in this story were dealing with a lot of hurt and grief. They'd been through some pretty dark times. Still, I loved watching as they all grew and discovered what it means to be loved unconditionally.

Also, it's worth noting that this is the first book in months that has actually surprised me. It was just what I needed to get out of my reading slump.

❤️ Character development
✨ Small-town Magic
🥰 Beautiful descriptions of people, places & flowers
🤩 Finally, a book that surprised me

In the Middle of Hickory Lane is a must-read if you have loved Heather Webber's previous books (Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, South of the Buttonwood Tree & Lights of Sugarberry Cove).



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