Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman

Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books; First Edition edition (May 28, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0670025836
ISBN-13: 978-0670025831

Synopsis

A Southern novel of family and antiques from the bestselling author of the beloved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

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.

My Thoughts

When Beth Hoffman's first book, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt started showing up around the blogosphere, I knew I had to read it. The synopsis spoke to me. I read it and fell in love with the characters. Beth Hoffman is not only an excellent author but she is a wonderful person as well. She is so supportive to us bloggers and she is as down to earth as he characters she writes about.

I was so excited when I saw Beth had a new book coming out. It was released in May. I apologize profusely for taking so long to write this review but life has been so crazy for me this year. Let me tell you though, Looking For Me is just as fantastic as Saving CeeCee Honeycutt!

The storyline in Looking For Me has many layers and a bit of mystery. Teddi Overman follows her dreams from Kentucky to Charleston where she opens an antique shop. Teddi is a bit of a magician. She takes peoples trash and magically transforms it into treasures. She is successful but yet she is missing something in her life. Her brother, Josh mysteriously disappeared and his disappearance has remained unsolved. Josh is a very natural person who is very into birds and nature. He brings a bit of Native American beliefs to the story. I am not going to reveal too much about the storyline as this is a story to be experienced and savored.

Teddi's life is told both in the present and in flashbacks. The two time periods flow smoothly which is a testament to Beth's wonderful storytelling ability. The characters that the reader meets along the way are rich and memorable. The Southern charm shines through in the story and makes the reader feel right at home.

This book is just as wonderful as Saving CeeCee Honeycutt but is a very different read. I loved the element of mystery along with the Native American beliefs that were presented in the story. The characters were just as I hoped they would be. They felt like old friends and just like a visit with old friends, I was sad to see them go when I finished the book. These friends had me laughing and in tears throughout their visit.

Pick up Looking For Me. You won't be disappointed. It is one of my favorite reads of the year! Definitely a 5 star read for me!