Goodreads|Amazon|Author Website
Release date: April 11, 2017
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Genre: Southern Fiction, Historical, Mystery
Blurb:
From the New York Times bestselling author of Flight Patterns comes a stunning new novel about a young single mother who discovers that the nature of friendship is never what it seems….
Recently divorced, Merilee Talbot Dunlap moves with her two children to the Atlanta suburb of Sweet Apple, Georgia. It’s not her first time starting over, but her efforts at a new beginning aren’t helped by an anonymous local blog that dishes about the scandalous events that caused her marriage to fail.
Merilee finds some measure of peace in the cottage she is renting from town matriarch Sugar Prescott. Though stubborn and irascible, Sugar sees something of herself in Merilee—something that allows her to open up about her own colorful past.
Sugar’s stories give Merilee a different perspective on the town and its wealthy school moms in their tennis whites and shiny SUVs, and even on her new friendship with Heather Blackford. Merilee is charmed by the glamorous young mother’s seemingly perfect life and finds herself drawn into Heather’s world.
In a town like Sweet Apple, where sins and secrets are as likely to be found behind the walls of gated mansions as in the dark woods surrounding Merilee’s house, appearance is everything. But just how dangerous that deception can be will shock all three women….
Review:
Let’s start with that cover, I just LOVE it! It’s gorgeous and though the ebook version (which I read) is pretty enough, I’m ordering a physical copy too. The Night the Lights Went Out is a perfect blending of genres with a southern flair, it has drama, intrigue, betrayals, history, a small dose of romance, truly something for everyone. Plus, it’s set in Georgia which always makes a fantastic setting in my opinion.
Merilee moves into a new home following her divorce with her two young children, Lily and Colin. She rents a place from Sugar, a life long resident of Sweet Apple, Georgia. Though these two seemingly have little in common, their proximity allows them to strike up an unlikely friendship and discover they may have a whole lot more in common than meets the eye.
I felt for Merilee right from the start, we’re the same age and imagining trying to start my life over in a small, tight knit is terrifying. Especially when it’s a small town in the south, some of the grown women in this book were worse than Regina George in Mean Girls! Sugar took me a little while longer to warm up to, she’s a bit crotchety but as she slowly shares her past with Merilee, I begin to really empathize with her. Both women were so deeply developed, resulting in characters that will stay with me for a long time.
I simply loved everything about this book, it was super entertaining, magically blending past and present as Merilee and Sugar both narrated sections. There are also sections from an anonymous blogger who only will reveal they’re a neighbor, preferring to keep their identity a secret, but they dispense some great life lessons and hilarious southern sayings. I did figure out a plot twist, but I was having such a fun time reading this, I didn’t even care. It beautifully captures small town Southern life and had enough gossip and whisperings to make it even more juicy.
Overall rating: 5/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Agree…that cover is WOW!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it?! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review Amy, as always! I love the cover too! That’s what originally caught my eye about this book. As per usual I got denied for this book but I’ve got the ebook preordered! I can’t wait for it to come out next week m!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh bummer! Thanks Payton 😘
LikeLike
Great review!!
I LOVE the cover and LOVED the book. I always enjoy her books, but this is going to be my favorite along with Flight Patterns.
Thanks for sharing. The cover is fabulous.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Blog</a
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t read flight patterns, I’m gonna order it though! Thank you
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that cover too! As some one who did move to a small town as a single parent , it sounds like I could relate to Merilee and I love the sound of this book! Fab review 😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Vicki!
LikeLike
Fabulous review! I’ve been pondering reading it, now I know I must. To my surprise there were no holds on the ebook in the library. Yeah me!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That is great there were no holds. ENJOY!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh wow that’s awesome, hope you enjoy!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great review!! I also love this cover. Looking forward to reading this one. I’ve only read a couple of her books but I’ve enjoyed them. Need to read them all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Same here! I’ve only read two but I’m a fan, thank you
LikeLike
Fantastic review! I love the cover and will be adding to my tbr!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree also! The cover is gorgeous!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds extremely claustrophobic! (Though I should say that having moved from London to a 1,000-large village it’s not always like that)!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s lovely!
LikeLike
So… do you think I’d like this one? Absolutely love the cover and really enjoy small town stories… but is it too cheesy? Haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
No I didn’t find it cheesy! Very similar to Big Little Lies. You’ll totally guess the twist but I found the atmosphere and the great characterization to be worth guessing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, then I’m surely reading this soon ❤ Thanks! BLL is so good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome! Hope you like it, I’ll be feeling the pressure haha
LikeLike
😂😂😂 I BETTER LIKE IT…or else
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂 I know!!! I’m scared now, never mind don’t read it
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now you are speaking my language! Small town secrets, Southern charm, and unlikely friendship? I’m in!
There is something so alluring about that cover too…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it striking?! I think you would like this one.
LikeLike