February 23, 2013

The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones


The Next Time You See Me by Holly Goddard Jones is set in a small rural town in Kentucky. The characters are lonely, somewhat self-proclaimed outcasts who are hiding secrets of their own. This heartbreaking tale will keep you reading long into the night to find out what happens next.


Book Description
In The Next Time You See Me, the disappearance of one woman, the hard-drinking and unpredictable Ronnie Eastman, reveals the ambitions, prejudices, and anxieties of a small southern town and its residents. There’s Ronnie’s sister Susanna, a dutiful but dissatisfied schoolteacher, mother, and wife; Tony, a failed baseball star-turned-detective; Emily, a socially awkward thirteen-year-old with a dark secret; and Wyatt, a factory worker tormented by a past he can’t change and by a love he doesn’t think he deserves. Connected in ways they cannot begin to imagine, their stories converge in a violent climax that reveals not just the mystery of what happened to Ronnie but all of their secret selves.” – The Next Time You See Me


My Thoughts
The Next Time You See Me is a very character driven book that creates a Southern town and its residents that could be so true to life, it is eerie. The main characters are memorable, and have qualities that everyone can relate to, even if to a small degree. My personal favorite was Emily, the outcast thirteen year old. However, Susanna is a close second. The lonely characters make you want to hug them, and help them through the story, which becomes woven together like a literary master. Fantastic story that is a great read for anyone. I highly recommend it.


* Thank you to the publisher of The Next Time You See Me, Touchstone, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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