I recently read a great book! I had intended on posting this review quite awhile ago but life took over. But I committed to review it so here it is! And by the way, I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this review.
Dear Carolina by Kristy Woodson Harvey was published on May 5th. Here is a description:
A moving debut novel about two mothers—one biological and one adoptive—from a compelling new voice in Southern women’s fiction.
One baby girl.
Two strong Southern women.
And the most difficult decision they’ll ever make.
Frances “Khaki” Mason has it all: a thriving interior design career, a loving husband and son, homes in North Carolina and Manhattan—everything except the second child she has always wanted. Jodi, her husband’s nineteen-year-old cousin, is fresh out of rehab, pregnant, and alone. Although the two women couldn’t seem more different, they forge a lifelong connection as Khaki reaches out to Jodi, encouraging her to have her baby. But as Jodi struggles to be the mother she knows her daughter deserves, she will ask Khaki the ultimate favor…
Written to baby Carolina, by both her birth mother and her adoptive one, this is a story that proves that life circumstances shape us but don’t define us—and that families aren’t born, they’re made…
What I Think:
The most interesting feature of this book is the fact that it is in written in two different voices, alternating between both of the mother figures in the form of letters to Carolina, that we can assume she will be reading later on in life. Every chapter by young birth mother Jodi starts with some sort of anecdote about planting or canning, her passions in life. Her tone of voice is a little backwards, not quite proper. Khaki’s style is slightly more sophisticated, as she spent a great deal of time working as an interior designer. (And her character seems to be somewhat loosely based on the author’s own life, if I’m not mistaken.)
This is a story of love and family, and proves that family can be whatever you make it, not necessarily just the traditional definition. This is definitely a book that will tug at your heart strings. I don’t want to give too much away but I will say that I loved it and feel that women from all walks of life will be able to relate to one, or both of these women, whether they are a mother or not!
Bio: Kristy Woodson Harvey is the author of Dear Carolina. She blogs at Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life and loves connecting with readers at kristywoodsonharvey.com. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a Master’s in English from East Carolina University. She is a regular contributor for The Salisbury Post, Domino magazine and Houzz. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three-year-old son.
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Thank you so much for this lovely review of Dear Carolina! I so appreciate you taking the time to read it and share with your readers. Your kind words mean the world to me! Have a great day! xo Kristy