With its corrugated iron siding and cramped interior, the Cherico, Mississippi library is no Antebellum gem. But for young librarian Maura Beth Mayhew, it’s as essential to the community as the delicious desserts at the Twinkle, Twinkle Café. It’s a place for neighbors to mingle and browse through the newest bestsellers, for the indomitable Miss Voncille Nettles to host her “Who’s Who in Cherico?” meetings. The library may be underfunded and overlooked, but it’s Maura Beth’s pride, and she won’t let the good ol’ boys on the City Council close it down without a fight.
Which is why Maura Beth has founded the Cherry Cola Book Club, a last-ditch attempt to boost circulation and save her job. Over potluck dinners featuring treasured family recipes, the booklovers of Cherico come together to talk about literary classics. But soon it’s not just Margaret Mitchell and Harper Lee being discussed over chicken gumbo and homemade biscuits with green pepper jelly. Secrets are shared, old dreams rekindled, and new loves slowly blossom.
Southern charm, wit, and warmth combine in this delightful novel about great books, true friends, and the stories that give life its richest meaning, on and off the page.
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“If Fannie Flagg and Jan Karon’s Mitford were to
come together, the end result might very well be Cherico, Mississippi. Ashton
Lee has created a magical town with characters who will inspire readers and
bring them back to a simpler time and place. With both humor and moving passages,
Lee has captured the quirkiness and warmhearted people of the small town south
to a ‘T.’ Fix yourself a cherry Coke and savor this fun and moving book.”
—
Michael Morris, author of Man in the Blue Moon