REVIEWS - LOOKING FOR ME
“Hoffman’s novel of a woman putting the pieces of her family’s secrets together combines a deep dramatic impact with Southern charm.”
- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“Intelligent and brilliantly written … a deceptively complex story.”
- Heather Christman, Warwick’s
“Hoffman has a good ear for dialogue. Perfect for fans of family-centered women’s fiction … will have special appeal to readers interested in antiques...”
- BOOKLIST
“How do I do this? How do I tell you what I cannot find the words for? One of those times, like with a lover or family member, when the word love is not enough but it’s all we have. I loved it, I loved it so much that my mind is stuttering to find a way…”
- Mark Peterson, Words in Purple
“After reading Looking for Me, you’ll never think of Emily Dickinson’s line, “Hope is the thing with feathers” in quite the same way again. Sure to be a big hit – and to spark fabulous conversations with friends and book clubs.”
- Claire Cook, New York Times bestselling author of Must Love Dogs, Best Staged Plans and Time Flies
“I loved this story … just brilliant. 5 stars plus!”
- Susan Wasson, Bookworks
“One of Hoffman’s greatest strengths is in how easy it is to become emotionally involved with her characters. She writes from the heart and with such an authentic voice, we come by our love for her work as naturally as if we were reading about our own kin.” A+
- Beth Fish Reads
“It’s a beautiful story of people finding connections, their place in life, whether it’s with other people, furniture, or animals. Looking for Me sometimes just took my breath away …”
- Lesa’s Book Critiques
“What a beautifully written, glorious piece of literature. I loved Looking for Me.”
- Mysteries Etc.
“Beth Hoffman is a master at crafting a gentle story fierce with emotion.”
- SCRANTON BOOK EXAMINER
“… conveys the fragility and beauty of family and the determination to never give up. I absolutely loved this book.” 5/5 stars
- Silver’s Reviews
“There are some books that just deeply touch your heart and Looking For Me is one of them. It’s at the top of my favorites list for this year and believe me it’s a must read folks!”
- Peeking Between the Pages
“[Teddi's] journey is so real, and each character who walks alongside her is a joy … had me turning page after page, not wanting to stop.” 5 of 5 stars
- Carrie Kitzmiller, Books and Movies
“This has got to be one of the best books I’ve read this year.”
- A Patchwork of Books
“Once again, Hoffman shows how gorgeously she paints with words. Some of her passages are without comparison …” 5 out of 5 stars
- Elephant Hiccups
“Ms. Hoffman is indeed a gifted writer… she has won me over as a fan for life. I can’t recommend it enough.” 5 of 5 stars
- Girls Just Reading
“Ms. Hoffman has a knack for creating genuine characters, and novels you want to read from cover to cover in one sitting…”
- Pop Culture Nerd
“Looking for Me grabs the reader from the first paragraph as Hoffman weaves a magical tale of the love of family and nature, the loss of innocence … Enter the world of the Overmans and emerge with a new perspective on hope and love!”
- Lynne LeBlanc, The Fountainhead Bookstore
“I could not stop reading Looking for Me. This is a winner.”
- Ann Klausing, Books a Million
“The title “Looking for Me” was a perfect choice as readers will come to realize for themselves once they finish this touching story. A perfect summer choice. Be sure to read it!” 5/5 stars
- Bibliophile By the Sea
“I loved Hoffman’s first novel … Looking for Me lived up to all of my expectations and more. This novel is filled with uniquely flawed characters … gorgeous imagery and a wistfulness for simpler times, I enjoyed every page of this book.”
- Avery Dickey, Inkwood Books
“Looking for Me is the compelling read of a woman’s lifelong search for her brother and, until that mystery is solved, for herself without him. Infused with southern gentility, the haunting disappearance … highly recommended .“
- Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault
“Torn between fearing her brother is dead and holding on to the hope he’s still alive, Teddi works to build a life for herself … don’t expect to put it down until you’ve turned the last page.”
- Beth Carpenter, The Country Bookshop
“Told with Beth Hoffman’s trademark blend of compassion and optimism … will touch any reader who has ever followed a dream, disappointed a parent, or said a final goodbye to their childhood home.”
- Jill Hendrix, Fiction Addiction
“[Hoffman] carefully crafts such flowing dialogue that one can only begin to imagine just how deep from within this story must have come from.”
- Book Preview Review
REVIEWS – SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT
“Exemplifying Southern storytelling at its best…”
★ Starred Review — LIBRARY JOURNAL
“Most authors dream of a day when one of their books will be on the New York Times Bestseller List. For Beth Hoffman, that dream was realized with her first novel, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. The honor is well deserved.”
—THE DAILY NEWS of Galveston County
“This is one of those books that has that “it” factor…Saving CeeCee Honeycutt has all the components necessary to hit the bestseller list right out of the gate, become a book club favorite and the first novel everybody will be talking about in 2010. It’s simply the best book with which to start a new year.”
—BOOKREPORTER
“A debut of uncommon grace that beautifully illuminates the power of female friendships, it will have you laughing out loud…and leave a satisfying lump in your throat.”
—BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt will have you shedding tears from the beginning, so brilliantly rendered is CeeCee’s situation…. Destined to become a book club classic.”
—THE VOICE, American Library Association
“…the book packs the punch of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple … A wonderful debut, but don’t, if you’re the weepy sort, read it on a train like me.”
—DAILY MAIL (UK)
“…through eccentricity, salvation, joy, injustice, human frailty and the wonder of family, is another to add to the literary treasures of the South… perfectly balances its moments of hilarity and pathos…” —WEEKEND GOLD COAST BULLETIN (UK)
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is Beth Hoffman’s nearly flawless novel … some of the author’s lines are absolute gold … This will end up being one of my favorite reads of the year.”
—THE JAMBALAYA NEWS
“It is truly a gift to read a book with so much heart … every page is a delight. This is a MUST read”
“A Peach of a Novel …”
—LADIES HOME JOURNAL
“Anyone in need of a Southern-girl-power fix will find [Saving CeeCee Honeycutt] engaging. And it offers an invaluable reminder: Even when things look bleak, a few good friends can turn your life around.”
—PEOPLE
“Hoffman is the rare kind of author who can write both authentic characters and vivid settings using all five senses, and I felt wrapped in the world of Savannah while I read. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is southern women’s fiction at its finest.”
—BOOKS AND MOVIES
“This novel moved me to tears … brilliant dialogue … don’t miss this heartfelt, uplifting read.”
—NOVEL ESCAPES
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a gem of a story, lovingly told. Readers who savor books with memorable characters and Southern settings will consider this a novel to treasure.”
—BOOKPAGE
“With an abundance of Southern Charm and a colorful cast of characters, Beth Hoffman delivers a delightful read about the struggles of a 12 year old girl named CeeCee Honeycutt. As the story unfolds the reader is treated to a wonderful journey of love, family and friendship…an excellent debut novel.
—PRINCETON BOOK REVIEW
“If you read just one book this summer, read Beth Hoffman’s “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt.”
— SAN JOSE EXAMINER
“This lovely novel has earned the status of ‘LizPick’.”
—Liz Murphy, owner of the Learned Owl Book Shop, Hudson, Ohio.
— PUBLISHERS WEEKLY “Galley Talk”
“There is a long line of Southern women writers who are beloved for their fictional masterpieces – Margaret Mitchell, Harper Lee, Fannie Flagg, Rebecca Wells, to name a few. With her debut novel, “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt,” Beth Hoffman stands poised to join the ranks of these cherished authors with a sweet Southern story of growing up and coming home…”
—WICHITA FALLS TIMES RECORD NEWS
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt will please any reader who enjoyed Steel Magnolias or Fried Green Tomatoes.”
—AKRON BEACON JOURNAL
“For those who loved Steel Magnolias and The Help, and authors like Fannie Flagg and Rebecca Wells, this book will be a treat. Great characters with terrific voices, strong plotting … “
—THE BOOK REPORT NETWORK
“Set in Savannah in the 1960s, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt touches on some of the racial issues of that time, but it does so in a wonderfully deft way that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. More than anything, this book is a story of mothers and daughters…of all kinds; also one of love, faith, friendship and forgiveness – in all its forms. Once you find yourself among its pages you will be transported, along with CeeCee, to the warm breezes of Savannah, laughing and crying with them along the way. When the journey comes to the end, you will be sad to leave them behind and wish you could stay forever.”
— V MAGAZINE
“CeeCee Honeycutt is a sweet, perceptive girl with a troubled family, and this story of the summer that transforms her life is rich with hard truths and charm. This book unfolds like a lush southern garden, blooming with vivid characters, beauty, and surprises.”
—Kim Edwards, bestselling author of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter
“As a writer myself, I’d say reading Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is like taking a master class in making characters and a world come alive.”
—Melissa Senate, bestselling author of The Secret of Joy and See Jane Date
“I absolutely loved this book … I would not be surprised if Beth Hoffman’s Saving CeeCee Honeycutt becomes an American classic – it is that good!”
—Stuart Ross McCallum, author of Beyond my Control
“A deeply moving story, told beautifully … Most of the books I read vanish from my mind and heart pretty quickly, but this sparkling gem has stayed with me.”
—Mitchell James Kaplan, award-winning author of By Fire, By Water
“SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is a confection so delightful readers will not be able to put it down. Beautifully written, brimming with decency and humor, and sparkling with a cast of women who are by turns wise, generous, and deliciously eccentric, this book is a joy to read. Beth Hoffman has written a debut novel to be savored.”
—Connie May Fowler, award-winning author of The Problem with Murmur Lee and Before Women had Wings
“A tender and touching debut. Charming, disarming, sweet as the scent of magnolias on a Southern summer night, SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is a true delight.”
—Mary Kay Andrews, bestselling author of Deep Dish and The Fixer-Upper
“Reading SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT, I barely stopped laughing, even as my heart broke and broke again for CeeCee. She goes through the wringer with Southern grace, but you never forget all she’s lost, and you never lose sight of her courage and deep resources. Beth Hoffman has written her heart out in this novel that will clearly be the first of many.”
—Luanne Rice, bestselling author of The Geometry of Sisters and The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners
“SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is an absolutely delightful debut novel packed full of Southern charm, strong women, and good old-fashioned heart. From the moment you first step into young CeeCee’s unique world, you’ll never want to leave.”
—Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of True Colors and Winter Garden
“I’d save CeeCee if she asked me! I love this bright, funny, spunky girl, the zany women in her life, and the way they enclose CeeCee in a circle of warmth and friendship that heals all hurts. SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is a joy to read.”
—Sandra Dallas, bestselling author of Prayers For Sale
“It’s always about the voice, isn’t it? There’s plenty of plot here to pull you through from the first page to the last–Cee Cee is embroiled in tragedy even from the first moments, and spends the rest of the book climbing back towards some kind of surface–but plot, as Margaret Atwood said in her story “Happy Endings,” is “just one thing after another, a what and a what and a what.” And, though the whats in question are so compelling as to have kept this reader up well into the night several school nights in a row, it is Hoffman’s hows and whys, toward which Atwood so fiercely points us, that make Saving CeeCee Honeycutt sing. Not for a moment do we doubt Hoffman’s (or CeeCee’s) sureness as the narrative carries us ever forward from Ohio to Savannah, and from girlhood to something else altogether, something that looks like all the terror and awakening and understanding that come with adolescence and adulthood. And it’s CeeCee’s voice–her honesty, her suffering, her search for beauty—which carries the day.”
—Drew Perry, author of This is Just Exactly Like You
“Reading this book was like climbing into new senses. I can see why this book is a bestseller. I adored it!”
—Rebecca Rasmussen, author of The Bird Sisters
“From a talented artist with the written word, Beth Hoffman has given us a gift. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a gem … A beautifully written novel to be savored.”
—Pamela King Cable, author of Southern Fried Women
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a beautiful story about self-discovery, family, and the quirkiness of human nature. CeeCee is a wonderful narrator with an engaging voice and her perspectives are simultaneously moving, fascinating, and funny as she observes her eccentric Southern neighbors. I am looking forward to more treasures from this very talented author.”
—Riley Carney, author of The Fire Stone and The Water Stone
“Hoffman’s sensitive treatment of dealing with grief and living life on one’s own terms was inspired and inspirational … this book is a gem.”
—Terry Gilman, Pages Books and Mysterious Galaxy
“I loved Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. Having lived in the South most of my life and visited Savannah quite a few times, Beth got the rhythm and the feel of the Savannah just perfect. This book is about the power of love and acceptance. It’s about learning to believe in yourself and learning to trust others. I was sucked in right from the start and just had to know how CeeCee would cope with the loss of her mother and moving to a new environment.”
—Bermudaonion’s Weblog
“First and foremost, I think Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is just a wonderful novel. I absolutely fell in love with CeeCee … My heart broke over and over again for her, yet I could see her underlying strength and intelligence. I just knew that there was hope … This is Beth’s debut novel and I promise you that it is definitely a winner. She has created extremely memorable characters and her descriptions of Savannah and the South are just beautiful! I can’t recommend Saving CeeCee Honeycut enough …”
—Booking Mama
“CeeCee is an absolutely wonderful character … It’s difficult to write a convincing child without making her too precocious or unbelievably smart. However, Hoffman pulls it off like an expert … touches on a lot of different serious issues … including mental illness and racism, yet they never drag the book down. Hoffman doesn’t shy away from these problems, but she manages to tackle them in such a way so that the innate goodness of this book remains intact. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a wonderful read that I definitely recommend.”
—S. Krishna’s Books
“Beth Hoffman created a heartbreakingly real world in her novel Saving CeeCee Honeycutt … Although Hoffman uses humor to lighten the story, she does not sugar-coat the Savannah of the late 1960s or the hardships of CeeCee’s childhood. Among the more serious themes addressed in the novel are racism, marriage, women’s roles, mental health care, and parenting … The novel can be read on different levels and touches on several important topics, making it an obvious book club selection. The story is sure to lead to informative and lively discussion. Rating: A. ”
—Beth Fish Reads
“Oh what a book! This book reminded me of The Help. It is the story of a young girl in the South whose mother dies. Her father is basically useless so her fabulous aunt (reminiscent of Auntie Mame) moves her to her home. The interplay of the characters is fabulous and the writing is simply divine. This is a first novel for Ms. Hoffman. Let’s hope she writes another quickly!”
—Great Thoughts
“…to craft an incredibly compelling opening line, to compassionately create all kinds of characters, and to brace the reader’s heart with the lightest touch of humor during the most dramatic or tragic moments, are qualities that many will celebrate. You have gently given me—and the world—a voice of strength in a time when impermanence and fear seem to prevail. Your voice, your characters, your gift of storytelling help the reader, in my humble opinion, to remember, “I am MORE.”
—Sharon Orlando, Youth Services Librarian, Watchung P.L., Watchung, NJ
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt has become a New York Times bestseller, and what a debut it is. Her novel is a prime example of what’s great about southern fiction from the enveloping summer heat of Georgia to the fragrant aroma of orchids and other flowers. [A] captivating debut novel and coming-of-age story about a young lady who has lost her way, only to find a new chapter has begun.
—Savvy Verse and Wit
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt reminds us, no matter what our trials, we are carried along by a spiritual force which manifests itself in those around us.”
— Christi Craig, Writing Under Pressure
“Set in the 1960s, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt touches upon such weighty topics as mental illness, racism, and the definition of family. Sprinkle in some humor, and you have the perfect recipe for a book that will make you laugh, tear up, and learn something about not letting past hurts stop you from living a full life.”
— Diary of an Eccentric
“Lovers of Southern fiction and coming-of-age tales will fall in love with CeeCee Honeycutt and the friends she makes in Georgia, and those of us with a sweet tooth will savor every recipe and dish Oletta lovingly prepares in Aunt Tootie’s kitchen.”
—Write Meg
“Beth Hoffman, has this smooth prose that captures the idiosyncrasies and nuances of southern life and style. The cast of characters is vivid in personality, feminine intelligence, and southern charm. Hoffman also manages to convey a hard core of strength and determination beneath her sweetly loving and exuberant female characters. This seemingly simple story of a newly motherless girl taken in by her great aunt is truly superb. It is both laugh out loud, and cry in the dark, a multi-dimensional story wrapped in the façade of a light and easy read. This is one of those books that you put down, and then pick right back up because you must find someone else to read it and enjoy it with you.”
— Heather Christman, Warwick’s, La Jolla, CA.
“CeeCee’s honesty and curiosity are charming, and she captured my heart; Aunt Tootie’s generosity of her time and material goods is inspiring; every woman brings her own lovable eccentricity to the neighborhood. But it is Tootie’s housekeeper and friend, Oletta Jones, whose strength will stay with me the longest … After you read the novel you’ll want a purple velvet couch of your own.“
—She Is Too Fond Of Books
“A sad, but hopeful story with memorable characters you will not easily forget. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is an amazing debut novel. It is one of those rare books that will stay with you long after the final page is turned. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.”
—Bibliophile By the Sea
“Saving CeCee Honeycutt touches upon such weighty topics as mental illness, racism, and the definition of family. Sprinkle in some humor, and you have the perfect recipe for a book that will make you laugh, tear up, and learn something about not letting past hurts stop you from living a full life.”
—Diary of an Eccentric
“This is the first book to actually make me laugh and cry. When it is sad, be prepared to have your hankies at the ready, and when it is funny, still keep those hankies handy as you will be crying with laughter…”
—Serendipity (UK)
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a story quilted with the patterns of vibrant characters whose lives become intricately connected to the emotional healing of 12-year-old CeeCee. Beth Hoffman’s first novel is a tribute to the strength of women who have survived tragedy and loss to become beacons for others who suffer from emotional scars.”
—The Blue Marble
“This novel focuses on the power of love and acceptance and how important it is to let go of the past and soar towards the future. Learning to love ourselves, believe in ourselves and trusting others can happen more easily when we let go of the things that can haunt us. I believe that Saving CeeCee Honeycutt will be a winner this year and is a book to watch. I can’t recommend it highly enough.”
—Redlady’s Reading Room
“I loved this debut book! Beth Hoffman’s voice is unique and rings true. She’s the real deal in southern fiction.”
—Magical Musings
“[A] beautifully written story that captured my heart.”
—Peeking Between The Pages
“This is easily one of my favorite books for this year. Up until this point I wasn’t much of a Southern fiction type girl but Beth Hoffman has won me over.”
—The Lost Entwife
“Hoffman has skill as a writer and CeeCee is a very engaging character. Not only is it a great book, it was the perfect book for me the day I read it.”
—Devourer of Books
“I LOVED Saving CeeCee Honeycutt! A true southern story with great characters that come to life and who the reader will love! You won’t want to leave them at the end of the book. One of my best customers who recommends books to all her friends and reading groups, couldn’t put it down and is already recommending it. This one will be a word of mouth hit, just like The Help.”
—Best of Books
“This is a book that deserves to be read on a front porch swing and shared with your girlfriends, sisters, daughters and mothers.”
—The Book Bully
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman will make you laugh, cry and remind us of true kindness. A debut Southern novel full of strong women and a generous extended family reads like the first bite into a warm juicy peach on a sultry summer afternoon. I hope you fall in love with young CeeCee as much as I did.”
—Bank Square Books, Mystic, CT
“Beth Hoffman spins a sweet Southern tale of a young girl leaving her past behind and starting over with an aunt and her cook in Savannah. Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is every bit of a good read as the note-worthy authors who have sent their hearty endorsements…”
—Page & Palette
“12-year-old Cecelia is sent to her Great Aunt Tootie’s home in the deep South, where old manners and lifestyle prevail. CeeCee finds help resolving issues about her mentally ill mother and seemingly uncaring father from her eccentric aunt, a wonderfully wise black housekeeper, and their assorted friends and family. With characters who feel very real, this is a lovely story told with humor and compassion.”
—Bookworks
“Saving CeeCee Honeycutt is a beautiful, well written debut novel. It is told with Southern charm, wisdom, and humour. It transports the reader back to a simpler time and era.”
—Bookloons
“A heartwarming novel, full of quirky characters and a sweet, gentle, read that keeps you turning the pages with a smile on your face.”
— Willow Books