Media Reviews
"[A] by-the-numbers Southern charmer...madness, neglect, racism and snobbery slink in the background, but Hoffman remains locked on the sugary promise of a new day." - Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review. [A] charming debut...exemplifying Southern storytelling at its best, this coming-of-age novel is sure to be a hit with the book clubs that adopted Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees." - Library Journal
"As uncomplicatedly sweet as one of Oletta's famous cinnamon rolls....humor, wish-fulfillment and buckets of sentiment bulk out an innocent, innovation-free debut that would work well for teenage readers." - Kirkus Reviews
"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
"This lovely novel has earned the status of 'LizPick' even before it's published."
- Liz Murphy, The Learned Own Book Show (in Publishers Weekly's "Galley Talk")
This information about Saving CeeCee Honeycutt was first featured
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Reader Reviews
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pilar arsenault
BOOK IS AMAZING This book just really captured how I felt growing up. It’s super relatable in the aspect of having a mother with mental issues, and really is just and overall a mind changer on how bad mental health can get. It is an amazing book for feeling as if your life book can change for the better
Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews
An All-Time Favorite - Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews Flying dishes, prom gowns, red high-heeled shoes, embarrassing school days....what more could a child take.
Cee Cee Honeycutt lived with her parents who consisted of a mother who thought she missed out on life since she left her home town in Georgia to marry an older man and her father, an absent traveling salesman. Life didn't really turn out very well for anyone in the family, but once Cee Cee met Great Aunt Tootie, her life was something she never would have imagined.
Here is how she happened to be with Aunt Tootie.....one day as Cee Cee's mother was coming back from the Goodwill store wearing her newest prom gown, she absentmindedly ran into the street and was hit by an ice cream truck and died. Cee Cee was then moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her Great Aunt Tootie, but not before her loving neighbor, Mrs. Odell, told her about the Life Book we all have with pages that need to be turned when the time comes.
And what a page in Cee Cee's life was turned when she arrived in Savannah....loving people to surround her and protect her, especially Oletta, Aunt Tootie's cook, and of course Aunt Tootie who showered Cee Cee with hugs and affection that had been lacking in the previous twelve years of her life. Cee Cee’s unconventional neighbors and a beautiful home also helped add pages to her Life Book.
You will absolutely LOVE this book especially if you like sweet, nostalgic, heartwarming reads with a Southern charm...some of the scenes were laugh-out-loud and others brought tears to your eyes with the tenderness.
The characters were lovable and genuine. It is a beautiful, touching read...just like a BIG hug.
Going to end my review with a quote from Oletta, my favorite character: "Don’t go wastin’ all them bright tomorrows you ain’t even seen by hangin’ on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go.” Page 290 Cee Cee definitely had “bright” tomorrows to put in her Life Book thanks to all the loving women in her life.
Thanks, Miss Hoffman… This is going to be one of my all-time favorite books.
5/5
Louise J.
5-Star...Delicious Winner!! Oh, I absolutely LOVED this novel!!! For a debut novel it really belongs up there with the season author’s. Beth Hoffman’s first novel is adorable, sweet, tear-jerking, heart-tugging, wise, and speaks to the wonderful hospitality, etiquette and good manners of people in the South.
The characters are so well developed in the novel. You will absolutely love CeeCee, Tootie, Oletta and Mrs. Odell. However, the relationship that CeeCee and Oletta carve out is unbelievable. Just their relationship alone will make you laugh and make you cry. Aunt Tootie’s kindness toward CeeCee is overwhelming, I wish she’d adopt me!
You’ll love the cray neighbours, especially Ms. Hobbs and Ms. Goodpepper who don’t get along with each other at all and you’ll laugh your head off at a particular scene that takes place in Ms. Hobbs backyard one dark night with CeeCee and Ms. Goodpepper, unbeknownst to Ms. Hobb, are witnessing moment-by-moment. And you’ll be shocked and then laugh at what they pull at an elegant afternoon garden party for CeeCee.
All in all this was one of the best books I’ve read this year and I’d recommend that everyone pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed!! This is definitely going on my permanent bookshelf.
Elizabeth
A Beautiful, Touching Read Flying dishes, prom gowns, red high-heeled shoes, embarrassing school days....what more could a child take.
Cee Cee Honeycutt lived with her parents who consisted of a mother who thought she missed out on life since she left her home town in Georgia to marry an older man and her father, an absent traveling salesman. Life didn't really turn out very well for anyone in the family, but once Cee Cee met Great Aunt Tootie, her life was something she never would have imagined.
Here is how she happened to be with Aunt Tootie.....one day as Cee Cee's mother was coming back from the Goodwill store wearing her newest prom gown, she absentmindedly ran into the street and was hit by an ice cream truck and died. Cee Cee was then moved to Savannah, Georgia, with her Great Aunt Tootie, but not before her loving neighbor, Mrs. Odell, told her about the Life Book we all have with pages that need to be turned when the time comes.
And what a page in Cee Cee's life was turned when she arrived in Savannah....loving people to surround her and protect her, especially Oletta, Aunt Tootie's cook, and of course Aunt Tootie who showered Cee Cee with hugs and affection that had been lacking in the previous twelve years of her life. Cee Cee’s unconventional neighbors and a beautiful home also helped add pages to her Life Book.
You will absolutely LOVE this book especially if you like sweet, nostalgic, heartwarming reads with a Southern charm...some of the scenes were laugh-out-loud and others brought tears to your eyes with the tenderness.
The characters were lovable and genuine. It is a beautiful, touching read...just like a BIG hug.
Going to end my review with a quote from Oletta, my favorite character: "Don’t go wastin’ all them bright tomorrows you ain’t even seen by hangin’ on to what happened yesterday. Let go, child. Just breathe out and let go." Page 290 Cee Cee definitely had "bright" tomorrows to put in her Life Book thanks to all the loving women in her life.
Thanks, Miss Hoffman… This is going to be one of my all-time favorite books.
mainlinebooker
a book to make you smile Touching tender book of a 12 year old who comes to live with a group of eccentric Southern women, all who have been "battle scared" but have become strong independent women. A light book, but perfect for a snowy day!
SallyAnn
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt People is wise ‘cause they get out in the world and live. Wisdom comes from experience—from knowin' each day is gift and accepting it with gladness. -----But ain’t no book in the world gonna make you wise.
Beth Hoffman has written a feel good story that has a delightful cast of characters amid the loss of a mother in mind and then body.
CeCe is a smart 12 year old and by today’s definition was abused as a child and her mother is nuts in a funny sad way. Her mother, Camille, is a Georgia belle rotting in the cold of Willoughby Ohio and keeps reliving her glory days as an Onion Queen. The father is unable to cope with his wife’s illness or CeCe so he becomes mostly.. absent. This all takes place in the 1960’s.
As her mother’s illness results in her death, CeCe goes to Savannah, Ga to live with her wealthy great, great aunt Tootie Caldwell. and her household help Oletta Jones. This is where the fun and adventures begin.
I am not sure why anyone lumps this book together with THE HELP except they are both in the South in 1960. It is more poor girl to rich girl with the good and evil witches along for the ride. Once you meet Violene and Thelma, that is all you need to fully enjoy this book complete with a cat fight at a posh garden party.
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