The Sweet Taste of Muscadines: A Novel

Pamela Terry

Mar 2021 · Sold by Ballantine Books

About this ebook

A woman returns to her small southern hometown in the wake of her mother’s sudden death—only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets—in this intimate debut novel, written with deep compassion and sharp wit.

“A deeply moving work of Southern fiction that will appeal to fans of Where the Crawdads Sing . . . a story to remember long after the last page is turned.”—Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop 

Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father’s untimely demise when she was a child. Both Lila and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives of their own. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain behind to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet despite their independence, Lila and Henry know deep down that they’ve never quite reckoned with their upbringing.

When their elderly mother dies suddenly and suspiciously in the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, Lila and Henry return to the town that essentially raised them. But as they uncover the facts about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines reminds us all that true love never dies.

Ratings and reviews

A STORY OF FAMILY & HOME! “Maybe home is more something you carry inside you than the ground on which you stand.” Lila (Bruce) Breedlove and her brother Henry grew up in the small Southern town of Wesleyan, Georgia. Both of them fled for the North as fast as possible after high school where they established successful and fulfilling lives of their own. Their younger sister, Abigail, opted to stay right there in Wesleyan and dote on their over the top, domineering Mother, Geneva. When Geneva dies suddenly and suspiciously, Lila and Henry must return to their hometown. Upon their arrival, they are astounded by new facts that learn about their Mother’s death. This sends them on a journey of discovery to find the truth that will forever change the course of their lives. Author Pamela Terry’s debut novel is a wonderfully woven tapestry of a family’s past, present and future. Terry carefully unfolds the truths, layer by layer and throws in a bit of suspense along the way. She manages to tackle the topics of family, love, overreaching expectations, religion, friendships that withstand the tests of time, and the consequences of deeply buried secrets and the consequences they caused. “Home” plays such an important aspect in this novel. When Lila and Henry returned home after their Mother’s mysterious death, they realized how much they had taken their friends and their Mother’s friends for granted. They realized anew exactly who they could rely on without even having to ask! They also realized the toll that staying had taken on their sister. Yet, beyond a shadow of a doubt, they knew they would all get through whatever they might have to face because of the lessons they learned from HOME. I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel by Random House Publishing & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

I do not normally read this type of book, and I’m not sure what made me choose to do so now. When I started it, I was just going to read the first chapter or so because I had things to do and I really didn’t expect it to hold my attention, especially within the first few pages. I could not have been more wrong. This story immediately pulled me in. With it’s lush descriptions and emotion pouring out of every word, I was quickly swept up into Lila’s current life, as well as her past. With each word I found myself immersed in the southern atmosphere she grew up in. I cannot recall another book that evoked such a feeling of being present in the story, as The Sweet Taste of Muscadines did. I found myself loving each of the siblings and captivated by the way they dealt with the issues at hand. The plot is multi-layered but so beautifully woven together, I didn’t even recognize its many dimensions until I reflected back on it. This has a fast pace and while it richly paints a picture of life in the South, it never bogs down or becomes repetitive. I was unable to stop reading once I began. How is it possible this is this author’s debut novel? I’m astounded at her talent and would not be surprised if this were to ever be made into a movie.

Epic Story of Family Secrets, Lies, and Love I loved this book. The first of the book is so slow, wordy, and maybe tiresome. But it is the calm before the storm. In setting the scene so thoroughly, we are encompassed in the Southern Way. In a world where politeness masks the knife in your back and pretending not to notice the elephant in the room allows you to gossip later. A land where one has to fit in on the surface or be shunned out of existence. Suddenly, the story turns on its axis and we are as sucked into the void as the characters are. Their lives are turned upside-down and they struggle to make sense of it all. What a rollercoaster of emotion! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

About the author

A lifelong Southerner, Pamela Terry learned the power of storytelling at a very early age. For the past decade, Terry has been the author of the internationally popular blog From the House of Edward, which was named one of the top ten home blogs of the year by London's The Telegraph. She lives in Smyrna, Georgia, with her songwriter husband, Pat, and their three dogs, Apple, Andrew, and George. She travels to the Scottish Highlands as frequently as possible and is currently at work on her second novel.