Cherico, Mississippi library director Maura Beth Mayhew faces the challenges of libraries just like everyone else. As she is in such a small town, the ever-present dangers of having the library closed so budgeted money can go elsewhere is all too real. With Councilman Durden Sparks breathing down her neck with an agenda for the upcoming budget to re purpose the funds the library normally receives, Maura knows she has to up her game.
With a few friends she starts a group that reviews classics and calls it the Cherry Cola Book Club ( cute story behind the name). The group ties in food with the discussion and looks to go deeper than your average book club. Surprisingly, Durden Sparks accepts Maura’s invitation to join the group, even though Maura is quite aware that Durden is their to undermine her and keep a close eye on what the library is up too.
Will Maura’s efforts to let her community know the value of a library be enough? Or is it too little too late?
You had me at book club. ~ Sheila
I discovered this little gem while browsing audible.com for an audio to go on my phone while I was working outside. Initially as the story started, I had a strong feeling my review was going to include the words “predictable” but sweet.
I have to admit though, I was surprised at the depth behind this story. Maybe it was because of my involvement in our local library and City Library Board, but Maura’s fears of budget cuts and the community not being aware of the value of the library were all to real fears for our own town and perhaps that made me appreciate this one even more. I actually found some of her ideas to present the value of the library to the community to be good ideas and my own mind started turning these ideas to how they could fit in our own community.
All in all, I really appreciated this audio. I enjoyed the fun diverse characters and I have to say the discussion on To Kill A Mockingbird made me want to insist that my own book club review this classic so we can have such a discussion.
Those who appreciate Libraries I feel will like this book. I also feel book clubs could have a lot of fun with this one as there is a lot of food mentioned with recipes in the back of the book (they were read out loud on the audio). I really want to make that Cherry Cola drink with lime they mention… and the tomatoes and okra sound interesting too….
Fun note…
as I was looking up the audio book picture for this post, I seen the cover for the book version. It is funny but as I would probably not consider listening to a “cozy read”, I would not have given this book a second glance due to the cover. I LOVE the audio book cover.
I am going to link this post to Weekend Cooking as the back of the book (and in the audio!) listed all of the recipes for the southern YUMMY foods they mentioned throughout. I will listen to the last chapter again to pick up on some of these recipes. I LOVE when books talk about food and then give us the recipes to make what they discussed!
Book Journey 
I wouldn’t have picked up a book with the second cover either.
I know a lot of people really enjoy the cozy reads – and I have read a few and enjoyed them but it is the covers that get me….lol
That first book cover did grab me…and reminded me of how much I loved Cherry Coke back in the day….but the issue of libraries is definitely one that also grabs me. Thanks for sharing.
It made me want to try their cherry cola with lime punch they offered up in the back of the book/audio. 😀
The name caught my attention as that the cola I drink, next the cover is good and I am putting the bok on my TBR list.
It was “book Club” that pulled me int to this one Betty 🙂
I like the audiobook cover better too.
It was a great listen!
I totally agree about the covers!
That audio cover is so much better!! Think I’d enjoy this book, too.
I enjoyed the audio version – in book format this would have been good to go back and look at the ideas that were implemented in bringing the library to the minds of the community. I did not look at this as a “cozy read at all as it felt as though it had a significant story to tell.
Sounds like a fun read!
It was 😀
how interesting to have different covers. I like them both, but the first one seems to match the title better
Agree 😀
You made this sound real good. I will give it a chance despite its low rating on GR.
It was the connection to the library that made it a win for me.
Sometimes readers expect a big epiphany to happen when reading a book. Sometimes one can’t just toodle doo down a babbling brook with a read.
Another one for my library list – thanks!
Yes! For sure!
Libraries are a special interest of so many of us that we’d all probably like it more than most cozies!
Right! I was actually surprised to see it was a cozy…. I didn’t get that at all from the read.
Library and book club … sold! But I wouldn’t have given the book a chance with the print cover. Glad it didn’t read like a cozy, I’m not much into them 🙂
I am not into them either Sheree! 😀
This sounds fun! Any book involving books, libraries or food generally appeals to me. I do have to say that the 2nd cover looks a little too cozy for me and I tend to like cozies. I’ll have to add this to my wishlist! Thanks for sharing!
I agree… certain trigger words in the title suck me right in!
Sometimes a fun book is just the right choice. But when such a book has some depth (library troubles, book clubs) then that’s all the better. Now you’ve got me curious enough to see if my library has a copy.
Oh good! 😀
I love the title. I’d read it just for that + your review!
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