May 24, 2013 / Leslie

Review: Looking for Me by Beth Hoffman

Looking for Me
by Beth Hoffman

Genre: Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Viking / Pamela Dorman Books and Penguin Audio
Publish Date: May 28, 2013
Format: Hardcover | 368 pages
Format: Audiobook: Approx 12 hours
Rating: 5 of 5

Publisher’s Synopsis:

Teddi Overman found her life’s passion for furniture in a broken-down chair left on the side of the road in rural Kentucky. She learns to turn other people’s castoffs into beautifully restored antiques, and eventually finds a way to open her own shop in Charleston. There, Teddi builds a life for herself as unexpected and quirky as the customers who visit her shop. Though Teddi is surrounded by remarkable friends and finds love in the most surprising way, nothing can alleviate the haunting uncertainty she’s felt in the years since her brother Josh’s mysterious disappearance. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi is drawn home to Kentucky.

My Thoughts:

This was beautifully written story, timeless in its portrayal of a young woman growing up, establishing her independence and achieving her goals with strength and grace. Teddi has a passion for restoring furniture and vows to follow her dream, even if it means leaving her family and moving to Charleston. It’s a simple story and yet there is so much happening. Teddi will always be haunted by the loss of her brother, Josh, her distant relationship with her mother, and the many things she didn’t know about either of her parents until it was too late.

I adored the country setting. From the descriptive prose author Beth Hoffman’s love of nature shines through. I felt like I was there in the woods of Kentucky, breathing in the fresh air, surrounded by the sights and sounds of nature. I delighted in her inclusion of some of my favorite birds: the brilliant Indigo Bunting, the chipper Downy Woodpecker (with its black and white spotted tail feather), and the beautiful Red-tailed Hawk to name just a few.

I also have an audio copy of the book and listened while I was working in the garden. The audio was narrated by Jenna Lamia, a first-time narrator for me. She has a fantastic range giving each of the characters a unique sound. The voice and accent she used for Teddi was exactly as I had imagined her. I love when this happens, it makes the audio so much more appealing. As much as I enjoyed curling up with the print book in the evening, I highly recommend the audio.

This book oozes charm and was a delight. It only took me a few days to read, and I wasn’t ready to leave and move on to my next book.