Looking for Me

by Beth Hoffman Narrated by Jenna Lamia

Overview

Winner of the 2014 Ohioana Book Award for fiction.*

The latest New York Times bestseller by the beloved author of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt

Beth Hoffman's bestselling debut, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, won admirers and acclaim with its heartwarming story and cast of unforgettably quirky characters. Now her flair for evocative settings and richly drawn Southern personalities shines again in her compelling second novel, Looking for Me.

Teddi Overman found her life's passion in turning other people's castoffs into beautifully restored antiques. Leaving her hardscrabble Kentucky childhood behind, Teddi opens her own store in Charleston. She builds a life as unexpected and quirky as her many customers, but nothing alleviates the haunting uncertainty she's felt since her brother Josh mysteriously disappeared. When signs emerge that Josh might still be alive, Teddi returns to Kentucky, embarking on a journey that could help her come to terms with her shattered family-and find herself.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

Hoffman’s follow-up to Saving CeeCee Honeycutt presents her fans with a delightful character piece for a lazy day. Upon graduating from high school, Theodora “Teddi” Overman leaves her childhood home in rural Kentucky to pursue her passion for restoring old furniture. Her decision strains an already fragile relationship with her mother, but Teddi is content with the life she makes for herself in her Charleston antiques shop. One item from her past, however, continues to haunt her: the still-unexplained disappearance of her brother, Josh. When Teddi’s mother dies after an unexpected stroke, clues start to emerge that Josh has been alive all these years, and Teddi must confront her painful memories anew. On a trip back home, Teddi returns to Red River Gorge, the beautiful, secluded area where her brother was last seen. Though readers may question certain plot turns, these less plausible moments won’t detract too much from the enjoyment to be found in Teddi’s story. Hoffman’s novel of a woman putting the pieces of her family’s secrets together combines a deep dramatic impact with Southern charm. Agent: Catherine Drayton, Inkwell Management. (June)

From the Publisher

Praise for 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

"Hoffman has a good ear for dialogue, and Teddie and her friends are realistic, appealing characters. Perfect for fans of family-centered women’s fiction, this book will have special appeal to readers interested in antiques and 'shabby chic' style."
—Booklist

Praise for Saving CeeCee Honeycutt:

“Anyone in need of a Southern-girl-power fix will find [Saving CeeCee Honeycutt] engaging.”
—People

“A peach of a novel.”
—Ladies’ Home Journal

“SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT is an absolutely delightful debut novel packed full of Southern charm, strong women, wacky humor, 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 Home Front and Night Road

“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

“I barely stopped laughing, even as my heart broke and broke again for CeeCee . . . Beth Hoffman has written her heart out in this novel that will clearly be the first of many.”

—Luanne Rice, bestselling author of Little Night and The Silver Boat

“Charming, disarming, sweet as the scent of magnolias on a Southern summer night.”

—Mary Kay Andrews, bestselling author of Summer Rental and Spring Fever

“A Southern charmer.”

—Publishers Weekly

“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 (starred review)

JUNE 2013 - AudioFile

Teddi Overman, born and raised in rural Kentucky, becomes an accomplished furniture restorer and antiques dealer in Charleston. Jenna Lamia performs this journey of self-discovery and love in a melodious Southern accent that suits the characters perfectly. Lamia’s voice becomes that of the adventurous and determined Teddi, as well as differentiating the secondary characters with skill: a toothless old man; a wizened furniture restorer and gruff millionaire; a self-assured book conservator, and many others. Teddi’s journey is intertwined with her search for her missing brother, Josh, who disappeared one day into the Kentucky wilderness. Lamia’s soft tones deliver the luscious descriptions of Kentucky farmland, isolated wilderness, and antique furniture. This memorable story will charm listeners. M.B.K. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

Self-taught furniture restorer and successful business owner Teddi Overman has built a good life. Yet a mystery from her past lingers. Raised in Kentucky, Teddi had an idyllic, if offbeat childhood. Her controlling mother, Franny, discounted her ability to transform junk into art, even after Teddi's faux-finished bedside table earned her $100 and an invitation to visit an antiques dealer in Charleston. Franny instead bought Teddi a typewriter as a graduation gift and pushed her to go to secretarial school. Teddi's father, silent and supportive, gave her a car and a map: her tickets to freedom. Josh--Teddi's younger brother, a gifted naturalist and possible vigilante--gave her a horned owl's feather and wished her luck. But then Teddi broke her mother's heart, her father died, and Josh disappeared. Burying herself in her work, Teddi relies on her quirky collection of friends and foes. Mr. Palmer, the owner of the Charleston antiques store, gives Teddi her first chance and introduces her to Albert, a brilliant furniture repairer. Olivia, a rare books conservationist and Teddi's best friend, meets her in the cemetery for emergency confidences over lunch. Tedra and Preston Calhoun help her negotiate the world of bank loans with distinct Southern charm. And then there's Miz Tula Jane Poteet: a nice but forgetful little old lady or a kleptomaniac? Of course, her lawyer son eagerly pays for all of Tula Jane's "purchases," but he just as eagerly cuts short every conversation with Teddi. Just as love begins to nudge at the edges of Teddi's life, she is forced to reckon with Josh's disappearance and her mother's dashed expectations. Hoffman's (Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, 2010) sophomore novel confusingly mingles a charming Southern-girl romance with a weighty mystery. The romance resolves predictably, yet the mystery leaves far too many loose threads.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169206715
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	05/28/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	957,119

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