Reading Hissy Fit: A Novel
“Laced with humor and a sense of place that oozes the aroma of magnolia blossoms.”
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“[A] Southern-fried romp.”
—Entertainment Weekly
Whether it’s a mystery, sassy women’s fiction, or a combination of the two, New York Times bestseller Mary Kay Andrews always gives her fans a read to remember. And now she’s throwing a Hissy Fit, in the best possible sense. A delicious tale of revenge and renovation, Hissy Fit tells of a wronged spitfire who’s determined to see that the no-good lowdown, lying, cheating varmint of an ex-fiancé who ruined her life and her business gets the comeuppance he so richly deserves…even as she struggles to revitalize a broken-down antebellum mansion for a hunky, if slightly odd, local businessman. If you like the novels of Fannie Flagg, Jennifer Crusie, Adriana Trigiani, and Emily Giffin, or are a devoted follower of Rebecca Wells or Jill Conner Browne’s Sweet Potato Queens, then Mary Kay’s Hissy Fit is not to be missed.
**
From Publishers Weekly
Interior decorator Keeley Rae Murdock has designed her whole life, right down to the antique Oriental rug planned for the foot of her bed. What she never counted on was discovering her fiancé, A.J. Jernigan, cavorting with her maid of honor in the middle of her rehearsal dinner. She pitches a hissy fit that reverberates through her tiny hometown of Madison, Ga., and captures the attention of Will Mahoney, a newcomer who recently purchased an antebellum plantation house. Headstrong, freckled Will pressures Keeley to restore the rundown mansion within six months. His plan: to woo a woman whom he has seen only on television by designing the house of her dreams by Christmas. Keeley knows it's an insane plan, but the Jernigans are now trying to put her out of business, so she begrudgingly accepts. As the house comes together, Keeley discovers links between the Jernigan legacy of infidelity and her mother's disappearance many years ago. Darker than the book's fluffy title suggests, this black comedy is riven with shocking secrets. And Keeley's vast knowledge of all things antique offers a fascinating peek into the luscious world of designer home furnishing, sure to make readers drool with envy over sideboards and sofas.
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From Booklist
Andrews is the pseudonym of Kathy Trocheck, primarily known for her Callahan Garrity mystery series. This is the third Andrews title, following Savannah Blues (2002) and Little Bitty Lies [BKL S 1 03], and it's obvious she's on a roll. In the midst of a posh rehearsal dinner for her upcoming nuptials, interior decorator Keeley Murdock discovers her fiance, A. J. Jernigan, and her maid of honor in a lusty embrace. One major hissy fit later, the wedding is off, and Keeley is left trying to salvage her dignity. The disgraced Jernigans use their considerable clout to undermine Keeley's business. Desperate to shore up her finances, she takes a rush job redecorating an antebellum mansion for Will Mahoney, a wealthy entrepreneur who has recently purchased a failing local lingerie factory and whom she indelicately refers to as "bra boy." Andrews' descriptions of antique furniture and heart-pine flooring are so lush and appealing that they will seduce even the decorating-challenged. Throw in the idyllic southern setting and the humorous, often-scintillating banter, and you've got yourself another winning read. Joanne Wilkinson
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