The Beautiful Misfits
Description
Eighty-four seconds can change your life. Or destroy it. Josie Nickels is an Emmy-winning news anchor, poised to rise through the ranks of television journalism. On a bitter March evening on live TV, the pressures and secrets burbling behind the closed doors of her ridiculous Victorian mansion explode and the overwhelmed journalist spills family secrets like a Baptist at altar call. The aftermath costs her much more than a career. It robs her of a beloved son—a preppy, educated millennial trapped in the deadly world of addiction. Desperate for a new start and a way to save her son, Josie packs up her pride, her young daughter, and accepts a new job slinging cosmetics at a department store make-up counter with other disgraced celebs. In the gorgeous mountains of Asheville N.C., known for hippies, healings, and Subarus, Josie is faced with a choice for her son: Take a chance on a bold, out-of-the-ordinary treatment plan for her son or lose him forever. This heart-wrenching and, at times, hilarious novel, will delight fans of book-club women’s fiction and inspire and give hope to those with addicted sons and daughters.
Praise for The Beautiful Misfits
“In her newest novel, ‘The Beautiful Misfits,’ Susan Reinhardt wraps all the emotions with beautiful imagery. She balances darkness and pain with the light and joyful moments of a family coping with addiction and secrets." —Lee St. John, #1 Amazon bestselling author and Georgia Author of the Year
"Reinhardt's talents shine here and put her on par with Fannie Flagg and Rebecca Wells. Her misfits are definitely worth getting to know." —Tracy Beckerman, Amazon best-selling author of Barking at the Moon: A Story of Life, Love, and Kibble
"[Susan Reinhardt] can turn tears of laughter into the other kind in a single paragraph. You’ll love The Beautiful Misfits.” — Robert Tate Miller, bestselling author and movie screenwriter for CBS, NBC, Disney, and Hallmark
"Reinhardt writes from the heart on the serious problem of rampant drug addiction—but always with the warmth and humor her long-time readers know to expect." — Vicki Lane, author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes and the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian mysteries
The Beautiful Misfits is the perfect title for this gorgeous novel that has a cast of unforgettable characters. As the novel wades into the deep territory of drug and alcohol addiction, it keeps a lightness through the interactions of the strong-minded women who shine throughout the book. The protagonist Josie won my heart over from page one. I found myself fiercely rooting for her with each challenge she faced - which are many! Susan Reinhardt's skillful and impressive writing glows from sentence to sentence as she pulls the reader in with a southern charm that has a spicy bite to it. I absolutely loved this book. —Kerri Schlottman, author of Tell Me One Thing.
“I don't know if I've ever gotten sucked into a book so fast! It usually takes me a few chapters to get into something, but I was so invested by literally the second page. The writing is BEAUTIFUL, but it's so much more than that - there's an authenticity here that I don't see in a lot of books these days. I won't give any spoilers or re-write the whole summary, because the book jacket does a perfect job on its own. I'll only expand it to say, you're going to have a lot of feels. You're going to LOVE this book. And it may just end up as one of your top reads this year. Please, please, please read it! You won't regret it. And I promise, I don't ever recommend books unless I truly, truly love them.” —Breanne Randall, author of the upcoming The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic
“Susan Reinhart is a Southern treasure, and one of those rare authors who can evoke laughter and tears. ‘The Beautiful Misfits’ also reveals her keen eye for detail and a well-turned phrase. It's beautifully written and shows another side of Reinhardt’s gifts. This is a poignant tale you won't soon forget.” –Karin Gillespie, author of “Love Literary Style”
“With grace, humor, and honesty, Susan Reinhardt delivers an important novel about the tragic opioid and drug addiction gripping our country. But, at its core, ‘The Beautiful Misfits’ is the story of a mother’s unconditional love for her son and her unwillingness to give up on him. Weaving humor and heartbreak, Reinhardt reveals what it’s like for a woman to walk the almost indistinguishable lines between loving and enabling and letting go and holding fast. This is a book with heart and hope. Don’t miss it!” –Tracey Buchanan, author of “Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace”
