Briscoe is at a pivotal time in her life. Writing a thesis for Graduate School, managing a country musician in Nashville (who also happens to be her husband), and constantly trying to stay on top of not only Nashville politics but her own image and health as well. So what makes it even worse? Her famous-musician husband recently made a fool of himself by drunkenly falling off the stage at a recent show, apparently because of a not-so-innocent conversation he had with his opener: Velvet Wickens. As Briscoe tries to manage not only her husband’s tour catastrophes but also their failing marriage, she is expected to finish her thesis by the end of the semester. Will a getaway cabin trip allow her the time to write, Michael the time to finish his album, and both the time to take a deep dive into their marriage?

Southern-Fried Woolf is genuinely a coming-of-age tale. Drema Drudge has taken a typical novel outline and made it into an even more exciting and unique story. From Briscoe’s thesis being woven into each chapter to being a part of every thought and emotion she has, the story captivates the audience from start to finish. This book shows the complexities of working with your spouse and the stressful lifestyle the music industry can lead. Southern-Fried Woolf sheds light on eating disorders, mistrust, the life of a famous musician and the stress it can leave on their family, and even some mother-daughter healing.

The spin of weaving a thesis that the main character is writing in the book was interesting. At times I could see the connections that Drema used between what Briscoe was writing in her thesis and what she was going through in real life. And other times, it did feel repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed this unique form of writing and the way it took you into the main character’s mind. It had me hooked from the beginning, but I could sometimes overdo it. I found this modern take on romance and family life refreshing and the perfect book to sit down with on the weekend to relax.

Pages: 301 | ASIN : B0BPTCV3F5