***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
In this small Mississippi town, everyone has long memories and loud opinions.
Twins Della and Darby Redd may be identical in appearance, but they couldn’t be more different. Della is outspoken, obsessed with purple, and desperate to be accepted by her peers. Darby is introverted, creative, and sees no need to speak to anyone besides her sister and grandmother, Birdie. Due to a tragedy from their past, all three women’s lives have been blanketed in judgment, scandal, and rumor, preventing them from experiencing true peace and contentment in their small town of Clay Station, Mississippi.
When the sisters enter the final year of their twenties, Birdie and Della begin planning an elaborate thirtieth birthday bash. Della believes the party will finally win her acceptance with the in-crowd and dreams of bringing her boss, Dr. Brian Faulkner, as her date. But when Darby begins to form an unexpected friendship with her goofy coworker, Cliff, she learns through him about a scandalous secret involving Dr. Faulkner that is sure to end in disaster. Telling her sister the truth will force them both to face the reality of who they have become—and whether they still have a place in each other’s future.
In her latest novel, beloved Southern author Susannah B. Lewis explores the burden and blessing of family legacies and the moments along the way for which to give thanks and celebrate.
Southern contemporary women’s fiction
Stand-alone novel
Book length: approximately 73,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Della and Darby by Susannah B. Lewis is a sweet look at two sisters who are very different and yet were brought up together by their grandmother. This sweet romance also shows the struggles of growing up under the shadow of a tragic event.
Story Recap:
Della and Darby are twins sisters who look alike, but couldn’t be more different on the inside. Della is outspoken and loves the color purple, and Darby is an introvert and perfectly happy with just her own company. They live with their grandmother, as their mother died in a tragic car crash when they were seven years old. The car crash caused a scandal in their small town, one that has tainted the twins’ reputations, and one that will never go away.
Della has decided to throw a huge party for their 30th birthdays and wants to invite everyone. She thinks that an over-the-top birthday bash will bring her the acceptance from her peers that she’s always craved. She wants to bring her boss, Dr. Brian Faulkner, a man she admires and wants to date. Darby becomes friends with a co-worker, Cliff, who has admired Darby from afar for a long time. As Darby and Cliff get closer, he confides in Darby a secret about Dr. Faulkner. Darby knows she must tell Della, but she also knows that telling Della will devastate her.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this look into these women’s lives. Both Della and Darby had a tough childhood and they each dealt with it in different ways. The book alternates between both girls’ POVs and their grandmother, Birdena, or Birdie as her granddaughters call her. The book is full of southern charm, and perhaps too much of it at times. Birdie seems to only talk in southern colloquialisms, which was cute for a bit, but I did get tired of them after a while.
The romances were good. They were sweet and closed-door. There is also a religious element to the book, but not overpowering.
Recommendation:
I recommend Della and Darby to anyone who loves a sweet romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Susannah B. Lewis
Susannah B. Lewis is an author, humorist and podcaster. Two of her Christian non-fiction books, Can’t Make This Stuff Up and How May I Offend You Today were published by Thomas Nelson in 2019 and 2020 and were both USA Today Bestsellers. Her fiction novel, Bless You Heart Rae Sutton, was released by Harper Collins in May 2022 and Della and Darby: A Novel of Sisters will be available in February 2023. Susannah has been featured on various websites, including Erma Bombeck’s Humor Writers, TODAY and US Weekly. Her articles have been published in Parents Magazine and Reader's Digest, among others. She is the winner of the Southern Writers’ Magazine short story contest and is a recipient of the Blogher Voices of the Year Award. She is also the host of the Moral of the Story Podcast, produced by Access More.
Susannah lives in Tennessee with her husband, three children and seven dogs.
I don’t like too much religious elements in romance but looks like this was good. Great review!
I love Southern Charm! I’m glad this one was sweet. I do enjoy the cover. Great review!
Good review. Sisters, whether twins or not, can have interesting relationships as this book seems to show.
Yes, you’re so right. Thank you, Linda.
Great review, Wendy! I am looking forward to reading this one! Have a great week.
Thank you, Cindy. I hope you enjoy it.
Sounds like a wonderful story Wendy! Excellent review!📚💜
Thank you, Susan.
I like the sound of this, thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Cathy!
This sounds like a lovely read, and interesting with two sisters dealing with things differently, great review 😊
Thank you, Jenny