The Secret to Hummingbird Cake

By: Celeste Fletcher McHale

Narrated by: Nan Kelley

Length: 7 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

“The Secret to Hummingbird Cake celebrates strong women and stronger ties. Its humor, poignancy, and a dash of sass will touch the heart.”

In the South, you always say “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am.” You know everybody’s business. Football is a lifestyle, not a pastime. Food — especially dessert — is almost a religious experience. And you protect your friends as fiercely as you protect your family — even if the threat is something you cannot see.

In this spot-on Southern novel brimming with wit and authenticity, Laine, Carrigan, Ella Rae first met on the playground when they were five years old. Now, as adults, they’re still almost inseparable as they life together: from the sometimes rocky path of marriage to the outrageous curveballs that life sometimes throws — from devastating pain to absolute joy. Through it all, you’ll experience the essence and the joy of true friendship. And if you’re lucky, you just may discover the secret to hummingbird cake along the way.

CBA Reviews

“A delightful, heartwarming, and heart wrenching story that captures the beauty and essence of living in a small, southern town. A must read for ALL girls, 18 to 80.” (Ladies Southern Lit Society)

“McHale’s magnificently penned novel is a story which demonstrates the power of genuine female friendships. The writing is sharp, fresh, and delivered to the reader with finesse and humor...a remarkable debut novel that is a must read for all who sincerely believe true friendship is a gift to be treasured.” (MK Torrance, Goodreads Master Reviewer)

“The book starts out as chick lit but then takes a sharp turn on the genre and gives us something much more...a real look at the kind of remarkable female friendships that so many of us experience in real life but few books ever capture. I laughed and I wept, and readers will too. Wow.” (Linda Stasi, Columnist New York Daily News, author of The Sixth Station as well as six nonfiction books, TV Commentator for NY1, What A Week)

“McHale’s debut novel is such an amazing surprise. Just when you think you’ve heard this song before, the music changes. It will make you laugh out loud and make you cry and stay with you long after the read is done. All in all, a brilliant raw look at life.” (Melissa Grego, editor-in-chief at Broadcasting & Cable)

“Highly recommend this book to bookclubs everywhere. In a world where fake friendship is celebrated, it was most refreshing to read a story that defines what true friendship really is.” (The Dallas Dozen Bookclub)

“Finally! A REAL story about REAL friendship! Get the tissues ready...for the happy tears and sad ones too.” (Grant Junior League)

Full length, standalone novel

Women’s fiction, focused on friendship, and set in the South

Includes discussion questions for book clubs

©2016 Celeste Fletcher McHale (P)2016 Thomas Nelson Publishers

So much love amidst a great loss

This is a thoughtful book that fills your heart with joy, love, gratitude, and yes, sadness. If only everyone could experience the type of friendship described within this book.

Funny and Sad

This book was well written. It had you laughing one minute and crying the next. The story line keeps your interest waiting for the next page. Superb read!

Get your tissue box for this on.

This book is. So funny and at times so sad. I love this book. I’m going to read it again this Christmas.

Heartwrenching and sweet.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book is full of sadness, humor, lasting love, sweetness and honor.

What does Nan Kelley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nothing! That was my only dislike...this book is set in the south and in my personal opinion, it should have been narrated with a southern dialect. Nan Kelley is a great narrator, but she just didn't fit this book. No one says the word Mrs...properly...it is alway Miss...narration was too proper for the book I thought.

wish this book never ended

I could not stop listening, and wish there wasn't an end to the book. can't wait to listen/read more.

Delicious Reading!!

I loved listening and hearing this precious story. How we have all lost something aong the highway of life, only to imagine but for a split second where it went. In this novel, it is there in a simple recipe of friendship and cake. God has blessed all of us with that, we need to see and rekindle that in what we have lost over the year's. Read, reflect and share and a piece of cake today with someone you LOVE!

Great read

This book was filled with laughter some suspense and sadness I seriously loved everything about it.

I expected more

The reviews had my expectation level high. What I read was average. Predictable, and boring. Not much to keep the reader engaged, even though the narrator was very good. Too much emphasis on religion/god. Had I realized it was religious text, I'd have skipped the book.

Magical Beautiful and Heartwarming

I was pushed to tears by the beautifully written story. Makes you grateful for the angels in our lives.

Disappointing

I wanted to like this book. It was highly recommended and since I live in NW Louisiana it seemed like the perfect choice. Sadly I found it trite and predictable which meant it failed to keep my attention. It was well narrated but that was t enough for me to look past the two dimensional characters.