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12th out of 147 books
—
90 voters
Blue Straggler
by
Kathy Lynn Harris (Goodreads Author)
Kathy Lynn Harris' clever debut novel is a laugh-out-loud, yet poignant, story about good friends, bad choices, quirky families and new beginnings & a Texas version of Bridget Jones's Diary or Anna Maxted's Getting Over It with the wit and humor of a Melissa Banks story.
Just what is a blue straggler? A blue straggler is a star that appears to be disconnected from those...more
Just what is a blue straggler? A blue straggler is a star that appears to be disconnected from those...more
Paperback, 317 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by 30 Day Books
(first published August 6th 2011)
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Kathy Lynn Harris has an amazing talent for telling a compelling story that had me hooked from beginning to end. Her character of Bailey was an interesting one to read about. She was oh-so-damaged and while she had a heart of gold, wanting to just find her happiness, she stumbled from one bad situation to the next. Luckily she has two friends behind her to support her - the outspoken Idamarie, who was more of a mother to Bailey than her own mother, and her best friend, Rudy, who is quirky, nerdy...more
I love books that read like a diary. This one did to me. I was able to go on the journey with the main character and that was best part. I loved the way Bailey's mind worked and it was a breath of fresh air to read about such a down to earth young woman. I've never been to Colorado or Texas but I felt like I was there. The author did a great job of staying true to this character's personality. I love how Kathy Harris came up with the title for this book. This is one author I'll follow and I am l...more
I so enjoyed this book; the perfect balance of wit & emotion. Honestly, I became a bit obsessed and it's the first book in a long time I finished in a day. Thanks Kathy!
From Lilac Wolf and Stuff
This story was a much quicker read than I expected. I wasn't expecting much, and thought it was another blah chick lit-romance. I started meeting the characters and I'm thinking, "yeah he likes her and after some turmoil they'll get together." It just didn't grab me much.
But it was well written and the characters were fun. So I kept reading. I totally understood Bailey's family, they are like that in Michigan too. Not that they were horrible, but feelings were considered...more
This story was a much quicker read than I expected. I wasn't expecting much, and thought it was another blah chick lit-romance. I started meeting the characters and I'm thinking, "yeah he likes her and after some turmoil they'll get together." It just didn't grab me much.
But it was well written and the characters were fun. So I kept reading. I totally understood Bailey's family, they are like that in Michigan too. Not that they were horrible, but feelings were considered...more
What an adorable debut this was! I reviewed this for the publisher and the book was recommended to me by a friend and I am happy it was.
Bailey or B. is dissatisfied with her life, so she quits her job and goes on a road trip to "study" the life of her great grandmother and finds herself instead.
I loved Bailey, who slightly reminded me of Izzy Spellman from Lisa Lutz's The Spellman Files. She had a sarcastic wit to her that I love in writing, particularly female characters. Furthermore, I loved...more
Bailey or B. is dissatisfied with her life, so she quits her job and goes on a road trip to "study" the life of her great grandmother and finds herself instead.
I loved Bailey, who slightly reminded me of Izzy Spellman from Lisa Lutz's The Spellman Files. She had a sarcastic wit to her that I love in writing, particularly female characters. Furthermore, I loved...more
Apr 18, 2012
Molly
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
everyone
Recommended to Molly by:
Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours
Shelves:
book-review
Have you ever felt like you're just not sure where your life is going, or where you belong? That's just what Kathy Lynn Harris takes on in this extremely addictive novel. She takes complexity and humor, southern charm and deep emotions, connects them all with fantastically created characters, and turns them all out in a powerful, engaging, addictive novel.
Harris takes on meaning of life and what happens to some one who is struggling to find themselves and what they really want out of life. Baile...more
Harris takes on meaning of life and what happens to some one who is struggling to find themselves and what they really want out of life. Baile...more
Dec 12, 2011
Kathy LaMee
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-reviews-on-tracyriva-com,
favorites
I am in love! Blue Straggler is a funny and poignant journey with Kathy Lynn Harris’ protagonist, Bailey, as she sets off on an adventure to understand where she comes from and what makes her tick. The story begins out in South Texas; Bailey is a single woman who passes her days at a job she could care less about. She spends her quality time with her friends, a geeky friend from college and the owner of a local coffee shop. Bailey goes through the motions but yearns for something meaningful in h...more
If your life wasn't going exactly the way you wanted, and you just don't know what to do to change it, would you have the guts to quit your job and take off on a journey of self-discovery? Well, come along for the ride with Bailey Miller, as she travels from her home in San Antonio, Texas to Gold Creek, Colorado, in search of herself and of her great-grandmother's mysterious past.
Bailey Miller is a 30 year old woman from San Antonio, Texas. Her life is one hot mess, she is out of sorts with eve...more
Bailey Miller is a 30 year old woman from San Antonio, Texas. Her life is one hot mess, she is out of sorts with eve...more
Bailey Miller isn’t happy with her life Texas, even though she may not fully understand why. She sometimes feels a disconnect from her family (her brother is the Golden Boy, Bailey – not so golden), but she loves her two friends Rudy and Idamarie, and works a well-paying job. But when the well-paying job practically forces Bailey to quit, an old family mystery is sparked, and Bailey tires of her not-so-smart life choices (often involving drinking) she packs up her Honda and heads out of the grea...more
1 like · like · see review
Apr 28, 2012
Mrs Mommy Booknerd http://mrsmommybooknerd.blogspot.com
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
blog-tour
Blue Straggler is a story about a girl, Bailey, who struggled to find her place (never really feeling like the fit was quite right). She begun growing tired of feeling like a piece was missing, so she was brave enough to go off and search for it via a road trip to Colorado. Although the trip was not an easy, one with many missteps, Bailey finds herself bit by bit along the way. The humor, depth of characters and storyline will remain with me for quite some time. It was honest, beautifully writte...more
Combine the intelligence and sensitivity of Anne Tyler with the gentle but sharp wit of Sarah Bird and you get this compulsively readable love story with an environmental twist. The characters are appealing, and Kathy Harris has a keen eye for the peculiar details of Texas life. I don't ordinarily gravitate toward romances, but this I liked.
1 like · like · see review
This was a story that confounded me (in a good way) at every turn. Where I was expecting light and fluffy, I found thought-provoking writing. Some of the plot twists were forseeable, but the protagonist's reaction to them wasn't. The story rang true, even to those of us who grew up far, far away from Texas.
The author writes beautifully. My favorite quote is: "The grayness of the day begins to ease into evening. In the city, the after-work crowd fills in the bus stops and sidewalks. I recognize...more
The author writes beautifully. My favorite quote is: "The grayness of the day begins to ease into evening. In the city, the after-work crowd fills in the bus stops and sidewalks. I recognize...more
I picked up this book as one that was advertised as "humor." While there were characters that were funny at times, especially the heroine Bailey and her best friend Rudy, I didn't find this book all that funny. It was better than that...a touching and poignant story about a 30 year old woman struggling to find her place in her family (feels like odd person out) her career (she gets demoted and quits) and her love life (so complicated!). While many female readers can relate to Bailey's struggles,...more
In Kathy Lynn Harris' Blue Straggler, a woman on the verge of a meltdown breaks away from her life to discover the truth behind a family mystery while finding herself in the process.
At 30, Bailey Miller feels her life slipping away. She is disconnected from her family in rural Texas, works at a job she barely tolerates and is unable to maintain romantic relationships. After trying to fix her problem by creating a new persona (RODA), visiting an unhelpful Ed Harris-look-alike shrink and self-med...more
At 30, Bailey Miller feels her life slipping away. She is disconnected from her family in rural Texas, works at a job she barely tolerates and is unable to maintain romantic relationships. After trying to fix her problem by creating a new persona (RODA), visiting an unhelpful Ed Harris-look-alike shrink and self-med...more
I loved Blue Straggler by Kathy Lynn Harris! It had it all - amazing and quirky characters, laughter, tears, love...
Bailey is a 30 something single woman living in South Texas that feels disconnected from everything. When she unexpectedly loses her job she decides to leave it all behind and head to Colorado. Her goal is to research why her great grandmother had abandoned her husband and children and moved to the small mountain town of Gold Creek. She hopes that she will find some insight into he...more
Bailey is a 30 something single woman living in South Texas that feels disconnected from everything. When she unexpectedly loses her job she decides to leave it all behind and head to Colorado. Her goal is to research why her great grandmother had abandoned her husband and children and moved to the small mountain town of Gold Creek. She hopes that she will find some insight into he...more
Feb 24, 2012
Kristin (Kritters Ramblings)
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
kritter-reviewed-2012,
ebook
With a very slow start, I was nervous that this little chick lit wasn't going to get going, but it finally picked up. Although, the main story line about Bailey finding out the truth history of her great-grandmother definitely took a back burner in the middle and then picked back up again. There were quite a few things I would rearrange in this little novella.
The characters were sweet, quirky and endearing and their development was fun to watch, but the plotline had some slow spots that made fo...more
The characters were sweet, quirky and endearing and their development was fun to watch, but the plotline had some slow spots that made fo...more
Jun 09, 2012
Denise
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Women of all ages
Shelves:
chick-lit,
read-in-2012
Bailey is on a journey to find herself. After finding a picture of her great-grandmother that she knows nothing about she goes to Gold Creek, Colorado to find out more about her great-grandmother and ultimately more about herself. Bailey's journey is one that everyone can relate to. We all have lost ourselves at some point in our life.
The book started off a little awkward and I was a bit confused. One thing that confused me a little bit was RODA. As the story progressed everything became much cl...more
The book started off a little awkward and I was a bit confused. One thing that confused me a little bit was RODA. As the story progressed everything became much cl...more
When I first read the synopsis for this novel, I thought that it was going to a cute, perhaps cliché but fun read. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The novel is fun, yes, but it’s anything but cliché. This book and the characters get under your skin.
Bailey may not always be the most likable character; but she is a memorable character. Sometimes her actions frustrated me, but I need to know her story. Her journey of self-discovery is universal, and I love that.
There is a great cast of characters...more
Bailey may not always be the most likable character; but she is a memorable character. Sometimes her actions frustrated me, but I need to know her story. Her journey of self-discovery is universal, and I love that.
There is a great cast of characters...more
I hate books were major character relationships evolve in the span of a week or some other short time frame. That being said, I thought the characters were really well done--could use more time with Adam--but they were interesting a "real". Nothing glamorous about this story. Only other complaint is that everything happening in a week's time in CO was less than believable as far as Bailey petitioning to stop the loggers. Really well done making the reader feel the guilt and remorse of being hung...more
Nicely done Ms. Harris!
This was either the story of someone trying to find their family history or the story of someone trying to find a new life for themselves, or the story of falling in love,or the story of coping with loss, or the story of learning to cope with changed friendships... Take your pick. I didn't feel that too many of them really related to each other and some weren't quite finished by the end of the book. Then again, what part of life /is/ really finished? We continue going on through all the little h...more
I was excited to get this book. It sounded just like the sort of book that I most enjoy. However, I had a very hard time getting into it--in fact, I started it four or five times and had to force myself to finish it. I thought the tense was odd and somewhat confusing. And the story itself didn't flow very well. It seemed contrived or forced to me, as if the author was trying too hard (and not quite succeeding) to be quirky and amusing.
Bailey is a lost soul, never sure if she's here or there, just looking for answers to love and life's other questions. She leaves her job, after practically being pushed out the door, and heads for Colorado to find answers from her past.
I really enjoyed the creative characters, each very different and all quite quirky in their own way. Kathy has a knack for developing characters to the utmost extent without overdoing it. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Texas vs. Colorado aspect. I've never been to...more
I really enjoyed the creative characters, each very different and all quite quirky in their own way. Kathy has a knack for developing characters to the utmost extent without overdoing it. I also thoroughly enjoyed the Texas vs. Colorado aspect. I've never been to...more
I loved Bailey, the main character in Blue Straggler. She is a misfit in her own family, searching for her future through her long-hidden past. That she creates meaningful connections wherever she is – and tackles life with a wry sense of humor – makes her an endearing character and this novel a must-read.
I loved this book and found myself completely immersed in the contrasting settings of South Texas and the cool wilderness of Colorado. The loveable characters developed thoughtfully and with great purpose throughout the book, made this one I could not put down! I LOVED Blue Straggler and highly recommend it.
This was a delightful read from start to finish. The characters were all very well developed and fleshed out, the dialog witty and had me chuckling out loud more than a handful of time. Bailey is the main protagonist and she's far from flawless, but I found that I could relate to her on many levels and I enjoyed seeing her grow as person.
There's also a full cast of fun, quirky and colorful characters; Idamarie was by far my favorite, and you'll just have to read it to see why. There's also a del...more
There's also a full cast of fun, quirky and colorful characters; Idamarie was by far my favorite, and you'll just have to read it to see why. There's also a del...more
I don't typically write reviews, but this book was an enjoyable read! The characters remind you of people you know, or wish you knew; the situations more intersting than your familiar experiences; and the possibilities for B and RODA kept me turning the pages.
This started off well, but was not at all what I thought it would be. I thought would be a quirky story about the main character and her travels, but it quickly turned into a cheesy romance novel. Fabio, anyone?
This book uses the blue straggler as a journey of a woman who, through finding out about a mysterious relative, actually finds out about herself.
![Michelle [Helen Geek]](http://d.gr-assets.com/users/1350347351p2/5557851.jpg)
Free on Amazon today [04/10/2012].
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Hi there! Thanks for reading more about me via Goodreads.com.
I grew up in rural South Texas and come from people who work hard, love the land and know how to have a good time on a Saturday night.
As a writer, I'm lucky to have been surrounded by exceptional characters throughout my life, many of whom have lived their lives exactly the way they wanted. The rest of the world could take `em or leave...more
More about Kathy Lynn Harris...
I grew up in rural South Texas and come from people who work hard, love the land and know how to have a good time on a Saturday night.
As a writer, I'm lucky to have been surrounded by exceptional characters throughout my life, many of whom have lived their lives exactly the way they wanted. The rest of the world could take `em or leave...more
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Jan 04, 2013 09:25pm