Alabama Chrome

by Mish Cromer

With nothing but a collection of vinyl records without a player, a shoebox of memories, and a lot of secrets, Cassidy is used to being alone. But when his camper-van breaks down in a snowstorm and he is rescued by a kind young woman, Lark, he finds himself working in a small-town bar and becoming part of the community. But with the arrival of an inscrutable new waitress, Reba, Cassidy finds himself unsettled by a sense of recognition. And there are further complications as Brooke Adler, reality TV host and hero of the town's inhabitants, arrives unexpectedly to shoot a new show. Cassidy is drawn into protecting Reba from the ghosts of her past only to discover that his own ghosts are chasing him and that he must find the courage to speak the truth, or risk losing everything, again. A story of family, both given and found, and the long shadow of domestic violence, Alabama Chrome interrogates the masks of the modern world, and what true kindness means.

190 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2020

Reviews

[Melissa Kemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unputdownable! Loved this book.

[Victoria Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliantly written immersive story of loss, crippling judgment, and the healing power of love. Mish Cromer's debut novel is a stunner - a marriage of deeply disturbing acts of violence and the wounds of the heart lifted by the light of hope and kindness. The characters are messily human and the setting is vividly rural south. I felt as if I was sitting on a barstool at their rundown town bar, having a beer and a talk with each of them. This writer is headed for the New York Times bestseller list.

[Colleen Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me at the title. Alabama Chrome, the slang term for duct tape in the South, I knew it had to be a metaphor of sorts for holding emotions and messy lives together. Writing about the rural South is not an easy thing to do. It has layers of complexity and depth that are often missed if you don’t know it well and intimately understand its nuances. Mish Cromer in Alabama Chrome, was able to do that for me in such an eloquent and compelling way. The grittiness, the secrets, the sense of place, all captivating. I feel as if I have met each one of these characters, in dive bars and diners across the South at one point or another, that is how real and memorable Cromer’s characters were for me. Cassidy, with his messy and complicated life, unfolds with grace and heart. It is a compelling read from beginning to end, told by an obviously skilled storyteller.

[Rosemary Mairs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story about one man’s struggle to come to terms with his past. Cassidy is a drifter, but when his camper breaks down in a small town, the locals show him kindness and he finds employment. Cromer expertly conveys his disturbed state of mind, engages the reader’s sympathy and curiosity to the reasons behind. The content and significance of the mysterious box Cassidy carries in his pocket comes to light at the end of the novel in a heart wrenching explanation. The slow reveal of Cassidy’s past makes this an intriguing read. Judgement and self criticism are predominant themes. According to Cassidy: ‘Sometimes I barely know my own self. Sure, I tell myself a story all the time about who I am, but who tells even themselves the whole truth?’
A beautifully written book with emotional impact.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alabama Chrome – 4/5
By Mish Cromer

This was an absolute stunner of a debut.

I loved the back story to the main character and loved how we were lead to believe something completely different happened and then at the end we find out what actually happened.

This book flowed so easily and I finished it easily. Definitely looking forwarded to seeing more of this authors work!

[Emma Rea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Cassidy is down on his luck, with nothing but a broken-down van, an appreciation of desolate landscapes and a heap of painful memories, when he's rescued by Lark and Beau, who come from a backwood mountain town he'd expected to drive straight past. Working in a bar to pay for van repairs, he becomes embroiled in town life, and his character, past and future slowly emerge. Cassidy's pain is palpable, but it's obvious to the reader, if not to Cassidy himself, that he is much loved by kind people. I so enjoyed the writing in this book, as its oddities of grammar, vocabulary and syntax take you authentically into Cassidy's head, which is a great place to be. A rare, satisfying read, it explores difficult themes lightly. It deserves to win prizes.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent page-turner. Cromer's first novel does a great job of capturing the complexity of Cassidy's struggle to get along in life. I don't want to include too much detail because the story unfolds beautifully, and each revelation sheds new light while peeling back a fresh piece of the duct tape - the "Alabama Chrome" - that holds Cassidy's world together.

Equally impressive is the way in which Cromer has written the people who make up Cassidy's support system. She has an innate ability to create three-dimensional characters whose own complexities provide relief and contrast to Cassidy's journey. Beautifully written!

[Nikki Comninos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of the psychology of regret, grief and hope. With a critique of reality tv to boot. A great read.

[Mish Cromer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love character driven stories, set in small communities with big hearts, and a gritty dose of realism, then this may be your next favourite read.

I wrote this book wanting to explore the quiet outliers, the voiceless ones who have seen and heard so much, but all too often are themselves neither seen nor heard.

Cassidy, a man full of secrets and regret, works behind the bar in a rural Kentucky town where he thinks he can hide from his past. But, as we know, the past has a habit of catching up with us, and when a reality TV crew arrives in town looking for new human interest stories, his fragile peace starts to come painfully and dangerously apart.

Will Cassidy have the courage to face his past, speak out, and see the love and kindness all around him, or will old habits die hard and compel him to keep moving on?

[Helen Aitchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alabama Chrome is a thrilling story of heartbreak, recovery, love and redemption all in one. It tells the tale of tormented man, Cassidy, running away from a secret in hope of a new life, a new start. He gets it, at first. With a new job, friendship, even possible love interest. But feelings of the past linger and are much harder to escape.
A local reporter keeps hanging around and Cassidy knows, she’s found out the truth. As he tries to protect others, his own ghosts surface and he must confront them. He must stop running from his past.
This is an engaging short book, with themes of domestic abuse, loss and forgiveness weaved in. The characters are developed in a strong way that makes the reader empathise and root for them. Touching, powerful and reflective, a excellent read that kept me thinking after I’d finished it.
Highly recommended.

[Charlotte Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end.
The characters are so finely drawn from the moment you meet them all, it's impossible not to get caught up in their world.
I thought it was superbly written. I would highly recommend.

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

He was known as Cassidy to the people around him where he had resided for the last year, a private but helpful guy who had been saved from the side of the road during a snowstorm.
Cassidys life was about to be turned on its head when the arrival of a familiar looking girl called Reba arrives at the bar where he works.
A reporter arriving in town is what brings Cassidys entire past of secrets to light, a guy who lives in fear of his mistakes, living a lie, even down to his name.
His ghosts are finally put to rest so his life can begin again once more.

[Ami Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly complex, subversive and wonderfully addictive, Alabama Chrome is a deep dive into the nuanced world of the deep south. The book drew me in and and then didn’t let me out - the characters and their stories literally sticking to me like a piece of Alabama Chrome. It’s hard to imagine this is a debut - Mish Cromer spins a tale of love, loss, betrayal and hope that is almost too sophisticated to believe this is her first book. I loved Alabama Chrome and I can’t wait to see what she is going to do next.

[Tish Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a lovely story which draws you in and keeps you in to the very last page. You'll be right beside the central character Cassidy as he shows up in a snowstorm and battles his way through a fistful of twists.

[Pamela Chandran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the story, and fell into the cadence of the voice. This is a wonderful first novel and I can’t wait to see what Mish Cromer is doing next.

[Debra Crowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alabama Chrome by Mish Cromer is a story about people, family, and the secrets they carry. Cassidy starts out alone, with only a shoebox of memories and a bunch of secrets, but when his camper-van breaks down in a snowstorm, he meets Lark, a kind young woman who helps him. From there, Cassidy starts working in a small-town bar and slowly becomes part of the community.

The story really focuses on how people help each other and what true kindness means. When a new waitress, Reba, shows up, Cassidy feels like he knows her somehow, and things get more complicated when a reality TV crew comes to town. He ends up protecting Reba from her past while also realizing that he has to face his own ghosts.

What makes this book special is how real it feels. The town is full of believable characters, each with their own struggles. It shows how poverty and domestic violence shape people’s lives without making it feel fake or like it’s trying too hard to be dramatic. The characters make choices that are realistic, even if they’re not perfect, and that makes you care about them.

The book also talks about how people tell themselves stories and how the truth sometimes hurts, but sharing with friends can make it easier. It’s about found family, not the one you’re born into, but the one that supports you when you need it most.

Overall, Alabama Chrome is a heartfelt story about love, courage, and the importance of community. It’s sad and serious at times, but it’s also uplifting because it shows how people can make a difference in each other’s lives. It’s a book that makes you think and feel, and I definitely recommend it.

[Bobbie Darbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cassidy, living out of his camper van, breaks down in a snowstorm and is rescued from freezing to death by members of the local community in small-town Kentucky. While he lingers there, working as a barman, his past begins to catch up with him.
I was enjoyably gripped from the word go. Most of all, Cassidy’s voice is consistently compelling. His observations of other characters are great, and the various mysteries and developing relationships held me throughout. It was a book I always looked forward to coming back to.
Bravo Mish Cromer—I shall look to see what else she has written.

[Amy Orrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly beautiful prose that stays with you. I loved this debut from Mish Cromer!

[Eve Pines · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characters, a little hard to follow.

[Donna Scuvotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly captivating in all the best ways. I absolutely love the way this author brings you into her world and makes you part of it.

Cassidy, a drifter, breaks down in his rundown van on a cold snowy night when a local, Lark, comes across him and nurses him back to health. A friendship develops that they both needed and it's beautiful. He falls in love with the community and its eclectic bunch of residents and takes a job at a local bar/meeting place.

Was Cassidy running from his past, or running to the future? He's mysterious with a secret past he would prefer to keep buried. But when he's forced into the limelight by a nosey reporter doing an expose on life in a small town he's faced with a dilemma. Does he face his demons and tell his story or run from his past once again?

You'll fall in love with the characters. They're relatable. They are everything you envision people are like living off the beaten path, creating a life for themselves with the simple pleasures in life. They look out for one another, getting to know each other from the inside out.

The story is compelling and entertaining as well as masterfully written. The characters will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a book that draws you in from the first page and holds on to you until the last.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A moving story of people and the secret pasts they hide. An impressive debut by Cromer, although I felt work needed to be done on the consistency of the narration’s voice with the accent feeling forced at times, and the plot’s ending falling a little flat with the romance between Cassidy and Lark coming out of nowhere.