The Key to Circus-Mom Highway

1 Writer

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Book Release Date: Jan 3, 2023 ADVANCE PRAISE for the book: “A road trip takes three siblings through their mother's eye-opening past in this novel...Although it steps into grim territory, Rice's tale provides ample comedy...Characters, meanwhile, bond in fun, unexpected ways...This breezy, charming tale incisively shows a family's bittersweet facets.” –Kirkus Reviews “In this rollicking family dramedy, debut author Rice sends three lovable siblings on a zany yet touching road trip… Comedy marks every page as Jess slings sarcastic one-liners, and wacky characters intervene in every quirky destination… Rice’s sharp observations of society’s absurdity verge on the satirical and even on occasion veer toward delightfully crude. To offset the humor, solemn moments add depth to the siblings’ inner journeys… Fans of family drama, road trips, and non-stop laughs will love this cross-country adventure.” –BookLife/Publisher’s Weekly A "feverish, entertaining novel...The sisters' tongue-in-cheek poking at each other mixes with childhood flashbacks, heightening their shared exasperation and affection for each other...The truth about Angie's past may be somewhat macabre, but the novel evades despair well. A tall tale featuring violence and bayou gators, The Key to Circus-Mom Highway is a zany novel in which two adoptees rediscover their family roots." –Foreword Clarion Reviews "[A]n engrossing story... Allyson Rice creates a rollicking good read that is filled with humor, wry life observations, and odd family interrelationships as these shared experiences evolve. She is especially astute at presenting contrasts in perspective and perception within these encounters... The result is a fictional portrait of sibling drama and life events which excels in the unexpected, teaches (by way of example) how disparate personalities can come together; and offers thought-provoking scenes of disconnection and connection. This will attract not just libraries seeking good leisure reads about sibling relationships, but book discussion groups focused on family trauma and drama." –Midwest Book Review (D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer) “5 stars…Zany, humorous, wacky, outlandish! I loved this book…The author was able to flesh out her characters which allowed me to imagine this road trip in full detail. I am very glad that I picked up this book and hope for more from this author.” –NetGalley Review "The Key to Circus-Mom Highway is a twisted trip through the past and present... Allyson Rice relates how a first impression is not always the best or most accurate representation of a person, as Jennifer, Jesse, and Jack unravel their mother’s past while dealing with their feelings of abandonment... There were times the story almost read like a screenplay, as I could see the scenes unfolding in front of me like a movie. " –Reader's Favorite