A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase
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Web ID: 15775205Ratings & Reviews
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5 reviews
Heavy topics
I enjoyed this debut, but it was not what I expected. It was much more serious than the summary and cover led me to believe. The relationship between Grace and Loralynn is fraught, to say the least, and makes this a very heavy read (add in a few triggers: cancer, domestic abuse, cheating) and Elvis has his work cut out for him. Worth the read, but be prepared. 3.5 stars
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Wonderful mother-daughter story
Take a trip from El Paso to Graceland with Grace and her mother, Loralynn, for a 70th birthday adventure! The detailed setting of sights and stops along the way felt as I was in the car with them both. With each stop along the way, Grace gains a little more insight into her mother, but will it be enough to repair their relationship? Throughout the story, one common goal is in sight, get to Graceland! The antics, the stories and the great characters kept me turning the pages to see how this story would continue! Thank you NetGalley and Forever for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
lovely women's fiction read
A THOUSAND MILES TO GRACELAND is a lovely women's fiction read about family, healing, and trauma. Grace's mother has always been a bit much and very into Elvis. For her seventieth birthday, she is trying to convince Grace to come down to El Paso and drive her to Graceland, as she has never been - it's her dream destination. Grace immediately wants to say no, but then she finds out her husband has been having an affair and wants a divorce. She realizes that maybe now is the time to get out of Boston and see her mother again. On the trip, they have plenty of unexpected stops and connections, including a haunted house, graveyard, and plenty of Elvis-related locations. More importantly, Grace and her mother connect on a new level of understanding and healing as they begin to work through some of their history and come to a new place in their relationship past all the trauma of the abuse they suffered. This was a really enthralling and moving read with big personalities and a lot of fun. While the romance is mentioned in the synopsis, it was a very tiny part of the story, and I enjoyed the focus on Grace and her mother as they work through their past, their feelings, and begin to heal together. The tone of the trip changes when Grace realizes that her mother has not been completely honest about some health issues, but it is a change for the better, as Grace is able to better communicate about her own desires and feelings, having those really tough conversations. The representation of anxiety was really well done, as Grace encounters her anxiety in new ways on the trip and begins to have some epiphanies about it. While she has been meeting with therapists for so long, sometimes it really just takes a lightbulb moment to help understand yourself and your feelings. Grace's transformation is a big one throughout the journey - this is the time when she must confront her demons, herself, and figure out who she is and what she wants. It is really a journey of self-discovery for her, even amidst the comical Elvis-related moments. This story is a lovely mix of heartfelt, heart-wrenching, and comedy that keeps the reader hooked throughout. Ultimately, A THOUSAND MILES TO GRACELAND is a lovely and emotional women's fiction read about family, healing, and a whole lot of Elvis. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Great Book
A Thousand Miles to Graceland by Kristen Mei Chase is a wonderful contemporary fiction that highlights the importance of friends, family, and one’s own happiness in life. I really enjoyed this contemporary/women’s fiction that focuses on the internal and external struggles of Grace Johnson. The relationship between Grace and her Momma. The road trip was therapeutic in more ways than one. What started as a fun trip to Graceland, turned into so much more. I enjoyed the balance of fun and light-hearted material in the narrative with the more serious subject matter. The process of working through her own concerns, questions, and place and purpose in life, and the answers that she finds during this road trip was refreshing and warming. I am looking forward to more from this author in the future. 4.5/5 stars
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Can't help falling in love with this story!
First of, I am HUGE Elvis and just got back from a Graceland visit! This mother-daughter road trip finds them in a convertible traveling from Texas to Memphis, with Elvis stops along the way. It's an emotional journey as truths are shared bridging the gap in their relationship. Their growing bond throughout the story is impassioned, heartwarming and a whole heck of a lot of fun. Grace's Mom has been obsessed with Elvis since FOREVER. Her Mom has also been an eccentric dresser often embarrassing her during her school days. All Grace ever wanted was her Mom to dress like everyone else's Mom. From Texas to Graceland, they not only visit Elvis landmarks, they tackle their demons from her mother's horrible marriage that has affected Grace's perception of men. A fun subplot is a light romance between Grace and her former best friend. It's Now or Never with these middle-aged love interests. Can't help falling in love with A Thousand Miles to Graceland. Thank you, Thank you very much Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary copy of this novel.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com