The Floating Girls

A Novel

By: Lo Patrick

Narrated by: Taylor Meskimen

Length: 10 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A wonderfully atmospheric coming-of-age family drama told from the perspective of a young girl as she unravels the secrets that threaten her entire family

The backwaters of Georgia hold many buried secrets. But they won’t stay buried forever.

One hot, sticky summer in Bledsoe, Georgia, twelve-year-old Kay Whitaker stumbles across a stilt house in a neighboring marsh and upon Andy Webber, a boy about her age. He and his father have recently moved back to Georgia from California, and rumors of the suspicious drowning death of Andy’s mother years earlier have chased them there and back.

Kay is fascinated and enamored with Andy, and she doesn’t listen when her father tells her to stay away from the Webbers. But when Kay’s sister goes missing, the mystery of Mrs. Webber’s death—and Kay’s parents’ potential role in it—comes to light. Kay and her brothers must navigate the layers of secrets that emerge in the course of the investigation as their family, and the world as they knew it, unravels around them.

At once wickedly funny and heartbreaking, The Floating Girls is an immersive coming-of-age story narrated by a feisty, smart, yet undeniably vulnerable girl reminiscent of a modern-day Scout Finch—a character who will live in listeners’ hearts for a long time to come.

©2022 Lo Patrick (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Southern sweat

Amazing debut of a talented author. Cant waith for her next book. I expect amazing things from Lo Patrick.

Great book!

I loved Kay. As I got close to the end, I went to search for more books by Lo Patrick! Well worth the credit.

spoiled

I loved the book but the sample they chose to give so you could see if you like the narrator is from the end of the book and a huge spoiler to the story! I can't believe they did that. It really needs to be changed.

Never really came to a conclusion.

It has been compared to Where the Crawdads Live. Nothing could be further from the truth. This story was one of the survival of the human spirit in the worst of conditions, but never reasoned why any of the things occurred that did. And how did anyone have the ability to overcome? Only Kay had any gumption to ask questions and she didn’t know which ones to ask.

Captivated by Kay’s curiosity and spirit

This book is written from the view point of a twelve year old girl that is smart and curious and energetic, but she has limited life experience. Her phraseology makes you laugh all along the way as she uses terms and phrases you’ve only heard from your old southern relatives. If you’ve lived it the south, you will feel right at home. If you have not, you are in for an awakening of southern charm and wit.

Events unfold and you as the reader recognize trouble on the horizon that Kay is still processing and frankly misunderstanding. It is a true pleasure to read. As you read, remember your own youthful interpretations and fantasies of simple life events and cheer this delightful girl as she comes of age. I am anxious to read Lo Patrick’s next book.

It could have been great

The book has three distinctive plot lines which could have bern developed and related or merged into a spellbinding revelation. Narrator is good. But plot fell through the cracks, for me.

Disappointing

Listened to story on a 10 hour road trip.. was entertaining enough, however too many loose ends that I had hoped would be wrapped up by books end. Not sure I would recommend this one over others.

Drug on too long

Predictable and dragged on when the kids were in foster care. Girls relationship with cop not capitalized upon.

Ending felt unfinished

Lots of what’s and why’s at the end never really a true answer leaving it up to the listener

Interesting perspective

I found the book to be 4/5. I found the perspective interesting. Adults always assume their children are oblivious to their comings and goings.