Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt

Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell

Crickett Rumley

296 pages

Publisher: Egmont

Source: library

★★★☆☆

You can read the Goodreads summary here.

I first became aware of this book at the Decatur Book Festival this past September, but it didn't make it to the top of my TBR list.  When the local library acquired a copy, however, I put myself on the wait list and decided to give it a try.  It was short, cute novel about Jane who, having been expelled from countless boarding schools, returns to her wealthy Southern town and finds herself seemingly accidentally elected to be part of the Magnolia Maids - a group of well-bred young women who are choose every year to be an "ambassador" to the town they live in.

Despite being heavy on the stereotypes, this book was entertaining, to be sure.  There were several moments I was laughing out loud at the Magnolia Maids and their antics.  I also particularly enjoyed the part of the plot that explored "modernizing" the court of the Magnolia Maids - for the first time in its history an African-American and a non-wealthy girl were elected to the court.  I would have liked to have seen these aspects explored more, that might have given the book some substance.

I don't mean to make it sound like a a terrible book - I did enjoy Never Sit Down in a Hoop Skirt.  Jane's character was particularly unique and I admired most of her viewpoints on life. 

Three stars.  While the book was entertaining, it was one hundred percent fluff and I didn't feel like any of the characters had real substance.  I didn't feel any chemistry between any of the love interests, either.  If you liked the movie Legally Blonde, you will probably also enjoy this book.  And if you're looking for some pure fluff to read in between heavier books, this might be a great way to go if you enjoy stereotypically Southern tales.