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Praise for Heart of Palm
"Intelligence, heart, wit . . . Laura Lee Smith has all the tools, and Heart of Palm is a very impressive first novel."--Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls
"Incandescent."-- O, the Oprah Magazine
"[A] fine, funny first novel . . . A heaping dose of Southern soul with a whole lot of chutzpah thrown in."--Atlanta Journal Constitution
"A knockout . . . It reminded me often of the novels of Richard Russo . . . Smith . . . creates a vivid sense of place . . . A fine, bittersweet taste of the Sunshine State."--Tampa Bay Times
"I could feel the heat, the glare off the Intracoastal. Like a sandspur, Heart of Palm sticks with you, drawing blood."--Rita Mae Brown, author of Southern Discomfort and Rubyfruit Jungle
"A spirited Southern family saga . . . Fans of Fannie Flagg will enjoy this novel."--Cleveland Plain Dealer
"Heart of Palm . . . will leave you crying, laughing, and longing for a bygone era."--Florida Travel + Life
"A big, engrossing and very Southern look at a family in turmoil, Heart of Palm is made to be read on a veranda during the steamy summer months."--Arizona Republic
"Smith's debut novel exudes authenticity . . . She turns a phrase with wit . . . Writ[ten] with agility and empathy."--Publishers Weekly
"Smith is a brilliant writer, and Heart of Palm brims with lush vitality, loss, and desire."--Julianna Baggott, author of Pure and The Prince of Fenway Park