Praise

What the media is saying…
“A disarmingly moving tale”
–Bridgette Bartlett, Essence magazine

“Carter’s first novel is a winner on all fronts.”

–Kristine Huntley, The Booklist (STARRED review)

“…a heroine that is multifaceted, quirky, humorous and above all, enduring.”

–Kristin Gray, The Afro-American

“This is an easy 5 out of 5 stars and one of my top five favorite fiction novels [that] I’ve ever read in my entire adulthood.”


What other authors are saying…

32 Candles is a perfect book club choice!! Davie Jones is absolutely wonderful, utterly imperfect, and refreshingly real. If you have ever been teased about anything at all, you will fall head over heels in love with Davie .”

Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench

“First there was Stella and she got her groove back, then there was Bridget Jones and she managed to find love despite her own loveable neuroses. Now there is Davie Jones. 32 Candles, at last, is the answer to the question ‘What should I read next?”

–Erica Kennedy, author of Feminista and Bling

“I super heart Davie Jones. Like, I’m going to print up ‘I Am Davie Jones’ t-shirts and rock them with my jeans and my afro and represent, like32 Candles, for every girlchild who ever thought she wasn’t pretty enough, popular enough, good enough—strong enough. Davie—and her creator, Ernessa T. Carter—deftly shows that there can be a “Happily Ever After” for us ugly ducklings, and that you don’t necessarily have to be a swan, or, by God, everyone else’s version of ‘ideal,’ to get one. She’s perfectly imperfect, and you won’t want her lively, hysterical, what-looks-like-crazy-on-an-ordinary-day story to end. A thoroughly, totally, ridiculously addictive read!”

– Denene Millner, co-author of The Vow

“32 cheers for Ernessa T. Carter! She’s created one of the freshest, funniest characters I’ve ever read: a Strokes-t-shirt-wearing, Mississippi-accented, dark-skinned girl named after a 60s pop star and the pirate’s locker. No matter your age, you’ll get a kick out of Davie Jones’s journey from ugly duckling to semi-demented swan, but if you came of age in the 80s or 90s you will especially love this book. 32 Candles is a charmer.”

– Carleen Brice, author of Orange Mint and Honey

What other bloggers are saying…

“I love this book!” Authors in Color

“I’ve shown a lot of restraint waiting this long to say I loved 32 Candles. Its ridiculously good. Its my favorite fiction debut of the year.” Color Online

“a solid beach novel for someone looking for a chick-lit vibe with a bit more substance than the majority”Confessions from a Rambling Mind

It really is one of the best books that I’ve read this year. I didn’t simply enjoy it – I know that I’ll return to it, just like how I often return to the film that served as inspiration.The Eclectic Book Lover

This is a great book club book. Davidia is far from perfect and she is a character you will fall in love with! Maria’s Space

“This would be the perfect book to pack in your beach bag or bring along on vacation this summer.”Me and My Boys

“This is one of  the funniest, smartest books I have read in a long time.”Sew Transformed


What YOU are saying…

There are so many wonderful moments of discovery in this novel, I don’t want to give any of them away if you haven’t read it yet. I’ll just tell you, this is a very unique story. I haven’t read anything like this (and I read a lot) […] This is going in my top 10. -AmyQOWTF

I would definitely recommend this book. It is especially great for a lazy summer day on the beach or in the park. I started reading the book on the airplane during some weekend travel and I didn’t want to put it down. I wasn’t able to finish it over the weekend, so when I left work the next day I literally sat at the first bench I could find and finished the novel before heading home for the day. I just couldn’t wait to see how things turned out for Davie Jones. Any book that draws you in that much certainly deserves 5 stars. — livelife

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It is well written, has an interesting plot…and I just couldn’t put it down! Carter infused this tale with a refreshingly different perspective on a well-loved story, with unexpected twists and turns that make for a very satisfying read. –M. Larsen

[T]his book had me hooked from the get go. I was expecting a simple ‘girl gets boy’ narrative, but what I got was so much more compelling. I spent almost an entire day reading this weekend, something I haven’t done in a very long time. And I already want to read it again, I miss the characters so much — for me, that’s the hallmark of a great book! — Lowbar Productions

I have not really read any fiction in a good 10 years, and definitely not to stay up to almost 6 am knowing full well my 11 month old would be up within 2 hours and his 3 year old brother soon after (hence, me and etc are not cool right now). –brownie05

I have been an avid reader my entire life and this is the best debut novel I have ever read. in fact, it is one of the best books I’ve read-debut or not. –Deidre McClennan

As a huge fan of the movie 16 Candles (and all the 80s movies that are referenced in the book) and of Los Angeles, this book was really a treat for me to read. At times sad, at times funny, the story was very enjoyable, with interesting, flawed and unforgettable characters […] I cheered for Davie Jones and so will you! Can’t wait for more from Ernessa T. Carter! –M. Kruger

Ms. Carter your debut is ‘spot-on.” -Angelia Menchan

If you’ve every felt as though you weren’t good enough for someone or something, this is the book for you. –Teresa

My only regret with 32 Candles is that I read it so quickly. –jkm

It was such a lovely ride. — Ayana Elizabeth

Definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. -JNic

There is only one bad thing I just have to say about this book, and it is – do NOT do like I did and start reading it at 10 pm. I could NOT put it down; so inevitably I was up until I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, reading this fabulous book […] Brava Ms Carter and thank you for the sleepless night and hours of pure enjoyment.Dianne S. Tetro

I’ve shown a lot of restraint waiting this long to say I loved 32 Candles. Its ridiculously good. Its my favorite fiction debut of the year. I cared about and loved Davidia from the beginning. –DAC

As a child of the 80s, I plan to force every one of my girlfriends to read this book for its cultural references (though it’s told well enough that the story works even with no knowledge of John Hughes’ films), but I will also recommend it to anyone looking for something new and fresh and “page-turny” because it’s a very good read. –Reading in France

You know those movies that make you want to stand up in the theater and cheer? Well, I had that feeling while reading this book. –JRose364

The whole ‘Sixteen Candles’ homage should be corny, but for anyone who ever dreamed of their ‘Jake Ryan’; it really hit home. Can’t wait for her next novel! –RobEZ

I was expecting a teen novel filled with drivel. I was surprised , pleasantly , to read an intellectual work that kept my attention from start to finish.–JimZ

Fans of the movie Sixteen Candles would also enjoy this book. 😉 In fact, I think it would help to be up on your John Hughes canon, or you’ll be missing something. -cmp