Babe's Book Review for: The Practice House by Laura McNeal
THE PRACTICE HOUSE
📚 BOOK REVIEW: The Practice House by Laura McNeal
Well, y’all, grab your sweet tea and settle in, ‘cause this book takes you on one long dusty trail of love, loss, and a whole lotta life lessons.
The Basics:
Author: Laura McNeal
Publisher: Amazon Publishing
Year: 2017
Pages: 492 (yes ma’am, it’s a chunker)
The Gist:
We start out in a teeny Scottish village back in 1929, where sisters Aldine and Lennie are just mindin’ their own business with their aunt when—knock knock—two Mormon elders show up and stir the pot. Next thing you know, Lennie’s all swoony, converts, and runs off to New York with her new fella.
Aldine? Well, she ain’t about to sit around knitting doilies, so she schemes up some not-so-proper ways (for the times, anyway) to earn money and chase her sister across the ocean. But when she gets there? Surprise! Sister and hubby expect her to play along with their church and marry some fella she don’t even know. Bless her heart.
So, Aldine does what any stubborn, independent gal would—she hightails it to Kansas for a teaching gig. Only problem? That one-room schoolhouse ain’t exactly the dream she was sold. Instead, she ends up knee-deep in dust storms, droughts, and the Price family’s struggles to scrape by. Oh, and let’s not forget the slow-burn chemistry with Ansel Price, the broody head of the house. (Yep, scandal alert.)
From there, we follow the Prices (and poor Aldine’s broken heart) all the way to California, where the story meanders—sometimes like a lazy river, sometimes like molasses in January. Twenty years later, Aldine shows back up, still chasing closure and peace with her past.
The Lowdown:
This book is rich in detail—like, really rich. McNeal paints the Dust Bowl so well you’ll be coughing up imaginary dirt. But sometimes the pace drags slower than a tractor stuck in the mud. Honestly, it might’ve worked better as a series instead of trying to squeeze every last detail into one book.
The Good Stuff:
Aldine is a spitfire you’ll root for.
The writing puts you right there in the grit and grind of the Depression.
Characters are layered, messy, and oh-so human.
The “Eh” Stuff:
Plot takes detours longer than a back road in the Texas Hill Country.
You’ll need patience, a snack, and maybe a stiff drink to keep up with all the meandering.
Final Word:
If you’re into historical fiction that’s heavy on atmosphere and deep character work, this one’s worth saddlin’ up for. Just don’t expect a quick ride—it’s a long haul with plenty of bumps in the road.
About the Author:
Laura McNeal hails from Arizona, now livin’ out in Southern California with her husband, Tom, and their two boys. She’s got a master’s in fiction writing, taught English back in the day, and has co-authored several YA novels with her husband. The Practice House is her foray into big-girl historical fiction, and let me tell ya, she ain’t afraid to get gritty.
💋✨Until next time, keep loving & living your best life! 💋✨
Wishing you Love, Light & Sparkles!
💎 💋 Carrie
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