We're excited to have author Kim McCollum back with us again for another blog tour. This time she's sharing her newest novel, Harriet Hates Lemonade, with our WOW! community. It's perfect for readers who have loved similar books like A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Join us as we celebrate the launch of her blog tour! We'll be interviewing Kim as well as giving away a copy of her book.
Before we get to that, here's more about her book:
Meet Harriet. But don’t be surprised if she isn’t interested in meeting you.
Harriet has life all figured out, and she doesn’t hesitate to inform others of their shortcomings. Though her attempts to become president of the homeowner’s association failed, that doesn’t stop her from berating “off-leash-dog-man” or reporting the neighbor who had the audacity to leave their easter decorations up an entire week past the holiday. The problem is, unbeknownst to her, Harriet’s rigid rules and judgmental opinions are not her own.
Her ordered life plunges into chaos when a twelve-year-old neighbor knocks on Harriet's door seeking help because the girl’s father is physically abusing her mother. Reluctantly, Harriet comes to her neighbor’s aid and, in the process, recognizes her own insidious abuse which has unwittingly shaped her isolated, rigid existence. To escape her crushing loneliness, she must learn to break free from the patterns of control and isolation that have defined her life and learn to connect with people she previously viewed as heathens.
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ASIN: B0G2YPGWHV
ISBN-10: 1685137059
ISBN-13: 978-1685137052
Print Length: 312 pages
You can purchase a copy of Harriet Hates Lemonade on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. Make sure you also add it to your GoodReads reading list.
Advanced Praise for Harriet Hates Lemonade
"McCollum delivers a touching and subtly powerful story about self-discovery and unexpected connection. When Harriet’s carefully ordered life is disrupted by a neighbor in need, she’s drawn into a journey that challenges everything she thought she knew about herself. What begins as a small act of kindness becomes a turning point, awakening Harriet to new roles, relationships, and possibilities. Here's what McCollum has done—she’s shown how even the most unlikely people can find renewal and purpose when they’re willing to break their own rules." - Cam Torrens, award-winning author of the Tyler Zahn mystery/suspense series.
"Harriet Hates Lemonade is a deeply important and captivating story that will have you questioning your own preconceived notions of unhealthy relationships. The theme of abuse is explored like never before with both overt and subtle plot lines weaving together to facilitate emotion, compassion and understanding. McCollum's voice is steady and impactful, hooking the reader into Harriet's regimented and quirky life. At first, Harriet presents with neurodivergent tendencies, her opinions and actions questionable and insensitive, but as the novel progresses, a deep understanding and compassion for her character forms, shifting your perspective. I laughed, I cried, and I learned. Although exploring difficult themes, the story is refreshing, realistic, and heartwarming." - Megan Jamieson, Author of The Ties That Bind Us
"Kim McCollum tackles the difficult subject of domestic abuse with sensitivity and unflinching honesty in HARRIET HATES LEMONADE. I rooted for quirky Harriet as she summons the strength to confront the past she’s kept so carefully buried, and learns to find joy in the messiness of life. A beautiful story set in breathtaking Montana with flesh and blood characters that kept me turning the page to the very end." - Linda Avellar, Author of Cassie Linden Finds Her Sweet Spot
"In Harriet Hates Lemonade, Audrey—a modern-day version of the orphaned “Anne with an E”—meets Harriet, a cranky and opinionated Olive Kitteridge-type stuck in a self-imposed existence of isolation and rigid rules. When the two are thrown together by tragic circumstances, Harriet must re-examine all her firmly held values and beliefs of the last 30 years. Can she free herself from the past? Can she come to accept that abuse takes many forms? And can she learn to embrace the joys of “found family’?
"Author McCollum serves up a flavorful brew of tension, humor, uncertainty, and high emotion. Keep a box of issues handy! You’ll need it for this engaging and ultimately heartwarming story." -Ruth F. Stevens, award-winning author of My Year of Casual Acquaintances
About the Author, Kim McCollum
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Kim McCollum graduated from Barnard College with a major in Japanese and was soon navigating the hustle and bustle of Wall Street. When her first child was born, she stayed home to raise her children. Once they headed off to school, Kim finally found time to pursue her passion for writing. Her award-winning debut novel, WHAT HAPPENS IN MONTANA, was published in January 2024, and her short stories have appeared in several publications. She lived in Bozeman, Montana, with her supportive husband, Brian, and their blended menagerie of five kids and three spoiled pets.
You can find her online at:
Her website: https://kim-mccollum.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/KFMcCollum
--- Interview by Nicole Pyles
WOW: Congrats on your novel, Harriet Hates Lemonade. What inspired you to write it?
Kim: The inspiration for this novel was my desire to explore the unseen side of domestic violence. In my own life, I realized that emotional abuse can be just as paralyzing as physical violence because of how it completely dismantled my sense of self. I wanted to show how an abuser’s voice eventually becomes the victim's own internal monologue. In the book, Harriet is often seen as a cranky or difficult woman, but I wanted the reader to discover that her rigidity is actually a byproduct of trauma. By writing Harriet, I’m hoping to show that even the most self-sufficient women can lose themselves in the cycle of narcissistic abuse, and that breaking free requires unlearning a lifetime of lies.
WOW: Such great insight! I LOVED the character Harriet and all of her flaws and foibles. Did you have someone particular in mind when you were writing for Harriet or how did she come to fruition for you?
Kim: I’m so thrilled you connected with Harriet! My goal was to strike a delicate balance between grumpy, awkward, and funny to create a character who is memorable and, eventually, lovable. Unlike my first novel, where I had specific real-life inspirations for every character, Harriet was a unique creation. I certainly had prickly literary icons like Eleanor Oliphant and Olive Kitteridge in the back of my mind, but Harriet arrived in my imagination as her own collection of awkward bits and pieces. I did draw on some snippets of behavior from real-life cranky neighbors, those little moments of neighborhood rudeness or HOA overkill energy, but Harriet herself is original. I’ve found that if I dig deep enough into a character's history, they eventually start telling the story to me. That’s exactly what happened with Harriet. She took the wheel and never looked back.
WOW: So true! Characters will often speak up to you! You created such a vivid setting. How did you manage to do that so well?
Kim: I live in Bozeman, Montana, so I just wrote about my own backyard. Harriet’s community is drawn from a neighborhood I lived in for four years after moving from Big Sky to Bozeman. On the surface, it was idyllic with matching fences, beautiful open spaces, and perfectly manicured lawns. But underneath that veneer of perfection, the social climate was surprisingly hostile. Being adjacent to a school, the neighborhood was a natural thoroughfare for kids, yet I watched neighbors get genuinely incensed over a child taking a shortcut across their grass. I included some of the more absurd real-life suggestions I heard, like the time an HOA member seriously proposed DNA testing dog waste to identify culprits. While I’ve since moved to a property with more acreage and no covenants, those years of high-tension neighborhood living provided the perfect, pressurized backdrop for Harriet’s story.
WOW: Ha, those kinds of tense situations can provide great inspiration. I LOVE your title. Can you share how you came to decide upon that title?
Kim: How I wish I could remember! The title actually predates the book by about four years. I came up with it while taking a course at Harvard called ‘The Art of the Pitch.’ At the time, I hadn't written a single word of the story; it was just a premise and this title. When I pitched it to the professor and the class, the reaction was so overwhelmingly positive that I realized I had to write it. Now, four years later, seeing the book come to fruition is incredibly rewarding. Though I’m currently searching for that same lightning in a bottle for a title for my third novel, which is proving much more elusive!
WOW: I'm sure you'll find it! This isn't your first novel of course! Was the experience writing Harriet Hates Lemonade different from your time writing What Happens in Montana?
Kim: The primary difference was a newfound sense of confidence. When I was writing my debut, What Happens in Montana, I battled significant imposter syndrome. I’d often shelve the manuscript for months, convinced that no one would ever care about the story. The positive reception of that first book gave me the permission I needed to trust myself with Harriet. I walked into this project understanding that a first draft doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to be finished. I’ve learned that a draft is really just a ball of clay. You can’t begin the real work of molding and shaping the story until you have the material on the table. Embracing the fact that the "saggy middle" is just a part of the process allowed me to push through the messy first draft much faster this time around.
WOW: What great symbolism of a manuscript! What do you hope people take away from reading your book?
Kim: My primary hope is to start a meaningful conversation about the insidious nature of emotional abuse. In our society, we often wait for the bruises and broken bones before we validate someone's trauma, but the psychological architecture of abuse, the gaslighting, the devaluing, and the constant belittling, is just as devastating.
In the novel, Harriet hides behind rules and religious language to justify her isolation, not realizing that her prickly exterior is actually a survival mechanism she learned from Les. I want readers to see that emotional abuse doesn't just happen to weak people. It happens to strong, intelligent women who eventually become shells of themselves because the person who is supposed to love them the most has told them they are broken. I hope readers walk away understanding that love is never a green light to sabotage your partner’s sense of self.
WOW: Such a great lasting message. Thank you for your time today!
-- Blog Tour Calendar
February 16 @ WOW! Women on Writing
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Kim McCollum's book Harriet Hates Lemonade. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of her book.
February 19 @ Boys' Mom Reads
Visit Karen's blog for her spotlight of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
February 20 @ Nicole Writes About Stuff
Nicole features Kim McCollum on her Substack feature, Your Weekend Care Package.
February 21 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Stop by Joy's blog for an excerpt from Harriet Hates Lemonade.
February 24 @ Words by Webb
Stop by Jodi's blog for her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
February 26 @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily's blog for her spotlight of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
February 27 @ Renee Roberson's blog
Join Renee for her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 2 @ The Burgeoning Bookshelf
Visit Veronica's blog for a review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 3 @ Words by Webb
Jodi interviews author Kim McCollum about her book Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 4 @ StoreyBook Reviews
Join Leslie's blog for an excerpt from Harriet Hates Lemonade. She also shares a guest post by the author about her experience working in a local abuse shelter.
March 5 @ Just Katherine
Join Katherine's blog for her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 7 @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Join Linda's blog for her interview with Kim McCollum about her book, Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 10 @ What Is That Book About
Visit Michelle's blog for her spotlight of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 11 @ CC King's blog
Join Caitrin for a guest post by Kim McCollum on creating characters based on people around you.
March 12 @ Sarandipity's
Visit Sara's blog for a guest post on how to revise your manuscript while maintaining a full and busy life.
March 13 @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for a guest post on developing characters that feel real in fiction.
March 15 @ Rachael's Thoughts
Visit Rachael's blog for her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 16 @ BookwormBecky1969
Becky shares her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
March 20 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog for a powerful guest post by Kim McCollum about what she learned from her abusive relationship.
March 22 @ Silver's Reviews
Join Elizabeth for her review of Harriet Hates Lemonade.
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to win a print copy of Harriet Hates Lemonade by Kim McCollum. Fill out the form below for a chance to win! The giveaway ends on March 1st at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!
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