Thank you to a rep from HarperCollins for bringing a galley of Deb Rogers’ novel, Florida Woman, to the bookstore where I work. I was lucky to attend a talk with the rep and her description of Florida Woman made me borrow it from our store’s galley collection and bump it to the top of my shelf.

During a bizarre event at a restaurant, Jaime, unwittingly turns herself into a “Florida Woman” meme and lands in jail. As part of a parole/restitution/rehabilitation scheme, her lawyer finds an opportunity for Jaime to work off the remainder of her sentence at a macaque sanctuary. Jaime will live in the sanctuary, located deep in the wilds of Florida, and work with the founders, a trio of women who have an usual outlook on life. Although remote and rustic, Jaime initially embraces the opportunity, thinking that anything is better than jail. However, as the founders become comfortable with Jaime’s presence, their behavior becomes increasingly disturbing and cultish, leading Jaime to wonder if she has put herself in a dangerous situation.

Florida Woman is a strange and wonderful ride. It takes the idea of “Florida man/woman” and flips it, turning this regional stereotype into an unlikely hero. Rogers has a sharp and dark sense of humor. Her writing reminds me Carl Hiaasen, not only for the Florida setting, but for the bizarre, off-beat characters and style of humor. Rogers keeps the tension and sense of danger throughout and I could not have predicted the journey that Jaime takes. The ending perfectly ties with the title and theme. Florida Woman is a really fun and quirky summer read.