And what will she risk for acceptance?
In Sunshine, Tennessee, the main event in town is Friday night football, the biggest party of the year is held in a field filled with pickup trucks, and church attendance is mandatory. For Kaycee Jean McCoy, life in Sunshine means dating guys she has no interest in, saying only “yes, ma’am” when the local bigots gossip at her mom’s cosmetics salon, and avoiding certain girls at all costs. Girls like Bren Dawson.
Unlike Kaycee, Bren doesn’t really conceal who she is. But as the cool, worldly new girl, nobody at school seems to give her any trouble. Maybe there’s no harm if Kaycee gets closer to her too, as long as she can keep that part of her life a secret, especially from her family and her best friend. But the more serious things get with Bren, the harder it is to hide from everyone else. Kaycee knows Sunshine has a darker side for people like her, and she’s risking everything for the chance to truly be herself.
Available for purchase on Amazon.
PRAISE FOR SOUTH OF SUNSHINE:
"10 Lesbian novels you'll totally love!" — Pride.com
“15 Most Anticipated LGBTQ YAs of 2016” —Barnes and Noble
"A compelling portrait of a small-town teen learning that she doesn’t have to choose between loving her roots and loving who she really is."—Booklist
"The tumultuous coming out and secret romance with Bren will resonate with readers, as will the effects on the teen’s friendships. The setting is fully realized, establishing a familiar backdrop for the realistic and unsettling bigotry of the town."—School Library Journal
"Readers will relate to both Kaycee's desire for secrecy and Bren's desire for acknowledgement, which provides the novel's most believable tension."—Kirkus
"Dana Elmendorf is a rich, new voice in contemporary fiction. This touching love story takes an earnest look at the courage it takes to love who you love. Adorable, y'all."—Robin Mellom, author of Ditched: A Love Story
“Equal parts sweet and sassy, South of Sunshine explores the struggles and triumphs of self-discovery and first love with a heap of Southern charm.”—Jessica Love, co-author of Push Girl
