I read Reinventing Leona on Kindle so I don't have the book spine to tell me what genre the professionals categorized this novel.  I'm guessing Women's Fiction because the heroine was middle aged and didn't fall in love during the course of the book.  I don't think it is giving away too much of the story to say that Leona grieves the loss of her husband and re-establishes her relationships with her children.

This was a surprisingly emotional read for the underlining snarky humor of the characters.  Leona has been a preacher's wife for 30 years.  The kind of preacher's wife who allowed the members of her husband's church to have way too much say in her life.  Now with the preacher gone, she's rebelling against the idiosyncrasies, the legalisms, and the poor choices the flock makes.

Both Leona's son and daughter take after their mother instead of their easy-going father  in their outlook on the congregation.  So more snarky humor comes through their point of view.

But just when I was thinking that Leona's husband must have been a horrible preacher to have been at this one church for 18 years and left no Spirit-filled, God-loving members behind, Maddie (the daughter) has a wonderful moment with the organist. Mrs. Wilkerson had given Maddie organ lessons when she was a child, but Maddie hadn't been interested in practicing.  Now Maddie is becoming a doctor.  Mrs. Wilkerson says, "I've been praying the Lord uses your hands to his glory.  And he will.  Practice and these hands will make the music of healing."

Reinventing Leona had lots of great character situations.  Bertie was over the top, as were most of the church members, but once I got into the tone of the novel, I rolled with it.  People who like slap stick comedy will enjoy this novel.

Plus, I teared up like five times.

Which just reminds me of my favorite line.  When Leona's best friend tries to convince her that she needs to cry before she drowns, Leona responds with this thought:  Dammed-up tears had ample room in her hollow chest.

Lots of character growth for Leona and her children.  I wouldn't have minded seeing another month of their lives.