What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel [Hardcover]

Virginia DeBerry (Author), Donna Grant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009

Opinionated, straight-talking, and witty, Tee is a fly forty-something. Divorced since her daughter, Amber, was young, Tee has been “handling her business,” supporting herself after her would-be songwriter husband took off for L.A., and she’s done all right. Organized, responsible, hardworking, and loyal, Tee went from being the first employee of a start-up purveyor of organic lotions to the right hand of the president of what became a major player in the home and personal fragrance market. But then everything changes. First, she’s outplaced from her longtime job and doesn’t tell anyone. Then she gives her daughter the wedding of her dreams and, after overindulging in champagne, Tee wakes up in bed with the younger best man. For the first time in twenty-five years, Tee doesn’t know who she is or what she’s going to do every day. Deep in denial, she continues to live her life as if nothing has changed. After a series of financial mistakes, miscalculations, and missteps compound her already shaky situation, she’s soon teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. That’s when Tee decides that it’s time for her to wake up and face reality. Beyond “making money,” Tee never really decided what she wanted to do with her life. Then she just stopped thinking about it and invested her hopes in someone else’s dream. Now it’s her chance to invest in herself. Can she step out on faith to follow her own dream?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When it rains, it pours for Tee Hodges, the spirited, stiff-upper-lipped protagonist of DeBerry and Grant's latest. Tee, the longtime right-hand woman of fragrance entrepreneur Olivia Markson, gets the shock of her life when, shortly after Olivia dies, Olivia's daughter pink-slips her. Even worse, the bad news hits just as Tee's putting the finishing touches on her daughter's elaborate wedding. Yet even when she finds her world swirling out of her grasp, she maintains the image that she has everything together. As her savings dwindle, her employment prospects look bleak, creditors begin calling, her parents explore the possibility of divorce and friends she trusted turn out to be less than supportive, Tee begins to trust her instincts, which sharpens her confidence in her entrepreneurial drive and leads her into the arms of a doting man. This is the anti-pity party: snappy, fun and inspiring. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Tee Hodges helped Olivia Markson’s natural-beauty company take off, but when Olivia unexpectedly dies, Tee is unceremoniously dumped. That’s just the start of her problems. She hasn’t begun paying the bills from her daughter’s lavish wedding, and her job prospects are disheartening. Her parents are focused on problems in their marriage, and her friends only want her company if she can keep up with their luxurious lifestyles. She realizes her relationship with a married man is a dead end, yet is hesitant to start a relationship with a promising prospect. Tee’s own pride keeps her from getting the help she needs until it’s nearly too late. Longtime writing partners DeBerry and Grant write once again about resilience in the face of adversity. They temper Tee’s almost unbelievable slate of bad luck with well-placed humor for an ultimately uplifting tale. --Aleksandra Walker

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (January 6, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416564209
• ISBN-13: 978-1416564201
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,098,920 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Contemporary Fiction Novel, January 27, 2009

By 

Urban Reviews "Your Source for the Best in AA... (Online) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel (Hardcover)

Thomasina "Tee" Hodges has always had her life under control. Tee raised her daughter Amber by herself after her divorce and has been riding high ever since. But everything changes in an instant when Tee is suddenly laid off and doesn't tell anyone. To make matters worse, she just threw a big wedding for Amber and then wakes up the next morning with the best man. Tee's average normal life is now suddenly spiraling out of control towards bankruptcy. Tee is suddenly faced with having to make some huge sacrifices in order to survive. Will she be able to depend on herself to get things together?

What Doesn't Kill You is an entertaining novel by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant. DeBerry & Grant once again brings us a tale that is thought-provoking and relatable. What makes this story stand out is the way that it is told. By having the main character Tee tell this story in the first person, it makes you feel as if your best girlfriend is talking to you. There are some very timely issues in this novel such as jobloss and impending bankruptcy that readers will be able to identify with. This is not a fast-paced read, but you can see the gradual development of this story as you get further into the book. You will find yourself rooting for Tee to get everything back on track. What Doesn't Kill You is a great novel filled with realistic situations and smart, sassy humor.

Reviewed by Radiah Hubbert
for Urban Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating 4.5) "What doesn't kill you can really piss you off", January 9, 2009

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel (Hardcover)

Thomasina (Tee) Rodgers knew she was in for it when she woke up, the morning after her daughter's wedding, in bed with the best man, her son-in-law's cousin. How did she get there? Well, it all started when she divorced her husband while her daughter Amber was a baby. Having to make a way for the two of them, she meets entrepreneur Olivia Markson and begins an employment association and friendship that would last until Olivia's death. Because of their friendship and what Tee felt was a partnership, Tee thought the business would always be there, but Olivia's daughter had other plans. Soon Tee finds herself unemployed, planning a lavish wedding and only probable prospects for the future. Hence, a night of too much champagne and dwindling hope has Tee reeling as she wakes up in bed with Ron.

Tee decides to hide the truth from her family and friends as long as she can and then doesn't want to except any help. With her savings diminishing, creditors calling and facing possible bankruptcy, Tee reinvents herself using all that she has learned in the business world. As she does, she develops a tentative relationship with Ron that inspires her and could possibly be one of the best things to happen to her. Will she succeed? Or, will she fall prey to economic disaster?

In WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant have created a real life protagonist who has the resourcefulness and wit to deal with real world issues. This timely production teaches that though you're down and out, you can still reach within to succeed in this world; it just may take a little work, a little planning and whole lot of faith to do so. This is my first DeBerry and Grant read and it most definitely will not be my last. I found the characters in this advance reading copy to be engaging, funny and inspirational. I absolutely love the writing style. This is a very good pick-me-up type of read for those who are going through bad economic times right now.

Reviewed by Brenda Lisbon
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overcoming, September 22, 2009

By 

Winifred D. Norris "Winnie Norris" (Daytona Beach,FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel (Hardcover)

"What Doesn't Kill You" written by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant was realistic and marvelous written. I like the way that Tee spoke to the readers. Through her trails she overcame all of her obstacles. She stayed focused with the help of her friends, family, and her love. Even thou we are in the valley for a season we still must stay focused on the positive aspect in our life. Then we know "This too should pass".
Winnie Norris
Women2Women Book club, Daytona Bch, FL