EPIC Carteret Books — 5 Min Read

We Asked ARC Reader Jen Heironimus What Stuck With Her—She Had a Lot to Say

By Autumn Ware

Carteret Community — 5 Min Read

We Asked ARC Reader Jen Heironimus What Stuck With Her—She Had a Lot to Say

By Autumn Ware

Local bookworm Jen Heironimus shared this emotionally honest and laugh-out-loud response after reading an ARC copy of Emily Carter’s A Spork in the Road.

We loved the spontaneity of her notes so much, we decided to share them as a Q&A. If you’re curious what kind of emotional ride this book might take you on—keep reading.

Q: Did any stories make you cry?

A: Yes. Hard.

  • Carpe Alaska – I cried so hard I had to walk away for a bit.

  • What Remains – Dogs make us better people.

  • Buoyancy – Parents are human too.

  • Connect For – The little things matter, whether we know it or not.

Q: What about the laugh-out-loud moments?

A: So many. Like… legit LOL.

  • The World is a Big 6th Grade

  • Sage – Loved the conversation with Sage

  • Knock on Woody

  • Broken Stripper Poles

  • Partner Transparency – especially #2

Q: Which stories were your personal favorites?

A: This list was hard to narrow down. I have a lot.

  • String of Pearls – I want to find Miss Pearl and use her checkout line.

  • School Bus #5 – The list in this one would make a great graduation gift.

  • By the Seat of My Skirt – LOVE LOVE LOVE

  • Sage – “Everything is what you make of it.”

  • Time and Full Body Cast Heal Everything – So relatable!

  • I-95 North, Regionals Exit – Just loved the writing.

  • Season and Purpose – Same reason. Just great writing and reflection.

  • AAA – A reminder that every life bump brings you to where you are.

  • It’s Been a Long Trip – Notice and be in the moment.

Q: Any lines that stuck with you?

A: Yes! These are going in my quote journal.

  • “Much like the paradox of justice and mercy, I expect compassion; I just can’t always find it in my purse when others want to borrow some.”

  • “How do I know when to throw rocks and when to collect them?”

  • “Band against the brick wall, united and together, because the only way out is through.”

  • “Every day I have to tell ego to get in the back so that spirit can drive.”

Q: Final impressions?

A: This is not a book to read all at once. Keep it on your nightstand. Flip to a random page when you need perspective. The visuals of Southern life? Unrivaled. You can tell each sentence was crafted for maximum visual effect. It feels authentic—constantly pulling between being human and trying to show up in the afterlife with nothing but a bag of good karma. This book consistently made me want to be a better person.

Want to read the stories that made our reader laugh, cry, and want to book a spa day? A Spork in the Road by Emily Carter is available for pre-order and will be distributed in April.

Local bookworm Jen Heironimus shared this emotionally honest and laugh-out-loud response after reading an ARC copy of Emily Carter’s A Spork in the Road.

We loved the spontaneity of their notes so much, we decided to share them as a Q&A. If you’re curious what kind of emotional ride this book might take you on—keep reading.

Q: Did any stories make you cry?

A: Yes. Hard.

  • Carpe Alaska – I cried so hard I had to walk away for a bit.

  • What Remains – Dogs make us better people.

  • Buoyancy – Parents are human too.

  • Connect For – The little things matter, whether we know it or not.

Q: What about the laugh-out-loud moments?

A: So many. Like… legit LOL.

  • The World is a Big 6th Grade

  • Sage – Loved the conversation with Sage

  • Knock on Woody

  • Broken Stripper Poles

  • Partner Transparency – especially #2

Q: Which stories were your personal favorites?

A: This list was hard to narrow down. I have a lot.

  • String of Pearls – I want to find Miss Pearl and use her checkout line.

  • School Bus #5 – The list in this one would make a great graduation gift.

  • By the Seat of My Skirt – LOVE LOVE LOVE

  • Sage – “Everything is what you make of it.”

  • Time and Full Body Cast Heal Everything – So relatable!

  • I-95 North, Regionals Exit – Just loved the writing.

  • Season and Purpose – Same reason. Just great writing and reflection.

  • AAA – A reminder that every life bump brings you to where you are.

  • It’s Been a Long Trip – Notice and be in the moment.

Q: Any lines that stuck with you?

A: Yes! These are going in my quote journal.

  • “Much like the paradox of justice and mercy, I expect compassion; I just can’t always find it in my purse when others want to borrow some.”

  • “How do I know when to throw rocks and when to collect them?”

  • “Band against the brick wall, united and together, because the only way out is through.”

  • “Every day I have to tell ego to get in the back so that spirit can drive.”

Q: Final impressions?

A: This is not a book to read all at once. Keep it on your nightstand. Flip to a random page when you need perspective. The visuals of Southern life? Unrivaled. You can tell each sentence was crafted for maximum visual effect. It feels authentic—constantly pulling between being human and trying to show up in the afterlife with nothing but a bag of good karma. This book consistently made me want to be a better person.

Want to read the stories that made our reader laugh, cry, and want to book a spa day? A Spork in the Road by Emily Carter is available for pre-order and will be distributed in April.

EPIC Carteret Books, an imprint of Planck Length Publishing, is proud to present our first publication.

Meet the next voice of EPIC Carteret!

Emily Carter brings heart, humor, and fearless storytelling to her blog A Chick’s View. Now, indulge in her unforgettable collection of powerful personal essays, A Spork in the Road—a funny, wise, and soul-nourishing journey through life in the rural South.

“A Spork in the Road will warm your heart, feed your soul, and flat-out make you a better person. It just will… Think Anne Lamott with less Bay Area and more livermush. In other words: perfection.”
— Celia Rivenbark, NYT-Bestselling Author

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