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    The Key to Everything
    The Key to Everything
    The Key to Everything
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Key to Everything

    Written by Valerie Fraser Luesse

    Narrated by Matt Godfrey

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    About this audiobook

    Peyton Cabot's fifteenth year will be a painful and transformative one. His father, the heroic but reluctant head of a moneyed Savannah family, has come home from WWII a troubled vet, drowning his demons in bourbon and distancing himself from his son. A tragic accident shows Peyton the depths of his parents' devotion to each other but interrupts his own budding romance with the girl of his dreams, Lisa Wallace.

    Struggling to cope with a young life upended, Peyton makes a daring decision: He will retrace a journey his father took at fifteen, riding his bicycle all the way to Key West, Florida. Part declaration of independence, part search for self, Peyton's journey will bring him more than he ever could have imagined--namely, the key to his unknowable father, a reunion with Lisa, and a calling that will shape the rest of his life.

    Through poignant prose and characters so real you'll be sure you know them, Valerie Fraser Luesse transports you to the storied Atlantic coast for a unique coming-of-age story you won't soon forget.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateJun 2, 2020
    ISBN9781980087144
    Author

    Valerie Fraser Luesse

    Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac, Almost Home, The Key to Everything, and Under the Bayou Moon. She is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she recently retired as senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse received the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society for her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana. A graduate of Auburn University and Baylor University, she lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her husband, Dave.

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    Reviews for The Key to Everything

    4/5

    41 ratings14 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Great story great narrator good history sometimes a little too much detail but loved it
    • 5/5
      The Key to Everything is a beautifully written story about grief, young love, and the love that comes once in a lifetime. Author Valerie Fraser Luesse has written a stunning story that chronicles a son's loss of his father, a wife's heartbreaking grief for her husband, and a teenager's certainty that he has already found the love of his life. Most of all, this is a story of hope and Leusse absolutely captures Peyton's hope and determination as he makes this journey to Florida and travels the road to manhood!I recommend this book to all who enjoy inspirational novels filled with love, hope, and family. The Key to Everything is one that I won't soon forget.This book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell, through Interviews & Reviews. There was no obligation to write a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.
    • 5/5
      The first two books by Valerie Fraser Luesse were all I could hope for in novels that tell wonderful stories filled with engaging characters and a great sense of place and time. I chose The Key to Everything without even reading the blurb, that was how assured I was of liking it. And I did! In fact I loved it. I may even have a little book hangover — I just can’t let this book go. It gets my highly recommended rating.The Key to Everything is a coming-of-age story set in 1947. This was a time of great hopes, but with the lingering aftereffects of war. I especially liked that Luesse set the novel as a journey in old Florida. While I grew up many years after this story is set, I did experience Florida before the advent of Disney. It was a time of small coastal towns, kitschy motels, and sometimes crusty fish camps. The book brought back those memories and more, with many things I didn’t know before. Peyton’s journey on the saddle of a bike allows the reader to experience the small things that made the Florida of that time special. The characters are wonderfully drawn — I came to love Peyton and all those he met along the way. Peyton is a remarkable character, fearless in his desire to find his own way. I loved how he learned about his father’s dreams and aspirations, along with his disappointments and compromises. This knowledge helped to determine Peyton’s own path. The Key to Everything is a quiet book, yet it has some very big moments that are not shouted, but seep into the reader’s heart. This beautifully told story will stay with me a very long time. I also think that the novel would make a great choice for book clubs. I know I really want to talk about it!I wish I could do more justice to this book. Just let me leave you with one more thought — read this book! You will be so glad you did.Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Revell for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 5/5
      This beautiful coming-of-age novel takes place in the years after WWII in the South. The book begins in Georgia at a family reunion of a rich, old family that is definitely dysfunctional. The brothers and sisters don't get along with each other and the mother/grandmother doesn't get along with anyone. When something tragic happens at the reunion picnic, it sends Peyton, the main character, off on a quest.Peyton's father has returned from the war totally depressed from his experiences. His only way to alleviate the pain, is to turn to the bottle. While drunk he had a terrible accident at the family reunion and ended up in a coma in the hospital. Peyton and his mom, Katie, spend as much time with him as possible, while Uncle Julian, who always wanted to take control of the family money, works very hard to have his brother declared incompetent so that he can take control of the family. When his dad dies, Peyton decides to take a trip to Key West on a bicycle just like his father did at the same age of 15. He takes the trip in honor of his father but the people he meets on the road and the situations that he gets into, make him grow up fast. During his long trip to Key West, he meets many interesting people, all of who show him a different facet to life as an adult. The other reason for his bike ride is to find Lisa, the love of his life who has been sent to her aunt's home for the summer. Will the lessons that he learns make him a stronger and wiser man? Will he find Lisa? I loved that the author added an Epilogue that is 20 years in the future so that we can how Peyton grew up and how the lessons that he learned on his bike ride affected his life.This is a beautifully written heart-warming story full of situations and characters that you won't soon forget. It's a story of family - the one you were born into and the one that you create with the people you love throughout your life.
    • 5/5
      What an amazing story by Valerie Fraser Luesse. The way she writes just completely brings the book to life. You definitely feel transported to that time frame and location. The cover of this book completely captivated me and the fact that it was mostly set in in my home state of Florida sold me on it. This story is absolutely beautiful. The bulk of the story although mainly about Peyton and his journey to adulthood but it also interweaves the story of his mother Kate. This was done flawlesslySince Peyton was young he has heard the story of his father riding his bike from St. Augustine to Key West and he tells his cousins that one day he would like to do the same. So the whole time he has this wild idea on the back of his mind. His dad has a tragic freak accident and after having surgery, he wakes up and lets Kate knows that its time for Peyton to have an actual summer and head to St. Augustine to stay with Aunt Gert. There he learns a lot more about his father's past and how his mother and dad fell in love. He learns to drive a boat, get his boating license and all the time feeling this tug of taking that bike route his dad did years ago. Unfortunately Kate (Peyton's mom) comes to St. Augustine with the news that his dad has passed on so begins the bike journey for young Peyton.First of all it was refreshing to see a young man of almost sixteen show such maturity in everything he does. I know this something that comes with that generation and its sad we don't see it more often in this day and age so I loved that because its the way we are raising our boys to be so focused on themselves but to learn from others. Peyton does that. Every person he encounters on his trek, he learns something from them. Every challenge he faces, he learns something from it as well. He builds this incredible network of people as he travels. He also sees what his father must have seen when he was on the journey and feels like he is starting to understand him a little more. I love this from the book when he realizes what the purpose of the trip was:" I don't think it makes sense to spend a lotta time worryin' about what other people think as long as you do what you believe is right. Everybody has a true them that they're meant to be."While Peyton is traveling down to Key West, his mom is coming to terms of losing the love of her life. It is heartbreaking and you feel her loss. This story is more than just his journey there is also a love interest in this story. Lisa is the girl Peyton loves. It was beautiful to see how their love story unfolds and how it mimics the love story between Peyton's parents.The story is definitely a clean read and in no way is it overly preachy or full of faith filled moments. I highly recommend it! It would make a great summer read!
    • 4/5
      War has impaired Peyton's father. After an accident leaving his father in the hospital in critical condition, his mother sends him to live with the woman who raised her. Upon his arrival Peyton is immediately given the keys to mature, grow up and learn the ropes of being a man. These skills quickly come to the test as Peyton sets off on the SAME bike ride across Florida that his own father took many years before. This father son adventure is emotionally gripping. From the characters Peyton meets to uncovering the love and secrets of his father's own footsteps on his ride all those years ago, this coming of age is the perfect nostalgic read. After having read "Missing Issac" and "Almost Home" by this same author, Luesse continues to showcase her talents in this newest penning. From historical family drama and depth in theme and overtures this is another is brilliant in crafting incredible stories. *Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
    • 4/5
      As we begin this story we are at the annual family picnic, a very wealthy dysfunctional family, when tragedy hits the life of young Peyton.Now this young man is a very respectful, kind to others, and has a big heart. You will like his parents, and his Aunt and Finn, and the impact they have on his young life.As we journey with Peyton, without a doubt you see life repeating itself, and there are some surprises along the way.A story of growing up and becoming a young man, a story of learning about his father and wanting to seek what he was seeking, and a story of young love and finding oneself.Loved that there was an Epilogue at the end, and we are updated and find out what happened!#TheKeytoEverythingI received this book through Revell Reads, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 3/5
      An interesting coming of age story with family intrigue, young love and self-discovery. Peyton Cabot is an affable character that keeps the reader interested in him and his trials. His emotional journey from Georgia to Florida is filled with love and pain both physically and emotionally. He remains true to his heart and learns a great deal about growing up in the process. An enjoyable read! I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this book, I liked the characters, I enjoyed the description of Payton a 15 year old boy riding a bicycle from St. Augustine and all the way to Key West and all the adventures and the people he met on the way.He traced the places his dad in his youth experienced when he did the trek in his time. I give this book 4 stars.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book by this author that I have read. It is well written and well developed and, although the plot and the protagonist (Peyton) are almost too perfect to be convincing, it all works. This touching and positive book is perfect in these troubled times! I will check out the other books by this author.
    • 4/5
      In 1947, a a tragic accident involving his father turns 15-year-old Payton's world upside down. He spends the summer in Florida with his great aunt Gert. While there he decides to retrace a a bike ride from St. Augustine to Key West which his father took at the same age. He is hoping to learn what his father did and says that it is "because it is the last thing [his father will] ever share with him." During the ride Peyton learns about himself, the meaning of family, and his true feelings towards his girlfriend, Lisa.This is more of coming of age story than historical fiction. The characters are well-developed, and the people Peyton meets in his travels add dimension to both the story and his character. Payton is a little too unselfish and empathetic to be a typical teenager, but reader will appreciate this wholesome novel even though there are a lot of rather unlikely coincidences.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book by Valerie Fraser Luesse that I've read but hopefully it won't be the last one. I really enjoyed this book.The characters were quite well developed, they seemed like real people from the time and area of the book. The setting is in the south in post WWII. The main character is a 15 year old boy trying to figure out life. The story was based on a true event and was very interesting. The story flowed well and kept my interest throughout. The descriptions were very well done, not too flowery or wordy, but enough to see what she wanted you to see.The book is from Revell and it is a clean story. It is not what I would call a true Christian book as very little of faith is revealed. You get the impression the mother is a Christian but it is in no way a preachy book.I was given an ARC version and the editing was very well done. This is important to me as it can make an otherwise good book unreadable if not edited well. I am not required to write a positive review, this is my own, unbiased opinion.I would recommend this book to my friends and give it a 4 out of 5 star rating.
    • 4/5
      Post WWII Florida is the setting for this coming-of-age story (don't roll your eyes at the cliché--it's a good 'un!) featuring 15-year-old Peyton Cabot, a young man of privilege whose privileges get yanked out from underneath him after back-to-back tragedies. In order to sort things out, Payton hits the road on a bicycle to retrace the journey his father took years before.Valerie Fraser Luesse has peopled her novel with genuine and lively characters--you'll love Aunt Gert--and I had fun assuming the role of "casting director" and assigning actors to each of them.A couple of times, I stumbled over a turn of phrase that was more 1990 than 1940 (St. Augustine was described as "seriously old") but those were minor, minor bumps in this enjoyable road trip.
    • 4/5
      I love a coming of age story that touches the heart. This book makes me wish I knew more bout my parents. My dad has told me many stories of his time in war and how it shaped his life and how he sees things differently because of it. My mother died when I was young, and I wish I knew more about her.