Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Paisley Memories: The Beginning of Me

Rate this book
At seventeen, Tess Cooper was a high school drop-out, an orphan, and a single mom to a baby girl with Down syndrome. The next two years didn’t turn out like she thought it would.
After her dad’s death, she flees Brooksville, Alabama, in his beloved 1957 Thunderbird before the red clay on his grave can settle. A year of traveling from place to place brings Tess and Paisley to the deep fried, southern town of Panacea, Florida, where her money runs out. A stranger, named Butterball, takes them in and gives Tess a job taking pictures at Wakulla Springs State Park and the annual Sopchoppy Worm Grunting Festival.
Afraid to trust these people, Tess plans to leave, but the T-bird is stolen and she is forced to stay. Paisley is thriving on all the attention. Tess weighs her options. Can she give her baby what she needs? Should she put down roots in this place where she has found friends? Or should she give Paisley up for adoption and head out on a life of her own?

184 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2015

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Zelle Andrews

5 books29 followers
THE WEIGHT OF PAISLEY on my hip caused my high heels to sink slowly in the soft, Alabama red clay......I held my breath as they lowered my dad's casket into his new home...everyone left, but their whispers lingered...whispers of what would become of my daughter Paisley and me....The sting of their words: out of wedlock, orphan, retarded, unemployed, uneducated, high school dropout...While driving through the iron-gated entrance of Goodbread Memory Gardens.....rearview and side mirrors out of place, don't look back. This was going to be a journey of epic proportions.....
Just a few short quips from PAISLEY MEMORIES. To read more get the book!



Zelle Andrews’ first endeavor at publishing was at the age of twelve. A short poem she wrote in middle school was selected to be published in the Tallahassee Democrat. She later found the yellowed newspaper clipping that her mother saved, when she was in the process of writing her novel.
Paisley Memories started out as an idea that Zelle wrote on a scrap piece of paper. Just notes at first, then it became a couple of chapters. It was her first Tallahassee Writers Association Conference that made her take her writing serious.
Zelle Andrews lives near the Florida coast with her family. She is a member of Tallahassee Writers Association. Paisley Memories is her debut novel.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
21 (50%)
4 stars
13 (30%)
3 stars
7 (16%)
2 stars
1 (2%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Carolina Godinho.
307 reviews
October 13, 2015
I was given a ARC in exchange of a honest review.

I started this book yesterday and couldn't stop for the life of me. It hooked me right from beginning.
Tess is a teenager, she's having the hardest time of her life. She had to drop out of school because of her daugther who suffers of Down syndrome. Her father just died and the foster system wants to take her daugther away. So Tess leaves her hometown with no perspective of where to go.
She spends to much time on the road, until she comes to a town where she meets Butterball, a woman with a job oportunity and a place to stay for Tess and Paisley
.
Tess is hardened, she doesn´t make friends or let another people in her life.

This story is mostly about learning. Learn how to cope, how to deal with everything life throws your way.
Wonderfully written, Paisley memories is a heart warming story. It breaks your heart and then put it back together.

If you´re expecting a romance, I must say it has romance, but is a secondary character. It doesn´t focus on it.
Though the romantic part is really sweet and funny. The way Tess meets Aaron is hilarious, it made me laugh hard.


"As I stood up, I tripped on the strap of the camera bag and fell backward into someone´s lap.
-Oh, my gosh! I am sorry, - I stammered amd scrambled out of the person´s lap, tripped on my own shoelace, and fell again. In a desperate attempt to not land in his lap again, I turned to catch myself. I ended up with my fae into a man´s chest"


" -Do you need help?- He extended his hands.
I opened my mouth to talk, but instead I inhaled my gum and choked"

Aaron´s daughter is a loony, she cracks me up a lot with her stunts to keep Aaron and Tess apart. I surely hope there are a continuation for Tess and Aaron, they deserve to have their story told more thoroughly.


Eu comecei esse livro ontem e não pude parar nem pra salvar a minha vida. Prendeu minha atenção desde o início.
Tess é uma adolescente e está passando pelo momento mais difícil de sua vida. Seu namoradinho a engravidou e a deixou quando soube da gravidez. O pai dela adoeceu e faleceu pouco depois do nascimento da filha de Tess, que nasceu com síndrome de Down. O serviço social quer esperar Tess ficar maior de idade e tomar sua filha pra colocá-la pra adoção. Por isso Tess pega seus poucos pertences e foge com Paisley, sua linda menininha, sem perspectiva de onde ir.

Elas passam muito tempo viajando, cerca de um ano. Até chegar em uma cidade em que Tess encontra Butterball. uma mulher que lhe oferece um trabalho e um local pra ficar.
Tess está endurecida pela vida, e não deixa outras pessoas se aproximarem dela facilmente.
A história é mais sobre aprendizado, sobre como aprender a lidar com as bolas curvas que a vida lança em sua direção

Maravilhosamente escrito, Paisley memories quebra o seu coração e depois cola os caquinhos de volta.
Se vc for ler esse livro esperando por um romance, eu devo lhe alertar que tem romance, mas ele é um personagem secundário.Não foca nisso. Mas, a parte romântica é muito doce e engraçada. O jeito que a Tess eo Aaron se encontram pela primeira vez me fez rir horrores.

A filha do Aaron é uma doidinha, ela me fez rir muito com o que ela apronta ou fala pra manter o pai dela e a Tess bem longe um do outro.
Eu, certamente, espero que Tess e Aaaron tenham uma continuação, eles merecem ter sua história contada mais a fundo.
Profile Image for Linda.
78 reviews2 followers
November 13, 2016
This is an amazing story about a teenage mother, left in the world without parents of her own and raising a Down syndrome child. Her own insecurities as well as her questions about the development of her daughter, form a story which will tug at your heart strings. Humor is blended in and provides many a good laugh.
Profile Image for Bambi Rathman.
331 reviews60 followers
March 28, 2020
Tess Cooper's life is nothing like a young 17 year old teen thought it would be. Her father and the only person who cared about her, supported her and loved her, has just died. The whispers at his funeral leave her feeling rejected and alone. All she has left is Paisley, her out-0f-wedlock daughter with Downs syndrome, her dad's rundown 1957 Thunderbird, her dad's lucky wheat penny, and the family photo album. Nothing to hold her to Brooksville, Alabama but hardships, mistakes and bad luck. She was leaving and not looking back.

But where is she headed? What is she going to do? Especially how is she going to support a child she doesn't feel adequate to raise? One with special needs. The challenges and responsibilities are heavy and her options are few. After a year "on the road" and going from place to place, Tess finds herself in the small beach town of Panacea, Florida. As fate would have it she's taken in by a woman named Butterball. Tess isn't very willing to be a "house guest" of Butterball and her "mini-feathered bowling balls with beaks" but she would only be there a week or two. Enough to make a few bucks and move on. Oh, but that's just the beginning of what happens to Tess. The beginning of a book I was drawn into from page one.

I loved the characters in this story. Tess is a bit self-centered at first but what teen isn't? She grew on me and my heart went out to her. Butterball is a hoot! I fell in love with her and her timely words and wisdom. Her quips and sense of humor are hilarious. Paisley is adorable. A little girl who wins the hearts of whomever she meets. Tess's best friend, Gabs is what a best friend is. There are so many characters in the story I felt connected to. I became a part of the little town they are in.

This story is written from Ms. Andrews' heart. She pulled at MY heart with Tess's story. There were so many passages that had me laughing out loud! Her humor is GREAT! There's a scene at the "Sopchoppy Worm Grunting Festival" (I didn't know there was such a thing!) that had me laughing so hard! Then there were parts of the story that were heart wrenching. Tess is running from a past that had so much heartache. ""I came here with Paisley trying to run from my past....But it's impossible to escape what you're running from when you bring it with you." There were surprises and a couple of twists I didn't expect. A wonderfully written story.

I enjoyed this book very, very much. I want to thank Ms. Andrews for the honor and opportunity to read this novel and for the gift of her story telling talents. I had such a good time reading it. It was an escape just when I needed it. A very special five star read for me. All opinions and thoughts in this review are my heartfelt own.

Profile Image for Sandy.
2,614 reviews64 followers
October 22, 2015
She wore the labels that she was given when her life started to go in reverse. With no one pushing her forward now, Tess bundled up Paisley and wandered the Deep South. Tess wasn’t exactly sure what she was searching for but a year later with her pockets nearly empty she found a stop in Panacea. An opportunity to rest, a place to pad her pockets and just unwind, it made the invitation to stay something she couldn’t pass up. It was a free place to stay, good home-cooked meals, an opportunity to actually have a bath and she could let her two-year old daughter Paisley stretch out her feet instead of living their lives in a hotel room or her father’s car. Tess knew her way around a camera, a skill she acquired in high school but now Butterball was going to teach her some tricks of her trade so when she was recovering from surgery Tess would be her backup for this was the exchange the two of them agreed to. Living with Butterball, emerging into Butterball’s life and the small community around her was perfect for Tess and Paisley. The stars aligned and everything fell into place for all the characters, it was as if Tess was a long-lost relative of Butterball’s. Being eloped into the community I expected more protective behavior from Tess. Tess was a young teen with a daughter who for the past year had been traveling alone with her on the road, a daughter with special needs and now when she moves into the community, her behavior was not what I expected. At the beginning of the novel, she was emotional about her situation and further into the novel, her emotions seemed to fall away and became softer. Tess seemed more concerned about herself then she did her own child. She lost me; I cared more about the other characters in the novel and their attachment to Paisley and Tess. This was a happy emotional read, a perfect novel. 3.5 stars
I received this novel from NetGalley and Southern Yellow Pine in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jess (the cozy reader).
653 reviews46 followers
November 3, 2015
Big thanks to Southern Yellow Pine Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC copy for review.

This was such a wonderful and poignant novel. Zelle Andrews really delivers Tess's story beautifully. There was heartache, struggles, and uncertainty, but within these hardships comes personal growth, perseverance, a mother's unwavering love for her child, and what really matters most.

Tess and baby, Paisley's journey was not an easy one, but sometimes miracles can be found in the most unexpected places. For Tess that place is Panacea, Florida. Coming to this new town is a fresh start for herself and her daughter, along the way true lifelong friendships are formed, and where she finds an inner strength she never knew she had. The ending leaves the characters in a good place, but I think this is a series so I am definitely looking forward to book two.
Profile Image for William Mark.
Author 4 books17 followers
February 7, 2016
Tess Cooper is a self-centered, angry and immature person! I've known a few like Tess and believe a swift kick in the seat of their pants would make for a good remedy. However, I loved her story and her quips as she wandered through life in North Florida. The characters were interesting and the story compelling. Zelle Andrews highlights the humor in life even in less desirable circumstances, which is necessary to tolerate all the curves life can throw at you! I couldn't imagine being alone and raising a special needs child, but I know all one needs is love. Tess finally found that in her new life despite her hang ups. Good story, but totally saw the Thunderbird being borrowed by Dirk coming!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Chasity .
180 reviews
November 7, 2019
Great Story

This is a great story. It left me wanting to know more about the characters future. I hope there is a part two!
At the beginning I didn't think this was a five star book. I didn't like Tess at all.
This book brought tears to my eyes and made me laugh out loud!
176 reviews6 followers
November 1, 2015
A truly wonderful story with excellent characters. The characters in this book are the types of people you wish you had a chance to know. The story was unique and unravelled beautifully. Tess's journey towards acceptance and maturity was a beautiful thing to witness.
Profile Image for Rocky Moore.
Author 3 books12 followers
June 30, 2017
At times poignant and at times comical, Paisley Memories traces the angst and gaffes of a high school drop-out thrust into the hard-knock world of survival. With her only support system buried and a special needs baby on her hip, an unwed and virtually penniless Tess travels to Florida in a beat-up old Thunderbird to grasp at an "anywhere but here" future.

Andrews creates a totally believable teen, struggling for a toehold amidst regret and despair. Tess wrestles with the idea of giving up her baby, vacillating between her own egocentrism and her view of her less than perfect child as a reflection of her less than perfect life. She is not the most likable character-petulant, selfish, and awkward-, but I found myself rooting for her to recognize her own worth and accept the circle of people surrounding her who teach her that picking yourself up doesn't mean everyone is trying to knock you down.

This is a coming of age story artfully told with a colorful cast of characters. The pacing is quick, but not hurried, and the depiction of the psyche of the protagonist is spot on.
Profile Image for Pat Stanford.
Author 4 books26 followers
June 2, 2017
Great beach read!

This was a great read, perfect for an afternoon at the beach and it even comes with the beach! It is very poignant, all while addressing the emotional turmoil of a 19 year old with a special needs baby.

The author created a wonderful, fun character, nicknamed Butterball, who takes the young Tess under her wing, and with her niece, Gabs becomes more of a family than Tess ever had.

You will like this one.
Profile Image for Terri Rowe.
Author 4 books11 followers
August 10, 2019
I enjoyed this book quite a bit--read it fairly rapidly---in about three days--which is great around my work schedule. Tess has had a hard life--and sometimes she makes it even harder with the choices she makes. One day--she decides to step outside of her comfort zone--and chooses to trust an older lady she meets-called Butterball--this one choice-brings a multitude of blessings and complications--but shows how easily life can change--sometimes even for the better!
Profile Image for Dana L. Brown, Author.
9 reviews7 followers
March 29, 2018
Paisley Memories is a poignant love story between a mother and her child. As a mother who also had a baby when she was young, as Tess did, the story-line is accurate, as well as realistic.

This book will make you cry a little, but laugh a lot and it is truly a must read!
Profile Image for M.C. Simon.
16 reviews2 followers
December 10, 2015
While tears are still falling from my eyes, I am writing this book review. I just finished reading “Paisley Memories – The Beginning of Me”… a book that touched everything inside me.

Paisley Memories is a book about people, parents, children, a teenage mother of a child with Down syndrome… an orphan and abandoned mother whose heart is filled with anger, hate, worries, questions and fears; a book about real and false friends; a book about life, fate and… love.

“Paisley Memories – The Beginning of Me” captured my mind and heart from the very beginning all the way through the end. The first and only moments I had to put the book down were right after Tess, the teenage mother, decided to keep the child and to refuse the adoption variant. I simply had to put the book aside. I couldn’t read anymore. Believe me, you won’t be able to read either while tears are heavily falling from your eyes.

I would lie if I told you that the author is talented, only. In fact, Zelle Andrews is brilliant! She has not only kept me busy, but she has made me cross so many internal states. I couldn’t imagine that I can laugh out loud and in the next moment cry out with all my heart.

I have only one problem and one complaint…

My only problem was that… I was very eager to read the book and… I started reading it while being at work. No, the office was not the problem; I just had one of those not so busy days. The problem was that my loud laughter and my teary eyes were noticed several times by my coworkers. They started to question my mental state so… I had to explain to them what was happening. And now they want to laugh and cry with me at the same time.

My one complaint is that the book ended and I didn’t find another book written by the same author.. I wonder where the author has been hiding herself until now and when her next book will be published. I officially declare Zelle Andrews as one of my favorite authors now.

There are several reasons for which I would always be grateful for having a life on this planet. This list has now an addition to it. I am happy to be here and now have been so fortunate to read “Paisley Memories”.

The moment when I closed the book covers, a deep silence embraced my entire being. It’s been a long time since I’ve last read such a well-written life story. Now… I have to think. I suddenly have to think about so many things; too many to be included in a review.

With all my heart, I recommend this book. If you want to read about life and love in almost all its aspects, grab this book now!

(Review posted at http://writerspayitforward.org/review...)
Profile Image for Aimee.
201 reviews4 followers
February 24, 2016
*copy received from publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *

This book is a really hard one for me to review because I have such mixed emotions about it. Tess is a teenager that has had to endure a lot of heartache and loss in her life. She has lost everyone close in her family except her daughter, Paisley, who has Down syndrome. Tess is such a self-centered person in the beginning of the book and I really disliked her. As a mother, it was talky hard to connect to Tess because I can't fathom not having an instant love and bond with your own child. She acts so often like Paisley isn't a person, but a nuisance, and that really bothered me. There were parts in the book that were really hard for me to read, like when Tess was considering putting Paisley up for adoption.

Butterball was easily my favorite character. She was funny, kind, and gave Tess some tough love when she needed it the most. I think she helped Tess see that she needed Paisley as much as Paisley needed her mom.

The end was a bit abrupt for me. I wasn't paying attention on my Kindle to how far I was in the book, and then it just ended. I wanted a bit more I guess.
1 review1 follower
December 7, 2015
I have to make a quick disclosure. The author is a much beloved family member, so I cannot be considered "without prejudice." That being said, I enjoyed this book very much. The writing was clear and accessible, reminiscent of Barbara Kingsolver's books, "Animal Dreams" and "The Bean Trees." Like those books, the heroine is a young woman making some difficult choices and coming of age in a "new" community of people, though we do have some surprises re: "new" people who aren't so new to her. Like Kingsolver's books, Zelle Andrews' narrator feels like someone you know, someone you could talk to. I felt like reaching through the pages to hug her and reassure her.
I bought the book via Kindle, but will be ordering several hard copies to send to friends for gifts. It is nice to say, "this is something my family member wrote AND it is a GREAT READ!" I look forward to more books in the future.
Profile Image for Charity.
392 reviews29 followers
October 27, 2015
For full review please go to: 5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com, Twitter @camartinez and Facebook "5 Girls Book Reviews"

REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 10 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

I think this book was very moving!

My favorite character is Gabs because she is super optimistic and loves her friends. She gives people hope and I LOVE that!

My favorite parts are when Butterball makes jokes and when she has her operation and acts all crazy.
July 31, 2019
I couldnt put it down.

I cried, I laughed and I read the entire book in one night. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a light-hearted read.
Profile Image for Lisa Hamilton.
2 reviews
August 28, 2019
Wonderful!

I loved every single word and was reminded of how very blessed I am to live and have raised my family in Wakulla County!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.