January 2025: Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax
Last night, we kicked off the DeLand Book Club at The Elusive Grape, and it was a wonderful evening of good food, great wine, and lively conversation.
Over a charcuterie board and house cabernet, we dove into Ten Beach Road by Wendy Wax, our first book of the year.
About the Book
When three women discover they’ve lost their life savings to a Ponzi scheme, they’re left with only one asset: co-ownership of a crumbling beachfront mansion on Florida’s Gulf Coast. As they work together to renovate the property, they rebuild not only the house but their own lives, finding unexpected strength, friendship, and hope along the way.
What We Thought
Our group agreed the premise was intriguing—a perfect blend of reinvention and resilience. The vivid Florida setting transported us, and the relationships between the women were heartfelt and engaging.
The ending? Let’s just say it caught us by surprise and left plenty to talk about!
February 2025: Florida Roadkill by Tim Dorsey
If ever there was a book to spark strong opinions, this was it!
About the Book
A chaotic, satirical road trip through the underbelly of Florida, Florida Roadkill introduces the infamous Serge A. Storms, a history-loving, morally unhinged whirlwind of destruction who leaves a trail of bizarre mayhem in his wake. The novel is packed with eccentric characters, elaborate cons, and off-the-wall antics that blend dark humor with an anything-goes plot.
What We Thought
For some, Florida Roadkill was an absolute riot, a gleefully deranged romp through the weirdest corners of Florida’s underworld. Tim Dorsey’s fans, in particular, were ride or die, fiercely loyal to his books and his larger-than-life protagonist. They saw Serge as a brilliant, if unhinged, antihero and found Dorsey’s writing to be a masterclass in Florida satire.
For others, the violence and chaos overshadowed the humor, making it a difficult read—or even impossible to finish.
Those who loved it were enthusiastic about Dorsey’s razor-sharp wit and a sense that the madness sometimes veered into pure mayhem.
One thing everyone could agree on? Tim Dorsey was a legend. His passing at the young age of 62 left many fans bereft. Over his career, he wrote 26 books featuring Serge Storms, each one a love letter to Florida’s quirks and contradictions. Those who had the chance to meet him at book signings—right here in DeLand—remembered his kindness, humor, and genuine enthusiasm for his readers. His ability to capture the absurdities of Florida life with such wild, unfiltered energy will never be forgotten.