Kissing the Sky - by Lisa Patton (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Whistlin' Dixie in a Nor'easter comes a soulful, nostalgic novel about a young woman coming of age in the '60s to the blare of the music that shaped a generation.

It's the summer of '69. While her peers revel in free love and rock and roll, Suzannah is home from college, sequestered inside her conservative Southern home. Her domineering father has condemned rock music and driven away her best friend. She's counting the days until fall.

But everything changes when her free-spirited best friend, Livy, resurfaces, urging Suzannah, a talented singer, to join her for three days of peace and music in upstate New York. Fed up with her father's rules and fearful for her brother's fate in Vietnam, Suzannah agrees to the road trip, sneaking off without her parents' knowledge.

Miles outside her comfort zone, the electrifying bedlam of Woodstock jolts her into a journey of self-transformation. But it's not all incense and peppermints. Suzannah's falling hard for Leon, a boy she meets at the festival, and the seductive bud of first love conceals a thorn of heartache. Lies uncover betrayal, and Livy's wild behavior leads to a startling revelation.

A nostalgic trip through the turbulent '60s, this is the story of a lovable heroine who lets go of the girl she was to embrace the woman she's becoming while she learns to lift her voice--for herself and perhaps for the world.

(c) 2026 by Lisa Patton, all rights reserved.

Review Quotes

"Patton's bildungsroman illuminates Woodstock through the eyes of a sheltered 20-year-old woman who must grapple with lingering guilt, blossoming love, and her friend's strange behavior." -- Booklist

"This coming-of-age story, set in the backdrop of one of the most iconic musical events in history, will delight readers." --BookTrib, Best Books of March

"Readers and music lovers alike have something to look forward to in Lisa Patton's new book, Kissing the Sky." --People

"Thematically the reminder is that humans need one another, that love for the people around us should unite, not divide. Patton's outspoken reminiscence will be gobbled up by anyone interested in (or who participated in) the counter-culture movement...Magical!" --Historical Novel Society, Editors' Choice

"Kissing the Sky is a story of Woodstock and war, of agency and astonishment. And in it, Lisa Patton is at her absolute best: funny, perceptive, romantic, and soul-stirring. For three music-soaked days we follow Suzannah--a young woman on the cusp of freedom--through a muddy field in upstate New York as she discovers the joys of first love and the strength of her own voice. An iconic novel set in the heart of an iconic weekend!" --Ariel Lawhon, New York Times bestselling author of The Frozen River

"A moving portrayal of a young woman's battle to claim her life on her own terms, set against the stark backdrop of the Vietnam War, Kissing the Sky is a triumphant coming-of-age novel that, like a favorite song, will linger in readers' minds long after the final page. Lisa Patton deftly paints a picture of Woodstock so immersive and so vivid, I found myself swaying to the music--and gasping at an emotional twist I never saw coming. A bold, beautiful testament to the power of community, the transformative nature of true love, and the absolute necessity of following your heart, Kissing the Sky is the must-read novel we all need right now. Five golden, glittering (or, better yet, tie-dyed!) stars!" --Kristy Woodson Harvey, New York Times bestselling author of Beach House Rules

"Music-soaked and soul-stirring, Lisa Patton's Kissing the Sky sweeps us into the summer of '69, where the electrifying chaos of Woodstock collides with the quiet rebellion of a Southern girl finding her voice. With pitch-perfect nostalgia, unforgettable characters, and a soundtrack that sings on every page, Patton captures the thunder of first love, the ache of loss, and the transcendent power of music to transform us. Kissing the Sky is both a trip back in time and a timeless tale of becoming. Lisa Patton created a chart-topping song of a novel, a hit record you'll want to play on repeat long after the last page." --Patti Callahan Henry, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea

"Lisa Patton always manages to present her most developed characters, as they emerge from complex social surroundings in the most enlightening ways. In this delightful tale, taking place in the '60s, when everything from religion to war was subject to scrutiny, we're reminded by our heroine, Suzannah, that social norms are just as often as not something we need to outwit and overcome on our lifelong journey of finding our better nature." --Michael McDonald, five-time Grammy award winner and New York Times bestselling author of What a Fool Believes

"Lisa Patton is a master storyteller, creating worlds for women, where they find their voices and learn to sing out loud. Kissing the Sky is her most emotional novel yet. It's the late 1960s and Suzannah wants to take control of her life. Rebellion means Woodstock, the music festival where anything goes and everything does. As Suzannah finds her place in the world on her own terms, owning her mistakes and reaching for her dreams, you will root for her every step of the way. A triumph!" --Adriana Trigiani, New York Times bestselling author of The View from Lake Como

"Lisa Patton has written a superb historical novel. Never, and I mean never, in a million years would I have guessed that she was not at Woodstock herself. I was on pins and needles the entire time, excited to find out what happened next. And the twist? You could have knocked me over with a feather! A remarkable achievement!" --Fannie Flagg, New York Times bestselling author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe