Reviews with content warning for Domestic abuse - Garden Spells

The concept of the garden with magical plants that could manipulate people’s feelings reminded me of Just Add Magic so I picked up this book hoping it would be an adult version of that. I was hoping Claire would use her magical plants to fix her and other townspeople’s problems. While she sorta did this, I think the author focused more on the fact that the Waverleys all had some special gift idk. I think it’s a little strange for only one person to have powers related to the garden while the others didn’t.

One thing that bothered me was how intuitive and conscious Bay (a five year old!!) was about things that I don’t remember even being aware of at that age. I think she should’ve been written a little older.

Throughout the book, I was anticipating

David’s arrival in Bascom. When it finally happened at the end, the resolution was a little underwhelming.

Much like all the conflict in this book, nothing ever felt intense or serious enough even though there were some pretty heavy issues involved (domestic violence, rape, etc).

All in all, I definitely felt the small town vibes. This was a pretty light read.

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svaughn94's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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hexmexhideout's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

In Bascom, North Carolina the Waverleys have a shared legacy of extraordinary gifts. Unsurprisingly the last three Waverleys couldn’t be more different. Claire uses her garden to create culinary works of magic and to keep people at a comfortable distance. Evanelle doesn’t know why you need something or when, but she knows what you need and she can’t rest until you have it. Sydney is the rebel of the family. Unhappy with the expectations of being a “Waverley” she leaves home as soon as she can. Life moves on, but soon the comfortable bubble Claire has built back home is disrupted when a new neighbor is drawn to Claire, despite her standoffish nature, and Sydney returns home with a young daughter in tow. With nowhere else to go, Sydney needs Claire’s help to hide herself and her daughter from their past. Forced back together these sisters must overcome old hurts and combine forces to protect themselves and their family.

If you’re a fan of Practical Magic, you will find a friend (or two) in this book. Though there are similarities between Garden Spells and Practical Magic, including sisters with opposing views and goals, a town filled with small-minded folk, and magic woven into the underbelly of both stories, they are still different enough to distinguish themselves. Garden Spells is an easy and mildly fluffy read. There are some darker parts at the beginning, including death and domestic abuse, but the majority of the book is spent in beautiful Bascom with the Waverleys as they rebuild their relationships with the town and each other. Many of Claire and Sydney’s thoughts were slightly too self-aware to feel natural. The romances were easily spotted, and I didn’t think either of them was really necessary to the plot, but they were sweet enough to let that part go. The ending was rushed, and wrapped up so tightly it felt more unrealistic than the magical catering. Overall Garden Spells is a fun and quick read that is most-likely available at your local library.

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lindsinmco's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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mnicsot's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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filipacmiranda's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

4.0

Através de uma escrita simples, mas envolvente, Sarah Addison Allen transporta o leitor para a pequena cidade de Bascom, na Carolina do Norte. É nesta cidade que Claire Waverley vive e se reencontra com a sua irmã, Sydney, após vários anos de afastamento.

À volta da macieira que domina o jardim da família, crescem plantas e flores que os habitantes de Bascom acreditam terem propriedades mágicas. Este jardim, do qual Sydney deseja manter distância (e afastar a filha), é a principal fonte de rendimento de Claire, que utiliza a sua flora para criar pratos e refeições que resolvem os problemas da cidade. A atmosfera e as sensações que a autora consegue despoletar, através da escrita, quando descreve as receitas e os aromas criados por Claire, tornam esta história de família particularmente especial.

Talvez por ser um livro relativamente curto, senti que o desenvolvimento da ação e das intrigas familiares se sobrepunha ao desenvolvimento individual das personagens – que apresentam, na sua maioria, pouca profundidade. Contudo, gostei imenso de acompanhar a jornada de Sydney e de a ver confrontar-se, quer com a realidade da sua família, quer com a mudança de estatuto social a que é sujeita, quando as amizades da adolescência se revelam pouco acolhedoras, no momento do seu regresso.

De forma geral, “O Jardim Encantado” é um livro de fácil leitura, repleto de realismo mágico, que funciona como o escape ideal quando se pretende desligar do dia-a-dia.

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fernandapalhari's review against another edition

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3.0

I thought this would be a cozy, small town read but it's a romance novel that should come with an abusive relationship trigger warning - one of the female leads is running from an abusive partner. I just feel it should be said somewhere.

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megpro7's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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