sarahcoller's review
5.0
Wow. Ok, first of all, WHY is there not a sequel? I can't remember a time when I finished a book and immediately began frantically flipping through the remaining pages to see if that really was "the end"? To look for hope of a sequel? HOW can she leave me hanging like this? Ugh....
Yes, I truly loved this story. I loved that Emily was genuinely sweet. She wasn't over the top goody goody---but she was truly kind and thoughtful. This was punctuated even further by the fact that I'd just finished Alice Hoffman's, The Probable Future which features a super snotty teen as its MC.
I love these kinds of stories that are magical without being magicky. I can't wait to read more!
Yes, I truly loved this story. I loved that Emily was genuinely sweet. She wasn't over the top goody goody---but she was truly kind and thoughtful. This was punctuated even further by the fact that I'd just finished Alice Hoffman's, The Probable Future which features a super snotty teen as its MC.
I love these kinds of stories that are magical without being magicky. I can't wait to read more!
jcpdiesel21's review
3.0
I enjoyed the vivid, enchanting storytelling and touches of magic on display in this book. The setting of sleepy Southern town Mullaby and its distinctly quirky residents who are steeped in tradition are well drawn and create a charming, memorable atmosphere. While I found both of the main characters likable and interesting to follow, I had difficulty connecting to Emily, and during the sections devoted to her I kept wishing that the book would get back to Julia, who was a far more engaging character. There are several unanswered questions and dangling story threads at the end of the book, and it felt like both of the intertwining storylines could have easily stood on their own in separate novels. The men in the book felt like ciphers; they were present mostly to drive the plot forward, but could have been fleshed out a lot more, particularly gentle giant Vance.
v_de_quimper's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
marissah_joy's review
3.0
Meh. 3 stars not because it was bad because it wasn’t bad it just wasn’t my kind of book. I don’t know that I will ever leave the fantasy/dystopian genre and feel completely satisfied. I love world building, big fights, and monsters and such so anything that I’ve read about like normal people in a modern world falls flat. This felt like a hallmark Christmas movie but without the Christmas. Kind of surface level conflict, kinda cheesy at parts. It was only like 265 pages so it would be a good book for vacation, a flight or for in between other serious books when you need a breather. It had like “magic” but like hallmark Christmas movie magic lol so unfortunately I don’t count that at all. I think more development of the 2 major romances and a deeper more complex conflict would have set this up to be a better story.
sri_savita's review
5.0
Revised rating: 5 stars
Sarah Addison Allen is the author that made me fall in love with magical realism and southern charm and sleepy small towns. She is the author that made me want to write. She is an author that my sister and I both admire/d. I have all of Sarah Addison Allen's books and love them all but this one used to be my least favorite. Until today. When that all changed, and this book nearly brought me to tears.
Recently, my younger sister told me this was always her favorite of SAA's books, and recently, she died from a 3 year battle with cancer. I miss her fiercely. So today, on a nostalgic whim I picked this story up to feel closer to her, to discover what she loved about this book most. I re-read it in one sitting. I love this book so much more now - because it helps me feel closer to my sister, and now that I am older and can appreciate the themes of grief of all kinds, and scars in all forms, that run through this beautiful story. But, there is also love. So much love. Beautiful, gentle, and enduring, like moonlight. Sarah's characters are all always haunting and haunted in the best way. There's so many layers to each of them. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed getting to know them.
This is inspiring me to do a re-read of all of Sarah's books. I know I LOVE Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Peach Keeper, and Lost Lake and I can't wait to rediscover that love again this year.
Sarah Addison Allen is the author that made me fall in love with magical realism and southern charm and sleepy small towns. She is the author that made me want to write. She is an author that my sister and I both admire/d. I have all of Sarah Addison Allen's books and love them all but this one used to be my least favorite. Until today. When that all changed, and this book nearly brought me to tears.
Recently, my younger sister told me this was always her favorite of SAA's books, and recently, she died from a 3 year battle with cancer. I miss her fiercely. So today, on a nostalgic whim I picked this story up to feel closer to her, to discover what she loved about this book most. I re-read it in one sitting. I love this book so much more now - because it helps me feel closer to my sister, and now that I am older and can appreciate the themes of grief of all kinds, and scars in all forms, that run through this beautiful story. But, there is also love. So much love. Beautiful, gentle, and enduring, like moonlight. Sarah's characters are all always haunting and haunted in the best way. There's so many layers to each of them. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed getting to know them.
This is inspiring me to do a re-read of all of Sarah's books. I know I LOVE Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, The Peach Keeper, and Lost Lake and I can't wait to rediscover that love again this year.
lexadoddle's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ila_mae's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Self harm, and Suicide
nglofile's review
3.0
3 1/2 stars. Almost irresistible. Even before I've read a page, I know Allen's books will envelop me in dreamy delight. I enjoy how she engages several senses in her descriptions, especially when she weaves scents together.
So why not rate the book higher? A minor complaint is a love scene that doesn't seem to share the same tone as the rest of the story. However, the main reason is that a big part of the plot rests on a secret that the woman keeps from the man when she shouldn't, and I am simply tired of this as plot device. I realize most won't be as picky as I, so I will cheerfully recommend this to others.
Two favorite images:
"The air outside was tomato-sweet and hickory-smoked, all at once delicious and strange."
"But then a gradual depression settled over her like someone flipping out a bedsheet and letting it float down to cover her."
So why not rate the book higher? A minor complaint is a love scene that doesn't seem to share the same tone as the rest of the story. However, the main reason is that a big part of the plot rests on a secret that the woman keeps from the man when she shouldn't, and I am simply tired of this as plot device. I realize most won't be as picky as I, so I will cheerfully recommend this to others.
Two favorite images:
"The air outside was tomato-sweet and hickory-smoked, all at once delicious and strange."
"But then a gradual depression settled over her like someone flipping out a bedsheet and letting it float down to cover her."
keruichun212's review
3.0
This is my least favorite of Allen's books, but having said that, I still enjoyed reading it.
filipaavmonteiro's review against another edition
2.0
Este livro conta-nos a história de Emily e Julia, cujos caminhos se cruzam. Emily chega a Mullaby onde vai viver com o avô e Julia tem o seu passado envolvido com o da mãe de Emily.
Julia e Sawyer foram as personagens que mais me cativaram, o fim poderia não ter sido tão repentino.
Julia e Sawyer foram as personagens que mais me cativaram, o fim poderia não ter sido tão repentino.