A review by booksanddopamine
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
4.0
This was very Practical Magic - two magical sisters with contrasting personalities, one who moves away and ends up in an abusive relationship; small town where the sisters feel like outcasts; eccentric aunt; romance... but I enjoyed it (more than I thought I would, even).
The magical elements are sweet and down to earth. Although there's romance, I'd say the story is more about the relationship between the sisters and their personal self-discovery.
Maybe it's just me, but as an autistic person Claire read like a coded autistic character. She struggles with social situations and reading people, she doesn't like people moving her things around because she likes them in their place, doesn't like change, and experiences a magical sort of sensory overload. She does have trauma and a fear of abandonment, but I still believe she reads as autistic. I get you, Claire!
The magical elements are sweet and down to earth. Although there's romance, I'd say the story is more about the relationship between the sisters and their personal self-discovery.
Maybe it's just me, but as an autistic person Claire read like a coded autistic character. She struggles with social situations and reading people, she doesn't like people moving her things around because she likes them in their place, doesn't like change, and experiences a magical sort of sensory overload. She does have trauma and a fear of abandonment, but I still believe she reads as autistic. I get you, Claire!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Domestic abuse, and Rape