Sarah Addison Allen

I’m a newbie to Sarah Addison Allen’s work, but for the most part, her books strike me as prose that depicts ordinary life with a twist of the fantastical and a generally happy ending – perfect for a quick “in between” read. I’ve discovered that chick lit fills an interesting void in the literary community that I hadn’t realized existed, the “in-betweener.”

Reading and discovering a new favorite book (NFB) is emotionally overwhelming and when you finish said NFB, it’s hard show more to pick up anything new because you’re not sure it will live up to the awesomeness that you just experienced with your NFB. One needs a palate cleanser – something that you know won’t live up to the ridiculously high standard set by the NFB, but still has a solid plot and decent characters. Enter the “in between” chick lit novel that lets you come down easy from the NFB high and back into the real world before you dive into the quest for the next NFB.

That being said, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, is a solid read with an intriguing plot and characters and is downright adorable in the most realistic way possible. The characters are flawed and the setting is ordinary in the best possible way. It’s hard to describe fully, but Sarah Addison Allen seems to have perfected the art of making the ordinary extraordinary – of telling a story that could be anyone’s story but has magnificent details that make it unique. The ability to transform our “ordinary daily life” into something spectacular in a natural way is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Interesting things happen to regular people (who may not be altogether “normal”) and Sarah Addison Allen crafts her stories around those moments, the ones that seem straightforward, but moments when our decisions shape our lives for years to come. And that’s how the ordinary becomes magnificently, extraordinarily ordinary and relatable. show less

A couple of years ago, I read my first Sarah Addison Allen book. Surprisingly, it wasn't a recommendation. I spotted a book with an engaging cover. Something about peaches and the South. That book turned out to be The Peach Keeper. She triggered my own childhood memories of climbing fragrant fruit trees in the summer while I donned dirty overalls, picking peaches for just enough change to buy a Big Gulp and pay a dollar at the neighboring high school to swim away the late afternoon show more heat.

Memories like this shape who we are. Working and monkey-ing around in tree limbs in the morning. Admonishing my sibling to hold the bucket 'closer.....come ON!'. Secreting away an impromptu juicy treat when waiting for my sisters to lumber back from divesting their burdens in favor of empty pails. And me, throwing the pits at my sisters. Sibling rivalry at best.

Why the stroll down memory lane.....or a peach orchard, as it may be?

Sarah Addison Allen's books have this same comfortable pull. She manages to engage readers evoking a feeling of nostalgia, warmth, and memories.

Lost Lake is no exception.

This story, told through several women, took me back to childhood summers and first loves. The magic of childhood. Relating to well-meaning family members. Living at peace with regrets and finding what truly grounds us when tragedy strikes. Learning to let go, righting wrongs, and discovering the sagacity and life lessons that await in the stories of the older generations, that is, if we only take the time and patience to listen.

You can read the book description anywhere, but what I felt was a warm, engaging read that left me with a smile, like a visit with a best friend over coffee. Truly lovely.

Who wouldn't want to read a book like that?

***Many thank you's to Goodreads and St Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for a personal review.*** show less

first line: "Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood."

I think of Garden Spells as a romance novel enhanced by magical realism. I don't generally go for books in the romance genre, and some magical realism (e.g., Gabriel Garcia Marquez) makes me twitchy. Overall, though, this is a really fun read.

One common theme is family cohesion (in terms of some characteristic shared by all the members of the same line): Waverley women are always weird; Clark girls are good in show more bed; Hopkins men marry older women. On the one hand, this was sometimes overplayed, and bothered me a bit; on the other hand, it strengthened the magical feeling, giving the story a cyclical feel.

I enjoyed the plot and the characters, though they weren't exceptional. What I loved were the magical elements woven into the book: how desire glows purple; the sort of feng shui of food and flowers; that one of the most well-imagined and sympathetic characters is a magical meddlesome apple tree.

And I don't doubt that, if I had a tree whose apples would give me a vision of the singular most significant event of my life, then (however dire the likely consequences) I'd take a bite. show less

Josey is a woman who views herself as a ”loaf of white bread wearing a belt” ... Not too keenly. Everything equates to some confectionary simile to her, of which she delights. On the first cold day of the fall season, she opens her closet for her “lucky red cardigan” and finds a huddled down Della Lee Baker instead, “single-handedly debunking the long-held belief that if you dotted your windowsills and door thresholds with peppermint oil, no unwanted visitors would ever appear.”
show more Growing up the only child to a wealthy, winter/summer marriage, Josey was ensconced in their opulence. Her mother, a doddering woman of reveled beauty, now monopolizes Josey’s every moment with demands and expectations, aside that of their maid’s.
There is Chloe. A bouncing head of red curls atop the body that runs a small courthouse cafe. She is besieged by unrandom books that present themselves as they deem she needs. Books on forgiveness start appearing after she breaks up with her “I made a mistake” boyfriend.
Adam, the mailman, has been the secret desire of Josey’s since his first delivery.
There are more secrets, mysteries, promises, and misunderstandings that will entwine these characters in a tight red bow of magic.
As with all Allen’s books, there is a thread of mystical that weaves a tapestry of spiritual delight. I’ve stocked up on peppermint oil to be sure. show less