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Garden Spells (2007)

by Sarah Addison Allen

Other authors: See the other authors section.

Series: Waverley Family (1)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingConversations / Mentions
5,0353692,145 (4.03)1 / 584
Fiction. Literature. HTML:In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it. . . .

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants??from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys??except for Claire??s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire??s quiet life is turned upside down??along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy??if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom??or with each other.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own. . . .

BONUS: This edition contains excerpts from Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost and The Girl Who Chas
… (more)
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    The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel by Sarah Addison Allen (brightbel)
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    morningwalker: magical realism
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    Blessed Are the Cheesemakers by Sarah-Kate Lynch (PaperbackPirate)
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    The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (amberwitch)
    amberwitch: Magical families, rebellious sisters in a magical realism story
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    Chocolat by Joanne Harris (julienne_preacher)
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    The Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe (wenbubo)
    wenbubo: There is a love of gardens and family ties are strong.
  14. 00
    The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery (SunnySD)
  15. 00
    The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker (4leschats)
    4leschats: Relationships between sisters which are strained and magic realism aspects.
  16. 00
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    dara85: Southern setting, quirky characters, romance
  17. 00
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    flying_monkeys: A beautiful garden filled with memories and magic is at the heart of this story. Nan is able to discern truth because she can taste lies, though she's keeping some pretty big secrets herself. Bay is coming of age amidst small town gossip and beginning to question what she's always believed. A lovely exploration of loyalty, forgiveness, memory and friendship.… (more)
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    elbakerone: Another charming novel about friendship/family centered around a woman with unique culinary gifts.
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(see all 29 recommendations)

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» See also 584 mentions

English (364)  Italian (2)  Piratical (1)  German (1)  All languages (368)
Showing 1-5 of 364 (next | show all)
Fun fantasy romance.In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it.The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants¥from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys¥except for Claire?s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire?s quiet life is turned upside down¥along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy¥if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom¥or with each other. Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own.From the Hardcover edition.
  bentstoker | Jan 26, 2024 |
Charming, cosy book about household magic and relationships. ( )
  zjakkelien | Jan 2, 2024 |
I'm writing this from memory, as I picked this book up at an airport out of curiosity back in 2007. I remember it as a quick but thoroughly enjoyable read. It was my introduction to the Magical Realism genre, and I was instantly hooked. ( )
  Doodlebug34 | Jan 1, 2024 |
I've been curious about this one for a while and I wasn't disappointed! It made me want to go to Sacred Sweets for Lavender Cookies :) ( )
  jskeltz | Nov 23, 2023 |
This book had promise in the beginning, but then it turns into more of a romance than I generally like.

I thought the romance was cringey and a little creepy. Like, how many times does she have to say she’s not interested? Oh, until he corners her and kisses her, and then she’s suddenly into him? 🙄 Whatever.

I really enjoyed the parts that weren’t the romance and I was planning on reading the second book, but now I’m going to give it a miss.

If you enjoy Practical Magic, but wish it was spicy, then you may like this book. ( )
  LynnMPK | Nov 18, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 364 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (7 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Sarah Addison Allenprimary authorall editionscalculated
Cassen, MelodyCover artistsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Ericksen, SusanNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hauser, SonjaTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Original title
Alternative titles
Original publication date
People/Characters
Important places
Important events
Related movies
Epigraph
Dedication
For my mom. I love you.
First words
Every smiley moon, without fail, Claire dreamed of her childhood.
Quotations
When you're happy for yourself, it fills you. When you're happy for someone else, it pours over.
When you tell a secret to someone, embarrassing or not, it forms a connection.  That person means something to you simply by virtue of what he knows.
Last words
Disambiguation notice
ISBN 055338483X is just for Garden Spells.

Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

References to this work on external resources.

Wikipedia in English (1)

Fiction. Literature. HTML:In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it. . . .

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants??from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys??except for Claire??s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire??s quiet life is turned upside down??along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy??if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom??or with each other.

Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own. . . .

BONUS: This edition contains excerpts from Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost and The Girl Who Chas

No library descriptions found.

Book description
Charming little novel about family, starting over, trusting in love, and believing in magic, all tangled up around the most mischievous apple tree since Eden.
Haiku summary
Flowers have powers,
Family magic runs deep,
This garden sparkles.
(SylviaC)

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