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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
3.5 ⭐ Coastal, small town charm with a dash of magical realism had me loving this book.
Sheltered Ava is sent a letter from her dead boyfriend encouraging her to apply for a job as a caretaker for a man who believes he is being haunted. The man's daughter, Maggie, is a tense mess trying to carry the weight of her small town's problems on her shoulders. Both characters find friendship, freedom, and love while making coffee, chasing ghosts, and living the most idyllic, gossipy town.
Things I liked:
- how fluffy this book was. It didn't teach me anything but I really enjoyed how cookie cutter the characters and small town gossip was. I also really liked how every question was answered and every character had resolution. Yay for happy endings for all!
- the plot. The synopsis had me intrigued and the intertwining of the characters was very well done. I like how Maggie's and Ava's pasts were explained. It was well thought out and made sense for their character development. Again, I also loved how every loose end was tied up.
- the characters. There is not one character in this book I didn't like by the end. From the animals (Norman, Molly, Click cluck) to the main characters like Maggie, Ava, Dez, Rose or Sam I was rooting for all of them. My absolute favorite was Estrelle. She was such an intimidating but lovable figure. I want to be her when I grow up.
Things I didn't like:
- a few of the twists. Ava's big reveal and her connection to Maggie felt forced and unlikely. I just don't believe it!
- Estrelle's "twist" at the end. I still don't get it. Is she a ghost? Is she Maggie's grandmother? Her mom's spirit? I don't understand!
- Ava's character. I get she was sheltered greatly due to her medical condition. But the entire novel she was weak (literally) and just fragile. Everyone was constantly taking care of her and for someone who was so in tune with their body, it just felt like Ava was almost a victim. It left her irritating.
Overall it was sweet, it was interesting, and it was enjoyable!
Sheltered Ava is sent a letter from her dead boyfriend encouraging her to apply for a job as a caretaker for a man who believes he is being haunted. The man's daughter, Maggie, is a tense mess trying to carry the weight of her small town's problems on her shoulders. Both characters find friendship, freedom, and love while making coffee, chasing ghosts, and living the most idyllic, gossipy town.
Things I liked:
- how fluffy this book was. It didn't teach me anything but I really enjoyed how cookie cutter the characters and small town gossip was. I also really liked how every question was answered and every character had resolution. Yay for happy endings for all!
- the plot. The synopsis had me intrigued and the intertwining of the characters was very well done. I like how Maggie's and Ava's pasts were explained. It was well thought out and made sense for their character development. Again, I also loved how every loose end was tied up.
- the characters. There is not one character in this book I didn't like by the end. From the animals (Norman, Molly, Click cluck) to the main characters like Maggie, Ava, Dez, Rose or Sam I was rooting for all of them. My absolute favorite was Estrelle. She was such an intimidating but lovable figure. I want to be her when I grow up.
Things I didn't like:
- a few of the twists. Ava's big reveal and her connection to Maggie felt forced and unlikely. I just don't believe it!
- Estrelle's "twist" at the end. I still don't get it. Is she a ghost? Is she Maggie's grandmother? Her mom's spirit? I don't understand!
- Ava's character. I get she was sheltered greatly due to her medical condition. But the entire novel she was weak (literally) and just fragile. Everyone was constantly taking care of her and for someone who was so in tune with their body, it just felt like Ava was almost a victim. It left her irritating.
Overall it was sweet, it was interesting, and it was enjoyable!
A sweet taste of magical realism. Just like midnight at blackbird cafe. I think even the same narrators. Perhaps same characters?
Nothing gained and nothing lost spending time with this book.
Nothing gained and nothing lost spending time with this book.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
I was busy finishing up painting my kitchen cabinets and wanted to listen to an audiobook. This book was so “sugary sweet” that I it kept speeding up the playback and didn’t bother pausing as a used my power drill to pre-drill new holes for my new door pulls. I’m sure this book has a great audience for readership, but it wasn’t for me. The summary sounded great, but it was tamer than a Hallmark movie if that’s even possible.
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes