Reviews

"The energy of his spirit rested with the pear tree in our backyard, causing the pears to ripen quicker and taste sweeter. It's in the soil of his garden, preparing the tomatoes for growth. It's turning the grapes on the vines lining our fence a deeper shade of red."

jamietherebelliousreader's review against another edition

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4.0

4 stars. A unique and intriguing plot, gorgeous writing, and a likable cast of characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It’s split between three pov’s. Inez, Miliani, and Natalie after the death of their friend, Jasmine. They’re being haunted by her spirit and have to resort to magic to try and bring her back.

I think the author did a really good job with making all the characters and their voices distinct from one another. Outside of the main plot of trying to bring back their friend they all have other things going on in their lives which I liked. I loved the culture in this and the emphasis on family and friendships. I also really loved the discussion of tough topics like mental health, grief, and abortion. It was all handled really well.

I will say that I think this book felt a wee bit too long. It was slow going in the beginning and a bit towards the end and it definitely felt every bit of its 465 pages. The pacing was a bit uneven for me. Overall, this was a very entertaining and at times emotional read. It’s a damn impressive debut and I’m looking forward to seeing what Neilson does next.

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