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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review an early copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.
I enjoyed this book and it fits in well with past books from author Heather Webber; themes on family, identity, reconciling the past, and magical realism are all interwoven in this story of Sadie, and also her sister Leala and their mother and some extended family and close friends.
The strengths in this book come from the author's clear affection for Southern life, for family, and for her relatable characters and from her appreciation that in order to move forward sometimes we must first reconcile, and better understand, the past and work to better listen, and really hear, those we love. Indeed the plot is at first seemingly simple (in a good way) in terms of the focus on Sadie returning home in response to her mother's illness and being forced to deal with her decision to leave and past events and relationships in her life, but when I step back I see some bigger themes on how the characters were only going to grow and change if they were honest with themselves and also with those they love about their past intentions and actions as well as learning to not feel limited by past plans and actions and seeing times of change as opportunities to expand or change pathways. For me there is always value, and joy, in reading about women who find ways to see tenuous or strained relationships and challenges as opportunities to grow, to reconcile who they were and who they are/want to be, and that the past does not have to be their present.
There is also a consistent theme on the value of really talking to family and friends, being honest with wants and needs and fears, and that wishes (a theme in the book) are perhaps better when not kept private. There is for me a thoughtful progression from wishes in the past that seemed self serving or selfish to wishes that are either reconsidered as not as selfish as seemed or an change in understanding that a wish for oneself can also be about improving the lives of family and friends.
I think this book is one to look forward to for book club discussions and summer reading. I will continue to look forward to new work from this author!
I enjoyed this book and it fits in well with past books from author Heather Webber; themes on family, identity, reconciling the past, and magical realism are all interwoven in this story of Sadie, and also her sister Leala and their mother and some extended family and close friends.
The strengths in this book come from the author's clear affection for Southern life, for family, and for her relatable characters and from her appreciation that in order to move forward sometimes we must first reconcile, and better understand, the past and work to better listen, and really hear, those we love. Indeed the plot is at first seemingly simple (in a good way) in terms of the focus on Sadie returning home in response to her mother's illness and being forced to deal with her decision to leave and past events and relationships in her life, but when I step back I see some bigger themes on how the characters were only going to grow and change if they were honest with themselves and also with those they love about their past intentions and actions as well as learning to not feel limited by past plans and actions and seeing times of change as opportunities to expand or change pathways. For me there is always value, and joy, in reading about women who find ways to see tenuous or strained relationships and challenges as opportunities to grow, to reconcile who they were and who they are/want to be, and that the past does not have to be their present.
There is also a consistent theme on the value of really talking to family and friends, being honest with wants and needs and fears, and that wishes (a theme in the book) are perhaps better when not kept private. There is for me a thoughtful progression from wishes in the past that seemed self serving or selfish to wishes that are either reconsidered as not as selfish as seemed or an change in understanding that a wish for oneself can also be about improving the lives of family and friends.
I think this book is one to look forward to for book club discussions and summer reading. I will continue to look forward to new work from this author!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Hot damn! That was a tear jerker. Webber does it again with complex characters that pull you in and Lifetime movie-style magic to give it that little extra.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
I’m a huge Webber fan and can’t believe I slept on reading this one since I preordered it! 🤦🏻♀️
Webber has a gift of writing deeply layered families with magical realism. 🔮
I’m a huge Webber fan and can’t believe I slept on reading this one since I preordered it! 🤦🏻♀️
Webber has a gift of writing deeply layered families with magical realism. 🔮
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Sadie tries to avoid going home as much as she can. Meanwhile Leala wants nothing more than her sister to move home since she is having trouble with her marriage. When their mother has a heart attack however, both sisters return home to care for her and the bed and breakfast until she gets back on her feet. Suddenly everyones secrets are coming to the surface…
This was the exact heartwarming read I needed to start 2022. I love South Of The Buttonwood Tree and didn’t realize for the longest time that this was by the same author. Had I known it would not have taken me so long to read it! As with other Heather Webber novels, the characters were so well developed, and just made me feel like I knew each and everyone one of them. It also of course contained a little bit of magic which brought the entire story together. If this one wasn’t on your radar, I highly recommend picking it up!
Thank you, Forge Books, for my gifted copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove! {partner}
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Magical Realism
Pub Date: 7.20.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
Heather Webber has done it again. I have no idea how she always manages to write such deeply imaginative and thoughtful books, but she does, and I keep reading them, loving them and wishing I could transport myself within the pages of the story. I didn’t think anything could top Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, but Sugarberry Cove has done just that. Sadie, Leala, Susannah, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Uncle Camps, Connor, Iona, and Tucker are characters that will take me a very long time to forget.
I will say that The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is meant to be savored so take your time while reading the book; each page and character has something unique to offer the storyline, and it’s best to take your time, get to know the book, the characters, and get lost in the story. Reading this novel almost felt like a mini-vacation as it took me out of my struggles and distracted me with magic. I can’t recommend it enough.
✨ Magical Realism in all its pure and beautiful glory
❤️ Characters I will cherish, always
Genre: Fiction
Trope: Magical Realism
Pub Date: 7.20.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
“Perhaps if you stopped looking for the meaning to life, you’d really that there is no meaning other than to live a meaningful life. Love your life.”
Heather Webber has done it again. I have no idea how she always manages to write such deeply imaginative and thoughtful books, but she does, and I keep reading them, loving them and wishing I could transport myself within the pages of the story. I didn’t think anything could top Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, but Sugarberry Cove has done just that. Sadie, Leala, Susannah, Teddy, Bree, Buzzy, Uncle Camps, Connor, Iona, and Tucker are characters that will take me a very long time to forget.
I will say that The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is meant to be savored so take your time while reading the book; each page and character has something unique to offer the storyline, and it’s best to take your time, get to know the book, the characters, and get lost in the story. Reading this novel almost felt like a mini-vacation as it took me out of my struggles and distracted me with magic. I can’t recommend it enough.
✨ Magical Realism in all its pure and beautiful glory
❤️ Characters I will cherish, always
"Home.The word wound it's way around my heart and squeezed like it was giving me a hug"
I was so excited to receive this book from Net Galley. There's something so special about Heather Webber's writing. It draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the family. I've read everything I could get my hands on by her since reading Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe a year ago.
At it's heart this book is about hope, love, the power of believing wishes can come true and knowing you can come home. Every year the people of Sugarberry Cove float paper lanterns on the lake with their wishes. This is Sadie's first year back for the festival since a near drowning experience when she was eighteen. She's been traveling, doing a cooking show and trying to find a meaning to why she was saved. After her mother suffers a heart attack Sadie comes home and reconnects with her mother and sister.
I loved everything about this book ❤
I was so excited to receive this book from Net Galley. There's something so special about Heather Webber's writing. It draws you in and makes you feel like you're part of the family. I've read everything I could get my hands on by her since reading Midnight At the Blackbird Cafe a year ago.
At it's heart this book is about hope, love, the power of believing wishes can come true and knowing you can come home. Every year the people of Sugarberry Cove float paper lanterns on the lake with their wishes. This is Sadie's first year back for the festival since a near drowning experience when she was eighteen. She's been traveling, doing a cooking show and trying to find a meaning to why she was saved. After her mother suffers a heart attack Sadie comes home and reconnects with her mother and sister.
I loved everything about this book ❤
Quite a slow book, very gentle but with lots of powerful words. Very different to my normal choice but a nice heartwarming read of a family coming together and healing wounds
https://book-bucket.com/2021/05/31/the-lights-of-sugarberry-cove-by-heather-webber/
The thing I like about Heather Webber’s books is how uplifting and full of likeable characters they are. She manages to create homely settings that make you want to live there, with characters who you want to be your friends. Her books have a warm, comforting vibe to them and when you finish them you feel contented. This story deals with difficult relationships, secrets, and misunderstood motives. The main characters are sisters Sadie and Leala who have returned home to care for their loved but difficult mother. Sadie and Leala both have their reasons for not wanting to stay at the cottage they grew up with, despite both having a deep and abiding love for both the cottage and the community it sits in. The side characters are delightful and each have their own stories and problems to work through.
I highly recommend this author’s books.
The thing I like about Heather Webber’s books is how uplifting and full of likeable characters they are. She manages to create homely settings that make you want to live there, with characters who you want to be your friends. Her books have a warm, comforting vibe to them and when you finish them you feel contented. This story deals with difficult relationships, secrets, and misunderstood motives. The main characters are sisters Sadie and Leala who have returned home to care for their loved but difficult mother. Sadie and Leala both have their reasons for not wanting to stay at the cottage they grew up with, despite both having a deep and abiding love for both the cottage and the community it sits in. The side characters are delightful and each have their own stories and problems to work through.
I highly recommend this author’s books.