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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
Oh my heck. I loved all the characters and the story and the magic. My heart is full after reading this wonderful book.
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Every bit as lovely and sweet and magical as her other books. Heather Webber's characters invite you to come and sit a while with them on an Alabama front porch, live for a while in their world. With just a touch of magic, this is just such a perfect little read for a time in the world when we could all use a reminder to seek our own sources of happiness, to take comfort in family, and to believe in the power of wishes and second chances.
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Sadie Way Scott left home after she nearly drowned in the lake outside of her family's B&B when she was 18, and she never looked back. She only returned to Sugarberry Cove, Alabama for a handful of holidays and then she sped back out of town. She is the host of her own cooking show about southern cooking and family, but despite the show's popularity, she feels like that can't possibly be why she was saved that night. Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, should be perfectly content, but instead, her marriage is on the rocks and she isn't sure they will survive. When Sadie and Leala's mother suffers a minor heart attack, the girls go to stay with their mother & run the B&B for her while she recouperates. It is the last place either one of them wants to be. However, a little lake magic may be what they both need to fix all of their problems.
I am a huge fan of this author, and was excited to read this newest book. Once again, she delivered a story filled with magic, mystery, love and family. The book is filled with colorful , interesting characters like Sadie who, when she drowned at age 18 her hair turned silver, like the color of the stars. If you are in the mood for a good story, then this is the perfect book to settle down with. I can promise you will be as enchanted as I was.
Sadie Way Scott left home after she nearly drowned in the lake outside of her family's B&B when she was 18, and she never looked back. She only returned to Sugarberry Cove, Alabama for a handful of holidays and then she sped back out of town. She is the host of her own cooking show about southern cooking and family, but despite the show's popularity, she feels like that can't possibly be why she was saved that night. Sadie’s sister, Leala Clare, should be perfectly content, but instead, her marriage is on the rocks and she isn't sure they will survive. When Sadie and Leala's mother suffers a minor heart attack, the girls go to stay with their mother & run the B&B for her while she recouperates. It is the last place either one of them wants to be. However, a little lake magic may be what they both need to fix all of their problems.
I am a huge fan of this author, and was excited to read this newest book. Once again, she delivered a story filled with magic, mystery, love and family. The book is filled with colorful , interesting characters like Sadie who, when she drowned at age 18 her hair turned silver, like the color of the stars. If you are in the mood for a good story, then this is the perfect book to settle down with. I can promise you will be as enchanted as I was.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is woven around a legend of The Lady of the Lake. The Lady is searching for her true love in the form of a loon who calls out every morning and evening.
The Scott Family is composed of Susannah, Sadie Way, and Leah Clare who own and operate the Sugarberry Cottage, a run-down bed-and-breakfast. The two sisters rush home when notified of Susannah’s heart attack, the mother who has always been larger than life. The family is rounded out by Uncle Camp—the fraternal uncle of the deceased father.
The family drama centers around the youngest sister, Sadie, who has made a life as writer/producer/host of a podcast titled “Hey Y’all, A Southern Hankering” focused on foods and the stories of her unique guests. The tensions of the household’s inhabitants eventually reveal their secrets and disappointments to allow for healing and reunions. A little magical assistance that helps love along in the sisters’ lives. I enjoyed this book and look forward to exploring more work out of this author.
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you Netgalley and Forge for this eARC in exchange for my review. Out 7/20!
This was my first book by Heather Webber so I wasn't 100% certain what I was going into but this cover was gorgeous and I see "family coming back together" and "lake magic" and I immediately wanted to read this one.
Right away I loved Sadie, trying to find herself and her meaning away from the small town she grew up in, and felt she disappointed when after a near-death experience she dropped out of college, and her sister Leala, the overly anxious mother and rule-follower. I'm glad we were able to see this book through both of their perspectives and how they dealt with their circumstances changing, their relationships with each other and their mother, and looking for their purpose in the future. A major tone of this book was about personal fulfillment and Sadie is often wondering "why the lake magic saved her?" and how others may shape that purpose for better or for worse I think that will resonate with readers.
Besides Sadie and Leala, the cast of characters here just warmed my heart. I am a sucker for found families and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove had family-family and found-family and surprise-found-family. I wanted to hug each and every one of them. Teddy and Bree and Iona and Buzzy and Camp and Will. My heart was full for each and every one of them and I loved how they're stories were intertwined.
This book felt like summer. Sitting around a campfire, when you're surrounded by people you love, a little sugar- and sun-drunk and the smallest thing sets everyone off into fits of giggles.
This was my first book by Heather Webber so I wasn't 100% certain what I was going into but this cover was gorgeous and I see "family coming back together" and "lake magic" and I immediately wanted to read this one.
Right away I loved Sadie, trying to find herself and her meaning away from the small town she grew up in, and felt she disappointed when after a near-death experience she dropped out of college, and her sister Leala, the overly anxious mother and rule-follower. I'm glad we were able to see this book through both of their perspectives and how they dealt with their circumstances changing, their relationships with each other and their mother, and looking for their purpose in the future. A major tone of this book was about personal fulfillment and Sadie is often wondering "why the lake magic saved her?" and how others may shape that purpose for better or for worse I think that will resonate with readers.
Besides Sadie and Leala, the cast of characters here just warmed my heart. I am a sucker for found families and The Lights of Sugarberry Cove had family-family and found-family and surprise-found-family. I wanted to hug each and every one of them. Teddy and Bree and Iona and Buzzy and Camp and Will. My heart was full for each and every one of them and I loved how they're stories were intertwined.
This book felt like summer. Sitting around a campfire, when you're surrounded by people you love, a little sugar- and sun-drunk and the smallest thing sets everyone off into fits of giggles.
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book in a feverish haze - literally, I had a horrible flu/sore throat thing - which worked out kind of well for me because it gave me an excuse for all the crying. It was also pretty much the perfect book to read while feeling miserable, as this book is like a big old bowl of chicken soup for the soul.
Eight years ago, Sadie died in the lake in her home town, but was gifted a second chance at life. Everyone says it was the Lady of the Lake who saved her - and the fact her hair turned sparkly silver seems to support that. Ever since, Sadie has avoided her home town and her family, travelling around making cooking videos for her YouTube channel, and trying to figure out why she was saved - there has to have been a purpose?? But when she gets a message that her mother has had a heart attack, she races home to her mum and sister, and the BnB by the lake that her mother owns. All three of them are harbouring resentments - their family is fractured. Can a little lake magic give them the healing they need?
This book was just beautiful. It really was like the most comforting comfort food you can imagine. I rarely enjoy contemporary fiction and rarely award 5 stars, so for me to be giving this the full five really says something. The two sisters, Sadie and Leala, were both really relatable for me, and the fractured relationship with their mother also struck a personal chord. Sadie's search for the meaning and purpose of her life after surviving the impossible also resonated - I survived a fatal car accident at 20 and I've always had this feeling like I haven't earned my life yet. A lot of Leala's relationship with motherhood was also familiar for me.
I absolutely loved all the characters at the BnB and I loved that even though this was a story with magical realism, the relationships and healing between the characters felt realistic. Long held resentments aren't let go of easily, and people may change their perspective on life, but they're not going to change their personality completely. I was a bit worried it was just going to be all BOOM happy families, but it played out in a way that felt real and I appreciated that.
The magical realism aspect in this novel was just perfect. One of the best examples of it I've read. It's magical enough to be unmistakeably magic, but real enough that it almost feels like it could be true. Love love loved it.
This is a magical read in every sense, a read with heart and soul, and I honestly wish I could read it for the first time again.
Eight years ago, Sadie died in the lake in her home town, but was gifted a second chance at life. Everyone says it was the Lady of the Lake who saved her - and the fact her hair turned sparkly silver seems to support that. Ever since, Sadie has avoided her home town and her family, travelling around making cooking videos for her YouTube channel, and trying to figure out why she was saved - there has to have been a purpose?? But when she gets a message that her mother has had a heart attack, she races home to her mum and sister, and the BnB by the lake that her mother owns. All three of them are harbouring resentments - their family is fractured. Can a little lake magic give them the healing they need?
This book was just beautiful. It really was like the most comforting comfort food you can imagine. I rarely enjoy contemporary fiction and rarely award 5 stars, so for me to be giving this the full five really says something. The two sisters, Sadie and Leala, were both really relatable for me, and the fractured relationship with their mother also struck a personal chord. Sadie's search for the meaning and purpose of her life after surviving the impossible also resonated - I survived a fatal car accident at 20 and I've always had this feeling like I haven't earned my life yet. A lot of Leala's relationship with motherhood was also familiar for me.
I absolutely loved all the characters at the BnB and I loved that even though this was a story with magical realism, the relationships and healing between the characters felt realistic. Long held resentments aren't let go of easily, and people may change their perspective on life, but they're not going to change their personality completely. I was a bit worried it was just going to be all BOOM happy families, but it played out in a way that felt real and I appreciated that.
The magical realism aspect in this novel was just perfect. One of the best examples of it I've read. It's magical enough to be unmistakeably magic, but real enough that it almost feels like it could be true. Love love loved it.
This is a magical read in every sense, a read with heart and soul, and I honestly wish I could read it for the first time again.