Reviews - Midnight at the Blackbird Café

1.97k reviews for:

Midnight at the Blackbird Café

Heather Webber

3.98 AVERAGE

amc70's review against another edition

3.5

emotional lighthearted mysterious fast-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

lrcartee's review

3.5

hopeful reflective relaxing 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: Yes

brighroosh's review against another edition

2.0

Sigh, with all the good reviews I thought this book would bowl me over. Sadly, the promised magical realism wasn't played as magical, but rather as matter of fact. Yes, everyone knows that the blackbird pie will give you dreams of your loved ones. So when the dreams are revealed, they are usually banal sayings, or practical advice. I didn't get chills with any of the allusions to supernatural occurrences (animals=characters).
The prosaic sayings throughout the book were shmaltzy as remembered by Anna Kate. (I hate when I have to read a dual first name over and over. It's as annoying as having to call someone by those names in person).
The eventual romantic "pairings" were no surprise. I did not feel empathy for the characters, many of whom had lost loved ones. (That's why they ate the pie - to get messages from beyond).
There is only one "reveal" at the end and it resolves Anna Kate's questions surrounding her mother and father. But by then it doesn't make that much of a difference to her because you see, all this other forgiveness and making amends has been going on in the town.

skyeward_promenade's review

4.0

4.5 stars, rounded down
Listened via audiobook on Hoopla

This was a beautiful, stupid little book. Was the mystery exciting? No. Was the twist twisty? Not really. Were the romances special in any way? Definitely not. But by golly was it still a fun ride most of the time. You can tell that the author loves all of these characters, and it's obvious that the author loves (Hallmark) love as much as the rest of us. It has just the right amount of magical realism and southern charm, and the narrator for Natalie is fantastic.

I am salty about the story not being set during Christmas time, though. On the one hand, that would've been too much and I know it. On the other hand, I now want to watch a stupid little Hallmark Christmas movie while sipping hot cocoa and cozying into a ridiculously large cable knit sweater. But first I have to get rid of the Just-a-Touch-of-Alabama southern accent I've picked up..