Reviews

The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan

ashleylynnreads's review

4.0

Contemporary women’s fiction romance about a small town in France that she is trying to help rejuvenate and she just happens to fall in love super super cute!

rhondafuller's review

emotional hopeful 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

4.75

lizzieaxxe's review

hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

yhtak's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.5

katearney's review

hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

prupell's review

5.0

I loved this book! It was so atmospheric. I loved the community, the setting, the friendships, the herbs and all the food! But, I especially liked the characters, and watching them develop throughout the book. It was just a joy to read.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

sarah_reading_party's review

hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

I really enjoyed the beautiful writing and storyline of The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan. Tempèsta was such a compelling, strong character! She cared so much about life and her own happiness, about connecting with her mother’s heritage, and resting. It was so easy to love her and cheer for her, especially as she rooted herself in her mother’s village, the lovely Sainte-Colombe. The descriptions of France, of food, and scenery were just amazing. I really enjoyed this book, though I was taken aback by the inclusion of magical realism/fantasy. Despite that, I was glad I stuck with the book and got to know Tempèsta as she got to know the wonderful people and France itself. I was especially glad to see that Tempèsta didn’t swoop in to change things in the village but rather worked with what was already going well to make it even better. A lovely book!

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

jordanbost's review

emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

letters_to_words's review

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

laporziuncula's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted relaxing 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? It's complicated

5.0

This was such a lovely book. Aimie K. Runyan has a gift for transporting you to the places in her books (this is my second of her novels, the first was A Bakery in Paris). A gift not unlike Tempèsta’s for nurturing and bringing the magic out of plants! That alone would give me reason to read them, even if there wasn’t a good story, but the story is always good too!

It’s a sweet love story, a beautiful story about going back to one’s roots, about what makes a place home, building and nurturing community, and the power of places and things to be conduits of love and memories. 

I don’t want to say much more than that and spoil it. Just read it and enjoy your trip to Saint-Colombe!