needleclicker 's review for:

The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland by Rachael Herron

4.75

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

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Beatrice is turning 45, and rather than celebrating with her husband, she's on her way to Skerry Island, alone and betrayed. Two psychics tell her that she is going to experience 7 miracles and die. Off-balance, she arrives in a town where everyone seems to know her. Beatrice unexpectedly finds family, grapples with whether magic is real, and struggles with major life changes. All of this while tracking the miracles and fearing impending death. Despite the potentially fatal stakes, only the last ~20% of the book is tense. 

This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Rachael Herron does a phenomenal job with the characters - they're all fully realized, interesting, and believable, with their own lives and motivations. Much of the book is focused on relationships of various flavors - family, friends, and romance. It also has nuanced LGBTQ relationships. Beatrice is bi, with important lesbian and trans characters. The Seven Miracles of Beatrix Holland explores loss, grief, and betrayal but also family, happines, and self-discovery. 

I'd recommend this highly for those who like paranormal fiction with strong relationships and unique characters.  

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Child death, Miscarriage, Transphobia, Abandonment