A review by readivine
The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

5.0

"TO MANY, I WAS MYTH INCARNATE, the embodiment of a most superb legend, a fairy tale. Some considered me a monster, a mutation. To my great misfortune, I was once mistaken for an angel. To my mother, I was everything. To my father, nothing at all. To my grandmother, I was a daily reminder of loves long lost. But I knew the truth — deep down, I always did.

I was just a girl."

[b:The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender|18166936|The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender|Leslye Walton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1397110326s/18166936.jpg|21445699] is a lyrical tale I would forever treasure in the folds of my heart. I never thought I had the ability to drink this much emotion in one book. For a debut novel, this has now set [a:Leslye Walton|6441917|Leslye Walton|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1472523859p2/6441917.jpg] on the high bar. The way she weaves her words ensnares the hearts of every reader, letting us in on her world of magical realism so authentic I could almost believe that it is actually happening right before my eyes. That's how her writing impacted me. Skirting from the stories of Ava's grandmother Emilienne, to her mother Viviane up to her self, this lyrical tale did not leave one character in this book unturned. It's amazing how I never felt overwhelmed with every backstory fleshed out from every character, even if they just play minor roles in Ava's story. This is not just Ava's story though, this is like the whole story of her family and the beautiful and sorrowful events unfolding on Pinnacle Lane.

This is a bittersweet story filled w/ heartwrenching grief and loss. As well as delving into love's different facets. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender is a gift to humanity and I BEG EVERYONE OF YOU TO READ THIS MASTERPIECE. You'd be a whole new person after it, trust me! AHHAHAHA

P.S . I have read this book together w/ the audiobook and I must say the narrator did an excellent job in telling this tale. Even if I read it on my own, I can still hear her voice! Hands down to Cassandra Campbell.