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Die Mondscheinbäckerin
Ein bezaubernder Roman voller Liebe und Magie
Nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter kommt die 17-jährige Emily Benedict nach Mullaby, North Carolina, um dort bei ihrem Großvater zu leben. Schon bald merkt sie, dass in Mullaby ungewöhnliche Dinge vor sich gehen: Nachts huschen Irrlichter durch die Wälder, die Tapete in Emilys Zimmer verändert von allein das Muster, und die Nachbarin Julia Winterson backt Kuchen, die geliebte Menschen anlocken können. Als Emily den jungen Win Coffey kennenlernt, funkt es sofort zwischen den beiden. Aber die Familie Coffey hütet ein sonderbares Geheimnis …
Nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter kommt die 17-jährige Emily Benedict nach Mullaby, North Carolina, um dort bei ihrem Großvater zu leben. Schon bald merkt sie, dass in Mullaby ungewöhnliche Dinge vor sich gehen: Nachts huschen Irrlichter durch die Wälder, die Tapete in Emilys Zimmer verändert von allein das Muster, und die Nachbarin Julia Winterson backt Kuchen, die geliebte Menschen anlocken können. Als Emily den jungen Win Coffey kennenlernt, funkt es sofort zwischen den beiden. Aber die Familie Coffey hütet ein sonderbares Geheimnis …
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2010
1877 people are currently reading
40772 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Addison Allen
39 books18.2k followersNew York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction - a captivating blend of magical realism and small-town sensibility.
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journalist father for the former and her mother, a fabulous cook, for the latter). In college, she majored in literature - because, as she puts it, "I thought it was amazing that I could get a diploma just for reading fiction. It was like being able to major in eating chocolate."
After graduation, Allen began writing seriously. Her big break occurred in 2007 with the publication of her first mainstream novel, Garden Spells, a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree and the family of North Carolina women who tend it. Booklist called Allen's accomplished debut "spellbindingly charming." The novel became a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection, and then a New York Times Bestseller.
Allen continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as "Southern-fried magic realism." Clearly, it's a recipe readers are happy to eat up as fast as she can dish it out.
-From B&N.com
Her published books to date are: Garden Spells (2007), The Sugar Queen (2008), The Girl Who Chased the Moon (2010), The Peach Keeper (2011), Lost Lake (2014), First Frost (2015) and Other Birds (2022) and Paper Ghosts (2026).
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journalist father for the former and her mother, a fabulous cook, for the latter). In college, she majored in literature - because, as she puts it, "I thought it was amazing that I could get a diploma just for reading fiction. It was like being able to major in eating chocolate."
After graduation, Allen began writing seriously. Her big break occurred in 2007 with the publication of her first mainstream novel, Garden Spells, a modern-day fairy tale about an enchanted apple tree and the family of North Carolina women who tend it. Booklist called Allen's accomplished debut "spellbindingly charming." The novel became a Barnes & Noble Recommends selection, and then a New York Times Bestseller.
Allen continues to serve heaping helpings of the fantastic and the familiar in fiction she describes as "Southern-fried magic realism." Clearly, it's a recipe readers are happy to eat up as fast as she can dish it out.
-From B&N.com
Her published books to date are: Garden Spells (2007), The Sugar Queen (2008), The Girl Who Chased the Moon (2010), The Peach Keeper (2011), Lost Lake (2014), First Frost (2015) and Other Birds (2022) and Paper Ghosts (2026).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 7,444 reviews
April 21, 2011
3.5 stars
Sarah Addison Allen is one of the very few ladies' lit authors I can tolerate. Her stories are sweet and fluffy and utterly insubstantial, but they're nice when you need a break from heavier fare. I always know what I'm asking for when I pick one up, so I can't complain too much afterward that they're sappy and implausible. That would be like ordering vanilla ice cream and then complaining that it wasn't mashed potatoes and gravy. Or buying a Britney Spears CD and then wondering why it doesn't sound like AC(lightning bolt)DC. Anyway, my point is that you go into a Sarah Allen story knowing it's a confection, and you just happen to have a sweet tooth at the moment.
Allen uses magical realism in a light and playful way, as a means of helping the characters have that happy ending we all want for them. This particular story features an eight-foot-tall grandfather who spends a lot of time checking the dryer for frogs. (Made ya curious, didn't I?) You'll also meet a family whose men have a genetic anomaly that makes it uncomfortable for them to go out after dark. (Hint: They're NOT werewolves or vampires.) Also, there's some wallpaper that functions sort of like those mood rings that were popular in the 70s, only cooler. And a delightful baked goods theme that will make you swear you can smell vanilla and cinnamon.
This is the third Allen book I've read. I have only one ongoing gripe, and it seems to be the one thing that keeps me from nudging my ratings up to four stars. She spends a lot of time building a back story for her characters, getting me really interested in the secrets of their past and making me curious about their futures. Then, when all has been revealed and it's time to tie up the story, she hits me with a bang-boom-bomb-bing-wham-bam-damn-thank-you-ma'am ending that leaves me feeling like the entire book was just foreplay. Ya know? All that buildup, and THIS is how it ends?!
In spite of that one complaint, (not to mention the gooey romantic barfy stuff), I still recommend the books for a certain mood. Why? Because while I'm sitting there in my sugar coma with a big goofy grin on my face wondering what just happened, I'm also greedily looking forward to my next fix.
Sarah Addison Allen is one of the very few ladies' lit authors I can tolerate. Her stories are sweet and fluffy and utterly insubstantial, but they're nice when you need a break from heavier fare. I always know what I'm asking for when I pick one up, so I can't complain too much afterward that they're sappy and implausible. That would be like ordering vanilla ice cream and then complaining that it wasn't mashed potatoes and gravy. Or buying a Britney Spears CD and then wondering why it doesn't sound like AC(lightning bolt)DC. Anyway, my point is that you go into a Sarah Allen story knowing it's a confection, and you just happen to have a sweet tooth at the moment.
Allen uses magical realism in a light and playful way, as a means of helping the characters have that happy ending we all want for them. This particular story features an eight-foot-tall grandfather who spends a lot of time checking the dryer for frogs. (Made ya curious, didn't I?) You'll also meet a family whose men have a genetic anomaly that makes it uncomfortable for them to go out after dark. (Hint: They're NOT werewolves or vampires.) Also, there's some wallpaper that functions sort of like those mood rings that were popular in the 70s, only cooler. And a delightful baked goods theme that will make you swear you can smell vanilla and cinnamon.
This is the third Allen book I've read. I have only one ongoing gripe, and it seems to be the one thing that keeps me from nudging my ratings up to four stars. She spends a lot of time building a back story for her characters, getting me really interested in the secrets of their past and making me curious about their futures. Then, when all has been revealed and it's time to tie up the story, she hits me with a bang-boom-bomb-bing-wham-bam-damn-thank-you-ma'am ending that leaves me feeling like the entire book was just foreplay. Ya know? All that buildup, and THIS is how it ends?!
In spite of that one complaint, (not to mention the gooey romantic barfy stuff), I still recommend the books for a certain mood. Why? Because while I'm sitting there in my sugar coma with a big goofy grin on my face wondering what just happened, I'm also greedily looking forward to my next fix.
July 4, 2020
This was a quick/short read. I wish it had been longer! The ending felt too rushed. 😔 This had soooo many feels! 🥰Magic. Mystery. Romance. Heartbreak. I went into this without knowing anything about the story. It starts out pretty slow but gets better and better. I think it’s a perfect summertime read! ❤️📚
May 13, 2010
This should really be 2.5 stars, but I give the benefit of the extra .5 for the entertainment value.
There were things I really loved about this book, and there were things I really didn't like about this book. Mainly, I loved Addison Allen's descriptions of both the normal (the small town, the brown leaves, the lake, etc) and the magical elements (Win's warmth, Stella's husband's black powdery soot left on the legs and necks of other women, Sawyer seeing/sensing sweets, the wallpaper, etc). She has an amazing ability to bring the reader in with those senses and it's easy to see and feel everything the characters do.
Sadly, the characters were so one-dimensional I couldn't connect with any of them. I fell easily into Addison Allen's world, but felt nothing for the characters within.
I felt like she had two great ideas for two different books (Julia's sort of chick-lit story and Emily's sort of young adult romance story) but didn't have either flushed out enough to stand alone so she pushed them together. It kind of works with back story, but the characters remain flat. Julia's mental health issues feels forced and just there without really being part of the character, a surface element. We get no real emotion from Emily whose mother, and only family she knew of, died. It's just something that has happened to her, and she acts as if her mother is just off in France or somewhere else while she's been sent to the grandfather she never knew. Addison Allen says that Emily and her mother were close, but she never really gets that across from the character's POV, the reader never feels it.
If Addison Allen took as much time with her character development as she did with her descriptions of the world around them, this would have been a five-star book.
There were things I really loved about this book, and there were things I really didn't like about this book. Mainly, I loved Addison Allen's descriptions of both the normal (the small town, the brown leaves, the lake, etc) and the magical elements (Win's warmth, Stella's husband's black powdery soot left on the legs and necks of other women, Sawyer seeing/sensing sweets, the wallpaper, etc). She has an amazing ability to bring the reader in with those senses and it's easy to see and feel everything the characters do.
Sadly, the characters were so one-dimensional I couldn't connect with any of them. I fell easily into Addison Allen's world, but felt nothing for the characters within.
I felt like she had two great ideas for two different books (Julia's sort of chick-lit story and Emily's sort of young adult romance story) but didn't have either flushed out enough to stand alone so she pushed them together. It kind of works with back story, but the characters remain flat. Julia's mental health issues feels forced and just there without really being part of the character, a surface element. We get no real emotion from Emily whose mother, and only family she knew of, died. It's just something that has happened to her, and she acts as if her mother is just off in France or somewhere else while she's been sent to the grandfather she never knew. Addison Allen says that Emily and her mother were close, but she never really gets that across from the character's POV, the reader never feels it.
If Addison Allen took as much time with her character development as she did with her descriptions of the world around them, this would have been a five-star book.
March 15, 2010
Two Christmases ago, my co-worker gave me a book. No surprise there, but the particular book she presented me with was unlike anything I had ever come across before. The book was
Garden Spells
by Sarah Addison Allen and the genre was magical realism. As soon as I started in, I was lost. I was in love. Upon sinking into the story, I found myself awash in mouth-watering food, complicated yet beautiful relationships, and surrounded by intriguing people with a little touch of magic. Did I mention that the book was set in the south? Yes. Perfection. So it should come as no surprise when I say I was somewhat eagerly anticipating Allen's newest release
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
. I didn't know much about it, expect that it would be centered on BBQ and set in a small North Carolina town. But knowing who the author was, I knew it was gonna be good. I really didn't need much more incentive than that.
Following the death of her beloved, activist mother Dulcie, Emily Benedict is sent to live with the grandfather she never knew she had in the small town of Mullaby, NC. It's hard enough to find your place as a teen in a new town without discovering that your grandfather is actually a shy, reclusive giant, and that your seemingly perfect mother was really quite cruel and openly disliked as a teenager. Needless to say Emily is feeling a little lost and sorely overwhelmed when she meets the strange and decidedly attractive Win Coffey whose cryptic references to their 'history' leave Emily rather curious about the past and determined to uncover the secrets surrounding her mother.
Living next door to Emily is Julia Winterson - baker extraordinaire and a woman who is counting the days until she can escape Mullaby. Having experienced a fairly troubled and turbulent youth in Mullaby herself, Julia is quick to welcome Emily and is one of the few who don't hold her mother's actions against her. Emily is sure there is something special about Julia - hoping she will be able to lend some understanding to her mother's history - and their first meeting only confirms it:
Don't you want to meet this woman? I know I do.
Once again Sarah Addison Allen has ensnared me with her airy and enchanting storytelling. Emily was sweet and endearing in her curious, youthful confusion but I absolutely adored Julia. Adored. Admired. Aime. I want to spend the day baking with her or just follow her around in the hope that some of her loveliness would magically rub off on me. Her story alone is too beautiful for words and had me constantly gasping with delight. What's more, the town of Mullaby itself was also practically fit to bursting with quirky and distinct characters - all southern and all steeped in tradition and BBQ. How could you not love a place where people can see trails of butter and sugar in the air, ghost lights dancing in the trees, and wallpaper that changes according to your mood? Not to mention the constant references to Julia's delectable cakes that just might have sent me racing to the kitchen. I just knew it was gonna be good. And it was.
Following the death of her beloved, activist mother Dulcie, Emily Benedict is sent to live with the grandfather she never knew she had in the small town of Mullaby, NC. It's hard enough to find your place as a teen in a new town without discovering that your grandfather is actually a shy, reclusive giant, and that your seemingly perfect mother was really quite cruel and openly disliked as a teenager. Needless to say Emily is feeling a little lost and sorely overwhelmed when she meets the strange and decidedly attractive Win Coffey whose cryptic references to their 'history' leave Emily rather curious about the past and determined to uncover the secrets surrounding her mother.
Living next door to Emily is Julia Winterson - baker extraordinaire and a woman who is counting the days until she can escape Mullaby. Having experienced a fairly troubled and turbulent youth in Mullaby herself, Julia is quick to welcome Emily and is one of the few who don't hold her mother's actions against her. Emily is sure there is something special about Julia - hoping she will be able to lend some understanding to her mother's history - and their first meeting only confirms it:
Julia laughed. It was a great laugh, and hearing it was like stepping into a spot of sunshine. That she came bearing cake seemed oddly fitting. It was like she was made of cake, light and pretty and decorated on the outside -- with her sweet laugh and pink streak to her hair -- but it was anyone's guess what was on the inside. Emily suspected it might be dark.
Don't you want to meet this woman? I know I do.
Once again Sarah Addison Allen has ensnared me with her airy and enchanting storytelling. Emily was sweet and endearing in her curious, youthful confusion but I absolutely adored Julia. Adored. Admired. Aime. I want to spend the day baking with her or just follow her around in the hope that some of her loveliness would magically rub off on me. Her story alone is too beautiful for words and had me constantly gasping with delight. What's more, the town of Mullaby itself was also practically fit to bursting with quirky and distinct characters - all southern and all steeped in tradition and BBQ. How could you not love a place where people can see trails of butter and sugar in the air, ghost lights dancing in the trees, and wallpaper that changes according to your mood? Not to mention the constant references to Julia's delectable cakes that just might have sent me racing to the kitchen. I just knew it was gonna be good. And it was.
September 20, 2012
This novel contains two parallel storylines: 1). The former high school misfit, the boy she couldn't have and the secret that lies between them and 2). A teenaged orphan that arrives in town and realises her mother wasn't always the person she thought she was.
Although this novel is apparently aimed at an adult audience, I felt it would be better suited to be labelled as young adult. There wasn't really a lot happening in this book. At times it was boring and a bit of a chore to get through. The novel lacked plot and character development and the ending was extremely predictable.
The storylines weren't original - half the novel ripped off Twilight. A teenage boy named Win, along with the other males in his family never leave the house at night because of a freakish skin condition (no they don't sparkle, they glow in the dark, though that's not far off) and Win has a habit of sneaking into the bedroom of the girl he likes at night to watch her sleep. That was creepy and stalkerish in Twilight and it's still creepy and stalkerish now! Authors reading this review: please take note and quit using this in your novels.
I recommend this novel to teenage girls aged 12-16 that are looking for a light read for the beach that doesn't require much of your attention.
Two stars!
Although this novel is apparently aimed at an adult audience, I felt it would be better suited to be labelled as young adult. There wasn't really a lot happening in this book. At times it was boring and a bit of a chore to get through. The novel lacked plot and character development and the ending was extremely predictable.
The storylines weren't original - half the novel ripped off Twilight. A teenage boy named Win, along with the other males in his family never leave the house at night because of a freakish skin condition (no they don't sparkle, they glow in the dark, though that's not far off) and Win has a habit of sneaking into the bedroom of the girl he likes at night to watch her sleep. That was creepy and stalkerish in Twilight and it's still creepy and stalkerish now! Authors reading this review: please take note and quit using this in your novels.
I recommend this novel to teenage girls aged 12-16 that are looking for a light read for the beach that doesn't require much of your attention.
Two stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
I have become such a fan of Sarah Addison Allen's books.
This one does not disappoint!
What happens when Emily's mother dies, and she is now expected to go live with her grandfather she never knew existed?
What were her mother's secrets?
Why didn't she know this about her?
What happened to make her mother leave her family and this town all those years ago?
What are the secrets of others who live in this town?
Delightful. Charming. Magical. Enjoyable characters.
This one does not disappoint!
What happens when Emily's mother dies, and she is now expected to go live with her grandfather she never knew existed?
What were her mother's secrets?
Why didn't she know this about her?
What happened to make her mother leave her family and this town all those years ago?
What are the secrets of others who live in this town?
Delightful. Charming. Magical. Enjoyable characters.
June 18, 2021
#InANutshell: I expected so much more. :/
Story:
After her mother's death, Emily is compelled to reside with her estranged grandfather, Vance Shelby in a little Southern town named Mullaby. There, she discovers that the town has several oddities, that her mother wasn't what she thought, and that she is getting weird vibes from many of the characters.
Shelby's neighbour happens to be Julia, who is herself battling her past. Back in town at 18 years due to family circumstances, all she knows is that she can't wait to escape it again. Julia and Emily form a strange bond of companionship and mutual support. And this bond helps them rectify the past and hope for a future in Mullaby.
Along the intersection of these two characters are several magical phenomena, some alluring, the rest awkward.
What worked for me:
• Julia's story arc is beautiful. Her passion, her pain, her mental and emotional struggles... all make her a memorable character. She is also too good to be true. (I wouldn't have forgiven people so easily, but hey, it's fiction. Who am I to judge her choices?)
• Some of the secondary characters are very interesting: Vance Shelby, Stella, Sawyer and Win in particular. Let me make it clear that the characters are interesting. The author didn't make them interesting.
• I loved the visual depiction of the smells. (I realise this sentence sounds weird but you'll know what I mean only if you read the book!) As a person born with a defunct olfactory sense, I felt wistful at the thought of aromas shimmering in the air.
• It's a really quick read.
What could have been better:
• I was expecting a magical realism tale. What I found was a romantic drama with teeny-weeny tidbits of magical realism peppered in the story. The fantastical bits are much underutilized and the book barely merits the tag of “magical realism”.
• Emily's story arc could have been much better. As one of the two principal characters, she had a great burden of carrying half the plot on her young shoulders. But her character falls short.
• The truth behind Dulcie's decision is absurd. The character was built up one way and suddenly twisted to suit the story. I hate it when authors randomise character arcs just to suit their dream ending.
• There are many things left incomplete and unexplained. Agree that not everything needs to be explained in magic. But too many things left incomplete also isn't good. I would have especially loved to know more about the whimsical wallpaper and Sawyer's "burning".
• The writing was pretty amateurish. There is no hidden layer, no discovery, no depth. Every character except for Dulcie works on the WYSIWYG system.
• There are so many similes and metaphors in the content. It was an overkill! Why must every paragraph have at least one X that looked like another Y?
• The ending is pretty rushed. The story might have benefitted from a few extra chapters. That might have given the author a chance to develop the finale rather than thrust it on the readers.
To sum it up, it's a simple, straightforward, strictly one-time read. Keep your brain aside and pick it up when you aren't looking for thought-provoking content or great authorship.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
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Story:
After her mother's death, Emily is compelled to reside with her estranged grandfather, Vance Shelby in a little Southern town named Mullaby. There, she discovers that the town has several oddities, that her mother wasn't what she thought, and that she is getting weird vibes from many of the characters.
Shelby's neighbour happens to be Julia, who is herself battling her past. Back in town at 18 years due to family circumstances, all she knows is that she can't wait to escape it again. Julia and Emily form a strange bond of companionship and mutual support. And this bond helps them rectify the past and hope for a future in Mullaby.
Along the intersection of these two characters are several magical phenomena, some alluring, the rest awkward.
What worked for me:
• Julia's story arc is beautiful. Her passion, her pain, her mental and emotional struggles... all make her a memorable character. She is also too good to be true. (I wouldn't have forgiven people so easily, but hey, it's fiction. Who am I to judge her choices?)
• Some of the secondary characters are very interesting: Vance Shelby, Stella, Sawyer and Win in particular. Let me make it clear that the characters are interesting. The author didn't make them interesting.
• I loved the visual depiction of the smells. (I realise this sentence sounds weird but you'll know what I mean only if you read the book!) As a person born with a defunct olfactory sense, I felt wistful at the thought of aromas shimmering in the air.
• It's a really quick read.
What could have been better:
• I was expecting a magical realism tale. What I found was a romantic drama with teeny-weeny tidbits of magical realism peppered in the story. The fantastical bits are much underutilized and the book barely merits the tag of “magical realism”.
• Emily's story arc could have been much better. As one of the two principal characters, she had a great burden of carrying half the plot on her young shoulders. But her character falls short.
• The truth behind Dulcie's decision is absurd. The character was built up one way and suddenly twisted to suit the story. I hate it when authors randomise character arcs just to suit their dream ending.
• There are many things left incomplete and unexplained. Agree that not everything needs to be explained in magic. But too many things left incomplete also isn't good. I would have especially loved to know more about the whimsical wallpaper and Sawyer's "burning".
• The writing was pretty amateurish. There is no hidden layer, no discovery, no depth. Every character except for Dulcie works on the WYSIWYG system.
• There are so many similes and metaphors in the content. It was an overkill! Why must every paragraph have at least one X that looked like another Y?
• The ending is pretty rushed. The story might have benefitted from a few extra chapters. That might have given the author a chance to develop the finale rather than thrust it on the readers.
To sum it up, it's a simple, straightforward, strictly one-time read. Keep your brain aside and pick it up when you aren't looking for thought-provoking content or great authorship.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Follow me on Instagram: RoshReviews
November 16, 2011
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Five stars: Another delicious, heart felt read from Sarah Addison Allen.
What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet’s fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all is right with the world; a spot you always want to be. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is all about finding that elusive point called home.
What I Liked:
*As with all the Sarah Addison Allen books this story is inhabited by characters that are genuine and amiable. I feel like they are old friends after hearing their stories, that manage to reach out and touch my heart. Julia, has unwillingly returned back to her home town of Mullaby, North Carolina after twenty years, to put her father’s business in order and sell it for a profit. She is filled with regrets and unsettled; unsure of where her home and heart lie. She has no intention of staying or getting mired in her past. A past that involved pink hair, self inflicted cuts, one night with a handsome boy named, Sawyer, a teenage pregnancy, and the difficult adoption of her tiny, infant daughter. Since then she patiently bakes her deliciously, fragrant cakes and pies hoping that the sweet scent of vanilla and sugar will guide her daughter back to her one day. Emily, is a sixteen year old girl, reeling from the death of her mother. She comes to Mullaby to live with her grandfather, a man she has never met, nor even knew existed. Emily discovers that the town of Mullaby holds a grudge against her mother for a past transgression. Somehow she must right a wrong, and make the people of the town see her mother was not the girl of her youth. Her grandfather Vance is an eight foot tall man, who is adrift in a sea of loneliness. He is constantly peering into the dryer hoping to reconnect with the ghosts of his past. His a kind hearted giant, whom I felt needed a big hug. Then there is Sawyer, the man that has always been in love with Julia but never acted on his feelings. After a failed marriage, his heart still holds a soft spot for Julia in spite of their troubled past. He has a unique ability that allows him to see the glittery, sugary trails of sweet aromas. Winn, is a sixteen year old boy with a big, mystical secret. He is eager to have someone see his true self. He just might know a thing or two about the mysterious Mullaby lights that appear when the moon shines.
*I love the writing. Ms. Allen’s books always have fantastic characters, magnificent, detailed descriptions and just a wisp of magic. I can almost smell the tantalizing food scents; buttery vanilla, bold, tangy, smokey BBQue, and fragrant cakes and pies. If only those scrumptious aromas could drift out of the pages.
*The story is a complex chorus of many people. Each lends their own voice to the blend and they all come together so sweetly and subtly into the perfect, poignant story, just like a beautiful melody. Julia's song is making peace with old ghosts and learning to open her heart and love. While Sawyer's tune is about reaching out and grabbing his heart’s desire. Emily and Winn harmonize to find their identities. Emily rectifies her mother's past and establishes her place in the town. Winn reveals to Emily his true self and in her eyes he finds the acceptance he so desperately sought. Together they hear the promising notes of a new beginning. Vance learns to sing with Emily and he is able to turn forward and peer into the future instead of his past. In the end there is harmony and home for all.
And The Not So Much:
*This story builds with such emotion. I wanted to savor it like you would a piece of cake. Slowly eating each scrumptious bite; saving the rich, velvety, chocolate frosting for the end, to relish the melting taste of the heavenly, sweet cocoa. Just as I got to the sugary creaminess, the moment Julia’s glittery cake aroma is answered, the story ends and it is snatched away. I wanted to revel in all that decadent emotion. I felt robbed...please tell me there will be a continuation and I can read Maddie’s story.
*I was a bit disappointed with the whole story line behind the Mullaby lights and the moon. It was just one element that I just couldn't relate to. It is a good premise but Winn and Emily’s story didn’t speak to me the same way that Julia and Sawyer’s story did.
The next time you are feeling down and need a cozy escape, pick up the Girl Who Chased the Moon. In its pages you will meet some new friends, who will invite you to Mullaby for a decadent piece of cake and a sweet story about the journey to home. You will laugh and shed a tear and leave the town knowing your friends have found their own comfortable corner in the world.
Favorite Quotations:
"He not only saw her, he accepted her."
"We get to choose what defines us."
"Adolescence is like having just enough light to see the step in front of you and no further."
"I am always homesick, I just don't know where home is."
"The broken circle of history should have let all the animosity pour out but it didn't."
Five stars: Another delicious, heart felt read from Sarah Addison Allen.
What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet’s fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all is right with the world; a spot you always want to be. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is all about finding that elusive point called home.
What I Liked:
*As with all the Sarah Addison Allen books this story is inhabited by characters that are genuine and amiable. I feel like they are old friends after hearing their stories, that manage to reach out and touch my heart. Julia, has unwillingly returned back to her home town of Mullaby, North Carolina after twenty years, to put her father’s business in order and sell it for a profit. She is filled with regrets and unsettled; unsure of where her home and heart lie. She has no intention of staying or getting mired in her past. A past that involved pink hair, self inflicted cuts, one night with a handsome boy named, Sawyer, a teenage pregnancy, and the difficult adoption of her tiny, infant daughter. Since then she patiently bakes her deliciously, fragrant cakes and pies hoping that the sweet scent of vanilla and sugar will guide her daughter back to her one day. Emily, is a sixteen year old girl, reeling from the death of her mother. She comes to Mullaby to live with her grandfather, a man she has never met, nor even knew existed. Emily discovers that the town of Mullaby holds a grudge against her mother for a past transgression. Somehow she must right a wrong, and make the people of the town see her mother was not the girl of her youth. Her grandfather Vance is an eight foot tall man, who is adrift in a sea of loneliness. He is constantly peering into the dryer hoping to reconnect with the ghosts of his past. His a kind hearted giant, whom I felt needed a big hug. Then there is Sawyer, the man that has always been in love with Julia but never acted on his feelings. After a failed marriage, his heart still holds a soft spot for Julia in spite of their troubled past. He has a unique ability that allows him to see the glittery, sugary trails of sweet aromas. Winn, is a sixteen year old boy with a big, mystical secret. He is eager to have someone see his true self. He just might know a thing or two about the mysterious Mullaby lights that appear when the moon shines.
*I love the writing. Ms. Allen’s books always have fantastic characters, magnificent, detailed descriptions and just a wisp of magic. I can almost smell the tantalizing food scents; buttery vanilla, bold, tangy, smokey BBQue, and fragrant cakes and pies. If only those scrumptious aromas could drift out of the pages.
*The story is a complex chorus of many people. Each lends their own voice to the blend and they all come together so sweetly and subtly into the perfect, poignant story, just like a beautiful melody. Julia's song is making peace with old ghosts and learning to open her heart and love. While Sawyer's tune is about reaching out and grabbing his heart’s desire. Emily and Winn harmonize to find their identities. Emily rectifies her mother's past and establishes her place in the town. Winn reveals to Emily his true self and in her eyes he finds the acceptance he so desperately sought. Together they hear the promising notes of a new beginning. Vance learns to sing with Emily and he is able to turn forward and peer into the future instead of his past. In the end there is harmony and home for all.
And The Not So Much:
*This story builds with such emotion. I wanted to savor it like you would a piece of cake. Slowly eating each scrumptious bite; saving the rich, velvety, chocolate frosting for the end, to relish the melting taste of the heavenly, sweet cocoa. Just as I got to the sugary creaminess, the moment Julia’s glittery cake aroma is answered, the story ends and it is snatched away. I wanted to revel in all that decadent emotion. I felt robbed...please tell me there will be a continuation and I can read Maddie’s story.
*I was a bit disappointed with the whole story line behind the Mullaby lights and the moon. It was just one element that I just couldn't relate to. It is a good premise but Winn and Emily’s story didn’t speak to me the same way that Julia and Sawyer’s story did.
The next time you are feeling down and need a cozy escape, pick up the Girl Who Chased the Moon. In its pages you will meet some new friends, who will invite you to Mullaby for a decadent piece of cake and a sweet story about the journey to home. You will laugh and shed a tear and leave the town knowing your friends have found their own comfortable corner in the world.
Favorite Quotations:
"He not only saw her, he accepted her."
"We get to choose what defines us."
"Adolescence is like having just enough light to see the step in front of you and no further."
"I am always homesick, I just don't know where home is."
"The broken circle of history should have let all the animosity pour out but it didn't."
November 20, 2016
I just want to live inside every single Sarah Addison Allen book. Seriously. I can't express how much I love the worlds and characters she creates. If those place actually existed I would be packing my bags and moving there.
June 17, 2010
I very much enjoyed The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen as Emily and Julia's storylines were both engaging and refreshing to read. All of the characters in this story were likeable and the plot was infused with steady-paced intrigue and moments of mystical enchantment that kept me captivated the entire time.
In this story, seventeen year old Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, a town filled with misfits, after the death of her mother Dulcie. When she comes to town to live with her grandfather, she soon realizes her mother's past is filled with scandal and regret, and Emily struggles to understand the mom she thought she knew and the town that hasn't let go of the past.
Parallel to this, thirty-four year old Julia Winterson is counting the days she can leave Mullaby as she is forced to settle some unresolved debt after the passing of her father a couple years prior. As she works to get back to the life she left, she finds there's a part of her past that is waiting to resurface and hopefully offer a different outcome than the last time she was in Mullaby.
One thing these both girls have in common… They are both chasing the moon in search of happiness…
Great read that will leave you wanting to read more about Emily/Win and Julia/Sawyer, but not because the story abruptly ends, but rather because you come to care about the people of Mullaby. Love it!
A year of full moons….
Full Moon in January: People tend to eat, drink and play too much during this full moon.
Full Moon in February: People tend to dream of places they'd rather be during this full moon.
Full Moon in March: People tend to do something daring during this full moon.
Full Moon in April: People tend to hope this month and some ask their love to marry during this full moon.
Full Moon in May: People tend to think they are most attractive during this full moon.
Full Moon in June: People tend to seek forgiveness during this full moon.
Full Moon in July: People tend to buck heads during this full moon.
Full Moon in August: People tend to feel restless and overwhelmed during this full moon.
Full Moon in September: People tend to be moody during this full moon.
Full Moon in October: People tend to obtain insight during this full moon.
Full Moon in November: People tend to complete something they've procrastinated during this full moon.
Full Moon in December: People tend to sleep best during this full moon.
In this story, seventeen year old Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, a town filled with misfits, after the death of her mother Dulcie. When she comes to town to live with her grandfather, she soon realizes her mother's past is filled with scandal and regret, and Emily struggles to understand the mom she thought she knew and the town that hasn't let go of the past.
Parallel to this, thirty-four year old Julia Winterson is counting the days she can leave Mullaby as she is forced to settle some unresolved debt after the passing of her father a couple years prior. As she works to get back to the life she left, she finds there's a part of her past that is waiting to resurface and hopefully offer a different outcome than the last time she was in Mullaby.
One thing these both girls have in common… They are both chasing the moon in search of happiness…
Great read that will leave you wanting to read more about Emily/Win and Julia/Sawyer, but not because the story abruptly ends, but rather because you come to care about the people of Mullaby. Love it!
A year of full moons….
Full Moon in January: People tend to eat, drink and play too much during this full moon.
Full Moon in February: People tend to dream of places they'd rather be during this full moon.
Full Moon in March: People tend to do something daring during this full moon.
Full Moon in April: People tend to hope this month and some ask their love to marry during this full moon.
Full Moon in May: People tend to think they are most attractive during this full moon.
Full Moon in June: People tend to seek forgiveness during this full moon.
Full Moon in July: People tend to buck heads during this full moon.
Full Moon in August: People tend to feel restless and overwhelmed during this full moon.
Full Moon in September: People tend to be moody during this full moon.
Full Moon in October: People tend to obtain insight during this full moon.
Full Moon in November: People tend to complete something they've procrastinated during this full moon.
Full Moon in December: People tend to sleep best during this full moon.
July 5, 2016
I enjoy reading books by Sarah Addison Allen. They are so comforting and familiar. This is the story of Emily, a young girl who has lost her mother, and returns to the town where her mother grew up. She goes to live with her grandfather who is a giant, over six feet tall. Emily is not exactly welcome in town because of the problems her mother caused so long ago. It also tells of various town folks, mainly focusing on Julia. You learn of her past and how this is impacting her future. Julia bakes cakes and there is a particular reason she bakes cakes.
Sarah Addison Allen is a food lover, there is no denying that. In each of her books I have read, food is a big focus in the book. In this one, you have a baker who bakes mouth-watering concoctions. After this story, I have a huge desire to make a hummingbird cake. This woman truly has a sweet tooth.
Each of her stories has elements of magical realism - I loved the story of the wallpaper changing based on the moods of the occupant of the room, the reason that Emily 'chased the moon', etc.
I listened to this one via audio. For the most part, the audio was just OK. The narrator changed her voice for the male characters in the book, and I didn't care the voice that was used. However, I had a family member visiting recently and I happened to be listening to the audio while making dinner. Family member (who is a huge book reader) loved the narrator and wants to start listening to audios now. She found it quite soothing to listen to someone read to her. Awesome!
Sarah Addison Allen is a food lover, there is no denying that. In each of her books I have read, food is a big focus in the book. In this one, you have a baker who bakes mouth-watering concoctions. After this story, I have a huge desire to make a hummingbird cake. This woman truly has a sweet tooth.
Each of her stories has elements of magical realism - I loved the story of the wallpaper changing based on the moods of the occupant of the room, the reason that Emily 'chased the moon', etc.
I listened to this one via audio. For the most part, the audio was just OK. The narrator changed her voice for the male characters in the book, and I didn't care the voice that was used. However, I had a family member visiting recently and I happened to be listening to the audio while making dinner. Family member (who is a huge book reader) loved the narrator and wants to start listening to audios now. She found it quite soothing to listen to someone read to her. Awesome!
March 29, 2017
4.5 stars. Loved it - characters were so 'climb into my heart' kind of people. Loved the magical elements, Vance, the frog, Julia, Emily. Onto the keeper shelf.
July 24, 2018
This was one of my most magical reads of the year! I am absolutely in love with this sweet, adorable story. And I'm not a sweet story person even!
For anyone who loved Practical Magic, this is the softer and more sepia tale that will not give you even a drop of sadness. Well, maybe a little bit of wistfulness!
Please, come read my full review on the blog here and find out why I loved this story so much.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
Please, come read my full review on the blog here and find out why I loved this story so much.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
June 19, 2024
5 stars for Julia's story
1 stars for that other story that ran parallel to Julia's
* * * * *
Not quite a 4-star book, but rounded up because I couldn't stop reading. Finished--devoured?--in one sitting.
This is not what I normally consider a good book--half of it was so good that it hurt, the other half was only meh and I skimmed through those parts--but the moment I finished it, I wanted to read it again immediately, and so I did. I ended up reading it twice in less than 24 hours, and I'd read it over again if I had the time.
* * * * *
Reread: June 2024
Still an achingly good read, even if only half of the book is that good. I didn't bother to reread the other half.
1 stars for that other story that ran parallel to Julia's
* * * * *
Not quite a 4-star book, but rounded up because I couldn't stop reading. Finished--devoured?--in one sitting.
This is not what I normally consider a good book--half of it was so good that it hurt, the other half was only meh and I skimmed through those parts--but the moment I finished it, I wanted to read it again immediately, and so I did. I ended up reading it twice in less than 24 hours, and I'd read it over again if I had the time.
* * * * *
Reread: June 2024
Still an achingly good read, even if only half of the book is that good. I didn't bother to reread the other half.
June 7, 2019
Ah, Sarah Addison Allen. I’m so glad I found you.
I love this woman’s books. They always leave me with the most wonderful, lingering book hangovers. The author always includes some romance as well as amazing female friendships. The stories are set in real life with just the right touch of magic. I can’t get enough of her books. This one did not disappoint me. *sigh*
I love this woman’s books. They always leave me with the most wonderful, lingering book hangovers. The author always includes some romance as well as amazing female friendships. The stories are set in real life with just the right touch of magic. I can’t get enough of her books. This one did not disappoint me. *sigh*
June 18, 2010
I really enjoyed and liked Sarah Addison Allen's previous two books so I was excited when I found out she had another out. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a good read, very quick and enjoyable but I don't think it lived up to the other two. On it's own I liked it but in comparrison, it was missing something. In a way it seemed like it should be a YA book. The characters drew you in as did the town but it seemed as though she could have written a much more in depth story here. The book description boast a town of quirky people. Yes the characters we met had quirks, some not all but it didn't seem like it was the whole town was quirky.
I liked the book but felt like it may have been written quick or edited down to something quicker.
Still a good read from Sarah Addison Allen.
I liked the book but felt like it may have been written quick or edited down to something quicker.
Still a good read from Sarah Addison Allen.
September 2, 2016
I enjoyed this, it's a little book filled with unusual magic :) I loved the house and it's strange wallpaper, I loved the Grandfather, I loved the whole plot!
This is a book I'll probably keep on my shelf, rather than take it back to the second hand store for someone else to buy :)
This is a book I'll probably keep on my shelf, rather than take it back to the second hand store for someone else to buy :)
July 21, 2015
This was my first Sarah Addison Allen book, and I am utterly enchanted. I can't believe that I've waited so long to read this. I want to thank my dear friend Carrie for pushing these books until I finally listened and picked one up. I loved the mix of summer heat in a small town, delicious food, and magic. My only complaint is that the story didn't last long enough! I didn't want to leave the town of Mullaby or these characters.
The Girl Who Chased The Moon follows two story lines that converge in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina. Emily Benedict has just arrived in Mullaby to live with her grandfather, after the sudden death of her mother. Apparently Emily's mom Dulcie grew up in the small southern town, although she's never told Emily anything about her life there or the tragedy she left behind.
Julia Winterson grew up in Mullaby and has only been back for the past year and a half, trying to get her finances in order after her father died and left his restaurant to her. Everyone in town has fallen in love with the delicious cakes that Julia bakes daily. But her goal is to stay another six months and escape back to her life in Baltimore, before she's forced to dig up any more of her past. Especially the part that involves a very persistent and charming man named Sawyer.
I loved both Emily and Julia's stories and could have read a full book about both of them. Family secrets, love lost and found again, a giant, and wallpaper that changes with your moods, The Girl Who Chased The Moon was a perfect first read of 2015. Now I need to read all the books by this author!
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
The Girl Who Chased The Moon follows two story lines that converge in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina. Emily Benedict has just arrived in Mullaby to live with her grandfather, after the sudden death of her mother. Apparently Emily's mom Dulcie grew up in the small southern town, although she's never told Emily anything about her life there or the tragedy she left behind.
Julia Winterson grew up in Mullaby and has only been back for the past year and a half, trying to get her finances in order after her father died and left his restaurant to her. Everyone in town has fallen in love with the delicious cakes that Julia bakes daily. But her goal is to stay another six months and escape back to her life in Baltimore, before she's forced to dig up any more of her past. Especially the part that involves a very persistent and charming man named Sawyer.
I loved both Emily and Julia's stories and could have read a full book about both of them. Family secrets, love lost and found again, a giant, and wallpaper that changes with your moods, The Girl Who Chased The Moon was a perfect first read of 2015. Now I need to read all the books by this author!
Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone
November 7, 2010
This is the third novel by Allen that I've read, and I am happy to say they cannot be pigeonholed. There are two romances going on here, but the theme of the story is acceptance.
The author is so skilled at characterization that I don't even notice it being done. These people simply seem to exist.
I love Allen's way with words. "It had probably been an opulent white at one time, but now it was gray, and its Gothic Revival pointed-arch windows were dusty and opaque. It was outrageously flaunting its age, spitting paint chips and old roofing shingles into the yard."
There isn't much action in this plot, it's more about how people think of each other, and the exposition of the theme takes all the room. The little bit of magic included in the story is charming but doesn't really interfere with the believability. In this book, I think the magic is used metaphorically to stand for ideas.
Though this isn't my preferred genre, I will be happy to read anything this author comes out with in the future.
The author is so skilled at characterization that I don't even notice it being done. These people simply seem to exist.
I love Allen's way with words. "It had probably been an opulent white at one time, but now it was gray, and its Gothic Revival pointed-arch windows were dusty and opaque. It was outrageously flaunting its age, spitting paint chips and old roofing shingles into the yard."
There isn't much action in this plot, it's more about how people think of each other, and the exposition of the theme takes all the room. The little bit of magic included in the story is charming but doesn't really interfere with the believability. In this book, I think the magic is used metaphorically to stand for ideas.
Though this isn't my preferred genre, I will be happy to read anything this author comes out with in the future.
July 5, 2017
This was a fairly short book (280 pages) so I managed to breeze through it. I read this several years ago, and liked it okay, but honestly didn't recall why parts of the book didn't gel with me. Now reading years later, I get it. I really loved "Garden Spells" and "Sugar Queen". In fact I hope I land on a spot that has me re-read those books again. But "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" didn't really work because it tried to tell two stories and only told one of them reasonably well in my opinion. The other story didn't fit, and I just felt annoyed every time we shifted between Emily's story to Julia's story.
In "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" Emily Benedict moves to Mullaby, North Carolina, to live with her maternal grandmother after her mother dies. Her mother never spoke of her home or family, and when Emily moves in with her grandfather, she finds out that her mother was not who she seemed to be to her. The small town actually turned on Emily's mother for something she did in her youth, and now Emily is trying to see where she fits in. When she meets teenager Win Coffey, Emily can't help being pulled towards him. Unfortunately the Coffey family has issues with the two hanging out.
Allen jumps between Emily's story and Julia's. I don't want to spoil much, but I didn't care for Julia's story at all. Having a neglectful father and a terrible stepmother caused a teenage Julia no end of pain. She has a secret she's hiding and wants more than anything else to finish up with her deceased father's affairs so she can leave town. But Emily pulls her to her and she starts to get overly (in my opinion) involved in her life and doing what she can to reject the advances of an old school friend, Sawyer.
So favorite characters, Emily, her grandfather, Emily's room that changes wallpaper, and honestly that's it. I wish Allen had focused more on Emily and her grandfather. The book shifts abruptly to Julia and her issues and it takes the focus away from her.
I also thought that Juli and Sawyer didn't work. Sorry. When you read the history between the two of them,I didn't buy it as a romance at all. Also even Emily and Win made me bored.
The writing was typical Allen. I love magical realism books and this is a nice showcase for the genre. Just wished I had liked it more.
The flow was off and that's just from the jumping back and forth. When we finally get secrets revealed I just rolled .y eyes at the Coffey family.
The setting of this small town felt real though. I can see at times why it would be a comfort and smothering depending.
The ending was a bit too much for me, but Allen makes sure there's a happy ending for all.
In "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" Emily Benedict moves to Mullaby, North Carolina, to live with her maternal grandmother after her mother dies. Her mother never spoke of her home or family, and when Emily moves in with her grandfather, she finds out that her mother was not who she seemed to be to her. The small town actually turned on Emily's mother for something she did in her youth, and now Emily is trying to see where she fits in. When she meets teenager Win Coffey, Emily can't help being pulled towards him. Unfortunately the Coffey family has issues with the two hanging out.
Allen jumps between Emily's story and Julia's. I don't want to spoil much, but I didn't care for Julia's story at all. Having a neglectful father and a terrible stepmother caused a teenage Julia no end of pain. She has a secret she's hiding and wants more than anything else to finish up with her deceased father's affairs so she can leave town. But Emily pulls her to her and she starts to get overly (in my opinion) involved in her life and doing what she can to reject the advances of an old school friend, Sawyer.
So favorite characters, Emily, her grandfather, Emily's room that changes wallpaper, and honestly that's it. I wish Allen had focused more on Emily and her grandfather. The book shifts abruptly to Julia and her issues and it takes the focus away from her.
I also thought that Juli and Sawyer didn't work. Sorry. When you read the history between the two of them,I didn't buy it as a romance at all. Also even Emily and Win made me bored.
The writing was typical Allen. I love magical realism books and this is a nice showcase for the genre. Just wished I had liked it more.
The flow was off and that's just from the jumping back and forth. When we finally get secrets revealed I just rolled .y eyes at the Coffey family.
The setting of this small town felt real though. I can see at times why it would be a comfort and smothering depending.
The ending was a bit too much for me, but Allen makes sure there's a happy ending for all.
January 2, 2016
I received an advance copy of this through First Reads, a program which consistently makes me happy.
Allen is one of those authors who puts me in a pensive mood, like my brain has to digest her style and story for a bit before I can really decide what to do with it. I'm a fan of her magical realism, because they all seem rooted in a greater emotional arc for her characters. I am also willfully old-fashioned in my appreciation of her plotting.
This book satifies my desire, left over from childhood, for things to be put right - even the characters recognize that it's like a fairy story. So the good win and the slightly less savory are, if not punished, put in their places. I like this about the book, and about Allen as an author.
Others will not. There are some who will point out that everything ties up a bit too neatly, that certain elements of character development strain the suspension of disbelief, that the writing style is overloaded with figurative language. My only complaint is that I can feel more story here - we're left in the middle of the characters' lives, and I want to know what happens next.
I'm not altogether sure that is a complaint.
Allen is one of those authors who puts me in a pensive mood, like my brain has to digest her style and story for a bit before I can really decide what to do with it. I'm a fan of her magical realism, because they all seem rooted in a greater emotional arc for her characters. I am also willfully old-fashioned in my appreciation of her plotting.
This book satifies my desire, left over from childhood, for things to be put right - even the characters recognize that it's like a fairy story. So the good win and the slightly less savory are, if not punished, put in their places. I like this about the book, and about Allen as an author.
Others will not. There are some who will point out that everything ties up a bit too neatly, that certain elements of character development strain the suspension of disbelief, that the writing style is overloaded with figurative language. My only complaint is that I can feel more story here - we're left in the middle of the characters' lives, and I want to know what happens next.
I'm not altogether sure that is a complaint.
November 1, 2017
Eh... Just not my thing. I didn't really connect to the characters and it was pretty slow. Plus not very clean. Also the magic realism was in it so little it seemed like a random add-on to a contemporary and just didn't work somehow. BUT if you like contemporaries and want a sweet summer read, you'd probably enjoy this! Just know this is meant for adult readers and had some inappropriate things in it.
June 2, 2023
The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
Contemporary magical realism. Multiple timelines.
Emily moves in with Grandpa Vance. When she first gets there, the house is old and gray with shingles and paint chips raining down in the yard.
She loses her charm bracelet that was her mother’s but it shows up back on the table outside. She’s not sure how it got there.
Emily knows nothing about her mother at her own age and she doesn’t understand why she’s asked to leave a party, so spends time asking questions of Wynn Coffee, her grandfather and people from the small town. There is a secret the town keeps that she thinks may be why her mother left and never returned.
Julie bakes pastries and pies for the BBQ restaurant she inherited to make enough money to sell. She’s staying two years only. Julie offers to be a friend to Emily. Julie and Sawyer reconnect but Julie has a secret as well.
The story continues with Julie in the current timeline, as well as some of the past, while Emily learns about her mother’s past.
Overlapping and interwoven timelines and life of the three women.
🎧While I enjoyed listening to this via audiobook, I think I would have had an easier time separating the timelines by reading it. I did slow down the performance and backtracked a few times to keep it all clear.
I enjoyed the slight mystery of “the magic” and while I absolutely loved the ending, I wanted the next scene and reaction too.
Contemporary magical realism. Multiple timelines.
Emily moves in with Grandpa Vance. When she first gets there, the house is old and gray with shingles and paint chips raining down in the yard.
She loses her charm bracelet that was her mother’s but it shows up back on the table outside. She’s not sure how it got there.
Emily knows nothing about her mother at her own age and she doesn’t understand why she’s asked to leave a party, so spends time asking questions of Wynn Coffee, her grandfather and people from the small town. There is a secret the town keeps that she thinks may be why her mother left and never returned.
Julie bakes pastries and pies for the BBQ restaurant she inherited to make enough money to sell. She’s staying two years only. Julie offers to be a friend to Emily. Julie and Sawyer reconnect but Julie has a secret as well.
The story continues with Julie in the current timeline, as well as some of the past, while Emily learns about her mother’s past.
Overlapping and interwoven timelines and life of the three women.
🎧While I enjoyed listening to this via audiobook, I think I would have had an easier time separating the timelines by reading it. I did slow down the performance and backtracked a few times to keep it all clear.
I enjoyed the slight mystery of “the magic” and while I absolutely loved the ending, I wanted the next scene and reaction too.
October 21, 2021
It's Romeo and Juliet meets Twilight but I'm not explaining why because that would be a spoiler.
After her mother's death, Emily Benedict tracked down the grandfather she never knew and moved in with him in the small town where her mother grew up. Unfortunately, her mother, Dulcie Shelby, neglected to tell her about a lot more than just the town and her grandfather. Emily had to figure out on her own why the whole town hated her mother and some aren't too happy she is there either.
Emily is not the only long, lost townie to return either. Julia Winterson, who grew up with Dulcie but was never her friend, has also returned and she has a mission of her own.
I did not hate this book. I give it a solid 2.5 stars which I'm rounding up. There are two competing plot lines in the book rather than a main plot and a subplot. Neither is given more weight and neither can stand on its own. I would love to see one fleshed out more and given more weight in the story. As written, it's like watching a tennis match. It keeps volleying from one love story to the other. There just isn't enough meat, but it is a light, fairly enjoyable beach read.
After her mother's death, Emily Benedict tracked down the grandfather she never knew and moved in with him in the small town where her mother grew up. Unfortunately, her mother, Dulcie Shelby, neglected to tell her about a lot more than just the town and her grandfather. Emily had to figure out on her own why the whole town hated her mother and some aren't too happy she is there either.
Emily is not the only long, lost townie to return either. Julia Winterson, who grew up with Dulcie but was never her friend, has also returned and she has a mission of her own.
I did not hate this book. I give it a solid 2.5 stars which I'm rounding up. There are two competing plot lines in the book rather than a main plot and a subplot. Neither is given more weight and neither can stand on its own. I would love to see one fleshed out more and given more weight in the story. As written, it's like watching a tennis match. It keeps volleying from one love story to the other. There just isn't enough meat, but it is a light, fairly enjoyable beach read.
October 5, 2010
I'm so pleased to see that Sarah Addison Allen came back to her magical writing as she did in Garden Spells. This woman has such an incredible knack for describing sight, sound and feelings with food. What better combination can a book have than love and sugar?!
Combine some magic, lots of romance, a bit of mystery, some elusive lights glowing in the woods, tasty sweets and what do you have? The perfect recipe called The Girl Who Chased The Moon .
And on a side note...man alive, Sawyer to me was the same Sawyer from the show Lost. Hot dog! Woo-wee! Hubba hubba!
Combine some magic, lots of romance, a bit of mystery, some elusive lights glowing in the woods, tasty sweets and what do you have? The perfect recipe called The Girl Who Chased The Moon .
And on a side note...man alive, Sawyer to me was the same Sawyer from the show Lost. Hot dog! Woo-wee! Hubba hubba!
March 17, 2019
Not my usual fare. . .but a book from my mom's stack by her bed . . .had to read it after she passed. . .she was my best book buddy. . .
May 18, 2022
What a refreshing and charming book. There are hints of magic and elements of whimsy sure to leave you smiling and yet longing for more of the story. This was a great palette cleanser after many weeks of more serious reading. Sarah Addison Allen is masterful at creating stories in which you want to live and play. If you are a fan of Alice Hoffman, you might fall in love with this author.
April 18, 2010
After the death of her mother Dulcie Shelby, seventeen year old, Emily Benedict moved to North Carolina to the town of Mullaby to live with her grandfather Vance -aka the giant of Mullaby- whom she's never known about before. Curious as to why her mother never mentioned her time at home and she never came back to visit, Emily wants to learn about the obvious story lurking in this small town, and why some seem cold to her.
Will she have to live with the sins of her mothers past?
...It's been almost 20 years since, once troubled teen, Julia Winterson has come back home to Mullaby. Only in town to settle her fathers debt since he died, Julia plans to leave as soon as possible. What happens when her cakes filled with hope and a regret from long ago comes back in the form of sexy smile and a second chance for happiness?
Two women. Two different stories. Both chasing the moon.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon was so cute and so charming that I absolutely loved it. The story line is simple but it's also incredibly irresistible. This is a love story but it's also something much much more. It's about finding a place when you feel so out of place. It's about regrets, mistakes, redemption, magic and mystery.
This has a little bit of everything in a good read, the plot was intriguing, the writing is remarkable and the characters are confident and refreshing.
Julia's story focuses on her regret all though reformed, haunted by memories of past mistakes. While Emily story focuses on magic, mystery and a mother that she thought she knew. The men in there lives, Sawyer and Win, equally won my heart, both filled with wonderful southern charm and sexy smiles.
I think what I loved the most about it was that this wasn't a story that was overpowering, it's a very simple story of two women and the men in there lives but it left me believing in love, magic and most of all hope.
Very Squeal-worthy, in fact I really hope we'll see more about Julia and Emily in the near future! All though this is targeted at adult readers, I think that YA readers would still appreciate this gem.
Recommended to anyone looking for a feel good read.
Enchanting, Endearing and Captivating.
This is a beautiful love story that will touch your heart.
Will she have to live with the sins of her mothers past?
...It's been almost 20 years since, once troubled teen, Julia Winterson has come back home to Mullaby. Only in town to settle her fathers debt since he died, Julia plans to leave as soon as possible. What happens when her cakes filled with hope and a regret from long ago comes back in the form of sexy smile and a second chance for happiness?
Two women. Two different stories. Both chasing the moon.
The Girl Who Chased the Moon was so cute and so charming that I absolutely loved it. The story line is simple but it's also incredibly irresistible. This is a love story but it's also something much much more. It's about finding a place when you feel so out of place. It's about regrets, mistakes, redemption, magic and mystery.
This has a little bit of everything in a good read, the plot was intriguing, the writing is remarkable and the characters are confident and refreshing.
Julia's story focuses on her regret all though reformed, haunted by memories of past mistakes. While Emily story focuses on magic, mystery and a mother that she thought she knew. The men in there lives, Sawyer and Win, equally won my heart, both filled with wonderful southern charm and sexy smiles.
I think what I loved the most about it was that this wasn't a story that was overpowering, it's a very simple story of two women and the men in there lives but it left me believing in love, magic and most of all hope.
Very Squeal-worthy, in fact I really hope we'll see more about Julia and Emily in the near future! All though this is targeted at adult readers, I think that YA readers would still appreciate this gem.
Recommended to anyone looking for a feel good read.
Enchanting, Endearing and Captivating.
This is a beautiful love story that will touch your heart.
June 9, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I love books with a light touch of magic, especially when it's a new twist, like wallpaper that changes with your mood - from lilacs to fluttering butterflies to phases of the moon, etc. And then there's the light that dances through the woods, and the hope and love that's baked into Julia's cakes - so much that it floats through the air to reach those with a 'sweet sense' (one of the reasons why her cakes sell so well?).
This is my 2nd Sarah Addison Allen, and I loved both of them. The emotional conflicts in which she puts her characters are poignant and believable, and I enjoy the ways she has them work them out.
This is my 2nd Sarah Addison Allen, and I loved both of them. The emotional conflicts in which she puts her characters are poignant and believable, and I enjoy the ways she has them work them out.
November 13, 2020
The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a pretty fun book to dive into. I'm not sure I've ever read or listened to one of Sarah's book before but it was entertaining for sure. I wasn't expecting to have so many secrets within this short book but man, it had a ton. The one thing I kind of wanted was for this to be a bit longer. Mostly because certain things that happened just felt rushed to me.
For example, the ending. That just zoomed by me and I wasn't even sure it ended until the narrator was quiet. Other than that, things were pretty predictable to me but then again - it was a short book. So it wasn't that hard to not be predictable in my eyes.
In the end, it was enjoyable and I look forward to my next book by this author.
For example, the ending. That just zoomed by me and I wasn't even sure it ended until the narrator was quiet. Other than that, things were pretty predictable to me but then again - it was a short book. So it wasn't that hard to not be predictable in my eyes.
In the end, it was enjoyable and I look forward to my next book by this author.
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