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Magic Lessons for Margo: A Follow-Up to The Adventures of Miss Vulpe
Magic Lessons for Margo is a novel about overcoming childhood trauma, about a bond between two sisters, and an epic road trip from New Orleans to Galveston and Houston in search of ghosts, culinary adventures, and ultimately healing.
To shield herself from her volatile mother and the sinister secrets lurking in the house she grew up in, Marga develops a love of science, order, precision, and comforting rituals. Later, as a pre-med student at UCLA, she reinvents herself as Margo, a stellar student who loves chemistry, albeit a socially awkward young adult reluctant to step out of her comfort zone and explore the world around her or even her own identity. But a Christmas with her long-estranged sister changes everything. Ana is only sixteen, but rather sophisticated. She loves elegant meals, expensive clothes, the nightlife in Madrid, and seems determined to inspire Margo to have more fun and indulge in occasional frivolity. But the dazzling younger sister also has a dark side – something that’s not surprising considering the difficult childhood she refuses to talk about. Among other secrets, Ana hides a men’s Rolex watch in her bedside drawer, something Margo suspects she’s kept as a souvenir from a rebellious teenage escapade nobody in the family wants to tell her about. Worried for her sister’s well-being as well as her own ability to fully be herself, Margo embarks on an unforgettable journey, challenging herself to face what she fears the magic of places such as New Orleans, Galveston, Houston, and ultimately Bucharest, the city she grew up in, but which she was always afraid to revisit. Along the way, Margo is determined to learn her sister’s secrets, but also her own. What she doesn’t bargain for is a newfound desire to understand the mother she was often fearful of and embarrassed by in childhood, a woman whose short, tumultuous life experience reveals itself as more complex, sadder, and much more relatable than Margo would have thought.
Magic Lessons for Margo is a novel that can be read on its own, or in conjunction with The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, a mystery novel written from the perspective of Margo’s younger sister, Ana, in which she sets out to uncover the mystery surrounding their mother’s death.
To shield herself from her volatile mother and the sinister secrets lurking in the house she grew up in, Marga develops a love of science, order, precision, and comforting rituals. Later, as a pre-med student at UCLA, she reinvents herself as Margo, a stellar student who loves chemistry, albeit a socially awkward young adult reluctant to step out of her comfort zone and explore the world around her or even her own identity. But a Christmas with her long-estranged sister changes everything. Ana is only sixteen, but rather sophisticated. She loves elegant meals, expensive clothes, the nightlife in Madrid, and seems determined to inspire Margo to have more fun and indulge in occasional frivolity. But the dazzling younger sister also has a dark side – something that’s not surprising considering the difficult childhood she refuses to talk about. Among other secrets, Ana hides a men’s Rolex watch in her bedside drawer, something Margo suspects she’s kept as a souvenir from a rebellious teenage escapade nobody in the family wants to tell her about. Worried for her sister’s well-being as well as her own ability to fully be herself, Margo embarks on an unforgettable journey, challenging herself to face what she fears the magic of places such as New Orleans, Galveston, Houston, and ultimately Bucharest, the city she grew up in, but which she was always afraid to revisit. Along the way, Margo is determined to learn her sister’s secrets, but also her own. What she doesn’t bargain for is a newfound desire to understand the mother she was often fearful of and embarrassed by in childhood, a woman whose short, tumultuous life experience reveals itself as more complex, sadder, and much more relatable than Margo would have thought.
Magic Lessons for Margo is a novel that can be read on its own, or in conjunction with The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, a mystery novel written from the perspective of Margo’s younger sister, Ana, in which she sets out to uncover the mystery surrounding their mother’s death.
- GenresEbooks
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2023
13 people are currently reading
607 people want to read
About the author
Maria Elena Sandovici
17 books113 followersMaria Elena Sandovici has been loitering around Galveston Island for twenty years now. In this time, she's befriended some very interesting people, learned many Island stories, and made up many more. Have you heard about the horses, for example? If you visit the historic Leage Kempner House, the Broadway mansion that inspired Storms of Malhado, you might just hear their hoofbeats going up the stairs. Or not. Island lore, fiction, and history blend seemslessly in a universe scented with sea salt, jasmine, and perhaps the faintest whiff of manure.
Recently, the author has acquired a tiny Island cottage that survived the Great Storm of 1900 and resolves to spend more time on Galveston Island, giving historic walking tours, doing book signings, and soaking up inspiration. We'll let you know how that goes.
Recently, the author has acquired a tiny Island cottage that survived the Great Storm of 1900 and resolves to spend more time on Galveston Island, giving historic walking tours, doing book signings, and soaking up inspiration. We'll let you know how that goes.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 16, 2024
What a difference perspective can make - the rest of the amazing story of sisters Ana and Margo!
Magic Lessons for Margo by author Maria Elena Sandovici is the amazing change-of-perspective tale of the family drama begun in The Adventures of Miss Vulpe. This time, readers hear older sister Margo’s story: her interpretation of her and her sister’s shared past and reunion as young adults.
Margo was fourteen years old when her mother and stepfather committed suicide, and she went to live with her father. By that time, she had already been affected by her mother’s neglect, inconsistent behavior, and her maternal grandmother’s harsh attitudes toward child-rearing. Now a pre-med student at UCLA, Margo has been reunited with her younger sister, Ana, with whom she’s always had an adversarial relationship, competing for their mother’s attention and love.While Ana coped with the trauma of their childhood by acting out, Margo was the “good” daughter, compliant and a high achiever but riddled by anxiety that years of therapy have yet to resolve completely. Laser-focused on school, with math and science as her favorite subjects, Margo has lived a solitary existence, which she continued at UCLA until she met Pryia, her new lab partner this semester. With Ana alternately encouraging her to befriend Pryia and then ghosting her, Margo struggles with her new feelings and navigating the waters of developing her first real friendship. When Ana showed up on campus, having run away from their father and home in Madrid, I was already emotionally invested in these girls’ lives. I couldn’t imagine what more could be divined from dissecting the love triangle of their mother, father, and father’s best friend, Richard. I was completely surprised by what was still left to uncover.
The sisters’ trip to New Orleans, Galveston, and Houston, escorted by the faithfully competent and steady private investigator, Mr. Lyle, is filled with vivid images and irresistible meals and experiences. The story unwraps various relationships, and the girls discover more than just their parents’ pasts, coming to terms with themselves and each other.While this is the second book in the series, I believe it can easily be read out of order and still enjoyed, though the family drama will certainly unfold in a much different fashion. Perception is everything.
I recommend MAGIC LESSIONS FOR MARGO to fiction readers who enjoy young adult and family dramas and coming-of-age stories.
April 16, 2024
“Everything stays the same until it changes.”
Magic Lessons for Margo: A Follow-Up to The Adventures of Miss Vulpe by Maria Elena Sandovici is an international coming-of-age fiction that is about the emotional and psychological growth of two sisters, Ana and Margo, who have a shared past but a not-so-shared present. Margo is a young adult and attends UCLA, while Ana is still a teenager and lives with their father in Europe. Both are emotionally scarred by their mother’s drug-induced life and death but are handling that burden very differently.
The sisters come together for a trip to New Orleans and the Louisiana Bayou to see their father’s relative, Clementine, and then on to Galveston and Houston, Texas. As their journey progresses, their relationship takes on a new life filled with self-discovery and familial revelations amidst blossoming sisterly love, understanding, and forgiveness.
“Perhaps none of us are what we seem. And who am I? Will I ever find out?”
While the overall story is primarily about Margo, this well-written and captivating tale scratches the surface of Ana’s tumultuous youth and vulnerabilities. With frequent forays into their mother’s dramatic life, the narrative unfolds into a heartbreaking account of children forced to navigate the aftermath of their mother’s insecurities, drug use, adultery, and broken defenses against a tragic existence. Their father, with a seemingly bottomless bank account and plenty of guilt, enables his daughters’ destructive and evasive whims and life choices.
While the infamous Miss Vulpe from The Adventures of Miss Vulpe: A Coming of Age Story for Adults does pop up briefly, Magic Lessons for Margo can be enjoyed on its own. But why not experience both? Sandovici is a talented writer with a gift for unique storytelling and characterization. All of Sandovici’s books are delightful treats that should be savored and shared.
A couple of important takeaways in this book are identity and that hiding behind a misleading persona can be harmful and limiting. Ana acts sophisticated but is still a child who has engaged in regrettable actions. Margo is intelligent and loves chemistry but is tentative in discovering her sexuality and self-worth. Both are on a long overdue and necessary journey to learn more about their mother and her actions, significantly unearthing more about themselves than they bargained for in the process.
Sandovici presents this emotional wreckage and healing with so much brilliant prose that you will want to follow this story forever. Well, good news because a third book is on the horizon. What is certain is that readers will be able to embark on yet another international adventure in the Miss Vulpe series. How great is that?
Magic Lessons for Margo: A Follow-Up to The Adventures of Miss Vulpe by Maria Elena Sandovici is an international coming-of-age fiction that is about the emotional and psychological growth of two sisters, Ana and Margo, who have a shared past but a not-so-shared present. Margo is a young adult and attends UCLA, while Ana is still a teenager and lives with their father in Europe. Both are emotionally scarred by their mother’s drug-induced life and death but are handling that burden very differently.
The sisters come together for a trip to New Orleans and the Louisiana Bayou to see their father’s relative, Clementine, and then on to Galveston and Houston, Texas. As their journey progresses, their relationship takes on a new life filled with self-discovery and familial revelations amidst blossoming sisterly love, understanding, and forgiveness.
“Perhaps none of us are what we seem. And who am I? Will I ever find out?”
While the overall story is primarily about Margo, this well-written and captivating tale scratches the surface of Ana’s tumultuous youth and vulnerabilities. With frequent forays into their mother’s dramatic life, the narrative unfolds into a heartbreaking account of children forced to navigate the aftermath of their mother’s insecurities, drug use, adultery, and broken defenses against a tragic existence. Their father, with a seemingly bottomless bank account and plenty of guilt, enables his daughters’ destructive and evasive whims and life choices.
While the infamous Miss Vulpe from The Adventures of Miss Vulpe: A Coming of Age Story for Adults does pop up briefly, Magic Lessons for Margo can be enjoyed on its own. But why not experience both? Sandovici is a talented writer with a gift for unique storytelling and characterization. All of Sandovici’s books are delightful treats that should be savored and shared.
A couple of important takeaways in this book are identity and that hiding behind a misleading persona can be harmful and limiting. Ana acts sophisticated but is still a child who has engaged in regrettable actions. Margo is intelligent and loves chemistry but is tentative in discovering her sexuality and self-worth. Both are on a long overdue and necessary journey to learn more about their mother and her actions, significantly unearthing more about themselves than they bargained for in the process.
Sandovici presents this emotional wreckage and healing with so much brilliant prose that you will want to follow this story forever. Well, good news because a third book is on the horizon. What is certain is that readers will be able to embark on yet another international adventure in the Miss Vulpe series. How great is that?
March 14, 2024
I read the first novel in this duo, The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, in 2017, so while I knew some of the backstory of this book, it wasn't exactly fresh in my mind. It didn't matter, though, because Magic Lessons for Margo is absolutely fine as a standalone.
Marga – who has reinvented herself as Margo now that she's a med student in California, is the older, more rigid, less sophisticated sister of Ana, for whom she feels responsible. From their adventures in Madrid to a road trip through the southwestern United States (inspired by a runaway Ana) this tale of sisters is yet another "coming of age story for adults," focusing on Margo's discovery about herself, her sister, and their mysterious (and deceased) mother.
I enjoyed this revisit to Maria Elena Sandovici's writing. Her descriptions are vivid, but not so much so that there isn't room for each reader to project their own images onto her words. Her use of language is sublime – the sisters share voices that are similar but not duplicates – while other characters' speech patterns are equally distinct.
The tone of this novel has a sort of Alice-in-Wonderland feeling to it, where you're never sure if Margo's perceptions are exactly accurate, but the emotional truth is never flat. It's a contemporary story, but feels almost like a period drama because of this. The plot is well paced and intricate enough to maintain interest.
Overall, this is a beguiling tale of young womanhood, adventure, personal growth, and family secrets.
Goes well with: churros and hot chocolate at a sidewalk café.
Marga – who has reinvented herself as Margo now that she's a med student in California, is the older, more rigid, less sophisticated sister of Ana, for whom she feels responsible. From their adventures in Madrid to a road trip through the southwestern United States (inspired by a runaway Ana) this tale of sisters is yet another "coming of age story for adults," focusing on Margo's discovery about herself, her sister, and their mysterious (and deceased) mother.
I enjoyed this revisit to Maria Elena Sandovici's writing. Her descriptions are vivid, but not so much so that there isn't room for each reader to project their own images onto her words. Her use of language is sublime – the sisters share voices that are similar but not duplicates – while other characters' speech patterns are equally distinct.
The tone of this novel has a sort of Alice-in-Wonderland feeling to it, where you're never sure if Margo's perceptions are exactly accurate, but the emotional truth is never flat. It's a contemporary story, but feels almost like a period drama because of this. The plot is well paced and intricate enough to maintain interest.
Overall, this is a beguiling tale of young womanhood, adventure, personal growth, and family secrets.
Goes well with: churros and hot chocolate at a sidewalk café.
March 4, 2024
As the description says, Margo is very concerned for Ana as she is not taking Margo's calls and her texts are very short. With their family history, Margo is concerned as is their father. Then Ana shows up unannounced at Margo's in UCLA. She has once again, "runaway from home", from Madrid. Ana proposes a road trip to search for the ghosts of their past. Once their father has been told Ana is there, he agrees and allows the PI he hired to find Ana, to be their escort. The sisters want to go to New Orleans to find their father's cousin and to see where some of their family is from. They want to go to Houston where their father lived. They want to clarify who Richard is, where he is from. Their father's best friend and mothers lover? As they travel, Margo and Ana share their past memories of growing up, bonding like they never had. They are able to confront the "ghosts'' of their childhood.
This is a story of perseverance and two sisters ability to confront the past together. Will the trip make them or break them? Can they say goodbye to the past or are they destined to repeat the past?
The story was very intriguing and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The addition of Mr. Lyle the P.I. was endearing and amusing. Excellent ending to the sister's journey.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
This is a story of perseverance and two sisters ability to confront the past together. Will the trip make them or break them? Can they say goodbye to the past or are they destined to repeat the past?
The story was very intriguing and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The addition of Mr. Lyle the P.I. was endearing and amusing. Excellent ending to the sister's journey.
I received a free copy and voluntarily provided this review.
March 26, 2024
This is one of those books where you dive in from the first page. No gently dipping a toe in – you are covered by the story immediately. This is the story of two sisters, Margo and Ana, set in various worldwide locations from Madrid to California and many other places with glimpses into their life as children and as an older teen andyoung adult.
Not having a sister myself, I became absorbed into the dynamic between Margo and Ana. And their quest for healing and understanding. Their day to day struggles of growing up and trying to navigate the meaning behind small things like unresponded to texts or calls to voicemail.
What struck me most was Margo's journey of introspection as she grapples with her past, tries to conquer her present and navigates the complexities of family secrets. It was like peeling back layers for not only the character but also this reader as each revelation brought her closer to her true self. And the most important message is that she keeps trying.
The story captures a metaphorical exploration of finding yourself and sisterhood. The parallels between Margo's inner journey and Margo and Ana’s physical travels added depth to the narrative, making it a truly enriching read.
Overall, is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the bonds of family and the power of resilience.
Not having a sister myself, I became absorbed into the dynamic between Margo and Ana. And their quest for healing and understanding. Their day to day struggles of growing up and trying to navigate the meaning behind small things like unresponded to texts or calls to voicemail.
What struck me most was Margo's journey of introspection as she grapples with her past, tries to conquer her present and navigates the complexities of family secrets. It was like peeling back layers for not only the character but also this reader as each revelation brought her closer to her true self. And the most important message is that she keeps trying.
The story captures a metaphorical exploration of finding yourself and sisterhood. The parallels between Margo's inner journey and Margo and Ana’s physical travels added depth to the narrative, making it a truly enriching read.
Overall, is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the bonds of family and the power of resilience.
April 15, 2024
I was worried going into Magic Lessons for Margo because I had not read the first in the series, The Adventuers of Mis Vulpe. However, I had nothing to worry about because, even though I'm sure it would have only enriched the experience, it was unnecessary for me to read the first book. I was able to get along and into Magic Lessons with no issue.
I enjoyed the author's ability to create a coming of age story involving the sisters, Margo Ana, in a way that was completely suitable for adults. I believe when coming of age stories are discussed, it is implied that the audience would be that of older children and teenagers. However, in Magic Lessons, the author was able to create this coccoon of memory for the reader because we are experiencing this coming of age as a reflection of Margo's past.
Having sisters myself, and recently losing one of them, I took time to really absorb the relationship between the the two characters. Loving someone unconditionally can bring about so many problems. Big and small. It's through this relationship, however, that Margo is able to continue on her journey of finding out who she is. Experiences gather and form a nest in our hearts, do they not? This lovely work is a journey for the reader - celebrating alongside Margo during her tough times and times of exuberance and love. Definitely a beautiful read.
I enjoyed the author's ability to create a coming of age story involving the sisters, Margo Ana, in a way that was completely suitable for adults. I believe when coming of age stories are discussed, it is implied that the audience would be that of older children and teenagers. However, in Magic Lessons, the author was able to create this coccoon of memory for the reader because we are experiencing this coming of age as a reflection of Margo's past.
Having sisters myself, and recently losing one of them, I took time to really absorb the relationship between the the two characters. Loving someone unconditionally can bring about so many problems. Big and small. It's through this relationship, however, that Margo is able to continue on her journey of finding out who she is. Experiences gather and form a nest in our hearts, do they not? This lovely work is a journey for the reader - celebrating alongside Margo during her tough times and times of exuberance and love. Definitely a beautiful read.
April 17, 2024
Magic Lessons for Margo is a tale that pulls you into the story from the first words read. Written in a prose that very much pulls you into the titular character Margo's inner thoughts, it flows with an almost haunting, ethereal feel.
Margo is a complicated character, and her anxiety is palpable - there is an almost uncomfortable stream-of-consciousness feel to her thought process, and you are thrown right INTO her character - there's no easing into the story. This is a character with a lot of backstory to unwind and uncover, and her sister's character is equally complex and with secrets that Margo wants to understand. When her sister Ana shows up in California, they embark on a trip to uncover truths about their family and themselves.
Sandovici does an excellent job with setting and putting you in the moment. Her characters are complex and layered. This is a story about finding oneself and facing your truths.
I have not read The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, so i don't know if it's needed to better understand the characters - Magic Lessons for Margo seemed to be missing nothing on its own.
Margo is a complicated character, and her anxiety is palpable - there is an almost uncomfortable stream-of-consciousness feel to her thought process, and you are thrown right INTO her character - there's no easing into the story. This is a character with a lot of backstory to unwind and uncover, and her sister's character is equally complex and with secrets that Margo wants to understand. When her sister Ana shows up in California, they embark on a trip to uncover truths about their family and themselves.
Sandovici does an excellent job with setting and putting you in the moment. Her characters are complex and layered. This is a story about finding oneself and facing your truths.
I have not read The Adventures of Miss Vulpe, so i don't know if it's needed to better understand the characters - Magic Lessons for Margo seemed to be missing nothing on its own.
November 30, 2023
I was a lucky early reader of this and cannot wait to buy it in print. This book is centered around overcoming childhood trauma, the complexities of family, the awareness of one's sexuality, secrets, and primarily, a love between sisters.
Sandovici is brilliant with settings; we follow the sisters from Madrid to California, and from there, across the US all the way to New Orleans. I've been to most of the places mentioned and she perfectly describes them, making this southern American very homesick when reading the scenes set in New Orleans and Texas. The scenes in New Orleans and Galveston, in particular, are my favorites and I felt like I was there, watching the sisters as they navigated their shared history and attempt to forge a different trajectory.
Can't wait for the third!
Sandovici is brilliant with settings; we follow the sisters from Madrid to California, and from there, across the US all the way to New Orleans. I've been to most of the places mentioned and she perfectly describes them, making this southern American very homesick when reading the scenes set in New Orleans and Texas. The scenes in New Orleans and Galveston, in particular, are my favorites and I felt like I was there, watching the sisters as they navigated their shared history and attempt to forge a different trajectory.
Can't wait for the third!
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April 20, 2024I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I felt that I missed something by not reading the first book. Apparently the first book discussed the trauma of 2sisters over their upbringing dealing with their mother becoming a drug addict and having an affair with her husband’s best friend and her death told from Ana’s viewpoint This book is from viewpoint of the dead mother, and sisters Ana and Marga. I just did not find a lot of value and would not recommend it.
April 5, 2024
Goodreads giveaway winner / free book review:
Trigger warning book. Since this is novel about overcoming childhood trauma read with caution. Good book but still possibly triggering.
Kindle e-book on IOS.
Used Spoken content accessibility tool with English Australian voice Matilda Premium to listen to this book.
Trigger warning book. Since this is novel about overcoming childhood trauma read with caution. Good book but still possibly triggering.
Kindle e-book on IOS.
Used Spoken content accessibility tool with English Australian voice Matilda Premium to listen to this book.
July 12, 2024
Good read
I liked it. An enjoyable read with lots of trauma to keep things interesting. N n n n n n
I liked it. An enjoyable read with lots of trauma to keep things interesting. N n n n n n
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews