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The Magic All Around: A Novel
In this latest enchanting novel from bestselling magical realism author Jennifer Moorman, a treasure hunt through the past reveals one woman’s extraordinary gift for arranging the future.
The Russell women have always lived in a house that is as special as they are—a century-old Victorian with a radio that tunes itself to the listener’s mood and a pantry that rearranges to provide just the right ingredients for any baking need. Lilith Russell was the exception. She left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.
When Lilith dies suddenly, Mattie is left without her sole companion and the captain who steered her ship. That is, until she visits Ivy Ridge and learns Lilith charted one last course for a series of tasks that she must complete to earn her inheritance, with Penelope overseeing the process.
Both Mattie and Penelope are outraged by Lilith’s seemingly random throw a Halloween party, take a local pizza cooking class, share secrets with someone . . . But Mattie soon realizes that if she completes the tasks, she may unearth her mother’s secrets, including the identity of Mattie’s father. She may also discover more about the Russell family “gifts” and why Lilith chose Penelope’s former love to be the executor of the will. She may even learn how and why Jonathan Carlisle, the boy who stole her heart ten summers ago, also happens to be back in town.
Mattie can only hope that Lilith’s final map will finally point her home.
The Russell women have always lived in a house that is as special as they are—a century-old Victorian with a radio that tunes itself to the listener’s mood and a pantry that rearranges to provide just the right ingredients for any baking need. Lilith Russell was the exception. She left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.
When Lilith dies suddenly, Mattie is left without her sole companion and the captain who steered her ship. That is, until she visits Ivy Ridge and learns Lilith charted one last course for a series of tasks that she must complete to earn her inheritance, with Penelope overseeing the process.
Both Mattie and Penelope are outraged by Lilith’s seemingly random throw a Halloween party, take a local pizza cooking class, share secrets with someone . . . But Mattie soon realizes that if she completes the tasks, she may unearth her mother’s secrets, including the identity of Mattie’s father. She may also discover more about the Russell family “gifts” and why Lilith chose Penelope’s former love to be the executor of the will. She may even learn how and why Jonathan Carlisle, the boy who stole her heart ten summers ago, also happens to be back in town.
Mattie can only hope that Lilith’s final map will finally point her home.
Audible Audio
Published January 16, 2024
158 people are currently reading
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About the author
Jennifer Moorman
27 books612 followersJennifer Moorman is the USA TODAY Bestselling author of five novels, including The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds, The Magic All Around, and the Mystic Water Series. Her creative works also include a collection of folklore retellings and Strawberry Shortcake children’s books. Praised by Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, and others, The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds is described as “imbued with Moorman’s trademark touch of magic,” “a seamless blend of history and magical realism,” “an absolute treasure of a book,” and “absolutely mesmerizing.”
A double major graduate of Middle Tennessee State University from the Recording Industry and English programs, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including People, Parade, Writer’s Digest, The Nerd Daily, Women’s World Magazine, Hollywood Weekly, and many more. She holds degrees with concentrations in mass communications, linguistics, and fiction writing, reflecting her diverse background in storytelling and communication.
She put together a band and toured the United States as an accomplished professional singer for five years. She also worked many years as a senior editor for Harper Collins, guiding authors through the writing, editing, and publishing processes.
Jennifer is the cocreator and cohost of the podcast One Happy Thing with fellow bestselling authors Kerry Anne King and Maddie Dawson.
When she’s not writing, you can find her testing a new recipe, chasing rainbows, or stargazing. Jennifer lives in a magic house in Nashville, Tennessee.
A double major graduate of Middle Tennessee State University from the Recording Industry and English programs, her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including People, Parade, Writer’s Digest, The Nerd Daily, Women’s World Magazine, Hollywood Weekly, and many more. She holds degrees with concentrations in mass communications, linguistics, and fiction writing, reflecting her diverse background in storytelling and communication.
She put together a band and toured the United States as an accomplished professional singer for five years. She also worked many years as a senior editor for Harper Collins, guiding authors through the writing, editing, and publishing processes.
Jennifer is the cocreator and cohost of the podcast One Happy Thing with fellow bestselling authors Kerry Anne King and Maddie Dawson.
When she’s not writing, you can find her testing a new recipe, chasing rainbows, or stargazing. Jennifer lives in a magic house in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 458 reviews
October 31, 2023
I really hoped we wouldn’t do this anymore in 2023, but here we go…
This book suffers heavily from the ‘she’s not like other girls’ syndrome and has an obsessive fixation on the need for women to look effortlessly young and beautiful all the time. Women are simply now allowed to age. In general, descriptions of women sound like they came straight out of a bad Wattpad fanfiction. That’s simply a case of bad writing, but also a sprinkle of internalized misogyny.
Just a few passages to illustrate my meaning:
“Sophia was voluptuous with long, shapely legs like a 1950s pinup girl. She had chocolate brown deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, a narrow nose, and full lips on a mouth that was almost too wide for her face, but her smiles were so expansive and vibrant they could change the mood in a room within seconds.
At almost seventy, she looked at least ten years younger.”
(Are you as uncomfortable as I am right now? Imagine describing your god-grandmother as a voluptuous pinup girl)
On the next page (!):
“At forty-five, Penelope didn’t look like other women her age. She looked much younger, and Mattie wondered if that bothered women just as much as others were bothered by Sophia aging in reverse.”
“Penelope’s striking green eyes, high cheekbones, and small stature reminded Mattie of a forest pixie who might try to convince you to dance barefoot or create mischief.”
(Yes! Let’s pit women against each other based on unattainable beauty standards!! Let’s capitalize on women’s insecurities!)
Or this gem on when our shining love interest Jonathan sees his high school sweetheart again after ten years:
“Unlike the girls he knew in the city who went to the gym wearing full make-up and styled hair, Mattie looked fresh and natural with pink cheeks caused by the heat. She wore a plain white tank top, black nylon shorts and white tennis shoes. Her long hair was braided in a single, thick plait down her back, and sunglasses hid what he remembered would be pale blue-green eyes. She was a knockout despite the frown that pulled down her lips and the deep crease between her brows.”
(Find me an actual man who knows how to recognize nylon shorts. But Jonathan is not like other guys, of course. Just like Mattie. Because she’s so much better than other girls for not wearing make-up (but only because she’s drop dead gorgeous without it).)
I can’t find the passages back right now but there’s also a part where Jonathan thinks to himself how girls back in Chicago always knew too well they were beautiful, while Mattie isn’t aware of her beauty at all and how attractive that is about her. A classic! Why date a confident woman who’s happy with herself when you can get an insecure one so YOU can be the one to decide for her that she’s beautiful??
Or or (yes I can keep going) the part where Jonathan and Mattie go on a date in a picnic field and Jonathan thinks back on the countless of dates he took there before. And when Mattie mentions ‘she recognizes the statue’ at the field, Jonathan gets jealous thinking about how Mattie might have gone on a picnic date there before.
Not to mention he didn’t go to see his parents for FIVE YEARS despite his mom asking numerous times because he didn’t want people in town to ask him about this failed baseball career. And we are supposed to root for this man as the love interest? No.
The thing is, I had some fun reading this book. Give me a cozy, small town, witchy romance and I’m going to have a good time. But these issues were just too big to ignore and if you love books like this there are much, much better options out there.
This book suffers heavily from the ‘she’s not like other girls’ syndrome and has an obsessive fixation on the need for women to look effortlessly young and beautiful all the time. Women are simply now allowed to age. In general, descriptions of women sound like they came straight out of a bad Wattpad fanfiction. That’s simply a case of bad writing, but also a sprinkle of internalized misogyny.
Just a few passages to illustrate my meaning:
“Sophia was voluptuous with long, shapely legs like a 1950s pinup girl. She had chocolate brown deep-set eyes, high cheekbones, a narrow nose, and full lips on a mouth that was almost too wide for her face, but her smiles were so expansive and vibrant they could change the mood in a room within seconds.
At almost seventy, she looked at least ten years younger.”
(Are you as uncomfortable as I am right now? Imagine describing your god-grandmother as a voluptuous pinup girl)
On the next page (!):
“At forty-five, Penelope didn’t look like other women her age. She looked much younger, and Mattie wondered if that bothered women just as much as others were bothered by Sophia aging in reverse.”
“Penelope’s striking green eyes, high cheekbones, and small stature reminded Mattie of a forest pixie who might try to convince you to dance barefoot or create mischief.”
(Yes! Let’s pit women against each other based on unattainable beauty standards!! Let’s capitalize on women’s insecurities!)
Or this gem on when our shining love interest Jonathan sees his high school sweetheart again after ten years:
“Unlike the girls he knew in the city who went to the gym wearing full make-up and styled hair, Mattie looked fresh and natural with pink cheeks caused by the heat. She wore a plain white tank top, black nylon shorts and white tennis shoes. Her long hair was braided in a single, thick plait down her back, and sunglasses hid what he remembered would be pale blue-green eyes. She was a knockout despite the frown that pulled down her lips and the deep crease between her brows.”
(Find me an actual man who knows how to recognize nylon shorts. But Jonathan is not like other guys, of course. Just like Mattie. Because she’s so much better than other girls for not wearing make-up (but only because she’s drop dead gorgeous without it).)
I can’t find the passages back right now but there’s also a part where Jonathan thinks to himself how girls back in Chicago always knew too well they were beautiful, while Mattie isn’t aware of her beauty at all and how attractive that is about her. A classic! Why date a confident woman who’s happy with herself when you can get an insecure one so YOU can be the one to decide for her that she’s beautiful??
Or or (yes I can keep going) the part where Jonathan and Mattie go on a date in a picnic field and Jonathan thinks back on the countless of dates he took there before. And when Mattie mentions ‘she recognizes the statue’ at the field, Jonathan gets jealous thinking about how Mattie might have gone on a picnic date there before.
Not to mention he didn’t go to see his parents for FIVE YEARS despite his mom asking numerous times because he didn’t want people in town to ask him about this failed baseball career. And we are supposed to root for this man as the love interest? No.
The thing is, I had some fun reading this book. Give me a cozy, small town, witchy romance and I’m going to have a good time. But these issues were just too big to ignore and if you love books like this there are much, much better options out there.
February 13, 2024
3.75⭐
After the sudden death of her mother Lilith, twenty-four-year-old Mattie Russell returns to her mother’s family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia with the intention to move on after her mother’s funeral and related formalities are over. Mattie has led an eventful life with her mother, constantly on the move and with nearly no friends or place to call home except Ivy Ridge, where she spent her childhood summers with Penelope. However, she is forced to shelve her plans temporarily after the list of seemingly strange and unrelated tasks stipulated in her mother’s will sends her on a very personal journey of self-discovery but also leads her to the answers to some very important questions about her mother and the identity of her father. Mattie also comes face to face with Jonathan, who broke her teenage heart ten years ago – the very person she had hoped to never run into again. Lilith’s sister Penelope, who stayed back in the family home after Lilith left at the age of eighteen, is heartbroken after the death of her sister. She loves Mattie and is happy to have her back home and secretly hopes that Mattie will decide to stay. Lilith’s lawyer and executor of her will is someone with whom Penelope shares history. As the story progresses, we follow Mattie, Jonathan and Penelope as they grapple with their loss, reconnect with one another and others from their respective past, learn to move on from past hurts, and bring about positive changes in their lives.
“People were complex and frayed when you least expected; they wore holes in themselves from repeated wear and tear, even though they had explicit instructions for how to care for their well-being. Their colors changed and faded over time, and you could start with one version and end up with an entirely different one years later.”
The Magic All Around by Jenifer Moorman is a heartwarming story that revolves around themes of family, love, home, community and self-discovery. The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Mattie, Jonathan and Penelope allowing us to explore these characters and their connections in depth. I really liked how the author weaves the magical realism element into the novel with each of the Russell women’s special gifts and the house who we can consider a character in this story sharing the family’s happiness and sorrow, intuitive and very opinionated, whose quirks made me laugh out loud more than once. Stories such as this one are rarely unpredictable, but what makes them engage readers are the characters and the journey to the end. The romance angle was well executed, and I loved the vivid descriptions of Russell House, the Ivy Ridge community and the endearing cast of characters. However, though the narrative is engaging and flows well, I thought it suffered from repetitiveness and inconsistent pacing, slowing down considerably in certain parts. Despite these flaws, I found this novel to be an uplifting and charming story that left me with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
Finally, I love that cover!
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Magic All Around was published on January 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
After the sudden death of her mother Lilith, twenty-four-year-old Mattie Russell returns to her mother’s family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia with the intention to move on after her mother’s funeral and related formalities are over. Mattie has led an eventful life with her mother, constantly on the move and with nearly no friends or place to call home except Ivy Ridge, where she spent her childhood summers with Penelope. However, she is forced to shelve her plans temporarily after the list of seemingly strange and unrelated tasks stipulated in her mother’s will sends her on a very personal journey of self-discovery but also leads her to the answers to some very important questions about her mother and the identity of her father. Mattie also comes face to face with Jonathan, who broke her teenage heart ten years ago – the very person she had hoped to never run into again. Lilith’s sister Penelope, who stayed back in the family home after Lilith left at the age of eighteen, is heartbroken after the death of her sister. She loves Mattie and is happy to have her back home and secretly hopes that Mattie will decide to stay. Lilith’s lawyer and executor of her will is someone with whom Penelope shares history. As the story progresses, we follow Mattie, Jonathan and Penelope as they grapple with their loss, reconnect with one another and others from their respective past, learn to move on from past hurts, and bring about positive changes in their lives.
“People were complex and frayed when you least expected; they wore holes in themselves from repeated wear and tear, even though they had explicit instructions for how to care for their well-being. Their colors changed and faded over time, and you could start with one version and end up with an entirely different one years later.”
The Magic All Around by Jenifer Moorman is a heartwarming story that revolves around themes of family, love, home, community and self-discovery. The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Mattie, Jonathan and Penelope allowing us to explore these characters and their connections in depth. I really liked how the author weaves the magical realism element into the novel with each of the Russell women’s special gifts and the house who we can consider a character in this story sharing the family’s happiness and sorrow, intuitive and very opinionated, whose quirks made me laugh out loud more than once. Stories such as this one are rarely unpredictable, but what makes them engage readers are the characters and the journey to the end. The romance angle was well executed, and I loved the vivid descriptions of Russell House, the Ivy Ridge community and the endearing cast of characters. However, though the narrative is engaging and flows well, I thought it suffered from repetitiveness and inconsistent pacing, slowing down considerably in certain parts. Despite these flaws, I found this novel to be an uplifting and charming story that left me with a smile on my face and joy in my heart.
Finally, I love that cover!
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Magic All Around was published on January 16, 2024.
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
January 15, 2024
A fun, magical tale of a family with special gifts.
Description:
Sometimes a family treasure hunt unfurls new paths in life. The Russell family members all seem to have . . . gifts. Eldest sister Penelope naturally infuses strength or joy or love—whatever the wearer requires—into the fabric of the dresses she designs as a seamstress. Her younger sister, Lilith, is never without whatever she needs—despite the free-spirited and nomadic life she lives with her daughter. There’s always a person nearby who just happens to have an apartment available to rent, or a part-time job open, or a car to borrow just when they need it. And Lilith’s adult daughter, Mattie, always seems to trigger the perfect song to mysteriously start playing—whether from a radio in another room that was turned off or from a friend’s phone in their pocket. And at the heart of the family is their old Victorian home that sometimes seems to have a personality in and of itself. When independent, artistic Mattie Russell finds herself back in the family home after her mother’s unexpected death, she has no intention of sticking around the small town, even though she has no future destination in mind. She’s used to living in a new city every couple of years with Lilith as her sole companion, and she’s especially hesitant to entangle herself in the Russell family secrets about their special giftings. But during the reading of the will, the family is shocked to learn Lilith included a testamentary trust that requires Mattie to stay in Ivy Ridge long enough to complete a series of seemingly absurd tasks in order to claim her inheritance. While completing the tasks, Mattie discovers that her mother had a well-thought-out plan for her daughter that would lead Mattie to finding her birth father, teach her how to choose her own path, learn to keep her heart open for love, and discover that staying still long enough to sow seeds can produce a stunning garden and vibrant life. This enchanting and whimsical tale of mothers and daughters, home, and love will open readers’ eyes to the magic all around them.
My Thoughts:
I found the special gifts the Russell family had to be inventive and fun. They are different from any I've read about in other novels. I loved the list of things Mattie had to accomplish for her inheritance and what she found while she was performing these tasks. The Russell family provided great whimsical characters in a loving environment. I liked them all. The plot moved at a steady pace and kept my attention. This was a fun read.
Thanks to Harper Muse for an advance copy. Expected publication January 16, 2024.
Description:
Sometimes a family treasure hunt unfurls new paths in life. The Russell family members all seem to have . . . gifts. Eldest sister Penelope naturally infuses strength or joy or love—whatever the wearer requires—into the fabric of the dresses she designs as a seamstress. Her younger sister, Lilith, is never without whatever she needs—despite the free-spirited and nomadic life she lives with her daughter. There’s always a person nearby who just happens to have an apartment available to rent, or a part-time job open, or a car to borrow just when they need it. And Lilith’s adult daughter, Mattie, always seems to trigger the perfect song to mysteriously start playing—whether from a radio in another room that was turned off or from a friend’s phone in their pocket. And at the heart of the family is their old Victorian home that sometimes seems to have a personality in and of itself. When independent, artistic Mattie Russell finds herself back in the family home after her mother’s unexpected death, she has no intention of sticking around the small town, even though she has no future destination in mind. She’s used to living in a new city every couple of years with Lilith as her sole companion, and she’s especially hesitant to entangle herself in the Russell family secrets about their special giftings. But during the reading of the will, the family is shocked to learn Lilith included a testamentary trust that requires Mattie to stay in Ivy Ridge long enough to complete a series of seemingly absurd tasks in order to claim her inheritance. While completing the tasks, Mattie discovers that her mother had a well-thought-out plan for her daughter that would lead Mattie to finding her birth father, teach her how to choose her own path, learn to keep her heart open for love, and discover that staying still long enough to sow seeds can produce a stunning garden and vibrant life. This enchanting and whimsical tale of mothers and daughters, home, and love will open readers’ eyes to the magic all around them.
My Thoughts:
I found the special gifts the Russell family had to be inventive and fun. They are different from any I've read about in other novels. I loved the list of things Mattie had to accomplish for her inheritance and what she found while she was performing these tasks. The Russell family provided great whimsical characters in a loving environment. I liked them all. The plot moved at a steady pace and kept my attention. This was a fun read.
Thanks to Harper Muse for an advance copy. Expected publication January 16, 2024.
October 21, 2023
The Magic All Around is a book that explores themes of family relationships, discovering one's self, and finding love. Set in a small town, two things bring Mattie and Jonathan back to Ivy Ridge: a family death and a major health scare of a parent.
While there were some aspects of this book that I liked, I don't think this was the right book for me. I don't have a problem with slower-paced books, but it took about halfway into the book for the plot to progress, which made the other half of the story, where things finally got moving, feel way too fast and rushed, which kept me from fully getting invested in the story and the characters. I did enjoy Mattie and Jonathan's interactions (the chapter where there's a flashback to when/where/how they first met was so sweet, and I loved it).
Another thing that threw me was the "magical" qualities of the house and of its residents. It didn't really fit the contemporary genre to me and felt more like fantasy. I think the story would have worked better had the magical quality aspect been removed from the storyline.
All in all, I think that this book would definitely appeal to some readers, so if the premise sounds interesting to you, then go ahead and give this book a try! This book just wasn't for me, and that's okay--not every book is :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Magic All Around. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
While there were some aspects of this book that I liked, I don't think this was the right book for me. I don't have a problem with slower-paced books, but it took about halfway into the book for the plot to progress, which made the other half of the story, where things finally got moving, feel way too fast and rushed, which kept me from fully getting invested in the story and the characters. I did enjoy Mattie and Jonathan's interactions (the chapter where there's a flashback to when/where/how they first met was so sweet, and I loved it).
Another thing that threw me was the "magical" qualities of the house and of its residents. It didn't really fit the contemporary genre to me and felt more like fantasy. I think the story would have worked better had the magical quality aspect been removed from the storyline.
All in all, I think that this book would definitely appeal to some readers, so if the premise sounds interesting to you, then go ahead and give this book a try! This book just wasn't for me, and that's okay--not every book is :)
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of The Magic All Around. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.
July 7, 2024
I love magical realism and reading The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman was like being wrapped up in a cozy blanket in front of a fire. It is a sweet story filled with love, second chances, finding yourself, and mother/daughter relationships. I loved that the Russell house was a character in itself, and I would have loved its quirks to be even more present in the storyline. I thought it was funny that Mattie doubted almost the entire book that the house was alive and one of my favorite moments is when Penelope is trying to make her see how everything in the world is alive, including the house.
The story is told from Mattie, [her aunt] Penelope, and Johnathan's viewpoints, and even though each of the chapters is labeled I would sometimes get confused if I was in Mattie or Penelope's POV. I honestly think this is down to me not paying close enough attention to the audiobook and no fault of the authors. I kind of wish there had been a full cast for the audio, but I did love listening to Kathleen McInerney and I would have taken her as Mattie only all day. There were so many magical touches (like all the different ringtones/phones ringing on silent) that I adored, and I thought the romance between Mattie and Johnathan was super sweet. I would recommend The Magic All Around if you are looking to add a bit of magic to your day.
Thank you to the publisher and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
The story is told from Mattie, [her aunt] Penelope, and Johnathan's viewpoints, and even though each of the chapters is labeled I would sometimes get confused if I was in Mattie or Penelope's POV. I honestly think this is down to me not paying close enough attention to the audiobook and no fault of the authors. I kind of wish there had been a full cast for the audio, but I did love listening to Kathleen McInerney and I would have taken her as Mattie only all day. There were so many magical touches (like all the different ringtones/phones ringing on silent) that I adored, and I thought the romance between Mattie and Johnathan was super sweet. I would recommend The Magic All Around if you are looking to add a bit of magic to your day.
Thank you to the publisher and Libro.fm for my complimentary listening copy of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
February 15, 2024
The Magic All Around
Thank you, Harper Muse, for the gifted copy of this cozy magical book! {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆
Pub Date: 1.16.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“Perception is all about how you choose to the see the world around you.. Staying in one place has it’s advantages.”
The Magic All Around was such a sweet story that reminded me of a cross between Heather Webber (magical realism) and Mary Kay Andrews (feel good). I think it would be the perfect book for those wanting to dabble a toe in the world of magical realism novels - I never felt like it was overwhelming and actually had to remind myself that it could be from that genre.
There’s something so comforting about reading a book that you know will turn out a certain way - it’s a reminder to keep going and not be afraid of something getting in the way of your dreams. The Magic All Around was predictable but in just the right ways, and I loved all the characters, delicious-sounding food, and small-town charm.
I did choose to read and listen to this book as it was a Libro.Fm ALC pick for January and I think, if I had to do it over again, I would choose to only read the book. While I enjoyed the audio, the narrator made the MC *almost* feel like she was a teenager. I’ve listened to other books from this same narrator and felt that way too.
💞 Mother + Daughter story
❤️🩹 Finding life after loss
🧁 Delicious food
🫶🏼 A little romance
📖 Recommend reading over listening
I recommend reading The Magic All Around if you’re looking for small town charm, delicious food and a heart warming story that all remind you that there is, in fact, life after loss.
______
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Thank you, Harper Muse, for the gifted copy of this cozy magical book! {partner}
Genre: Fantasy
Format: 🎧📖
Audiobook Narration: ☆☆☆
Pub Date: 1.16.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆
“Perception is all about how you choose to the see the world around you.. Staying in one place has it’s advantages.”
The Magic All Around was such a sweet story that reminded me of a cross between Heather Webber (magical realism) and Mary Kay Andrews (feel good). I think it would be the perfect book for those wanting to dabble a toe in the world of magical realism novels - I never felt like it was overwhelming and actually had to remind myself that it could be from that genre.
There’s something so comforting about reading a book that you know will turn out a certain way - it’s a reminder to keep going and not be afraid of something getting in the way of your dreams. The Magic All Around was predictable but in just the right ways, and I loved all the characters, delicious-sounding food, and small-town charm.
I did choose to read and listen to this book as it was a Libro.Fm ALC pick for January and I think, if I had to do it over again, I would choose to only read the book. While I enjoyed the audio, the narrator made the MC *almost* feel like she was a teenager. I’ve listened to other books from this same narrator and felt that way too.
💞 Mother + Daughter story
❤️🩹 Finding life after loss
🧁 Delicious food
🫶🏼 A little romance
📖 Recommend reading over listening
I recommend reading The Magic All Around if you’re looking for small town charm, delicious food and a heart warming story that all remind you that there is, in fact, life after loss.
______
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August 18, 2023
The Magic all Around is a sweet story about a young lady named, Mattie, whose mother dies and leaves her questioning her future. Mattie has some major decisions to make and the story explores how the people in her life influence her decisions.
It is a wholesome story told with colorful descriptions of the town, people and events she encounters. It has suspense, surprise, some interesting magic and a warm happy ending.
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the ARC via NetGalley.
It is a wholesome story told with colorful descriptions of the town, people and events she encounters. It has suspense, surprise, some interesting magic and a warm happy ending.
Many thanks to Harper Muse for the ARC via NetGalley.
January 17, 2024
Jennifer Moorman's latest novel, THE MAGIC ALL AROUND, is enchanting— a magical journey about the memories of places and people we carry throughout our lives —sometimes physical mementos and others intangible.
Meet the Russell family. Eldest Penelope, her younger sister, Lilith (free-spirited), lives with her daughter, Mattie (independent and artistic).
Lilith left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.
The old Victorian Russell home is at the center and has its own personality. The house often understands the family's needs before they do. It keeps their secrets, shares in their joys, embraces them when they grieve, and gives them the push they need.
When Mattie finds herself back in the family home after her mother's unexpected death, she has no desire to stick around in this small town. She is accustomed to living in a new city every few years with Lilith as her sole companion.
She hesitates to get involved in the Russell family secrets and their special gifts.
But while reading the will, the family is shocked to learn Lilith included a testamentary trust that requires Mattie to stay in Ivy Ridge long enough to complete a series of seemingly absurd tasks to claim her inheritance.
Mattie soon discovers her mother had a plan that would lead her to discover her birth father as well as teach her things about love and life. That staying in one place can produce something magical.
Beautifully written; what a stunning cover with the hummingbird— a reminder to keep our hearts open to receive the magic around us daily.
THE MAGIC ALL AROUND has a strong theme of mothers and daughters and their relationships—some we are born with and others we receive as a bonus.
From friendship and love, art, nature, self-discovery, and being true to yourself. Enchanting and thought-provoking for Southern fiction fans and authors Sarah Addison Allen, Laren Denton, Sarah Jio, and Meg Shaffer.
Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a gifted early reading copy for an honest opinion. I look forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Kathleen McInerney.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 16, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Jan 2024 Must-Read Books
Jan Newsletter
Meet the Russell family. Eldest Penelope, her younger sister, Lilith (free-spirited), lives with her daughter, Mattie (independent and artistic).
Lilith left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.
The old Victorian Russell home is at the center and has its own personality. The house often understands the family's needs before they do. It keeps their secrets, shares in their joys, embraces them when they grieve, and gives them the push they need.
When Mattie finds herself back in the family home after her mother's unexpected death, she has no desire to stick around in this small town. She is accustomed to living in a new city every few years with Lilith as her sole companion.
She hesitates to get involved in the Russell family secrets and their special gifts.
But while reading the will, the family is shocked to learn Lilith included a testamentary trust that requires Mattie to stay in Ivy Ridge long enough to complete a series of seemingly absurd tasks to claim her inheritance.
Mattie soon discovers her mother had a plan that would lead her to discover her birth father as well as teach her things about love and life. That staying in one place can produce something magical.
Beautifully written; what a stunning cover with the hummingbird— a reminder to keep our hearts open to receive the magic around us daily.
THE MAGIC ALL AROUND has a strong theme of mothers and daughters and their relationships—some we are born with and others we receive as a bonus.
From friendship and love, art, nature, self-discovery, and being true to yourself. Enchanting and thought-provoking for Southern fiction fans and authors Sarah Addison Allen, Laren Denton, Sarah Jio, and Meg Shaffer.
Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for a gifted early reading copy for an honest opinion. I look forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by the fabulous Kathleen McInerney.
Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Jan 16, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Jan 2024 Must-Read Books
Jan Newsletter
February 24, 2025
3.5 stars. This is a heartwarming story about family and the gifts and talents that each person brings with them. There is also mystery and romance in the mix with magical realism thrown in for good measure. Emphasis is placed on mother daughter relationships. This is a feel-good beach read that I recommend for when you want to read something a little lighter with a good message that will make you smile
January 15, 2024
This was such a fun book to read. It is about family, dreams, destiny, truth, and love.
The Russell women could be considered enchanted, as they have the ability to make life better for themselves and others around them through their talents. While decisions made by some kept the family apart, her death brings them back together. It is also about looking past the choices made in your younger years to discover your destiny for today.
This story is told from several points of view - Mattie, Penelope, and Jonathan. Mattie is dealing with the death of her mother and what this means for her going forward. Her life was following her mother from town to town and living a nomadic lifestyle. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when the person dies that you had those experiences with, it changes your life forever. Penelope has been locked into her world in Ivy Ridge for a few decades based on some decisions she made in the past. But life is about second chances and the strength to change the trajectory your life is on. The same could be said for Jonathan. He might not think that he would be happy in Ivy Ridge, but a medical scare with his father gives him the opportunity to rethink what life might be like in this little town.
I really liked how the story came together, weaving in the past with the present. The three main characters all learn something about themselves and what they believe to be true when it might not be the truth. The characters all get happily ever afters, but it is a journey to get to that point.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the house and its enchantment in helping guide Penelope and Mattie in the right direction.
We give this book 5 paws up and suggest adding it to your TBR list
The Russell women could be considered enchanted, as they have the ability to make life better for themselves and others around them through their talents. While decisions made by some kept the family apart, her death brings them back together. It is also about looking past the choices made in your younger years to discover your destiny for today.
This story is told from several points of view - Mattie, Penelope, and Jonathan. Mattie is dealing with the death of her mother and what this means for her going forward. Her life was following her mother from town to town and living a nomadic lifestyle. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but when the person dies that you had those experiences with, it changes your life forever. Penelope has been locked into her world in Ivy Ridge for a few decades based on some decisions she made in the past. But life is about second chances and the strength to change the trajectory your life is on. The same could be said for Jonathan. He might not think that he would be happy in Ivy Ridge, but a medical scare with his father gives him the opportunity to rethink what life might be like in this little town.
I really liked how the story came together, weaving in the past with the present. The three main characters all learn something about themselves and what they believe to be true when it might not be the truth. The characters all get happily ever afters, but it is a journey to get to that point.
And I would be remiss if I didn't mention the house and its enchantment in helping guide Penelope and Mattie in the right direction.
We give this book 5 paws up and suggest adding it to your TBR list
July 5, 2023
I have found as a reader that books find the reader when they need them. For me with Jennifer Moorman it has been the case of an author finding me. A few years ago I fell in love with her quirky characters in a place called Mystic Water and knew that if she ever wrote outside this place I would love it to.
THE MAGIC ALL AROUND is a book that is perfectly titled because it shows the reader that even in the midst of change and grief there are answers… and answers can be magical. Through the death of her beloved mother, Mattie is forced to reconcile her wants and needs with a past that she never fully accepted. Through a cast of supporting characters and a house that just has a little bit of magic - the reader is fully immersed in Mattie’s fate and cheering her own.
This book not only made me smile and root for the characters but healed my heart. Absolutely magical
THE MAGIC ALL AROUND is a book that is perfectly titled because it shows the reader that even in the midst of change and grief there are answers… and answers can be magical. Through the death of her beloved mother, Mattie is forced to reconcile her wants and needs with a past that she never fully accepted. Through a cast of supporting characters and a house that just has a little bit of magic - the reader is fully immersed in Mattie’s fate and cheering her own.
This book not only made me smile and root for the characters but healed my heart. Absolutely magical
February 11, 2024
This was sweet but not quite as magical or deep as I expected. The writing and story were plain. From the blurb, I expected something heavier. Overall decent but not memorable. Thank you to NetGalley for offering this title in their catalog.
If you like making new book friends, playing games, giveaways, traveling books, and reading reviews, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh, a book club on Facebook.
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If you like making new book friends, playing games, giveaways, traveling books, and reading reviews, check out LiterALLy BOOKiSh, a book club on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12086...
March 20, 2024
This book is a must read, and not just because it comes out on my birthday! 😊 This amazing, magical book has family, loss, love, second chances, finding yourself, and a magical house! When Mattie loses her mother, Lilith, she goes back to Ivy Ridge, GA to stay with her Aunt Penelope in the house that she visited every summer. Lilith left Mattie an inheritance, but she must complete 7 random tasks before she can receive her money and leave town. While the tasks seem random, they are anything but. They lead her on a journey of self-discovery and bring her the things that she didn’t even realize she wanted or needed. This book is full of a cast of wonderful characters and a house with a mind of its own. One of my favorite quotes: “Being different in a small Southern town was worse than wearing white after Labor Day-an unfortunate circumstance that people couldn’t help but gossip about.”
This was my first book by Jennifer Moorman, but it won't be my last!
This was my first book by Jennifer Moorman, but it won't be my last!
April 14, 2024
Very whimsical cute!✨ based on the summary, I was t sure I’d enjoy this book but ended up pleasantly surprised. My favorite read of 2024 so far!
April 1, 2024
3.5 stars! I LOVED the small town setting for this book! The community aspect was so cute + seeing Mattie complete all the tasks was fun! I wish the magic element was explored/explained more because at points it felt random!
big thank you to harper muse for gifting me a copy! I don't think this is a book that would typically be on my radar, so I'm very happy I got the chance to read it!
big thank you to harper muse for gifting me a copy! I don't think this is a book that would typically be on my radar, so I'm very happy I got the chance to read it!
May 16, 2024
Omg this book was soo cheesy and dumb, like a bad Hallmark movie. I could have gone for it if was more like the house from Encanto meets Gilmore Girls, but in spite of every business/place in the town having a ridiculous and “charming” name like Butterfingers, The Pizza Box, The Salsa Shack and … Deja Brew….🙄 I just can’t.
A few of my issues with this book were:
-Jonathan being the love interest. I do not see the appeal of an event planner who wears skinny jeans and is still holding onto being good at sports in college.
-More than one character in this book claims their favorite pizza is beet pesto, kale and goat cheese. Good grief.
-Mattie’s father finds out he’s Mattie’s father 20 odd years later and he’s just like, meh, I’m sure your mom had a good reason not to tell me, no worries.
-Somehow a woman framing her husband for murder and letting her children be raised in foster care without either parent, and just…. letting her children believe she was murdered…. so she can have an affair… is supposed to be plausible. And an old woman trauma dumping this whole story to a bunch of people at a booth at an art fair. This whole story was such a random offshoot that had nothing to do with the rest of the story and was just weird.
-The whole story was completely predictable and Boring. Like oh, now they’re making a cup of tea. Now they’re planting some flowers. Everyone is so pretty. Everyone’s hair frames their face flatteringly. YAWN.
-It is complete laziness on the part of the author to not do the 2 minutes of research it would take to know that painters typically do not paint an entire canvas without prepping the canvas, letting different layers dry, not planning or sketching in advance what they’re going to paint, and then just chucking the WET canvas into the backseat of their car. 😂😂😂 This just killed me. I guess we are supposed to chalk it up to Mattie’s magical abilities, along with making random songs start playing everywhere. Sorry you ended up with the lame magical abilities while your mom could make anyone fall in love with her and see the future Mattie. 👍🏻
-Every man in this book is so shocked and excited that Mattie *a woman* is a baseball fan. WOW!!! She is even More attractive now! Incredible! She is Not like other girls!
I could go on. But bottom line is I just hated it. I only finished it because I literally have the itchiest rash on my foot right now and it woke me up and I didn’t have anything else to do in the middle of the night, and that’s the truth.
A few of my issues with this book were:
-Jonathan being the love interest. I do not see the appeal of an event planner who wears skinny jeans and is still holding onto being good at sports in college.
-More than one character in this book claims their favorite pizza is beet pesto, kale and goat cheese. Good grief.
-Mattie’s father finds out he’s Mattie’s father 20 odd years later and he’s just like, meh, I’m sure your mom had a good reason not to tell me, no worries.
-Somehow a woman framing her husband for murder and letting her children be raised in foster care without either parent, and just…. letting her children believe she was murdered…. so she can have an affair… is supposed to be plausible. And an old woman trauma dumping this whole story to a bunch of people at a booth at an art fair. This whole story was such a random offshoot that had nothing to do with the rest of the story and was just weird.
-The whole story was completely predictable and Boring. Like oh, now they’re making a cup of tea. Now they’re planting some flowers. Everyone is so pretty. Everyone’s hair frames their face flatteringly. YAWN.
-It is complete laziness on the part of the author to not do the 2 minutes of research it would take to know that painters typically do not paint an entire canvas without prepping the canvas, letting different layers dry, not planning or sketching in advance what they’re going to paint, and then just chucking the WET canvas into the backseat of their car. 😂😂😂 This just killed me. I guess we are supposed to chalk it up to Mattie’s magical abilities, along with making random songs start playing everywhere. Sorry you ended up with the lame magical abilities while your mom could make anyone fall in love with her and see the future Mattie. 👍🏻
-Every man in this book is so shocked and excited that Mattie *a woman* is a baseball fan. WOW!!! She is even More attractive now! Incredible! She is Not like other girls!
I could go on. But bottom line is I just hated it. I only finished it because I literally have the itchiest rash on my foot right now and it woke me up and I didn’t have anything else to do in the middle of the night, and that’s the truth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
A fun escape into an enchanted house where hearts heal, relationships are repaired, and magic is all around.
April 3, 2024
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this advanced copy.
Things I loved:
- Set in Georgia with flashbacks of Florida; that was exactly me in college!
- The “old timey” names: Lilith, Penelope 😍
- Amazing food descriptions!! 🤤 I stayed hungry!!
Read this if you love:
- A cozy mystery with family elements
- Magical realism
- Southern charm and meddling family members, including the house itself
I’ve also read The Baker’s Man by Moorman, and I salivated throughout that one too!
Things I loved:
- Set in Georgia with flashbacks of Florida; that was exactly me in college!
- The “old timey” names: Lilith, Penelope 😍
- Amazing food descriptions!! 🤤 I stayed hungry!!
Read this if you love:
- A cozy mystery with family elements
- Magical realism
- Southern charm and meddling family members, including the house itself
I’ve also read The Baker’s Man by Moorman, and I salivated throughout that one too!
April 16, 2024
3.5 rounded up.
January 16, 2024
First of all, this cover is amazing. Honestly, the cover is what drew me to the book. I had not heard of this book, nor heard of this author. I fell in love with the cover. And then to understand the significance makes it even more wonderful.
I've also discovered that I am a huge fan of magical realism. I love it when magical, mystical things happen because of inanimate objects or because of the powers that some people possess.
The Magic All Around is truly magical. When Mattie is forced to go back to the place where her mom grew up—because it was never a place that Mattie called home—people and things try to get her to stay. As Mattie fulfills the conditions of her mom's will, she starts to uncover the truth of her life and where she fits into the whole scheme of things. I especially loved how the house and the radio played such a big part in making Mattie realize where she needed to be.
I loved my trip into Mattie's world, her family, and her community as she tries to get over losing her mom. This was a great escape read and I immediately looked up more books my this author. I just have to read more! I highly recommend The Magic All Around.
I've also discovered that I am a huge fan of magical realism. I love it when magical, mystical things happen because of inanimate objects or because of the powers that some people possess.
The Magic All Around is truly magical. When Mattie is forced to go back to the place where her mom grew up—because it was never a place that Mattie called home—people and things try to get her to stay. As Mattie fulfills the conditions of her mom's will, she starts to uncover the truth of her life and where she fits into the whole scheme of things. I especially loved how the house and the radio played such a big part in making Mattie realize where she needed to be.
I loved my trip into Mattie's world, her family, and her community as she tries to get over losing her mom. This was a great escape read and I immediately looked up more books my this author. I just have to read more! I highly recommend The Magic All Around.
February 21, 2024
A cute story but nothing special. I listened to it and was not thrilled with the voices.
February 13, 2024
What a cute story. It was just pure magic. At least to me it was. A little bit of sadness but overall this was a story of a family touched by magic.
I've not read any of this author's books before. This one was a good one to start with. It left me feeling happy. Lighthearted. With a song in my heart if you will.....
When Mattie returns to Ivy Ridge, Georgia after her mother dies she's devastated. Her mom, Lilith, was her best friend. The one constant companion in her whole life. Not that their life had been normal by any means. They moved a lot. A whole lot. It was what Mattie was use too and she never thought much about it.
Mattie's aunt, Penelope has been a rock for her. She spent many summers in her earlier years with her Aunt. She met a boy on her fifteenth birthday who she never truly forgot about. She has a lot of good memories in Ivy Ridge. But her life has been turned upside down with the death of Lilith. Mattie was so close to her mother. Maybe it was time for her to spread her wings and fly now. Find her own path..
Lilith left Mattie an inheritance but with stipulations for getting it. Many clues are left in the tasks she has to do to get the money. All of these clues are to help Mattie. To help her move forward with her own life. Possibly find a path of her own to find the father she never knew anything about. A love that could be just around the corner. Or next door. Money to help her with her talent of painting. To do what she wanted with her life. To finally settle down and have a stable life.
I loved all the characters in this story. There was no real drama and not thriller aspect in any way. It was just a story of a girl and what all she had to do and had done. The path that lead her to find her way in life. To find true happiness. A magical house. Magical music. Magical family. This book was just pure magic and I loved that. It was such a fun one to read.
Thank you #NetGalley, #JenniferMoorman, #HarperMuse, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. Pure magic...
Five big stars from me. Read it. Enjoy.
I've not read any of this author's books before. This one was a good one to start with. It left me feeling happy. Lighthearted. With a song in my heart if you will.....
When Mattie returns to Ivy Ridge, Georgia after her mother dies she's devastated. Her mom, Lilith, was her best friend. The one constant companion in her whole life. Not that their life had been normal by any means. They moved a lot. A whole lot. It was what Mattie was use too and she never thought much about it.
Mattie's aunt, Penelope has been a rock for her. She spent many summers in her earlier years with her Aunt. She met a boy on her fifteenth birthday who she never truly forgot about. She has a lot of good memories in Ivy Ridge. But her life has been turned upside down with the death of Lilith. Mattie was so close to her mother. Maybe it was time for her to spread her wings and fly now. Find her own path..
Lilith left Mattie an inheritance but with stipulations for getting it. Many clues are left in the tasks she has to do to get the money. All of these clues are to help Mattie. To help her move forward with her own life. Possibly find a path of her own to find the father she never knew anything about. A love that could be just around the corner. Or next door. Money to help her with her talent of painting. To do what she wanted with her life. To finally settle down and have a stable life.
I loved all the characters in this story. There was no real drama and not thriller aspect in any way. It was just a story of a girl and what all she had to do and had done. The path that lead her to find her way in life. To find true happiness. A magical house. Magical music. Magical family. This book was just pure magic and I loved that. It was such a fun one to read.
Thank you #NetGalley, #JenniferMoorman, #HarperMuse, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book. Pure magic...
Five big stars from me. Read it. Enjoy.
February 8, 2024
The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman is a light, fun read of magical realism. The story centers around the Russell family who all have their own unique and special talents. What I found really neat about this story is that even the Victorian house they lived in was a character in itself. The house could sense when family members needed something and would react in different ways out of love for its residents. Mattie, the main character, has lost her mother to an early death. She comes home to Ivy Ridge, to the Russell family home, to attend her mothers funeral and to try and figure out where her life goes from there. Along the way, she receives subtle clues from her mother showing her where it is that she belongs and what would make her happy. On top of the loving mother-daughter relationship, this story is about finding family that you didn’t know you had, finding true love and learning where home truly is. I really enjoyed reading this, I’m finding that I’m enjoying magical realism a lot more than I ever thought I would. I guess everyone needs a little magic and fairy tale in their life. I’d like to thank Harper Muse for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc. This was a fun and enjoyable read. It had just the right amount of magic to make it pleasurable yet it wasn’t too over the top. It was nicely done! It’s a book I’d recommend and I’m giving it a 4 star rating.
February 14, 2024
Firstly, the character's names suit the book's theme (Lilith, Penelope). The book does have the aspect of magical realism that shadows the lives of the Russell family.
It's a tale of motherly loss and the accompanying life-altering changes our protagonist has to go through in a coming-of-age scenario. Dash in the elements of charm, luck and magic, creating a soft whimsical tale in a small city, away from the hustling metro lives. You will particularly enjoy reading this one if you are in the mood for a gliding butter-like storyline with not a lot of high-stake enigmas. I found it a bit predictable, but I do feel that was intentional from the author's end so it is fine.
This book will make you feel happy from the inside and I am contended to have chanced upon it.
Thank you @netgalley @harpermusebooks @harpercollinsfocus and @jenniferrmoorman for the Digital ARC.
Genre: #contemporary #magicalrealism
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Also, this book was a pick for my #februaryreadingprompt of #valentine that had to be #magical and #dreamy
#TheMagicAllAround #NetGalley
It's a tale of motherly loss and the accompanying life-altering changes our protagonist has to go through in a coming-of-age scenario. Dash in the elements of charm, luck and magic, creating a soft whimsical tale in a small city, away from the hustling metro lives. You will particularly enjoy reading this one if you are in the mood for a gliding butter-like storyline with not a lot of high-stake enigmas. I found it a bit predictable, but I do feel that was intentional from the author's end so it is fine.
This book will make you feel happy from the inside and I am contended to have chanced upon it.
Thank you @netgalley @harpermusebooks @harpercollinsfocus and @jenniferrmoorman for the Digital ARC.
Genre: #contemporary #magicalrealism
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Also, this book was a pick for my #februaryreadingprompt of #valentine that had to be #magical and #dreamy
#TheMagicAllAround #NetGalley
February 16, 2024
Firstly, the character's names suit the book's theme (Lilith, Penelope). The book does have the aspect of magical realism that shadows the lives of the Russell family.
It's a tale of motherly loss and the accompanying life-altering changes our protagonist has to go through in a coming-of-age scenario. Dash in the elements of charm, luck and magic, creating a soft whimsical tale in a small city, away from the hustling metro lives. You will particularly enjoy reading this one if you are in the mood for a gliding butter-like storyline with not a lot of high-stake enigmas. I found it a bit predictable, but I do feel that was intentional from the author's end so it is fine.
This book will make you feel happy from the inside and I am contended to have chanced upon it.
Thank you @netgalley @harpermusebooks @harpercollinsfocus and @jenniferrmoorman for the Digital ARC.
Genre: #contemporary #magicalrealism
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Also, this book was a pick for my #februaryreadingprompt of #valentine that had to be #magical and #dreamy
#TheMagicAllAround #NetGalley
It's a tale of motherly loss and the accompanying life-altering changes our protagonist has to go through in a coming-of-age scenario. Dash in the elements of charm, luck and magic, creating a soft whimsical tale in a small city, away from the hustling metro lives. You will particularly enjoy reading this one if you are in the mood for a gliding butter-like storyline with not a lot of high-stake enigmas. I found it a bit predictable, but I do feel that was intentional from the author's end so it is fine.
This book will make you feel happy from the inside and I am contended to have chanced upon it.
Thank you @netgalley @harpermusebooks @harpercollinsfocus and @jenniferrmoorman for the Digital ARC.
Genre: #contemporary #magicalrealism
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Also, this book was a pick for my #februaryreadingprompt of #valentine that had to be #magical and #dreamy
#TheMagicAllAround #NetGalley
April 19, 2025
I'm a big fan of magical realism as a genre, so I tend to like almost any of them. I really liked Penelope's character and wished there would've been just a bit more of her. Same for the aunt and uncle! I know Mattie was the main character, but I would've preferred it to be more evenly split.
I actually almost docked this to 3 stars, as Mattie did get on my nerves as a character. I continually forgot she was supposed to be in her early 20s, as she often acted like a teenager. I found her a bit immature, but I also felt that it was explained based on her upbringing. I found myself frequently annoyed with her and felt she was borderline throwing tantrums as an adult.
Despite this, I felt that Moorman's writing was very descriptive and really enjoyed that aspect. I would definitely read other books by her in the future!
I actually almost docked this to 3 stars, as Mattie did get on my nerves as a character. I continually forgot she was supposed to be in her early 20s, as she often acted like a teenager. I found her a bit immature, but I also felt that it was explained based on her upbringing. I found myself frequently annoyed with her and felt she was borderline throwing tantrums as an adult.
Despite this, I felt that Moorman's writing was very descriptive and really enjoyed that aspect. I would definitely read other books by her in the future!
February 14, 2024
This audiobook wasn't exactly what I expected though I'm not sure why... the entire plot is completely spelled out in the blurb. I guess I was hoping for something more. It was a cute story, but a little too cute for my taste. I think this book will appeal to many readers, but personally, I didn't love it. I found the magical realism components didn't subtlety move the story forward, they were just there all the time.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
March 4, 2024
DNF’ing this one @ 17%. Nothing much has happened except for Maddie returning home and they’ve started planning her Mom’s funeral.
Tons of tiresome descriptions in this… rooms, clothes, food, stores, people’s backgrounds. Good info if it’s relevant to the plot or the characters’ motivations and feelings, but doesn’t seem to be.
Movin’ on.
Tons of tiresome descriptions in this… rooms, clothes, food, stores, people’s backgrounds. Good info if it’s relevant to the plot or the characters’ motivations and feelings, but doesn’t seem to be.
Movin’ on.
October 6, 2024
Home is family.
Even after she has passed away her mother continues to be the most influential force in her life. This is the story of how when you have lost your guiding light in the form of your only parent and best friend they can always show you the way home to find the life you are meant to live.
Even after she has passed away her mother continues to be the most influential force in her life. This is the story of how when you have lost your guiding light in the form of your only parent and best friend they can always show you the way home to find the life you are meant to live.
January 16, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! It was beautifully written, with a small town, cozy feel and lovable characters (not to mention, an enchanted house). It explores the mother-daughter relationship, loss, old and new love, and the courage of finding oneself. Told from three different POV’s (Mattie, Penelope and Jonathan), the story came together beautifully, entwining romance, hope and a sprinkle of magic. This is the perfect lighthearted and wholesome read. By the time I finished reading, I truly could see the magic all around!
Huge thanks to Harper Muse for my copy of this book, my first ever ARC.
Huge thanks to Harper Muse for my copy of this book, my first ever ARC.
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