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The River Muse
Win a free print copy of this book!
1 day and 14:23:58
50 copies available
U.S. only
From the author of The Alchemy of Flowers comes a tale of lost selves, ages-old secrets, and how we can reclaim our truest voices through love, music, and a touch of magic.
A French chateau. A forest with secrets. A magical spring. Welcome to La Chanson, where lost souls are found again…
At the brink of summer, Callie arrives in a secluded village in the South of France with her young daughter, after barely escaping her menacing ex-partner. Desperate to hide, she rents a cottage on the grounds of the Chateau of the Lost. Her new home sings with flowing water, rustling olive trees, and whispering poppies—an otherworldly nook of hidden magic. Little by little, she warms to her quirky neighbors—a witchy landlady, an acclaimed truffle hunter, his kind veterinarian son, and their lovable dogs. Oh, and a mischievous ghost boy.
Slowly but surely, her new friends help her discover herself again. Years earlier, she gave up music at the insistence of her ex, but as she reclaims her voice, everyone finds that her songs open hearts and heal old wounds. When her ex tracks her down, the stakes grow deadly, and she must tap into her most powerful self to protect her newfound family.
Whimsical and atmospheric, The River Muse will enchant readers with its myth and music--showing how we can find friendship, love, and our truest selves in the most unexpected places.
A French chateau. A forest with secrets. A magical spring. Welcome to La Chanson, where lost souls are found again…
At the brink of summer, Callie arrives in a secluded village in the South of France with her young daughter, after barely escaping her menacing ex-partner. Desperate to hide, she rents a cottage on the grounds of the Chateau of the Lost. Her new home sings with flowing water, rustling olive trees, and whispering poppies—an otherworldly nook of hidden magic. Little by little, she warms to her quirky neighbors—a witchy landlady, an acclaimed truffle hunter, his kind veterinarian son, and their lovable dogs. Oh, and a mischievous ghost boy.
Slowly but surely, her new friends help her discover herself again. Years earlier, she gave up music at the insistence of her ex, but as she reclaims her voice, everyone finds that her songs open hearts and heal old wounds. When her ex tracks her down, the stakes grow deadly, and she must tap into her most powerful self to protect her newfound family.
Whimsical and atmospheric, The River Muse will enchant readers with its myth and music--showing how we can find friendship, love, and our truest selves in the most unexpected places.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 12, 2026
About the author
Laura Resau
14 books471 followersLaura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, The River Muse (May 2026), and eleven acclaimed books for children and teens. Her books have garnered nineteen starred trade reviews, five Colorado Book Awards, and spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, and the American Library Association. Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and has a background in cultural anthropology, languages, and ESL. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University. You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, and a hundred house plants.
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January 7, 2026A French chateau where lost souls are found again..
Summer reading! Sci-fi/Fantasy and women’s fiction
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse and the author, Laura Resau for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Summer reading! Sci-fi/Fantasy and women’s fiction
Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Muse and the author, Laura Resau for the early eARC!
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
The River Muse is a lovely contemporary story which has some fairy tale vibes weaved into it. I will say that it does give off an important message about domestic violence and encourage people in that situation that you can always find a better life after moving on from that situation. I truly adored some of the images that I saw as I read about the Chateau. This is my first time reading anything by Laura and I have to say that I am very impressed.
We are introduced to Callie who is trying to start over with her daughter after getting out of a abusive relationship with a man who just happened to be friends with her deceased husband. Their journey takes them to a lovely Chateau called La Chanson. From there they will revel in the beauty and discover some secrets of a feud between their neighbors.
We are introduced to Callie who is trying to start over with her daughter after getting out of a abusive relationship with a man who just happened to be friends with her deceased husband. Their journey takes them to a lovely Chateau called La Chanson. From there they will revel in the beauty and discover some secrets of a feud between their neighbors.
April 25, 2026
I loved loved loved this book!!
We start off with our main characters, Callie and her daughter Eva, on the run.
Callie’s husband and Eva’s father, Nick, had died several years back during a freak hiking accident, which left them both reeling. “Good guy” Brett, a friend of Nick’s, stepped in quickly to help them cope and deal with daily life, but only after it’s too late does Callie realize that Brett isn’t the good guy that he seems to be.
Callie and Eva take refuge in a mysterious French chateau in La Chanson, with a whispering river that seems to speak to Callie. They are welcomed by the “wine witch”, and find themselves in the middle of a decades-long feud between neighbors.
The River Muse was such a lovely read. It had a hint of darkness, dealing with a domestic violence situation, but also wrapped you in a cozy blanket as you met each of La Chanson’s residents. I found it very empowering the way that Callie found herself as a woman and a mother after grief, and thought that Eva was the most adorable and least annoying child character in a book I have ever read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, thank you to the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
We start off with our main characters, Callie and her daughter Eva, on the run.
Callie’s husband and Eva’s father, Nick, had died several years back during a freak hiking accident, which left them both reeling. “Good guy” Brett, a friend of Nick’s, stepped in quickly to help them cope and deal with daily life, but only after it’s too late does Callie realize that Brett isn’t the good guy that he seems to be.
Callie and Eva take refuge in a mysterious French chateau in La Chanson, with a whispering river that seems to speak to Callie. They are welcomed by the “wine witch”, and find themselves in the middle of a decades-long feud between neighbors.
The River Muse was such a lovely read. It had a hint of darkness, dealing with a domestic violence situation, but also wrapped you in a cozy blanket as you met each of La Chanson’s residents. I found it very empowering the way that Callie found herself as a woman and a mother after grief, and thought that Eva was the most adorable and least annoying child character in a book I have ever read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, thank you to the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2026
The River Muse by Laura Resau on audio felt like pure escapism. A French chateau, a healing journey, a hint of magic, and a woman rediscovering her voice? Yes, please. This story is soft, atmospheric, and quietly powerful, especially as Callie rebuilds her life and finds strength she didn’t know she still had.
May 15, 2026
Escaping to a cozy world (from Colorado to La Chanson, a fictional village in Provence, also Aix-en-Provence, Southern France): Laura Resau weaves magic in The River Muse. A healing novel coming from a “fantastical realm.”
Not everything is enchanted, though. Warmly signed, the Author’s Note prefaces a story set in two dramatically different worlds with a “heads-up about sensitive content” to “help us feel seen, heard, healed, and connected.” Not without ending to assure us, “Dogs are a joyful part of this story!”
Three truffle-hunting dogs, to be specific. One of a number of ancient traditions in an idyllic setting in a fictional Provençal village in the South of France, with a mythical river flowing through it.
Resau switches between taking us inside a dreamy village to inside a “glass prison” perched high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. A “seven-million-dollar cabin” of abuse.
The story revolves around two main characters who escape to the village, their refuge: late thirties Callie, mother of effervescent, precocious eight-year-old Eva. The two major storylines create a push-pull emotional reading experience. Great release from great fear.
Stylistically, the magical setting is told in the third-person narrative. Whereas the astute psychological analyses of the sociopathic abuser (Brett), along with all the mental pep-talk and planning that goes into escaping, are told in an unusual epistolary format in which Callie writes to herself. Displaying the power of psychological journeying to help face truths, the technique also serves as a countdown to the day Callie and Eve must flee or they’ll be no turning back. Composed over nine weeks until “Escape” day, she wrote it in a non-monitored crawl space in a house fully equipped with all the state-of-the-art technology monitoring their every move.
Chillingly warning how easy it is to take advantage of vulnerable people-in-crisis. How your online presence can be wiped out, phone lines cut, passwords, activation codes, bank accounts accessed, so you have no personal connections with the outside world. Not just to steal your identity, but to erase it when you’re in a deep “medicated fog” grieving the tragic death of your husband and father (Nick). Inflicted by cunning, manipulative, controlling Brett hiking with Nick when he fell to his death on a steep rocky mountain trail.
The creepy and terrorizing parts read like a thriller. But the heart of the novel is not about losing yourself, but about finding yourself.
Hitting all the right notes is Callie’s musical voice. Callie Byrd was once a well-known Indie rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose music moved people. She used to sing loudly, joyfully, but hasn’t even whispered a song to Eva in two years grieving, victimized, and upon awakening.
Vigilant about letting anyone hear her voice when she finds the strength and courage to “Fly, Fly, Away” – the title of the song that brought her fame – when Callie and Eva land in the spellbinding South of France. Not a chance to remain invisible around Eva who attracts dogs and their owners who become caring friends. Eva and Callie bring out the best in people.
Pay close attention to all the words in the poetic epilogue that includes: “music echoes your soul, harmonizes with your fears and longings, calls forth your own song, until it spills out in liquid jewels.” Revealing the force of Resau’s musical prose with a clue to the hope you’ll be rooting for.
That is, the people you’ll be rooting for. Starting with the escapists, spreading to the villagers they luck into crossing paths with in a place “too good to be true.” What we’re rooting for is that after two years of psychic cruelty they find lasting tranquility and happiness.
You’ll be charmed and alarmed. Charmed by the concept of It-Takes-A-Village to undo the alarming mental damage perpetrated on the innocent.
Muse in the novel’s title evokes the water songs heard from the legendary river. The mythical Chanson “waters rise from the source, deep in the earth, from secret caverns, hidden pockets of spirit.” According to Celtic mythology, an instrument called the carnyx is found at the river’s source. nslated from the French means song. In a larger context, it refers to France’s “vocal history.” Muse also refers to the Greek goddess of music named Calliope. Callie’s full name.
A Mayan deity reinforces good versus evil. Treasured by Callie and Eva as a memory of happy times as a family, Brett has an obsessive fetish with the statue. He in a dark, shadowy antiquities business. Not the only suspicion you’ll have about him.
Trilingual, Resau often drops in the musical language of France, always defining the words. Her Spanish comes in handy too for inventing a Guatemalan object named Pepito.
A lot going on that Resau’s background and experiences draw from: cultural anthropology training, living in three countries, teaching creative writing and languages, adopting a child from Guatemala. (See her longer bio.)
As a multi-award-winning author of eleven novels for kids and young adults, she also spins fairy-tales. (Three are blended into these captivating pages, one The Island of Happiness by the 17th century female French writer said to have invented the phrase, Madame D’Aulnoy.)
The best elements of humanity are found in the author’s fairytale imagination that infuses ancient Celtic history in the region and fantasy in a beautiful landscape. What’s even more beautiful are the people.
Dogs make wonderful connections to the village characters in this playful picture including: elderly bachelor Monsieur Forêt, truffle expert extraordinaire; his bachelor son Luc, roughly Callie’s age, who tenderly treats animals but has yet pursued his vet license; Madame Lavigne, in her eighties, roughly Monsieur’s age, chateaux owner with an extensive wine cave collection; Lucien, one of her two sons who lives with her, tongue-tied and gentle, another bachelor, in his fifties. As the characters’ stories come to light, it’s fascinating how their pasts share buried emotions and “secret kindness.”
Madame Lavigne’s reputation as a “wine witch” is transformed around Eva and Callie, insisting they stay on her property in a cottage, doting on them. Wine flows (Orangina for Eva) matched to the regional cuisines.
Eva and Callie weave their magic on other villagers too, representing some of the French culture people love, such as the owner of a boulangerie (baker).
In their new world, Callie and Eva aren’t removed from humanity and the goodness of people. They’re part of it.
Not everything is enchanted, though. Warmly signed, the Author’s Note prefaces a story set in two dramatically different worlds with a “heads-up about sensitive content” to “help us feel seen, heard, healed, and connected.” Not without ending to assure us, “Dogs are a joyful part of this story!”
Three truffle-hunting dogs, to be specific. One of a number of ancient traditions in an idyllic setting in a fictional Provençal village in the South of France, with a mythical river flowing through it.
Resau switches between taking us inside a dreamy village to inside a “glass prison” perched high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. A “seven-million-dollar cabin” of abuse.
The story revolves around two main characters who escape to the village, their refuge: late thirties Callie, mother of effervescent, precocious eight-year-old Eva. The two major storylines create a push-pull emotional reading experience. Great release from great fear.
Stylistically, the magical setting is told in the third-person narrative. Whereas the astute psychological analyses of the sociopathic abuser (Brett), along with all the mental pep-talk and planning that goes into escaping, are told in an unusual epistolary format in which Callie writes to herself. Displaying the power of psychological journeying to help face truths, the technique also serves as a countdown to the day Callie and Eve must flee or they’ll be no turning back. Composed over nine weeks until “Escape” day, she wrote it in a non-monitored crawl space in a house fully equipped with all the state-of-the-art technology monitoring their every move.
Chillingly warning how easy it is to take advantage of vulnerable people-in-crisis. How your online presence can be wiped out, phone lines cut, passwords, activation codes, bank accounts accessed, so you have no personal connections with the outside world. Not just to steal your identity, but to erase it when you’re in a deep “medicated fog” grieving the tragic death of your husband and father (Nick). Inflicted by cunning, manipulative, controlling Brett hiking with Nick when he fell to his death on a steep rocky mountain trail.
The creepy and terrorizing parts read like a thriller. But the heart of the novel is not about losing yourself, but about finding yourself.
Hitting all the right notes is Callie’s musical voice. Callie Byrd was once a well-known Indie rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter whose music moved people. She used to sing loudly, joyfully, but hasn’t even whispered a song to Eva in two years grieving, victimized, and upon awakening.
Vigilant about letting anyone hear her voice when she finds the strength and courage to “Fly, Fly, Away” – the title of the song that brought her fame – when Callie and Eva land in the spellbinding South of France. Not a chance to remain invisible around Eva who attracts dogs and their owners who become caring friends. Eva and Callie bring out the best in people.
Pay close attention to all the words in the poetic epilogue that includes: “music echoes your soul, harmonizes with your fears and longings, calls forth your own song, until it spills out in liquid jewels.” Revealing the force of Resau’s musical prose with a clue to the hope you’ll be rooting for.
That is, the people you’ll be rooting for. Starting with the escapists, spreading to the villagers they luck into crossing paths with in a place “too good to be true.” What we’re rooting for is that after two years of psychic cruelty they find lasting tranquility and happiness.
You’ll be charmed and alarmed. Charmed by the concept of It-Takes-A-Village to undo the alarming mental damage perpetrated on the innocent.
Muse in the novel’s title evokes the water songs heard from the legendary river. The mythical Chanson “waters rise from the source, deep in the earth, from secret caverns, hidden pockets of spirit.” According to Celtic mythology, an instrument called the carnyx is found at the river’s source. nslated from the French means song. In a larger context, it refers to France’s “vocal history.” Muse also refers to the Greek goddess of music named Calliope. Callie’s full name.
A Mayan deity reinforces good versus evil. Treasured by Callie and Eva as a memory of happy times as a family, Brett has an obsessive fetish with the statue. He in a dark, shadowy antiquities business. Not the only suspicion you’ll have about him.
Trilingual, Resau often drops in the musical language of France, always defining the words. Her Spanish comes in handy too for inventing a Guatemalan object named Pepito.
A lot going on that Resau’s background and experiences draw from: cultural anthropology training, living in three countries, teaching creative writing and languages, adopting a child from Guatemala. (See her longer bio.)
As a multi-award-winning author of eleven novels for kids and young adults, she also spins fairy-tales. (Three are blended into these captivating pages, one The Island of Happiness by the 17th century female French writer said to have invented the phrase, Madame D’Aulnoy.)
The best elements of humanity are found in the author’s fairytale imagination that infuses ancient Celtic history in the region and fantasy in a beautiful landscape. What’s even more beautiful are the people.
Dogs make wonderful connections to the village characters in this playful picture including: elderly bachelor Monsieur Forêt, truffle expert extraordinaire; his bachelor son Luc, roughly Callie’s age, who tenderly treats animals but has yet pursued his vet license; Madame Lavigne, in her eighties, roughly Monsieur’s age, chateaux owner with an extensive wine cave collection; Lucien, one of her two sons who lives with her, tongue-tied and gentle, another bachelor, in his fifties. As the characters’ stories come to light, it’s fascinating how their pasts share buried emotions and “secret kindness.”
Madame Lavigne’s reputation as a “wine witch” is transformed around Eva and Callie, insisting they stay on her property in a cottage, doting on them. Wine flows (Orangina for Eva) matched to the regional cuisines.
Eva and Callie weave their magic on other villagers too, representing some of the French culture people love, such as the owner of a boulangerie (baker).
In their new world, Callie and Eva aren’t removed from humanity and the goodness of people. They’re part of it.
May 14, 2026
Laura is a master at taking the dark and finding the light, turning fear into courage, and showing that hope and love can still be found after immense heartbreak.
The River Muse is an incredibly beautiful story of courage, hope, love, found family, and the power in finding one’s self. The undertones of nature throughout the story provide strength and offer guidance/warnings to those who embrace their surroundings.
Callie suffered the tragic loss of her husband and was instantly taken in and cared for by Brett, a man she thought she could trust. However, as her grief starts to subside, she realizes that certain events are not as they seem. Her instincts help her realize she has been trapped and taken advantage of. She senses the danger that she and her daughter, Eva, are in and knows that she must flee as soon as possible. Callie carefully devises a plan that will take her and Eva overseas in hopes of finding a safe, small town where they can remain safe and hidden. They find their way to La Chanson, and guided by the river’s music and the support of new-found friends, Callie begins to find her inner strength and the voice she lost after the death of her husband. Callie knows that Brett is dangerous and will try to find her. This time though, she knows that she must be strong, for herself and her daughter. She must trust her found family and the friends she has gained, along with her own strength and voice to break the hold that Brett has over her.
The River Muse incites so many feelings and emotions. This story is truly captivating from beginning to end. Laura Resau has carefully mended together a story of abuse with the power in finding one’s voice to create a tale of hope, a hope that happiness and love can win out in the end. That even those who have been broken can heal and find the place where they are loved and feel the light of a bright future.
In full transparency, The River Muse does address domestic abuse and stalking/threatening behaviors. The story also discusses that there are people willing to help those fleeing these circumstances.
Thank you so much to Laura Resau, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The River Muse.
The River Muse is an incredibly beautiful story of courage, hope, love, found family, and the power in finding one’s self. The undertones of nature throughout the story provide strength and offer guidance/warnings to those who embrace their surroundings.
Callie suffered the tragic loss of her husband and was instantly taken in and cared for by Brett, a man she thought she could trust. However, as her grief starts to subside, she realizes that certain events are not as they seem. Her instincts help her realize she has been trapped and taken advantage of. She senses the danger that she and her daughter, Eva, are in and knows that she must flee as soon as possible. Callie carefully devises a plan that will take her and Eva overseas in hopes of finding a safe, small town where they can remain safe and hidden. They find their way to La Chanson, and guided by the river’s music and the support of new-found friends, Callie begins to find her inner strength and the voice she lost after the death of her husband. Callie knows that Brett is dangerous and will try to find her. This time though, she knows that she must be strong, for herself and her daughter. She must trust her found family and the friends she has gained, along with her own strength and voice to break the hold that Brett has over her.
The River Muse incites so many feelings and emotions. This story is truly captivating from beginning to end. Laura Resau has carefully mended together a story of abuse with the power in finding one’s voice to create a tale of hope, a hope that happiness and love can win out in the end. That even those who have been broken can heal and find the place where they are loved and feel the light of a bright future.
In full transparency, The River Muse does address domestic abuse and stalking/threatening behaviors. The story also discusses that there are people willing to help those fleeing these circumstances.
Thank you so much to Laura Resau, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of The River Muse.
May 12, 2026
To sum this up. . . Oui Oui It is a 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If I could entice you to read a book from the first lines of a book, this one would be it!
" In morning sunshine, as her daughter slept, Callie cranked open the window of their attic nook, breathing in buttery scents of croissants from a nearby boulangerie.
We are free.
Peering at the cobbled street below, she tried out the thought. It felt like looking over a cliff, that mix of vertigo and awe, fear and joy, some muscles clenching, others relaxing, as her heart tried to make sense of it all."
THE RIVER MUSE written by Laura Resau
I have the ebook and I also bought the audible version and am looking forward to listening. I started it and the narrator, Cassandra Campbell has such a soothing voice. She was a perfect match for this book!!!!
If you enjoy these vibes, you'll fall in love with this book like I did:
✨️ Setting in southern France
✨️Wine witch
✨️Musical magical river
✨️ Romance
✨️ Found family
✨️ Haunted castle
✨️ lyrical writing style
✨️ Grief, healing, and hope
✨️ Nature
Are you a foodie? If so, you'll love the French foods in this book! Here's just a sampling
✨️Truffle infused honey
✨️ Chevre & Olive oil
✨️Cheese souffle
✨️ Citrus enliven salad
✨️ lavendar creme brulu
✨️Orange blossom tea
✨️Baguettes
While this is fantasy book, it is real. . .it's an empowering story of recovery from an emotionally abusive relationship. It follows Callie (and her daughter) as she packs up and heads out, with little money or resources, to build a better life for herself and her daughter.
If you read Laura's other book, The Alchemy of Flowers then you find the same writing style here. I loved it, so of course I loved this one too! Both are stand alones.
If I could entice you to read a book from the first lines of a book, this one would be it!
" In morning sunshine, as her daughter slept, Callie cranked open the window of their attic nook, breathing in buttery scents of croissants from a nearby boulangerie.
We are free.
Peering at the cobbled street below, she tried out the thought. It felt like looking over a cliff, that mix of vertigo and awe, fear and joy, some muscles clenching, others relaxing, as her heart tried to make sense of it all."
THE RIVER MUSE written by Laura Resau
I have the ebook and I also bought the audible version and am looking forward to listening. I started it and the narrator, Cassandra Campbell has such a soothing voice. She was a perfect match for this book!!!!
If you enjoy these vibes, you'll fall in love with this book like I did:
✨️ Setting in southern France
✨️Wine witch
✨️Musical magical river
✨️ Romance
✨️ Found family
✨️ Haunted castle
✨️ lyrical writing style
✨️ Grief, healing, and hope
✨️ Nature
Are you a foodie? If so, you'll love the French foods in this book! Here's just a sampling
✨️Truffle infused honey
✨️ Chevre & Olive oil
✨️Cheese souffle
✨️ Citrus enliven salad
✨️ lavendar creme brulu
✨️Orange blossom tea
✨️Baguettes
While this is fantasy book, it is real. . .it's an empowering story of recovery from an emotionally abusive relationship. It follows Callie (and her daughter) as she packs up and heads out, with little money or resources, to build a better life for herself and her daughter.
If you read Laura's other book, The Alchemy of Flowers then you find the same writing style here. I loved it, so of course I loved this one too! Both are stand alones.
May 18, 2026
Lyrical, reflective, and quietly moving.
The River Muse flows like a quiet meditation, weaving together themes of memory, longing, and the healing power of nature. The narrative centers on the river as both a literal and symbolic presence-carrying stories of those who come to its banks, reflecting their grief, joy, and transformation.
Callie, once a famous Indie songwriter/singer, escapes with her daughter to a quiet village in southern France, determined to leave behind the shadow of her violent ex. She settles into a cottage tucked within the grounds of the enigmatic Chateau of the Lost where through enchanted encounters with nature, and confrontations with strangers, she starts on a healing journey of rediscovering her voice and past self.
The writing is lush and atmospheric with a strong emotional core. The river imagery is evocative and symbolic, and the story’s quiet rhythm suits its themes of healing and rediscovery. Characters are drawn with tenderness, however, a bit more depth in character development could have made it perfect. Overall, a poetic, contemplative tale where the river’s current carries both sorrow and hope, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of quiet transformation.
I switched between the audio and e-book formats, particularly to comprehend and enjoy French dialogues, and I'm glad I had both the formats approved.
Thanks to Harper Muse, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75/5⭐.
The River Muse flows like a quiet meditation, weaving together themes of memory, longing, and the healing power of nature. The narrative centers on the river as both a literal and symbolic presence-carrying stories of those who come to its banks, reflecting their grief, joy, and transformation.
Callie, once a famous Indie songwriter/singer, escapes with her daughter to a quiet village in southern France, determined to leave behind the shadow of her violent ex. She settles into a cottage tucked within the grounds of the enigmatic Chateau of the Lost where through enchanted encounters with nature, and confrontations with strangers, she starts on a healing journey of rediscovering her voice and past self.
The writing is lush and atmospheric with a strong emotional core. The river imagery is evocative and symbolic, and the story’s quiet rhythm suits its themes of healing and rediscovery. Characters are drawn with tenderness, however, a bit more depth in character development could have made it perfect. Overall, a poetic, contemplative tale where the river’s current carries both sorrow and hope, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of quiet transformation.
I switched between the audio and e-book formats, particularly to comprehend and enjoy French dialogues, and I'm glad I had both the formats approved.
Thanks to Harper Muse, Harper Muse Audiobooks, and NetGalley for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.
3.75/5⭐.
May 12, 2026
4.25/5 ✨
This was such an atmospheric, cozy read with emotional depth and just enough magical realism to make everything feel dreamlike.
Callie is on the run with her daughter, Eva, escaping a controlling and abusive relationship. Once a musician, Callie hasn’t truly made music since the death of her husband — and somewhere along the way, she also lost pieces of herself. But when she arrives in the small French town of La Chanson (“the song”), the river itself seems to welcome her through music, warning her of danger and guiding her toward safety.
The town quickly becomes a refuge. Between the warm community, the charming setting, and Madame Lavigne (aka the iconic wine witch), Callie and Eva begin rebuilding their lives. But beneath the cozy atmosphere are lingering grief, family tensions, land disputes, and painful histories that have fractured the people around them. What I loved most was how Callie and Eva slowly become the bridge connecting everyone together — while also finding the family they desperately needed themselves.
The vibes here were immaculate: healing journeys, music, wine, riverside magic, emotional conversations, and a touch of mystery without ever becoming a full thriller.
My only small criticism is that parts of Callie’s backstory felt repetitive at times, and a few chapters didn’t feel fully necessary to understand her past. Still, I really enjoyed the overall story, themes, and atmosphere.
If you love books about healing, magical towns, found family, and soft magical realism with emotional stakes, this is definitely worth picking up. ✨
This was such an atmospheric, cozy read with emotional depth and just enough magical realism to make everything feel dreamlike.
Callie is on the run with her daughter, Eva, escaping a controlling and abusive relationship. Once a musician, Callie hasn’t truly made music since the death of her husband — and somewhere along the way, she also lost pieces of herself. But when she arrives in the small French town of La Chanson (“the song”), the river itself seems to welcome her through music, warning her of danger and guiding her toward safety.
The town quickly becomes a refuge. Between the warm community, the charming setting, and Madame Lavigne (aka the iconic wine witch), Callie and Eva begin rebuilding their lives. But beneath the cozy atmosphere are lingering grief, family tensions, land disputes, and painful histories that have fractured the people around them. What I loved most was how Callie and Eva slowly become the bridge connecting everyone together — while also finding the family they desperately needed themselves.
The vibes here were immaculate: healing journeys, music, wine, riverside magic, emotional conversations, and a touch of mystery without ever becoming a full thriller.
My only small criticism is that parts of Callie’s backstory felt repetitive at times, and a few chapters didn’t feel fully necessary to understand her past. Still, I really enjoyed the overall story, themes, and atmosphere.
If you love books about healing, magical towns, found family, and soft magical realism with emotional stakes, this is definitely worth picking up. ✨
May 15, 2026
I’m sorry idk why I’m crying
prepare to take back your whimsy.
When I saw this was an absolute delight, i mean i went in with no expectations and was absolutely blown away by the writing and the story.
The writing was so good at grabbing the undercurrent of fear in our main character. I had literal anxiety reading this, I just wanted her and her daughter to be safe. I love a fierce mother, but seeing her become fierce on the page was a joy. I cried a couple times (compliment). The bluebeard theme was truly harrowing, and again, just shout-out to the author for capturing that on the page; it felt almost like a thriller in a few points.
I loved seeing the river as a plot device and a wine witch that matches wine to moods is something I need in my life as well! The doggies were the sweetest. I have a little understanding of French in my pocket, from ballet and traveling there a few years ago, I really enjoyed all the French words and phrases slipped in. It felt organic and whimsical.
If Practical Magic is a favorite during Halloween, this needs to be on your list because The River Muse is the perfect summer equivalent.
prepare to take back your whimsy.
When I saw this was an absolute delight, i mean i went in with no expectations and was absolutely blown away by the writing and the story.
The writing was so good at grabbing the undercurrent of fear in our main character. I had literal anxiety reading this, I just wanted her and her daughter to be safe. I love a fierce mother, but seeing her become fierce on the page was a joy. I cried a couple times (compliment). The bluebeard theme was truly harrowing, and again, just shout-out to the author for capturing that on the page; it felt almost like a thriller in a few points.
I loved seeing the river as a plot device and a wine witch that matches wine to moods is something I need in my life as well! The doggies were the sweetest. I have a little understanding of French in my pocket, from ballet and traveling there a few years ago, I really enjoyed all the French words and phrases slipped in. It felt organic and whimsical.
If Practical Magic is a favorite during Halloween, this needs to be on your list because The River Muse is the perfect summer equivalent.
May 16, 2026
The River Muse is a perfect blend of enchantment, its whimsical, fairy tale vibes and a forest full of secrets. It’s giving spring vibes in a French chateau setting that made the reading more warm but a bit of a mystery behind our girl Callie.
My heart went out to Callie in this book as we have an important message in this story that can be touching. It teaches you what love is, finding your worth, and deepening friendships. This story took me by surprise and a few times I had to close the book and hug it close to my heart because the backstory in here just really had some strong points.
Laura’s writing speaks volume in here because you really feel connected to the characters and maybe feel seen. It’s both dark and cozy for a good spring/summer read and enjoyed every second of it!
Thank you so much to Book Sparks, Harper Muse and Laura for the chance to read early and the free gifted copy! I cannot wait to read more from Laura 🍃🪻
My heart went out to Callie in this book as we have an important message in this story that can be touching. It teaches you what love is, finding your worth, and deepening friendships. This story took me by surprise and a few times I had to close the book and hug it close to my heart because the backstory in here just really had some strong points.
Laura’s writing speaks volume in here because you really feel connected to the characters and maybe feel seen. It’s both dark and cozy for a good spring/summer read and enjoyed every second of it!
Thank you so much to Book Sparks, Harper Muse and Laura for the chance to read early and the free gifted copy! I cannot wait to read more from Laura 🍃🪻
May 17, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook preview of The River Muse!
Laura Resau has written a beautiful and heartfelt story centered on the bond between a musician mother and her young daughter. After the loss of their husband and father, they quietly leave behind an emotionally abusive situation in search of safety and healing.
In a charming village in southern France, they find refuge, friendship, and a renewed love of music while trying to remain hidden from the life they left behind. The characters are richly developed, and the audiobook narration brought the story vividly to life. I could easily picture every scene and found myself completely immersed from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, it was very satisfying.
I finished this audiobook in a single day and highly recommend The River Muse. Special kudos to narrator Cassandra Campbell for such a captivating performance.
Laura Resau has written a beautiful and heartfelt story centered on the bond between a musician mother and her young daughter. After the loss of their husband and father, they quietly leave behind an emotionally abusive situation in search of safety and healing.
In a charming village in southern France, they find refuge, friendship, and a renewed love of music while trying to remain hidden from the life they left behind. The characters are richly developed, and the audiobook narration brought the story vividly to life. I could easily picture every scene and found myself completely immersed from beginning to end. Speaking of the end, it was very satisfying.
I finished this audiobook in a single day and highly recommend The River Muse. Special kudos to narrator Cassandra Campbell for such a captivating performance.
May 18, 2026
This story takes you on a rich, heartfelt, and deeply layered emotional journey alongside a FMC who escapes an abusive relationship with her daughter and starts over in the South of France. 🇫🇷🌿
As you follow her new life that feels almost idyllic, the story slowly peels back the layers of her past relationship and the experiences that led her to make such a life-changing decision.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a domestic thriller, but there are definitely moments that brush up against that feeling of tension and unease. What really stood out to me though was the beautiful mix of magical realism, emotional healing, and self-reflection woven throughout the story. ✨💛
This was one of those books that feels both comforting and emotional at the same time, and I really enjoyed the journey it took me on. 📖
As you follow her new life that feels almost idyllic, the story slowly peels back the layers of her past relationship and the experiences that led her to make such a life-changing decision.
I wouldn’t necessarily call this a domestic thriller, but there are definitely moments that brush up against that feeling of tension and unease. What really stood out to me though was the beautiful mix of magical realism, emotional healing, and self-reflection woven throughout the story. ✨💛
This was one of those books that feels both comforting and emotional at the same time, and I really enjoyed the journey it took me on. 📖
May 10, 2026
Kicking off my summer reading journey with this absolute banger right here! Thank you so much BookSparks and Laura Resau for providing me the opportunity to read and review this book in advance!
I was in need of a palette cleanser and The River Muse did just that! This book had both elements of cozy but darkness and it blended so well together. This is my first time reading Laura Resau work and it won't be my last.
Callie is trying to start over with her daughter after enduring an abusive relationship with a man who was friends with her deceased husband. I love how resilient Callie is and becomes within this book.
The Chateau is a dream!
I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of thrillers, redemption stories and who needs a moment to escape reality.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I was in need of a palette cleanser and The River Muse did just that! This book had both elements of cozy but darkness and it blended so well together. This is my first time reading Laura Resau work and it won't be my last.
Callie is trying to start over with her daughter after enduring an abusive relationship with a man who was friends with her deceased husband. I love how resilient Callie is and becomes within this book.
The Chateau is a dream!
I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of thrillers, redemption stories and who needs a moment to escape reality.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
May 12, 2026
With in-depth characters, an enchanting setting, and elegant and beautiful prose, this story is one hope and healing, of the power in starting over, and being able to experience the magic in everyday life again without fear or being manipulated or mistreated. Callie and her daughter fled a controlling relationship, finding refuge at a French chateau where lost souls are found again. It was enduring how a wise landlady and quirky, feuding neighbors offer them protection, solace and comfort as they their own voices, and peace.
Thanks to HarperMuse and Booksparks for the gifted paperback and eARC via NetGalley.
Thanks to HarperMuse and Booksparks for the gifted paperback and eARC via NetGalley.
May 17, 2026
The River Muse is a story about courage, hope, found family, and healing. Callie has taken her daughter and is fleeing an abusive relationship. She finds herself in the small French town of La Chanson. Madame Lavigne, the wine witch, offers them a place to stay, and the other townspeople welcome them into their little community as if they've always belonged. It's here that Callie begins to heal and start anew. I just loved how even though the neighbors were feuding, they set that aside to protect Callie and Eva. This book had such a magical quality about it. The River and the land seemed to just come alive.
May 17, 2026
I felt the whole gamut of emotions while reading this beautiful story. It is sad yet hopeful, whimsical, and oh so magical.
The cover is stunning and the words within the pages just as beautiful. The book mail, sent to coincide with Earth Day, is also amazing.
Also I had intense feelings of wanting to jump inside these pages and punch Brett right in the face! Ughh what an infuriating character.
Overall this is a magical story about the importance of community, and the water, to help heal your soul. Domestic abuse is a theme but it is handled beautifully and with so much hope.
Thank you to @booksparks, @harpermusebooks, and @lauralesau for the amazing book mail.
The cover is stunning and the words within the pages just as beautiful. The book mail, sent to coincide with Earth Day, is also amazing.
Also I had intense feelings of wanting to jump inside these pages and punch Brett right in the face! Ughh what an infuriating character.
Overall this is a magical story about the importance of community, and the water, to help heal your soul. Domestic abuse is a theme but it is handled beautifully and with so much hope.
Thank you to @booksparks, @harpermusebooks, and @lauralesau for the amazing book mail.
April 28, 2026
This book was so good!!
A woman escaping an abusive relationship to a beautiful small town in France.
She encounters people in the village who have their own hurts and finds her voice again. It’s a story of healing, second chances, forgiveness, and just a hint of magic:)
I now want to travel to this village, it sounds magical. This novel was magical in its prose. The letters the FMC wrote to herself telling her story was so creative.
This was a beautiful story and you just feel so uplifted afterwards. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc. This review is my own and freely given:)
A woman escaping an abusive relationship to a beautiful small town in France.
She encounters people in the village who have their own hurts and finds her voice again. It’s a story of healing, second chances, forgiveness, and just a hint of magic:)
I now want to travel to this village, it sounds magical. This novel was magical in its prose. The letters the FMC wrote to herself telling her story was so creative.
This was a beautiful story and you just feel so uplifted afterwards. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the arc. This review is my own and freely given:)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2026
The River Muse is the kind of book that really makes me wish Goodreads had half stars, because this is exactly a 3.5 star read for me.
What I enjoyed:
🎶 The storyline set in France gave me lyrical Sarah Addison Allen vibes, and I adore her books. There’s a touch of romance as well as a little bit of sweet magic, and the story is primarily about Callie finding her voice and forging a new path for herself and her daughter.
🎶 The town and cast of characters in La Chanson are very charming.
🎶 The letters written in Colorado about Callie leaving her controlling boyfriend add a sense of urgency and suspense to the plot.
However…
📚 I wish Callie’s letters had been written to her daughter or perhaps as entries in a journal. The structure of writing to herself felt a bit awkward.
What I enjoyed:
🎶 The storyline set in France gave me lyrical Sarah Addison Allen vibes, and I adore her books. There’s a touch of romance as well as a little bit of sweet magic, and the story is primarily about Callie finding her voice and forging a new path for herself and her daughter.
🎶 The town and cast of characters in La Chanson are very charming.
🎶 The letters written in Colorado about Callie leaving her controlling boyfriend add a sense of urgency and suspense to the plot.
However…
📚 I wish Callie’s letters had been written to her daughter or perhaps as entries in a journal. The structure of writing to herself felt a bit awkward.
May 17, 2026
This story weaves a tale of La Chanson, where lost souls find solace and music...I feel as though this book called to me and found me the same way 🥹
I almost feel a lack of words from how deeply I love this book; the prose paints such a verdant story - each brush stroke is profound and lush.
I had a hard time parting with this story, but am so grateful | live in a world where it exists.
Thank you so much BookSparks & Harper Muse for this early review copy - this is one my soul will never forget.
I almost feel a lack of words from how deeply I love this book; the prose paints such a verdant story - each brush stroke is profound and lush.
I had a hard time parting with this story, but am so grateful | live in a world where it exists.
Thank you so much BookSparks & Harper Muse for this early review copy - this is one my soul will never forget.
May 17, 2026
Callie is just escaping an abusive relationship, shem her and her young daughter for to France. There she makes her way to a little village where she grows to love the people. Is her abusive ex going to find her there?
This book is fabulous! 5 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is fabulous! 5 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2026
It's official, Laura Resau is now an auto read for me. I loved The Alchemy of Flowers and I very much enjoyed The River Muse. I was so affected by the story from the fairy-tale like backdrop of La Chanson in the South of France, foraging for truffles in the forest, to Calliope's messy personal life. I felt Callie's desperation, I hated Brett so darn much, loved all the side characters, except for Hugo, and I was ready to murd3r the guy who harmed animals.
I WAS SO INTO THIS! It's not necessarily a domestic thriller, but Callie escaping a narcissist and an abusive marriage made my hackles rise. I was nervous the entire time. My hands were clammy every time Callie has a scene with Brett.
The River Muse is a satisfying read and as a reward to myself, I got me some truffle tots when I finished this book.
I WAS SO INTO THIS! It's not necessarily a domestic thriller, but Callie escaping a narcissist and an abusive marriage made my hackles rise. I was nervous the entire time. My hands were clammy every time Callie has a scene with Brett.
The River Muse is a satisfying read and as a reward to myself, I got me some truffle tots when I finished this book.
May 18, 2026
Absolutely breathtaking, empowering, inspiring, healing. My soul’s not back in my body yet, but overall, this one feels like if “stay close to people who feel like sunshine” were a novel.
May 18, 2026
The River Muse feels like a modern day fairy tale. I loved Callie and Eva and their found family. This was a beautiful story that I couldn't put down and didn't want to end.
May 14, 2026
The River Muse is a moving and beautifully written story of a woman and her daughter, moving on from abuse, rediscovering strength and joy, in a magical town with a delightful mix of characters. I very much enjoyed this story.
Cassandra Campbell does a perfectly lovely job narrating the audiobook.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
Cassandra Campbell does a perfectly lovely job narrating the audiobook.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and Libro.fm for the gifted audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 3, 2026
Laura Resau’s The River Muse made me want to throw my phone into a river, move to a tiny village in the South of France, and spend the rest of my life drinking wine under olive trees while pretending my only responsibility is listening to music and healing emotionally. Published by Harper Muse, thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC because this book completely pulled me in from the very first pages and honestly felt like the kind of story you sink into instead of just read.
Callie and her daughter Eva flee an emotionally abusive relationship and end up hiding in the small village of La Chanson at the mysterious Chateau of the Lost. What starts as an escape story slowly turns into something much deeper about grief, identity, motherhood, found family, and learning how to trust yourself again after someone has spent years making you doubt your own voice.
What I loved most about this book is that Laura Resau never rushes Callie’s healing. She’s anxious, exhausted, guarded, and constantly second-guessing herself in ways that felt incredibly realistic. The abuse in this story isn’t written in a loud or overly dramatic way either, which honestly made it hit harder for me. It’s subtle. Controlling. Manipulative in those quiet ways that slowly wear someone down over time. Watching Callie reconnect with music and rediscover pieces of herself she thought she’d lost felt emotional in such a genuine way.
And this setting? Unreal. La Chanson feels like the kind of place you wish actually existed. Olive trees, lavender, hidden caves, rivers that seem alive, little French cottages, truffle hunters, pastries, wine, gardens, stray bits of magic everywhere… this book is atmospheric without feeling overdone. I could practically smell fresh bread and lavender while reading.
I also loved the side characters so much. Eva completely stole my heart, and the community surrounding Callie felt warm and comforting in a way that made the story feel hopeful even during the heavier moments. Madame Lavigne was exactly the kind of eccentric wine-loving woman I aspire to become someday, and Luc brought such a gentle steadiness to the story without overtaking it.
The magical realism is soft and woven naturally into everything happening around the characters. Nothing feels flashy or forced. It just quietly exists alongside the story, which made the whole book feel even more comforting and immersive.
And I absolutely need to mention the audiobook because Cassandra Campbell was the perfect narrator for this story. Her voice has this calm emotional warmth to it that fit Callie’s journey beautifully. Listening to parts of this on audio honestly made some scenes hit even harder emotionally. This is definitely one of those books that works really well as a tandem read/listen experience.
One of my favorite lines was:
“Little by little, she reclaimed the pieces of herself she thought were gone forever.”
That line basically captures the entire heart of this story.
If you love books by Sarah Addison Allen or stories filled with found family, healing, cozy villages, emotional depth, and just enough magic to make everything feel dreamlike, I really think this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
Also… this book will absolutely make you want to impulsively book a flight to France and rethink your entire life while drinking wine on a patio.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars
“‘Weaving this blanket of music and love.’”
Have you ever finished a book and immediately missed the setting like it was a real place you’d actually lived?
#TheRiverMuse #LauraResau #HarperMuse #NetGalley #BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #WomensFiction #MagicalRealism #FoundFamily #AudiobookReview #CassandraCampbell #CozyReads #AtmosphericBooks #FrenchCountryside #CurrentlyReading #BooksCoffeeBrews #ARCReview #BookCommunity #SarahAddisonAllenVibes
Callie and her daughter Eva flee an emotionally abusive relationship and end up hiding in the small village of La Chanson at the mysterious Chateau of the Lost. What starts as an escape story slowly turns into something much deeper about grief, identity, motherhood, found family, and learning how to trust yourself again after someone has spent years making you doubt your own voice.
What I loved most about this book is that Laura Resau never rushes Callie’s healing. She’s anxious, exhausted, guarded, and constantly second-guessing herself in ways that felt incredibly realistic. The abuse in this story isn’t written in a loud or overly dramatic way either, which honestly made it hit harder for me. It’s subtle. Controlling. Manipulative in those quiet ways that slowly wear someone down over time. Watching Callie reconnect with music and rediscover pieces of herself she thought she’d lost felt emotional in such a genuine way.
And this setting? Unreal. La Chanson feels like the kind of place you wish actually existed. Olive trees, lavender, hidden caves, rivers that seem alive, little French cottages, truffle hunters, pastries, wine, gardens, stray bits of magic everywhere… this book is atmospheric without feeling overdone. I could practically smell fresh bread and lavender while reading.
I also loved the side characters so much. Eva completely stole my heart, and the community surrounding Callie felt warm and comforting in a way that made the story feel hopeful even during the heavier moments. Madame Lavigne was exactly the kind of eccentric wine-loving woman I aspire to become someday, and Luc brought such a gentle steadiness to the story without overtaking it.
The magical realism is soft and woven naturally into everything happening around the characters. Nothing feels flashy or forced. It just quietly exists alongside the story, which made the whole book feel even more comforting and immersive.
And I absolutely need to mention the audiobook because Cassandra Campbell was the perfect narrator for this story. Her voice has this calm emotional warmth to it that fit Callie’s journey beautifully. Listening to parts of this on audio honestly made some scenes hit even harder emotionally. This is definitely one of those books that works really well as a tandem read/listen experience.
One of my favorite lines was:
“Little by little, she reclaimed the pieces of herself she thought were gone forever.”
That line basically captures the entire heart of this story.
If you love books by Sarah Addison Allen or stories filled with found family, healing, cozy villages, emotional depth, and just enough magic to make everything feel dreamlike, I really think this one deserves a spot on your shelf.
Also… this book will absolutely make you want to impulsively book a flight to France and rethink your entire life while drinking wine on a patio.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars
“‘Weaving this blanket of music and love.’”
Have you ever finished a book and immediately missed the setting like it was a real place you’d actually lived?
#TheRiverMuse #LauraResau #HarperMuse #NetGalley #BookReview #Bookstagram #ReadersOfInstagram #WomensFiction #MagicalRealism #FoundFamily #AudiobookReview #CassandraCampbell #CozyReads #AtmosphericBooks #FrenchCountryside #CurrentlyReading #BooksCoffeeBrews #ARCReview #BookCommunity #SarahAddisonAllenVibes
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Book review: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: magical realism
Themes: abusive relationships, music, found family, healing
📖 Read if you like: Chocolat, The Bane Witch, The Cafe of Infinite Doors
The perfect book to celebrate mothers from Mother Nature to the fierce protection of human mothers towards their offspring. This is a lyrical book of surviving, healing, community and using the world around as inspiration for life and music. The whimsical elements of magic made this novel feel like a warm hug. If you like the film Chocolat, this one is right up your alley!
For two years Callie has been kept like a precious possession. After her husband died in a mysterious running accident, his friend Brett swooped in to be her saviour while depression took hold, but Brett is a covetous man who wants his treasures all to himself. His well worded manipulations and guilt inducing criticisms have kept Callie caged with the help of medications his doctor suggested. She becomes alienated from her old life, giving up her music career and financial autonomy is a grief induced haze. As his level of control increases and he sets his eyes on adopting her daughter, Callie knows that she must escape.
Heading back to a country from her past, Callie and Eva discover the charming village of Le Chanson and the Chateau of the Lost in Provence. It is practically a fairy tale with a cozy cottage, a pack for truffle sniffing dogs and their octogenarian owners, a river that sings with the soft rustles of the woods and the whispers of yearning, and above all safety in obscurity. Yet this chateau holds its own secret as a place women and children have come for centuries to escape abusive situations. It is as though fate is at play and it was the river itself that called to Callie from half a world away.
Alongside the village residents, Callie begins to find her voice again. While they still harbour resentment over a decades long truffle feud and pain from losses held close, they too will begin to bridge the gap with her presence. There is a family worth saving with people who genuinely care within this idyllic village.
Ultimately, this is a story of healing and a space for hope and wonder to be rekindled and life to bloom again. There is magic in the legends of the cave, just as there is in the rippling melodies from an inspiring landscape and in music itself. I wanted Callie to have more rage against Brett, but this version of events was so much more fitting for her personality and this group of people. It is a sweet journey about found family when all feels lost, the power of music and rekindling the hope and dreams of your former self. The quiet strength of resilience and endurance to protect your children and your community. It reminded me so much of the film Chocolat with a hint of magic, a warm fuzzy feeling of coming home and a quiet village I was desperate to visit.
Thank you to Booksparks, Harper Muse Books and author Laura Resau for this beautiful book about second chances.
Genre: magical realism
Themes: abusive relationships, music, found family, healing
📖 Read if you like: Chocolat, The Bane Witch, The Cafe of Infinite Doors
The perfect book to celebrate mothers from Mother Nature to the fierce protection of human mothers towards their offspring. This is a lyrical book of surviving, healing, community and using the world around as inspiration for life and music. The whimsical elements of magic made this novel feel like a warm hug. If you like the film Chocolat, this one is right up your alley!
For two years Callie has been kept like a precious possession. After her husband died in a mysterious running accident, his friend Brett swooped in to be her saviour while depression took hold, but Brett is a covetous man who wants his treasures all to himself. His well worded manipulations and guilt inducing criticisms have kept Callie caged with the help of medications his doctor suggested. She becomes alienated from her old life, giving up her music career and financial autonomy is a grief induced haze. As his level of control increases and he sets his eyes on adopting her daughter, Callie knows that she must escape.
Heading back to a country from her past, Callie and Eva discover the charming village of Le Chanson and the Chateau of the Lost in Provence. It is practically a fairy tale with a cozy cottage, a pack for truffle sniffing dogs and their octogenarian owners, a river that sings with the soft rustles of the woods and the whispers of yearning, and above all safety in obscurity. Yet this chateau holds its own secret as a place women and children have come for centuries to escape abusive situations. It is as though fate is at play and it was the river itself that called to Callie from half a world away.
Alongside the village residents, Callie begins to find her voice again. While they still harbour resentment over a decades long truffle feud and pain from losses held close, they too will begin to bridge the gap with her presence. There is a family worth saving with people who genuinely care within this idyllic village.
Ultimately, this is a story of healing and a space for hope and wonder to be rekindled and life to bloom again. There is magic in the legends of the cave, just as there is in the rippling melodies from an inspiring landscape and in music itself. I wanted Callie to have more rage against Brett, but this version of events was so much more fitting for her personality and this group of people. It is a sweet journey about found family when all feels lost, the power of music and rekindling the hope and dreams of your former self. The quiet strength of resilience and endurance to protect your children and your community. It reminded me so much of the film Chocolat with a hint of magic, a warm fuzzy feeling of coming home and a quiet village I was desperate to visit.
Thank you to Booksparks, Harper Muse Books and author Laura Resau for this beautiful book about second chances.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once upon a time a frightened young woman named Callie (full name Calliope) lost all the good things in her life except for her enchanting daughter, Eva. Callie’s beloved husband Nick died in a freak accident and she lost her way for a time.
Callie stopped singing even though she loved performing and her songs brought joy to the people who listened to her music. She felt so lost that when her husband’s close friend Brett promised to take care of her, she was grateful.
Little by little Brett began to take over her life; he even began to talk about marrying her and adopting Eva so that they could be a family. Callie starts to feel like a possession as Brett controls the smallest things in her life and one day she rebels.
She and Eva flee to the south of France, a place that Callie loved. She knew that Brett would come after Eva and her so she and her daughter are constantly on the move to avoid discovery as they live off the grid.
After one emergency escape, Callie and Eva find a haven in the small French community of La Chanson. The townspeople are welcoming but there is a bitter rivalry between two families in the community. Callie begins to put down roots again and one day she begins to sing and write songs once more, inspired by the lovely music of the river that runs through town.
Does everyone live happily ever after? You’ll have to answer that for yourself when you finish the book.
“River Muse” is Laura Resau’s second novel for adults. The book does a powerful job at describing the emotional devastation and powerlessness caused by an abusive relationship. Callie is a believable character as a person who has experienced trauma and self-doubt. Her daughter Eva doesn’t know a stranger and is attuned to the world around her.
The power of music and the joy it creates is a primary thread running throughout the plot. I kept thinking about how music has helped me navigate the difficult aspects of my life and how it inspires optimism and positive changes too.
The story flows smoothly and has a finely honed balance of mystery, romance, and magical realism.
I think that the plot is somewhat predictable but I enjoyed seeing how Callie transformed her life.
This would be an excellent read for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.
I would give this book a rating of 4.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Callie stopped singing even though she loved performing and her songs brought joy to the people who listened to her music. She felt so lost that when her husband’s close friend Brett promised to take care of her, she was grateful.
Little by little Brett began to take over her life; he even began to talk about marrying her and adopting Eva so that they could be a family. Callie starts to feel like a possession as Brett controls the smallest things in her life and one day she rebels.
She and Eva flee to the south of France, a place that Callie loved. She knew that Brett would come after Eva and her so she and her daughter are constantly on the move to avoid discovery as they live off the grid.
After one emergency escape, Callie and Eva find a haven in the small French community of La Chanson. The townspeople are welcoming but there is a bitter rivalry between two families in the community. Callie begins to put down roots again and one day she begins to sing and write songs once more, inspired by the lovely music of the river that runs through town.
Does everyone live happily ever after? You’ll have to answer that for yourself when you finish the book.
“River Muse” is Laura Resau’s second novel for adults. The book does a powerful job at describing the emotional devastation and powerlessness caused by an abusive relationship. Callie is a believable character as a person who has experienced trauma and self-doubt. Her daughter Eva doesn’t know a stranger and is attuned to the world around her.
The power of music and the joy it creates is a primary thread running throughout the plot. I kept thinking about how music has helped me navigate the difficult aspects of my life and how it inspires optimism and positive changes too.
The story flows smoothly and has a finely honed balance of mystery, romance, and magical realism.
I think that the plot is somewhat predictable but I enjoyed seeing how Callie transformed her life.
This would be an excellent read for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.
I would give this book a rating of 4.5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read as an arc from Netgalley.
This is a subtle magical realism/fabulism set in France. About a woman who has just recently escaped an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship and is on the run with her daughter (not his daughter). The book focuses on Calliope's attempt to start a new life in a small village in France, with her daughter, both of them finding friends and community. Interspersed with small chapters of letters she wrote to herself in the couple months before her escape, as she was coming to the realisation that she was, in fact, in a bad situation.
I thought this book did a great job of showing how one can be in an abusive situation and not even realise it fully. In this case she was mostly drugged, and that's why she didn't quite see the truth. But even so, you'd find if the book continued on for years afterwards, it would show her thinking back on things and not realising until decades later that these little things were part of it too. Not normal. Not okay. Very bad. When in this sort of thing, especially such a manipulative gaslighting situation, you truly do not see the truth, you can't. So when people ask, "why didn't she leave?" well, because she didn't know she had to, she didn't know she could. We also see a few instances of how everyone outside of the relationship enabled what as happening. At one point, she goes to the school to take her daughter out early (so they can run) and the receptionist rings her partner to tell him. Her partner is not the girls father, so the fact that this receptionist did this... any wonder it's so hard and dangerous for women to leave. And no, this is not at all unrealistic. Common in fact.
This is an emotional read for someone who has been in a similar situation. I didn't find it triggering though, as it doesn't delve too deeply into the nitty gritty details. If you're fresh out of it though, you might want to wait before reading this. It has enough of a focus on gaslighting and manipulation that is could be triggering for some people.
An amazing book with some great characters and lovely relationships, and a wonderful community.
This is a subtle magical realism/fabulism set in France. About a woman who has just recently escaped an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship and is on the run with her daughter (not his daughter). The book focuses on Calliope's attempt to start a new life in a small village in France, with her daughter, both of them finding friends and community. Interspersed with small chapters of letters she wrote to herself in the couple months before her escape, as she was coming to the realisation that she was, in fact, in a bad situation.
I thought this book did a great job of showing how one can be in an abusive situation and not even realise it fully. In this case she was mostly drugged, and that's why she didn't quite see the truth. But even so, you'd find if the book continued on for years afterwards, it would show her thinking back on things and not realising until decades later that these little things were part of it too. Not normal. Not okay. Very bad. When in this sort of thing, especially such a manipulative gaslighting situation, you truly do not see the truth, you can't. So when people ask, "why didn't she leave?" well, because she didn't know she had to, she didn't know she could. We also see a few instances of how everyone outside of the relationship enabled what as happening. At one point, she goes to the school to take her daughter out early (so they can run) and the receptionist rings her partner to tell him. Her partner is not the girls father, so the fact that this receptionist did this... any wonder it's so hard and dangerous for women to leave. And no, this is not at all unrealistic. Common in fact.
This is an emotional read for someone who has been in a similar situation. I didn't find it triggering though, as it doesn't delve too deeply into the nitty gritty details. If you're fresh out of it though, you might want to wait before reading this. It has enough of a focus on gaslighting and manipulation that is could be triggering for some people.
An amazing book with some great characters and lovely relationships, and a wonderful community.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Harper Muse for giving me a chance to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The River Muse is a highly enjoyable read. The sentence-level writing was well done and engaging. The setting description made Provence feel warm and vibrant. I was caught up in the mysteries of the families in La Chanson and enjoyed the way myths were woven into this magical realism narrative. I also appreciated the sensitivity and reality with which Resau presents some of the darker themes in the book.
At times, the tone of the storytelling felt at odds with the events happening in that section. For example, Callie, the protagonist, experiences some very upsetting events, and then in the next scene is enjoying moments so saccharine they were bordering on too sweet. I understand the goal here is to show Callie learning to live again after being in an abusive relationship and that those moments of levity were needed at times; however, it didn't always feel natural.
While I enjoyed the characters, plot, and setting, the story became too lighthearted at times, and I occasionally grew bored with some repetition in the scenes about people who live in La Chanson. Additionally some events went too well to be entirely believable, particularly in the last part of the book. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed and didn't feel like it fit what was set up earlier in the book.
All that said, this was an enjoyable read. Every time I put the book down, I looked forward to picking it up again. Although the book felt a bit sappy at times, I still liked the plot and the message behind the book. Readers looking for a well-written, easy-to-read, and overall uplifting book will enjoy this. I particularly recommend The River Muse for those who enjoy the lighter side of magical realism.
The River Muse is a highly enjoyable read. The sentence-level writing was well done and engaging. The setting description made Provence feel warm and vibrant. I was caught up in the mysteries of the families in La Chanson and enjoyed the way myths were woven into this magical realism narrative. I also appreciated the sensitivity and reality with which Resau presents some of the darker themes in the book.
At times, the tone of the storytelling felt at odds with the events happening in that section. For example, Callie, the protagonist, experiences some very upsetting events, and then in the next scene is enjoying moments so saccharine they were bordering on too sweet. I understand the goal here is to show Callie learning to live again after being in an abusive relationship and that those moments of levity were needed at times; however, it didn't always feel natural.
While I enjoyed the characters, plot, and setting, the story became too lighthearted at times, and I occasionally grew bored with some repetition in the scenes about people who live in La Chanson. Additionally some events went too well to be entirely believable, particularly in the last part of the book. I also felt the ending was a bit rushed and didn't feel like it fit what was set up earlier in the book.
All that said, this was an enjoyable read. Every time I put the book down, I looked forward to picking it up again. Although the book felt a bit sappy at times, I still liked the plot and the message behind the book. Readers looking for a well-written, easy-to-read, and overall uplifting book will enjoy this. I particularly recommend The River Muse for those who enjoy the lighter side of magical realism.
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