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The Fairy Book of Trees
To discover who she is today, Eva must go back to her roots.
Twenty-eight-year-old Eva Hawthorn’s late mother taught her to always look forward and never look back. So, when Eva is offered a big promotion and transfer from New York to L.A. she knows her mother would push her to take it. But Eva’s plans are derailed when her estranged grandmother calls to tell her she’s selling the family home—a place filled with idyllic memories of playing in the woods with a boy who brought her baskets of apples and refused to tell her his real name. Eva is compelled to go back and visit one last time before heading to L.A. to start her new career.
It’s autumn in Thornby, North Carolina; baked sweets are in abundance and personalities are just as spicy as the cinnamon sprinkled on the pumpkin pie cupcakes. The corner market is run by Cedar McLeod. A legacy inherited from his grandfather. But things have changed since 1962 and Cedar struggles to compete with the new grocery store in town. And when the beautiful and sophisticated Eva Hawthorn comes to visit, he’s embarrassed for her to see how the market is literally falling apart.
As Eva helps her grandmother clean out the old house, she unearths secrets about her mother’s first love. The more she discovers, the stronger her attachment to Thornby becomes—especially when her grandmother enlists the help of Cedar McLeod. He’s kind and down-to-earth, nothing like any man Eva has met before. But the longer she stays the more she puts her new job at risk. And when someone starts leaving shiny red apples on her grandmother’s porch...
Eva can’t help but wonder if something magical is calling her home.
Twenty-eight-year-old Eva Hawthorn’s late mother taught her to always look forward and never look back. So, when Eva is offered a big promotion and transfer from New York to L.A. she knows her mother would push her to take it. But Eva’s plans are derailed when her estranged grandmother calls to tell her she’s selling the family home—a place filled with idyllic memories of playing in the woods with a boy who brought her baskets of apples and refused to tell her his real name. Eva is compelled to go back and visit one last time before heading to L.A. to start her new career.
It’s autumn in Thornby, North Carolina; baked sweets are in abundance and personalities are just as spicy as the cinnamon sprinkled on the pumpkin pie cupcakes. The corner market is run by Cedar McLeod. A legacy inherited from his grandfather. But things have changed since 1962 and Cedar struggles to compete with the new grocery store in town. And when the beautiful and sophisticated Eva Hawthorn comes to visit, he’s embarrassed for her to see how the market is literally falling apart.
As Eva helps her grandmother clean out the old house, she unearths secrets about her mother’s first love. The more she discovers, the stronger her attachment to Thornby becomes—especially when her grandmother enlists the help of Cedar McLeod. He’s kind and down-to-earth, nothing like any man Eva has met before. But the longer she stays the more she puts her new job at risk. And when someone starts leaving shiny red apples on her grandmother’s porch...
Eva can’t help but wonder if something magical is calling her home.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 12, 2026
The Fairy Book of Trees is a tender, enchanting story about roots—both the kind that anchor us to a place and the kind that tie us to the people we come from. Shannan Moore blends small‑town charm, family secrets, and a whisper of magic into a novel that feels like stepping into autumn itself.
Eva Hawthorn is a wonderfully relatable heroine: ambitious, determined, and yet quietly adrift. Her mother taught her to always look forward, never back—but returning to Thornby to say goodbye to her childhood home forces her to confront everything she’s been avoiding. The nostalgia is beautifully handled, especially the memories of a mysterious boy who once left her baskets of apples in the woods. Those scenes give the book a soft, fairy‑tale glow without ever tipping into fantasy.
Thornby is a delight. The baked‑goods‑and‑pumpkin‑spice atmosphere, the prickly‑sweet personalities, and the sense of community all make it easy to understand why Eva finds herself lingering longer than planned. Cedar McLeod is a standout—kind, grounded, and carrying his own burdens as he tries to keep his family’s market alive. The chemistry between him and Eva is gentle and believable, built on shared history and quiet moments rather than grand gestures.
As Eva helps her grandmother sort through the past, the story deepens into one of legacy, first love, and the truths families bury to protect one another. The mystery of the shiny red apples appearing on the porch adds a lovely touch of wonder, hinting that sometimes the world nudges us exactly where we’re meant to be.
Warm, heartfelt, and sprinkled with just the right amount of magic, The Fairy Book of Trees is a charming exploration of home, identity, and the courage it takes to choose your own path. A perfect read for anyone who loves emotional, atmospheric fiction with a romantic thread.
My thanks to Shannan Moore, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Eva Hawthorn is a wonderfully relatable heroine: ambitious, determined, and yet quietly adrift. Her mother taught her to always look forward, never back—but returning to Thornby to say goodbye to her childhood home forces her to confront everything she’s been avoiding. The nostalgia is beautifully handled, especially the memories of a mysterious boy who once left her baskets of apples in the woods. Those scenes give the book a soft, fairy‑tale glow without ever tipping into fantasy.
Thornby is a delight. The baked‑goods‑and‑pumpkin‑spice atmosphere, the prickly‑sweet personalities, and the sense of community all make it easy to understand why Eva finds herself lingering longer than planned. Cedar McLeod is a standout—kind, grounded, and carrying his own burdens as he tries to keep his family’s market alive. The chemistry between him and Eva is gentle and believable, built on shared history and quiet moments rather than grand gestures.
As Eva helps her grandmother sort through the past, the story deepens into one of legacy, first love, and the truths families bury to protect one another. The mystery of the shiny red apples appearing on the porch adds a lovely touch of wonder, hinting that sometimes the world nudges us exactly where we’re meant to be.
Warm, heartfelt, and sprinkled with just the right amount of magic, The Fairy Book of Trees is a charming exploration of home, identity, and the courage it takes to choose your own path. A perfect read for anyone who loves emotional, atmospheric fiction with a romantic thread.
My thanks to Shannan Moore, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
March 29, 2026
This is a Hallmark movie in book form! Sometimes ya just need a sweet, light, lovely read and this book checks those boxes. I could absolutely see this one made into a Hallmark movie playing during the Fall roundup.
Eva is about to embark on a move across the country after accepting a job that will be a giant leap forward for her career. Then her somewhat estranged grandmother calls telling her she is selling the home that has been in the family for generations and moving into a senior living condo. Eva postpones her move to help her grandmother, her only living relative, wrap up loose ends. Returning to the place where she spent summers as a child opens a lot of old wounds and memories come flooding back. Specifically the memory of the summer she spent playing with a mysterious little boy who refused to give his real name. Will she and her grandmother mend bridges? Will she uncover the identity of her mysterious former friend? And what will she learn about her deceased mother as they pack up the old house?
A nice, light, quick read, this one is a bit predictable. But that is part of the charm. Sometimes that's just what my brain needs. Fluffy, sweet, and light is just what I needed this weekend and this book checked all the boxes.
I give this one ⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 0 (yay!!! Thank you Shannan Moore!)
**Thank you Luna Dog Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own**
Eva is about to embark on a move across the country after accepting a job that will be a giant leap forward for her career. Then her somewhat estranged grandmother calls telling her she is selling the home that has been in the family for generations and moving into a senior living condo. Eva postpones her move to help her grandmother, her only living relative, wrap up loose ends. Returning to the place where she spent summers as a child opens a lot of old wounds and memories come flooding back. Specifically the memory of the summer she spent playing with a mysterious little boy who refused to give his real name. Will she and her grandmother mend bridges? Will she uncover the identity of her mysterious former friend? And what will she learn about her deceased mother as they pack up the old house?
A nice, light, quick read, this one is a bit predictable. But that is part of the charm. Sometimes that's just what my brain needs. Fluffy, sweet, and light is just what I needed this weekend and this book checked all the boxes.
I give this one ⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 0 (yay!!! Thank you Shannan Moore!)
**Thank you Luna Dog Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own**
February 9, 2026
The Fairy Book of Trees
Shannon Moore
September 06, 2025
Eva has settled on leaving her job in New York City. The process of leaving her position in a few weeks and heading west to LA has begun. She begins the move with packing and thinking about selling mother’s apartment. It's difficult as it seems she is parting with mom again. The last thing she needs to do is visit her grandmother in Thornby, North Carolina. It’s been a long time since her last visit but Gran is getting older. She couldn’t risk not seeing her. She thinks of the time she spent as a youngster visiting during summer. Once arriving she finds herself helping Gran prepare to move to a retirement village apartment center. The house needs cleaning out, painted and refurbished in order to sell. Eva has only days before she needs to arrive in LA. Too much seems to happen before the flight.
The Fairy Book of Trees was published on September 06, 2025 by Luna Dog Books. I was able to read Moore’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I progressed through the journey back to North Carolina I was completely taken by the small town of Thornby. It was a delightful tale of remembering as well as meeting new friends. Each new day for Eva I felt there was no way she could leave - her Gran needed her. This book is easy and flowing allowing readers to meet new towns folk and follow Eva’s changing world.
Shannon Moore
September 06, 2025
Eva has settled on leaving her job in New York City. The process of leaving her position in a few weeks and heading west to LA has begun. She begins the move with packing and thinking about selling mother’s apartment. It's difficult as it seems she is parting with mom again. The last thing she needs to do is visit her grandmother in Thornby, North Carolina. It’s been a long time since her last visit but Gran is getting older. She couldn’t risk not seeing her. She thinks of the time she spent as a youngster visiting during summer. Once arriving she finds herself helping Gran prepare to move to a retirement village apartment center. The house needs cleaning out, painted and refurbished in order to sell. Eva has only days before she needs to arrive in LA. Too much seems to happen before the flight.
The Fairy Book of Trees was published on September 06, 2025 by Luna Dog Books. I was able to read Moore’s latest novel via NetGalley. As I progressed through the journey back to North Carolina I was completely taken by the small town of Thornby. It was a delightful tale of remembering as well as meeting new friends. Each new day for Eva I felt there was no way she could leave - her Gran needed her. This book is easy and flowing allowing readers to meet new towns folk and follow Eva’s changing world.
April 9, 2026
A Delightful Story, Beautiful Imagery
I’ll have to say that Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year, and this author captured it beautifully. What I really enjoyed about this story is the relationship development between Eva and her grandma Clara, as well as Eva’s learning more about her mother after she passes. Eva has a certain courage, and even at a crossroads, instinctively chooses family over career when push comes to shove. I would have liked Cedar to have grown more and been less wishy-washy in the last third of the story – he showed such strength of character in the beginning. Both main characters are likeable and multi-faceted. There were actual moments I laughed out loud, especially in the scenes with Eva’s grandma Clara and her dry wit.
Themes touched on: Secrets kept and later revealed, family bonds, the sometimes magic of childhood, death of a loved one, and separation anxiety.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I’ll have to say that Fall/Autumn is my favorite time of year, and this author captured it beautifully. What I really enjoyed about this story is the relationship development between Eva and her grandma Clara, as well as Eva’s learning more about her mother after she passes. Eva has a certain courage, and even at a crossroads, instinctively chooses family over career when push comes to shove. I would have liked Cedar to have grown more and been less wishy-washy in the last third of the story – he showed such strength of character in the beginning. Both main characters are likeable and multi-faceted. There were actual moments I laughed out loud, especially in the scenes with Eva’s grandma Clara and her dry wit.
Themes touched on: Secrets kept and later revealed, family bonds, the sometimes magic of childhood, death of a loved one, and separation anxiety.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews