Garden Spells

This novel tells the story of two estranged sisters, Claire Waverly, a caterer who puts an extra magical something into the foods she prepares, and Sydney Waverly, who left her small North Carolina town as a teenager, where she was defined by her last name as one of those weird Waverlys. But now Sydney, on the run from a disastrous marriage to an abusive, controlling man, is coming home. Having a child has changed things for her, and she needs to give her daughter peace and security.

The narrative switches points of view, alternating between Claire's and Sydney's, and including snippets from minor characters' points of view. Depending on the book, this technique can feel artificial to me and push me out of a story, but in this case it worked well, giving me valuable insight into the characters that would not have been achieved through a single point of view. The characters are the spotlight of this story - not since The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society have I felt so reluctant to let the characters walk out of my life at the end of the final chapter.

There's Claire, of course, with her resistance to any sort of change in her life - or risk to her emotions. There's Sydney, facing everything she left back in her despised hometown - as well as her sister's disapproval - all for the sake of her little daughter, Bay. And Bay - only five or six years old, is charming and wise, and has quite a bit to teach her aunt and mother. Then there's Tyler, the handsome artist who has moved into the house next door to Claire and is searching for a way to get beyond her prickly exterior. And the old apple tree in the Waverly garden has mystical apples and a penchant for involving itself in the affairs of the Waverly family...

Allen brings a small town in North Carolina to life - and it's a magical place, literally and figuratively. I was sorry when the story came to a close, and I will definitely be on the lookout for other books by this author. The audio book was a perfect way to experience this novel, which lends itself well to being read aloud. Fans of the J.D. Robb audiobooks will recognize the narrator, Susan Ericksen, who does such an excellent job with those books, and made this one a real treat.

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen; narrated by Susan Ericksen (Brilliance Audio, 2007)

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Angieville: "I loved this book. I loved the heady descriptions of baking and gardening and the many unexpected intersections between the two art forms."
Beyond Books: "Finishing this book made me feel like something was missing inside me. How pathetic is that? I was so charmed by the characters and the writing I felt content and comforted every time I picked up the book to read before bed."
Bookfoolery and Babble: "If I felt there was anything at all to complain about, it might be the fact that most of the characters' flaws are very mild. But, I just don't feel like complaining. I liked the book too much."
Books on the Brain: "I was captivated by Garden Spells. It is romantic and sweet and the story flows nicely. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy or magical fiction."