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Midnight at the Blackbird Café
by
Heather Webber's Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm.
Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and ...more
Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.
It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and ...more
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Michelle
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Danielle
Very light on the romance. It’s not the focus, and doesn’t really come up until the end. It’s very G rated.
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Start your review of Midnight at the Blackbird Café
A touch of whimsy in a small town. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Anna Kate returns home to the small town of Wicklow, Alabama to bury her grandmother, Granny Zee.
Granny Zee owned the Blackbird Cafe in town and was loved by all. Anna Kate is expecting to be in Wicklow a short time, just long enough to settle Granny Zee’s affairs and close the cafe.
That doesn’t happen, though. Anna Kate feels connected to this town her mother ran from years ago. There’s also this blackbird pie everyone is talking about.
Anna Kate ...more
Anna Kate returns home to the small town of Wicklow, Alabama to bury her grandmother, Granny Zee.
Granny Zee owned the Blackbird Cafe in town and was loved by all. Anna Kate is expecting to be in Wicklow a short time, just long enough to settle Granny Zee’s affairs and close the cafe.
That doesn’t happen, though. Anna Kate feels connected to this town her mother ran from years ago. There’s also this blackbird pie everyone is talking about.
Anna Kate ...more
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a sweet and warm story about family, forgiveness, and finding peace.
Anna Kate returns to the small southern town of Wicklow, Alabama to settle her grandma’s estate and honor her last wishes, which include running the Blackbird Cafe for 60 days. Despite her best intentions to get in and get out, Anna Kate forms connections with several locals who respected Grandma Zee and are regulars at the cafe.
Anna Kate also meets Natalie, who has recently returned to town a ...more
Anna Kate returns to the small southern town of Wicklow, Alabama to settle her grandma’s estate and honor her last wishes, which include running the Blackbird Cafe for 60 days. Despite her best intentions to get in and get out, Anna Kate forms connections with several locals who respected Grandma Zee and are regulars at the cafe.
Anna Kate also meets Natalie, who has recently returned to town a ...more
I think it may have been my mistake to choose the audiobook version. 🤔 The story itself wasn't bad, I didn't love the narration. 😬 The pace was a bit slow for me. 🥱 I found my attention wasn't completely in the story. It's a decent book. I enjoyed the mystery/magical/dream/message parts of it. 🤗
...more
Oh what a fun read. Sometimes those books you just jump into are the most unexpected little gems. This one was a buddy read with Dana, which we both enjoyed.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe takes you to the small town of Wicklow, Alabama, and this story is told in alternating points of view. It goes back and forth between Anna Kate and Natalie. Anna Kate's granny dies leaving her the Blackbird Cafe. The cafe is filled with a cast of 'characters' who come for the blackbird pie. You see, you eat the ...more
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe takes you to the small town of Wicklow, Alabama, and this story is told in alternating points of view. It goes back and forth between Anna Kate and Natalie. Anna Kate's granny dies leaving her the Blackbird Cafe. The cafe is filled with a cast of 'characters' who come for the blackbird pie. You see, you eat the ...more
4.5 Stars
Digital Art by Nikki Marie Smith
**I needed a feel good book right now!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Digital Art by Nikki Marie Smith
**I needed a feel good book right now!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more
Reading this book felt like I was watching a Hallmark movie. It’s based in a small town and is very idyllic and kinda cheesy. It was an okay story and it’s interesting enough to keep reading but I wouldn’t recommend it.
A Wonderful Book About Family, Friends, Love, a Past and a New Future
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber was a well written book. I was drawn in right from the start. It allowed me to forget about everything else and immerse myself in the lives of the characters in this story. A cozy, comforting feeling surrounded me as I read Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. By the end of the story, I felt like I knew each character and felt a kinship with them. The story alternately focused on Anna ...more
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber was a well written book. I was drawn in right from the start. It allowed me to forget about everything else and immerse myself in the lives of the characters in this story. A cozy, comforting feeling surrounded me as I read Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe. By the end of the story, I felt like I knew each character and felt a kinship with them. The story alternately focused on Anna ...more
Wonderful book! About acceptance, forgiveness and love!
This was really well-written and engrossing, but it super wasn't for me--which is a shame, because I have such a soft spot for cozy small-town magic realism. But the whole message of this book boiled down to the importance of family, and how you should forgive the people who hurt you and make room for them back in your life in the hope that they'll change and grow and maybe not hurt you again (but if they do, you just gotta be the better person and teach them how to be better! Self accountabilit
...more
This was one of those books that pulls you in before you even realize it's happened. I started it, thought I liked it fine but didn't love it, kept reading it, and then put it down for a few hours - and my thoughts kept wandering back to it. Turns out I liked it a lot more than I first thought. It seems fitting, almost, given the trajectory and plot of the book, and the recurring theme of the central town taking hold of you and not letting you go.
...more
Can you really leave Wicklow once you have spent time there?
Anna Kate came back for her grandmother's funeral and stayed in Wicklow because she was required to spend sixty days there to inherit The Blackbird Cafe. Anna's mother vowed to NEVER return to Wicklow, and Anna finds out why as the days pass.
Was her mother wrong, though?
The characters all seemed lovable and were folks you would want to have in your life except for a few of them.
As you read, you will feel the warmth of the small town, bu ...more
Anna Kate came back for her grandmother's funeral and stayed in Wicklow because she was required to spend sixty days there to inherit The Blackbird Cafe. Anna's mother vowed to NEVER return to Wicklow, and Anna finds out why as the days pass.
Was her mother wrong, though?
The characters all seemed lovable and were folks you would want to have in your life except for a few of them.
As you read, you will feel the warmth of the small town, bu ...more
I love this book. I have been a fan of Heather Blake/Heather Webber for almost ten years. I love her paranormal cozy and gardening cozy series, but this is a whole new kind of love of a story from this author. If you need a comparison to a style or genre for this book, think along the lines of Sarah Addison Allen or Fannie Flagg. It's described as Southern magical realism, but it's also about relationships, forgiveness, hurt, growth, change, coming home, love, friendship, understanding....
I love ...more
I love ...more
I did not love this book. I gagged a couple times at how cheesy it was and nothing interesting happens the whole time. I was extremely bored and the only reason I finished it was because it was an audio book or else I would have never finished. It was painful to try to force myself through and I don’t mean to be harsh but this was not even close to my cup of tea. If you like cheesy books that seem like a hallmark movie this may be for you but if you’re a couple chapters in and you’re not feeling
...more
Oh boy, this was a wonderful read and a reminder why I love to read. The story centers around Anna Kate whose grandmother, Zee, just passed away. Zee's will requires Anna Kate to stay and run the Blackbird Cafe for two months. She is eager to get through the time but she soon learns about her family and the secrets they keep. The story reveals itself with patience as new characters are introduced but they're essential to Anna Kate's purpose. I loved this story and was excited to discover a new a
...more
Pros:
- Cosy.
- Safe.
- Fluffy.
- Sweet.
- Likeable characters.
- Great narrators.
- Gorgeous cover.
Cons:
- Predictable.
- Y'all need some therapy.
- Wear your goddam seatbelts!
This book is like a Hallmark movie with a dash of sorrow and grief thrown in to make it a bit more deep. In many ways it isn't much deeper though. It ends perfectly tied up with a cute little bow - just like you would expect it to.
I started out really liking this book, but as certain subjects kept being repeated over and over wit ...more
- Cosy.
- Safe.
- Fluffy.
- Sweet.
- Likeable characters.
- Great narrators.
- Gorgeous cover.
Cons:
- Predictable.
- Y'all need some therapy.
- Wear your goddam seatbelts!
This book is like a Hallmark movie with a dash of sorrow and grief thrown in to make it a bit more deep. In many ways it isn't much deeper though. It ends perfectly tied up with a cute little bow - just like you would expect it to.
I started out really liking this book, but as certain subjects kept being repeated over and over wit ...more
It's difficult not to draw parallels between this story and, Fried Green Tomatoes, another of my favorites. A debut novel by a talented author, the themes of forgiveness, discovery and small town living are key. Light hearted, evocative and heart warming its stories like these that remind us of the joy reading brings. ".. Under midnight skies, blackbirds sing loving notes baked in pies.." There's no faults to be found here, nor are there any missteps. Put simply, this is a marvelous book filled
...more
5 Stars
*A heartwarming and powerful story about family, community, and the joy of food*
I was still in mood for more Magical Realism after reading Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune. Midnight at the Blackbird Café caught my eye. I’ve read some of Webber’s other books and enjoyed them. But I was surprised by the different direction she went with Midnight at the Blackbird Café. Surprised in a good way! I expected to like this book; I didn’t expect for it to resonate so deeply with me. But ...more
*A heartwarming and powerful story about family, community, and the joy of food*
I was still in mood for more Magical Realism after reading Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune. Midnight at the Blackbird Café caught my eye. I’ve read some of Webber’s other books and enjoyed them. But I was surprised by the different direction she went with Midnight at the Blackbird Café. Surprised in a good way! I expected to like this book; I didn’t expect for it to resonate so deeply with me. But ...more
This book is beautiful, and that’s all I knew about it when I bought it. In the end, it was disappointing for me. I didn’t connect with the story, or any of the characters. It’s the story of two women struggling to find themselves amidst tragedy and outside expectations, which is the set up for a great book. There’s bits that are written from the perspective of a reporter interviewing the people of the town to get information about the flock of blackbirds that appear every night at midnight, but
...more
Solid 3.5 stars - loved the little hints of magic in the book!
A sweet, cute mix of contemporary "women's fiction" and magical realism to kick off my 2022 reads with "Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe."
This book was a wholesome read about a broken family mending old wounds in a small southern town that's rife with charm. Heather Webber did a great job painting the image of Wicklow, Alabama into existence. I really loved the elements of her writing about the cafe with all of its delicious dishes. She really tapped into my senses.
The magical realism aspect of ...more
This book was a wholesome read about a broken family mending old wounds in a small southern town that's rife with charm. Heather Webber did a great job painting the image of Wicklow, Alabama into existence. I really loved the elements of her writing about the cafe with all of its delicious dishes. She really tapped into my senses.
The magical realism aspect of ...more
This was a cute, sweet read. I really enjoyed it.
This was the first book I read by Heather Webber. I found her writing to be engaging and the story was cute and sweet. I enjoyed getting to know all of the various characters living in the little town of Wicklow in Alabama.
This is a lighter read. The themes of relationships and following your path in life never felt too heavy. There is certainly loss of loved ones and people that were hurt and resentful, but it is more a story of growth, communit ...more
This was the first book I read by Heather Webber. I found her writing to be engaging and the story was cute and sweet. I enjoyed getting to know all of the various characters living in the little town of Wicklow in Alabama.
This is a lighter read. The themes of relationships and following your path in life never felt too heavy. There is certainly loss of loved ones and people that were hurt and resentful, but it is more a story of growth, communit ...more
A heartwarming story of love and forgiveness.
Once my concerns about people eating blackbirds in a pie were relieved (they are not) - I leaned easier into the story the author tells through her characters.
It's a southern mystical magical tale, with romance woven in, with family restorations and pie. Fluffy, a little slow, and from which I was easily pulled away. I had to concentrate to finish, and called the ending before I got there - still I stayed to the end and felt relatively satisfied once there. I felt happy for all the characters a ...more
It's a southern mystical magical tale, with romance woven in, with family restorations and pie. Fluffy, a little slow, and from which I was easily pulled away. I had to concentrate to finish, and called the ending before I got there - still I stayed to the end and felt relatively satisfied once there. I felt happy for all the characters a ...more
Jan 02, 2022
Kate Olson
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adult-reads,
own-paper
Absolutely delightful and perfectly magical ❤️
While in town for her grandmother’s funeral, Anna Kate learns that in order to fully inherit her Granny Zee's Blackbird Café, she must run it for two months. Meanwhile, Natalie, a young widow and mother to a two year daughter, Ollie, has returned to the small, southern town where she grew up and where everybody knows everybody... and their business. Natalie doesn’t get along with her mother but has nowhere else to go. Besides being new to Wicklow, what else do the two women have in common? How w
...more
Four strong stars!
This book gave you all the feels. Seriously, I just wanted to go sit in The Blackbird Cafe where “everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came.”
Anna Kate returns to Wicklow when her beloved Granny Zee passes away. She commits to running her cafe until her grandmother’s estate is settled, then she will return to the city to finish her medical degree. She unravels the mysteries on the blackbirds and the special pie that her Granny served, which is rumoured to allow ...more
This book gave you all the feels. Seriously, I just wanted to go sit in The Blackbird Cafe where “everyone knows your name and they’re always glad you came.”
Anna Kate returns to Wicklow when her beloved Granny Zee passes away. She commits to running her cafe until her grandmother’s estate is settled, then she will return to the city to finish her medical degree. She unravels the mysteries on the blackbirds and the special pie that her Granny served, which is rumoured to allow ...more
I was looking for a foodie book for my next buddy read with PorshaJo when I came across this book in my stash. I was looking for a feel-good book, with food and a touch of magical realism. Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe fit the bill perfectly. It is a sweet book with enough magical realism and food to make it a winner. We both felt is was an uplifting, all around feel good story.
It is a small town story that uncovers family secrets, love, forgiveness and new beginnings. I loved every single char ...more
It is a small town story that uncovers family secrets, love, forgiveness and new beginnings. I loved every single char ...more
What a happy fun story! I love the small southern town of Wicklow and the people that live there. I wish this charming town was a real place because I would be dying to go. Every character is special in their own way and contributes something unique to the story. It’s a heartwarming story that makes you wish you could live somewhere where you share a strong connection with your town and the people that live in it. This book is sweet with just the right amount of magical elements in it. I enjoyed
...more
I was looking for a book that made me feel like Sarah Addison Allen, Louise Miller and Jenny Colgan books make me feel- and MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE was it!
It is full of small town Southern charm and a smidge of magically whimsy. It’s a cozy, heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, community and of course- food! It was delightful.
And since I’ve been dreaming of pie for days you’ll have to excuse me. I’m off to round up some more blueberries to bake one.
It is full of small town Southern charm and a smidge of magically whimsy. It’s a cozy, heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, community and of course- food! It was delightful.
And since I’ve been dreaming of pie for days you’ll have to excuse me. I’m off to round up some more blueberries to bake one.
Need a little magic in your life? Sometimes real life can be boring and difficult, but adding a little “magic” can make it all better. So, set your spirit free, seize this book or live to regret it! Spend some time at Granny Zee’s Blackbird Café in Wicklow, Alabama. You'll need to prepare to stay up late because the blackbirds only come out at midnight.
Flawlessly smooth and descriptive writing whisks you away to small town America. You’ll meet Anna Kate, Gideon, Natalie, Bow and Jena, Mr. Lazen ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber - 4 stars | 1 | 11 | Oct 24, 2020 12:45PM | |
| Kindle Book Club ...: May 2020, SPOILER ALERT, Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe | 11 | 29 | Jul 26, 2020 10:55AM | |
| The Perks Of Bein...: Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber - October 2019 | 15 | 101 | Nov 30, 2019 05:25PM | |
| Bookish First Rea...: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber | 1 | 4 | Oct 22, 2019 12:57PM |
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Heather Webber, aka Heather Blake, is the author of more than twenty-five novels. She loves to read, drink too much coffee and tea, birdwatch, crochet, and bake. She currently lives near Cincinnati, Ohio, and is hard at work on her next book.
Facebook author page:
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Facebook Bookaholics Group: Heather Blake Webber Bookaholics
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Facebook author page:
Heather Webber Facebook
Facebook Bookaholics Group: Heather Blake Webber Bookaholics
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