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The Girl Who Chased the Moon
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In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world--no matter how out of place they feel.
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the r ...more
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the r ...more
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3.5 stars
Sarah Addison Allen is one of the very few ladies' lit authors I can tolerate. Her stories are sweet and fluffy and utterly insubstantial, but they're nice when you need a break from heavier fare. I always know what I'm asking for when I pick one up, so I can't complain too much afterward that they're sappy and implausible. That would be like ordering vanilla ice cream and then complaining that it wasn't mashed potatoes and gravy. Or buying a Britney Spears CD and then wondering why i ...more
Sarah Addison Allen is one of the very few ladies' lit authors I can tolerate. Her stories are sweet and fluffy and utterly insubstantial, but they're nice when you need a break from heavier fare. I always know what I'm asking for when I pick one up, so I can't complain too much afterward that they're sappy and implausible. That would be like ordering vanilla ice cream and then complaining that it wasn't mashed potatoes and gravy. Or buying a Britney Spears CD and then wondering why i ...more
This was a quick/short read. I wish it had been longer! The ending felt too rushed. 😔 This had soooo many feels! 🥰Magic. Mystery. Romance. Heartbreak. I went into this without knowing anything about the story. It starts out pretty slow but gets better and better. I think it’s a perfect summertime read! ❤️📚
This should really be 2.5 stars, but I give the benefit of the extra .5 for the entertainment value.
There were things I really loved about this book, and there were things I really didn't like about this book. Mainly, I loved Addison Allen's descriptions of both the normal (the small town, the brown leaves, the lake, etc) and the magical elements (Win's warmth, Stella's husband's black powdery soot left on the legs and necks of other women, Sawyer seeing/sensing sweets, the wallpaper, etc). She ...more
There were things I really loved about this book, and there were things I really didn't like about this book. Mainly, I loved Addison Allen's descriptions of both the normal (the small town, the brown leaves, the lake, etc) and the magical elements (Win's warmth, Stella's husband's black powdery soot left on the legs and necks of other women, Sawyer seeing/sensing sweets, the wallpaper, etc). She ...more
Two Christmases ago, my co-worker gave me a book. No surprise there, but the particular book she presented me with was unlike anything I had ever come across before. The book was
Garden Spells
by Sarah Addison Allen and the genre was magical realism. As soon as I started in, I was lost. I was in love. Upon sinking into the story, I found myself awash in mouth-watering food, complicated yet beautiful relationships, and surrounded by intriguing people with a little touch of magic. Did I mentio
...more
This novel contains two parallel storylines: 1). The former high school misfit, the boy she couldn't have and the secret that lies between them and 2). A teenaged orphan that arrives in town and realises her mother wasn't always the person she thought she was.
Although this novel is apparently aimed at an adult audience, I felt it would be better suited to be labelled as young adult. There wasn't really a lot happening in this book. At times it was boring and a bit of a chore to get through. The ...more
Although this novel is apparently aimed at an adult audience, I felt it would be better suited to be labelled as young adult. There wasn't really a lot happening in this book. At times it was boring and a bit of a chore to get through. The ...more
#InANutshell: I expected so much more. :/
Story:
After her mother's death, Emily is compelled to reside with her estranged grandfather, Vance Shelby in a little Southern town named Mullaby. There, she discovers that the town has several oddities, that her mother wasn't what she thought, and that she is getting weird vibes from many of the characters.
Shelby's neighbour happens to be Julia, who is herself battling her past. Back in town at 18 years due to family circumstances, all she knows is that ...more
Story:
After her mother's death, Emily is compelled to reside with her estranged grandfather, Vance Shelby in a little Southern town named Mullaby. There, she discovers that the town has several oddities, that her mother wasn't what she thought, and that she is getting weird vibes from many of the characters.
Shelby's neighbour happens to be Julia, who is herself battling her past. Back in town at 18 years due to family circumstances, all she knows is that ...more
The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Five stars: Another delicious, heart felt read from Sarah Addison Allen.
What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet’s fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all ...more
Five stars: Another delicious, heart felt read from Sarah Addison Allen.
What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet’s fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all ...more
I very much enjoyed The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen as Emily and Julia's storylines were both engaging and refreshing to read. All of the characters in this story were likeable and the plot was infused with steady-paced intrigue and moments of mystical enchantment that kept me captivated the entire time.
In this story, seventeen year old Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, a town filled with misfits, after the death of her mother Dulcie. When she comes to town ...more
In this story, seventeen year old Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina, a town filled with misfits, after the death of her mother Dulcie. When she comes to town ...more
4.5 stars. Loved it - characters were so 'climb into my heart' kind of people. Loved the magical elements, Vance, the frog, Julia, Emily. Onto the keeper shelf.
...more
I enjoy reading books by Sarah Addison Allen. They are so comforting and familiar. This is the story of Emily, a young girl who has lost her mother, and returns to the town where her mother grew up. She goes to live with her grandfather who is a giant, over six feet tall. Emily is not exactly welcome in town because of the problems her mother caused so long ago. It also tells of various town folks, mainly focusing on Julia. You learn of her past and how this is impacting her future. Julia bakes
...more
Ah, Sarah Addison Allen. I’m so glad I found you.
I love this woman’s books. They always leave me with the most wonderful, lingering book hangovers. The author always includes some romance as well as amazing female friendships. The stories are set in real life with just the right touch of magic. I can’t get enough of her books. This one did not disappoint me. *sigh*
I love this woman’s books. They always leave me with the most wonderful, lingering book hangovers. The author always includes some romance as well as amazing female friendships. The stories are set in real life with just the right touch of magic. I can’t get enough of her books. This one did not disappoint me. *sigh*
This was one of my most magical reads of the year! I am absolutely in love with this sweet, adorable story. And I'm not a sweet story person even!
For anyone who loved Practical Magic, this is the softer and more sepia tale that will not give you even a drop of sadness. Well, maybe a little bit of wistfulness!
Please, come read my full review on the blog here and find out why I loved this story so much.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter ...more
Please, come read my full review on the blog here and find out why I loved this story so much.
Read Post On My Blog | My Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter ...more
I just want to live inside every single Sarah Addison Allen book. Seriously. I can't express how much I love the worlds and characters she creates. If those place actually existed I would be packing my bags and moving there.
...more
Oh goodness, again Sarah Addison Allen has written a charming book. Just enough magic, glitter and sugar. I loved every page....
I enjoyed this, it's a little book filled with unusual magic :) I loved the house and it's strange wallpaper, I loved the Grandfather, I loved the whole plot!
This is a book I'll probably keep on my shelf, rather than take it back to the second hand store for someone else to buy :) ...more
This is a book I'll probably keep on my shelf, rather than take it back to the second hand store for someone else to buy :) ...more
This was my first Sarah Addison Allen book, and I am utterly enchanted. I can't believe that I've waited so long to read this. I want to thank my dear friend Carrie for pushing these books until I finally listened and picked one up. I loved the mix of summer heat in a small town, delicious food, and magic. My only complaint is that the story didn't last long enough! I didn't want to leave the town of Mullaby or these characters.
The Girl Who Chased The Moon follows two story lines that converge ...more
The Girl Who Chased The Moon follows two story lines that converge ...more
Jun 06, 2010
Mollie *scoutrmom*
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
all women
Recommended to Mollie *scoutrmom* by:
Pjbookhoarder
Shelves:
romance,
read-in-2010
This is the third novel by Allen that I've read, and I am happy to say they cannot be pigeonholed. There are two romances going on here, but the theme of the story is acceptance.
The author is so skilled at characterization that I don't even notice it being done. These people simply seem to exist.
I love Allen's way with words. "It had probably been an opulent white at one time, but now it was gray, and its Gothic Revival pointed-arch windows were dusty and opaque. It was outrageously flaunting it ...more
The author is so skilled at characterization that I don't even notice it being done. These people simply seem to exist.
I love Allen's way with words. "It had probably been an opulent white at one time, but now it was gray, and its Gothic Revival pointed-arch windows were dusty and opaque. It was outrageously flaunting it ...more
I really enjoyed and liked Sarah Addison Allen's previous two books so I was excited when I found out she had another out. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a good read, very quick and enjoyable but I don't think it lived up to the other two. On it's own I liked it but in comparrison, it was missing something. In a way it seemed like it should be a YA book. The characters drew you in as did the town but it seemed as though she could have written a much more in depth story here. The book descripti
...more
Jan 23, 2010
Liriel27
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Fans of Allen's work, people who like happy endings
Shelves:
fantasy,
first-reads
I received an advance copy of this through First Reads, a program which consistently makes me happy.
Allen is one of those authors who puts me in a pensive mood, like my brain has to digest her style and story for a bit before I can really decide what to do with it. I'm a fan of her magical realism, because they all seem rooted in a greater emotional arc for her characters. I am also willfully old-fashioned in my appreciation of her plotting.
This book satifies my desire, left over from childhood, ...more
Allen is one of those authors who puts me in a pensive mood, like my brain has to digest her style and story for a bit before I can really decide what to do with it. I'm a fan of her magical realism, because they all seem rooted in a greater emotional arc for her characters. I am also willfully old-fashioned in my appreciation of her plotting.
This book satifies my desire, left over from childhood, ...more
Jul 05, 2017
Obsidian
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
booklikes-opoly,
tbr-2017
This was a fairly short book (280 pages) so I managed to breeze through it. I read this several years ago, and liked it okay, but honestly didn't recall why parts of the book didn't gel with me. Now reading years later, I get it. I really loved "Garden Spells" and "Sugar Queen". In fact I hope I land on a spot that has me re-read those books again. But "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" didn't really work because it tried to tell two stories and only told one of them reasonably well in my opinion. T
...more
Eh... Just not my thing. I didn't really connect to the characters and it was pretty slow. Plus not very clean. Also the magic realism was in it so little it seemed like a random add-on to a contemporary and just didn't work somehow. BUT if you like contemporaries and want a sweet summer read, you'd probably enjoy this! Just know this is meant for adult readers and had some inappropriate things in it.
...more
I'm so pleased to see that Sarah Addison Allen came back to her magical writing as she did in Garden Spells. This woman has such an incredible knack for describing sight, sound and feelings with food. What better combination can a book have than love and sugar?!
Combine some magic, lots of romance, a bit of mystery, some elusive lights glowing in the woods, tasty sweets and what do you have? The perfect recipe called The Girl Who Chased The Moon .
And on a side note...man alive, Sawyer to me w ...more
Combine some magic, lots of romance, a bit of mystery, some elusive lights glowing in the woods, tasty sweets and what do you have? The perfect recipe called The Girl Who Chased The Moon .
And on a side note...man alive, Sawyer to me w ...more
Not my usual fare. . .but a book from my mom's stack by her bed . . .had to read it after she passed. . .she was my best book buddy. . .
...more
After the death of her mother Dulcie Shelby, seventeen year old, Emily Benedict moved to North Carolina to the town of Mullaby to live with her grandfather Vance -aka the giant of Mullaby- whom she's never known about before. Curious as to why her mother never mentioned her time at home and she never came back to visit, Emily wants to learn about the obvious story lurking in this small town, and why some seem cold to her.
Will she have to live with the sins of her mothers past?
...It's been almost ...more
Will she have to live with the sins of her mothers past?
...It's been almost ...more
4 stars for Julia's story
2 stars for that other story that ran parallel to Julia's
* * * * *
Not quite a 4-star book, but rounded up because I couldn't stop reading. Finished--devoured?--in one sitting.
This is not what I normally consider a good book--half of it was so good that it hurt, the other half was only meh and I skimmed through those parts--but the moment I finished it, I wanted to read it again immediately, and so I did. I ended up reading it twice in less than 24 hours, and I'd read i ...more
2 stars for that other story that ran parallel to Julia's
* * * * *
Not quite a 4-star book, but rounded up because I couldn't stop reading. Finished--devoured?--in one sitting.
This is not what I normally consider a good book--half of it was so good that it hurt, the other half was only meh and I skimmed through those parts--but the moment I finished it, I wanted to read it again immediately, and so I did. I ended up reading it twice in less than 24 hours, and I'd read i ...more
It's Romeo and Juliet meets Twilight but I'm not explaining why because that would be a spoiler.
After her mother's death, Emily Benedict tracked down the grandfather she never knew and moved in with him in the small town where her mother grew up. Unfortunately, her mother, Dulcie Shelby, neglected to tell her about a lot more than just the town and her grandfather. Emily had to figure out on her own why the whole town hated her mother and some aren't too happy she is there either.
Emily is not t ...more
After her mother's death, Emily Benedict tracked down the grandfather she never knew and moved in with him in the small town where her mother grew up. Unfortunately, her mother, Dulcie Shelby, neglected to tell her about a lot more than just the town and her grandfather. Emily had to figure out on her own why the whole town hated her mother and some aren't too happy she is there either.
Emily is not t ...more
I thoroughly enjoyed The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I love books with a light touch of magic, especially when it's a new twist, like wallpaper that changes with your mood - from lilacs to fluttering butterflies to phases of the moon, etc. And then there's the light that dances through the woods, and the hope and love that's baked into Julia's cakes - so much that it floats through the air to reach those with a 'sweet sense' (one of the reasons why her cakes sell so well?).
This is my 2nd Sarah Add ...more
This is my 2nd Sarah Add ...more
The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a pretty fun book to dive into. I'm not sure I've ever read or listened to one of Sarah's book before but it was entertaining for sure. I wasn't expecting to have so many secrets within this short book but man, it had a ton. The one thing I kind of wanted was for this to be a bit longer. Mostly because certain things that happened just felt rushed to me.
For example, the ending. That just zoomed by me and I wasn't even sure it ended until the narrator was quiet. O ...more
For example, the ending. That just zoomed by me and I wasn't even sure it ended until the narrator was quiet. O ...more
"He hadn't meant to get so angry at Morgan. He didn't often get angry at other people. There was no sense in it. The person you were angry at was rarely ever repentant. Now, getting angry with yourself had some merit. It showed you had sense enough to chastise the one person who had any hope of benefiting from it. And he was plenty angry with himself." (PG. 251)
I never thought I would enjoy magical realism stories until I bumped into Sarah Addison Allen. I love her stories about how the past hur ...more
I never thought I would enjoy magical realism stories until I bumped into Sarah Addison Allen. I love her stories about how the past hur ...more
I had just recently purchased this book and decided on reading it since I was struggling with my current read. This was a first time read of this author and I found that this was light enough to keep me from going into a reading slump. I am glad that I had this one on hand. Parts of it reads more like a YA than an adult book, but it had a good mix and I found that it was very fluid.
Synopsis
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding he ...more
Synopsis
Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding he ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's the Name o...: SOLVED. Romance/ Mystery/ Supernatural? All the men in a certain family glow in the dark under moonlight. The main character falls in love with a guy from this family. [s] | 8 | 153 | Dec 15, 2020 07:58AM | |
| Play Book Tag: [pb]The Girl who Chased the Moon, by Sarah Addison, Allen, 3.5 stars | 1 | 11 | Aug 09, 2020 10:03AM | |
| Bookworm Bitches : February 2012: The Girl Who Chased The Moon | 119 | 425 | Aug 03, 2017 04:41AM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Girl Who Chased the Moon/Sarah Addison Allen - 4 stars | 1 | 9 | Jul 03, 2017 05:20PM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen -- 3.5 stars | 1 | 15 | May 18, 2017 07:09PM | |
| Play Book Tag: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen- 4 Glowy Stars | 1 | 13 | May 07, 2016 01:59PM |
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New York Times Bestselling novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction -- a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility.
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journa ...more
Born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Allen grew up with a love of books and an appreciation of good food (she credits her journa ...more
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“I'm homesick all the time," she said, still not looking at him "I just don't know where home is. There's this promise of happiness out there. I know it. I even feel it sometimes. But it's like chasing the moon - just when I think I have it, it disappears into the horizon. I grieve and try to move on, but then the damn thing comes back the next night, giving me hope of catching it all over again.”
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“Men of thoughtless actions are always surprised by consequences.”
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