Garden Spells (Waverley Family, #1) in Around the Year in 52 Books

Apr 28, 2010 ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2024, contemporary-fiction, women, contemporary-romance, killeen-library-paper, magical-realism, green-cover, slytherin-mmp, 2015, uno-green

4/17/24: Third time reading this and loved it all the same.
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2015 Update: I re-read this and loved it even more the second time around. There's something comforting to me in this type of book, where magical elements and food and aromas and senses are all heightened. It's like comfort food.

Oh, I have read Practical Magic since the first time I read this book and it has some similar elements but overall, I find the books different enough from one another to not feel like I was j ...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Book Concierge rated it it was ok

Shelves: library, concierge, nature, magic, north-carolina

2.5 stars This is basically a fantasy romance novel.
The Waverleys have a long-standing history in Bascom NC. They are among the “founding” families. But they are “poor” now and to say that they are eccentric is an understatement. Claire is living in the family Queen Anne, tending the garden, and running a catering business. Her younger sister Sydney has been gone for at least 10 years, but suddenly appears one day with her little girl, Bay, at her side.

Their aunt Evanelle lives independently b 2.5 stars This is basically a fantasy romance novel.
The Waverleys have a long-standing history in Bascom NC. They are among the “founding” families. But they are “poor” now and to say that they are eccentric is an understatement. Claire is living in the family Queen Anne, tending the garden, and running a catering business. Her younger sister Sydney has been gone for at least 10 years, but suddenly appears one day with her little girl, Bay, at her side.

Their aunt Evanelle lives independently but has a sixth sense that requires her to give things to people, for reasons unknown even to her. E.g. she gives Emma two quarters which she’ll suddenly need to make a call from a pay phone. She gives Fred a mango slicer which he’ll take to a new culinary course, finding love with the instructor. She gives Henry a jar of maraschino cherries he’ll eventually use to make sundaes for Sydney and Bay.

Claire has used the knowledge of plants she gained from her grandmother in her catering business. Most of the time she just makes pretty, unusually flavorful recipes. But some of her clients have hidden agendas and ask her help with the ingredients. Zucchini blossoms promote understanding; violets bring calm and happiness.

Sydney is running from an abusive relationship, but of course, she’s left a trail so that David will eventually find her and Bay.

Next door is Tyler … new to town. … an art instructor at the college. He is completely smitten with Claire, especially after he eats one of the apples from the Waverley’s magic tree. The apples, when eaten, bring on visions. His is of Claire and there is nothing he can do but work to achieve it.

There are other barely realized characters – Emma & Hunter John, Ariel Clark, Henry, Fred, James. Some of these side plots just distract from the book. And the use of food to entice, influence, seduce is an old plot and better done elsewhere (e.g. "Like Water for Chocolate" or "Mistress of Spices")

The plot kept me interested, but the magical elements were really stupid and the ending was abrupt for all its predictability.
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May 16, 2022 Joy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Sarah Addison Allen is my go-to for comfort reading. There is just something about the small Southern towns, flawed yet strong heroines, hints of magic, and happy endings that hit the spot every time.

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Dec 17, 2013 Monica rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, contemporary-fiction, book-club-books, popular-fiction, audio, 2013-in-2013, 2013-yearly-challenge, magic

I was pleasantly surprised by this story. It was a cute and easy read for our book club which we needed after the two that we read previously. I enjoy a book with magic and fantasy and this one delivered.

I found Claire and her sister very entertaining. Claire is the one that decides to stay in their home town and continue the Waverly way. Claire has found her Waverly Magic with food and recipes. Sydney has yet to discover her Waverly Magic.

I found myself chuckling at the Apple Tree. The Apple Tr ...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Lauren rated it really liked it

Reminds me a lot of the book Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. I liked this book a lot better then PM though. The newest book by Ms. Allen will be out in 2 weeks. I really like her style of magical flair and fantasy.

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Oct 12, 2016 Gretchen rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2016

Sweet mix of southern charm and magical realism. I loved the way magic was represented, especially the apple tree. A good warm hearted novel for a quiet afternoon.

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Jun 27, 2010 Andrea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010

Even thought this book had been sitting on my shelf for a while, I avoided it because of the title and the word garden. I am not too interested in gardens or gardening so I found other things to read instead of this book. It turns out to be more about people and magic and not so much about gardens and I ended up really liking the story. I read it in a week during my breaks at work.

2010 Fall challenge category: green or orange cover (hunting season)

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