Helpful Score: 3
While the cover may lead readers to think this is a cute 'fluffy' read, I was (pleasantly) surprised to discover this novel includes several substantial topics including PTSD, family illness and death, caregiver stress, and a small town's financial crisis.
I enjoyed the characters and hope it's the first installment in a duology or series. This was my first Karen Hawkins title, and I'm eager to see what she writes next. This appears to be a departure from her other novels and I wonder what caused this change.
I appreciated the magical realism elements, especially those involving books, but I'm not sure the novel's title really fits the story.
Fans of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber or the Secret, Book & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams will enjoy The Book Charmer.
I enjoyed the characters and hope it's the first installment in a duology or series. This was my first Karen Hawkins title, and I'm eager to see what she writes next. This appears to be a departure from her other novels and I wonder what caused this change.
I appreciated the magical realism elements, especially those involving books, but I'm not sure the novel's title really fits the story.
Fans of Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber or the Secret, Book & Scone Society series by Ellery Adams will enjoy The Book Charmer.
Helpful Score: 3
Although the title of the book is a misleading, I still enjoyed the book. I was disappointed by the fact that I was hoping to read a tale mainly centered around the book charmer but instead she had little to do with the story. Luckily, everything was nicely put together so the disappointment didn't take over. The story encompassed many common issues such as ptsd, memory loss, care giving, death, etc but at the same time showing hope, love and community. The characters were also great and I was attached to each one of them. Look forward to more!
Helpful Score: 1
A little fantasy, a little romance, and a lot of enjoyment in this book. When Grace's sister dies, leaving behind a young daughter to care for along with the foster mom who raised Grace & her sister - life changes in every way!