Book Review: Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

Garden Spells


Synopsis from Sarah Addison Allen website: Welcome to Bascom, North Carolina, where everyone has a story to tell about the Waverleys. There's the house that’s been in the family for generations, the walled garden that mysteriously blooms year round, and the wild rumors of dangerous loves and tragic passions. Claire has always clung to the Waverleys’ roots, tending the enchanted soil in the family garden from which she makes her sought-after delicacies. She has everything she thinks she needs, until one day she wakes to find a stranger has moved in next door and a vine of ivy has crept into her garden... and Claire’s carefully tended life is about to run gloriously out of control.

I truly found this novel to be enchanting and whimsical. It was very pleasantly engrossing and enjoyable. I loved the wonderfully unusual characters, the small town charm, the herbal wisdom from the garden and how Claire used the herbs in food. I liked the magical realism and the way it was entwined throughout the story. To me, it wasn't over the top and hocus pocus but done in a magical fairy tale sort of way. I found myself looking for the recipes that Claire had made at the end of the book but sadly, they were not there! The author does have them listed on her website, you can find recipes for Lavender Bread, Rose Petal Scones, Stuffed Pork Tenderloin and more here. I was thrilled to read on the authors website when she was asked if there would be a sequel to Garden Spells, she answered: "....there’s a possibility of a Garden Spells sequel (or maybe a prequel) in the future." I will definitely be keeping my eye on that and will be reading the authors newest book The Sugar Queen very soon! I highly recommend that you pick up a copy of Garden Spells and prepare yourself to be whisked away into an enjoyable and magical story!