In Sarah Addison Allen’s third novel, the reader is whisked away to Mullaby, North Carolina, where we meet 17-year-old Emily Benedict as she lands on the doorstep of the grandfather she never knew existed until her mother, Dulcie, dies. It is the discovery of her grandfather—quite literally a giant (he’s more than 8-feet-tall)—that prompts Emily to quickly realize that the town her mother left behind is not what it appears to be. Sure, it’s charming and Southern, but it’s brimming with secrets— and magic: The bedroom wallpaper mysteriously changes patterns, nightly trails of light illuminate the sky in the woods behind the house, and the wafting scent of freshly baked cakes does more than entice the townsfolk to purchase something sweet.
It's not long before Emily is befriended by local baker Julia Winterson, a woman with her own dark secrets. It is Julia who helps Emily understand her mother’s troubled past and her abrupt departure from Mullaby all those years ago—information that will prove valuable as Emily’s forbidden friendship with Win Coffey, son of Mullaby’s mayor, continues to blossom.
Sarah Addison Allen has once again written a novel that incorporates just the right amount of mystery, magic and sweetness. And, while this tale may not be my favorite (definitely check out Garden Spells and Sugar Queen), it is certainly the perfect beach read! I'm looking forward to reading her newest novel, The Peach Keeper!
No comments:
Post a Comment