what I’m reading: garden spells by sarah addison allen.

In the city of Bascom, the Waverley family has always been known for their magical talents. Claire Waverley owns a successful catering business where she infuses her food with emotions and feelings. Content with her solitary and predictable life, her normal routine is upended when her younger sister Sydney returns home with her young daughter in tow. As the sisters reconnect, can they find love and happiness and put their pasts behind them?

This book gave me strong Practical Magic vibes. There are witchy sisters living in a beautiful old house – one sister is a homebody, the other is kind of wild who returns home after escaping an abusive man. The book takes place in a quaint little town where everyone knows about the Waverley family gifts. This story is a bit more romantic and not quite as dark as Practical Magic, but the resemblance is there.

I liked this book a lot. The writing is beautiful and is filled with lyrical phrases and just enough magical realism to be whimsical. There’s also a magical apple tree that has a mind of its own that can be found throwing apples at people and writes messages in the dirt.

In a lot of ways, this is a story about family redemption. Both Claire and Sydney remember their childhoods very differently and resent each other for things beyond their control. As adults, they have to accept their differences and choices and realize who they are.

There are some great side characters who caught my interest. The character I found most fascinating is Evanelle, the sisters’ elderly cousin. Evanelle’s magical talent is demonstrated by a compulsive need to give people things. She doesn’t know why she has to give this person a spoon or this person two quarters but she knows that they will need these things at some point. Evanelle was fun and amusing and I really enjoyed reading about her unusual gift.

I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a sweet and lighthearted read about family and magic.

To check out other reviews, find this book on goodreads or amazon. Please note, all links are affiliate which gives a small portion of profit to Rainy Days and Clichés. Thank you so much for your continuous kindness!