There’s something charming about the allures of living in a small city. Everyone knows everyone, and even though this can sometimes mean that everybody knows what you’re up to, it’s nice to find there’s an intimate sense of camaraderie within the community. And also that there are always helpful individuals around in times of need. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book but I loved everything about it. I love that the story portrays both ups and downs of living in a small town. All the characters were well fleshed out and likable; each one had a distinct personality and strong motivations, and everyone had a great purpose in adding onto the plot lines of the story.
I thought it handled issues of mental health in an excellent way, never being preachy or trying to convince the reader to think any one specific way about this topic. Rather, the author chose to focus on the healing aspect of the hurt that is often caused by issues such as anxiety, ptsd, and grief. It was so touching to see these brokenhearted, angry, and lonely characters become individuals filled with hope and love and who draw strength from support systems provided by the warmth and care of the townspeople. Among the drama there is a great mix of humor and small-town shenanigans to keep the mood of the story interesting. I also thought this book had great pacing; I was never bored throughout the story and the multiple plot lines were resolved nicely by the end.
There’s a touch of magical realism here, though it doesn’t necessarily make the story a fantasy one since it does focus mainly on the aspects of friendship, family, and community. I personally chose to interpret these elements of the story in more of a metaphorical way, and I think the book stands strong regardless of the way the reader chooses to decipher these parts of the book. The only other thing I would say is don’t read this book on an empty stomach, there’s so much wonderful descriptions of food and cooking and baking! Definitely gave me some major foodie vibes.
Ps. Listen to the audiobook if you get the chance, it is read by multiple narrators who all do an awesome job portraying the main characters!
I thought it handled issues of mental health in an excellent way, never being preachy or trying to convince the reader to think any one specific way about this topic. Rather, the author chose to focus on the healing aspect of the hurt that is often caused by issues such as anxiety, ptsd, and grief. It was so touching to see these brokenhearted, angry, and lonely characters become individuals filled with hope and love and who draw strength from support systems provided by the warmth and care of the townspeople. Among the drama there is a great mix of humor and small-town shenanigans to keep the mood of the story interesting. I also thought this book had great pacing; I was never bored throughout the story and the multiple plot lines were resolved nicely by the end.
There’s a touch of magical realism here, though it doesn’t necessarily make the story a fantasy one since it does focus mainly on the aspects of friendship, family, and community. I personally chose to interpret these elements of the story in more of a metaphorical way, and I think the book stands strong regardless of the way the reader chooses to decipher these parts of the book. The only other thing I would say is don’t read this book on an empty stomach, there’s so much wonderful descriptions of food and cooking and baking! Definitely gave me some major foodie vibes.
Ps. Listen to the audiobook if you get the chance, it is read by multiple narrators who all do an awesome job portraying the main characters!