I was provided with an ARC of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a light-hearted, lovely read that reminded me of the lovely, Southern charm and intrigue found in the works of Sarah Addison Allen.

Grace, Daisy and Mama G are wonderfully drawn characters, and the way that the town embraces and welcomes them was heart-warming. The romance between prim, hard-as-nails Grace and the veteran/biker/mechanic next door is a tender slow-burn, and unfurls like a sleepy summer morning.

Sarah's character as The Book Charmer is brimming with love for the town of Dove Pond, and trusts the books in her library to tell her what the townfolk need. She has yet to be wrong.

I absolutely adored this little escape of a book and can't wait to read more!

Readers who love general fiction, women’s lit, and stories with a touch of romance, will enjoy themes of conquering grief, caring for an ailing parent, sudden parenthood, and small town communities. As I am a small town girl, I enjoyed seeing some of my own gossips and community spirit in the pages of this book.

A feel-good book about starting to live again and leaning on strangers, soon to be friends, in the process. It's a light, fast, satisfying read.

I loved this book! I've read this author before but this book was a little different compared to her others. Highly recommended read! I loved the subtle bits of magic and how books spoke to the librarian. The town was great and I hope that there are more books set in Dove Pond! Great read!

What a charming book. It had wonderful characters, a little magic and some possibilities of romance to come. Hannah and Grace bounced around foster homes until they get to Mama G. There they stayed and later Grace came back to take care of Mama G. Some of the story was heartbreaking and some was sweet, but I'm so glad I read it. It's a book I will reread.

If a book were to speak to you -- which one would it be? What would its message be? In this new novel, Sarah hears books speaking to her. They choose their next reader and can be quite stubborn. This touch of magic realism enhances the narrative in this sweetly Southern small-town story. I was charmed by both Sarah Dove and Grace Wheeler in this new novel. Will the Dove Pond Social Committee be able to revive the town and save it from extinction? I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did!

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have never read this author before. The characters and small town are charming. I loved the magical element of the books talking to her. I will be reading me from this author in the future.

This book was a heartwarming charm. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book! It made me smile throughout.

Coming into this book, I didn’t realize it was magical realism. But it’s a subtle magical realism. It’s realistic fiction with a hint of magic. It’s even a believable magic. Sarah talks to books, and they talk to her. But, I talk to books too! And books definitely talk to me. The magical side in this novel could very well be seen as that kind of magic. The kind that all book lovers experience when reading and loving books. Totally believable. In any case, it was a beautiful little touch of fantasy.

The only thing I didn’t care for was when Grace and the Social Club people talked about the town’s finances and how to save the town. I mean, it’s necessary for the story, but it’s like when I watch Hallmark movies about the female lead who has to save her small town and tries to earn money. I start to zone out at those parts. However, that wasn’t a large part of the novel, so it didn’t detract much from the story.

My favorite part? Trav! 😍 He was so sweet and darkly silent. The synopsis to this book does not do him justice. True, this book is more about the friendship between Sarah and Grace. But Grace and Trav’s sparks need some mention. Their romance was slow and indirect, but perfect. Also, that hair cutting scene, so good! I love those three old ladies.

Another heartwarming point is the relationship between Grace and her foster mother, Mama G, and the decline of her mother’s memory. It was sad, but also sweet when Trav stepped up to help, since he knew and loved someone in the same situation.

This book nestled itself warmly and safely in my heart. It’s silently magical and simply heartwarming. Read this if you like realistic or women’s fiction, and if you love books!

Thank you to Netgalley and Galley Books for an e-copy to review!

I was sent an e arc from netgalley , all opinions are my own.
I really like this. I thought the writing was really whimsical. However, I found it hard to read at times because the PTSD rep is so accurate. I have a loved one who suffers and this hit close to home. I loved that our main character talked to books and how we saw different relationships building. Overall would highly recommend.

It's a sweet book, great for a summer read as nothing gets too intense. I loved seeing my area mentioned in the book!

In the town of Dove Pond, good luck comes to the inhabitants if the Dove family has seven daughters. Sarah Dove is the youngest of the Dove sisters, and books have always spoken to her. She knows just which one to send to people to read, and she has always believed that she would help her town recover from the economic spiral it has fallen into. Grace Wheeler, a financial planner from Charlotte, has arrived in Dove Pond with her ailing foster mother and young niece. She isn't planning to stay in town for more than a year, but she's likely the one that can help the town recover.

The town of Dove Pond has its quirky residents, and the Dove family apparently carry special abilities. Sarah speaks to books and wound up as the town librarian, and her older sister Ava has the landscaping company and makes tea blends. As with all small towns, everyone knows everyone else, and this kind of friendly familiarity is as heartwarming as it is at turns hilarious and irritating. Grace is pulled in so many different directions, and I understand exactly how overwhelmed she feels even though I'm not taking care of a mother with Alzheimer's disease. The story never once shies away from the difficulties that come as her memory fails, and it's rather rapid. In addition, the hurt that comes with her niece Daisy acting out because of all of the chaos is all too real and accurate. Grace tries her best, and the heartfelt conversation she had with Daisy about that had me choked up with emotion.

Magic in this novel is less of the caster variety and more of the gradual everyday kind of thing. The Doves have their abilities and everyone believes in signs, but it's the hard work that Grace inspires the committee members to do that saves the town. It's that they all band together when Mama G forgets where she is and wanders around at night, and that Grace isn't actually alone when disaster strikes. That's the real magic in this novel, and the relationships all ring true without being overwrought or hokey. I adored every page and all of the characters in them.

Thanks for @netgalley and Gallery books for an arc in exchange for an honest review!⁣
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This book comes out July 31⁣
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This book was very whimsical. Think Gilmore Girls small town life meets Matilda’s love of magical books. ⁣
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This story centers around two women. Sarah Dove has grown up in Dove Pond hearing legends and stories about her family and how whenever the Dove family has seven daughters, something great happens for the town. Wouldn’t you know it, she happens to be a seventh Dove daughter. She also has the ability to listen when books talk to her, using her job as a librarian to give certain books to people who need them. Grace Wheeler was living her life as a successful business woman in a big city when she gets saddled with the job of raising her sullen niece and taking care of her ailing foster mother. ⁣
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I really loved how this book dealt with family bonds and showing how sometimes your found family is more important than your blood family. There’s so many strong friendships in this book, as well as good foster family moments. ⁣
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However I really felt like a majority of this book was really “surface level” and lacked a ton of depth. There was a lot of telling us what characters were doing or feeling but not a lot of showing us the important scenes. Big moments in this book were glossed over, while seemingly random small scenes had a lot of details. ⁣
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I do think this book would make a great movie, however. ⁣
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TW: loss of a loved one, dementia⁣
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#netgalley #thebookcharmer #bookreview

This is a fun, feel-good story driven largely by the characters' intertwining lives. While the overall tone is light, the author does include serious issues such as PTSD and Alzheimer's disease. These aspects are handled well, so that we understand the heartache without drowning in it.

The book starts slow, taking time for us to get to know all the characters. The story's direction is easy to figure out because of the plot's simplicity. We pretty much know the path we're taking and where we'll end up, but the journey is entertaining.

The magic is a small part of the story, centering around the Dove sisters and their roll in the town. It's incorporated in a way that feels totally realistic.

I was disappointed that Sarah, our book charmer, played a relatively small roll. Her character is definitely secondary to Grace, who is the newcomer and the center of this story. Still, I liked Grace, as well as the other characters, so it wasn't a big issue.

Overall, this book provides the perfect setup for the series.

The Book Charmer
(Dove Pond #1)
by Karen Hawkins

Paperback, 368 pages
Expected publication: July 30th 2019 by Gallery Books



Goodreads synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins crafts an unforgettable story about a sleepy Southern town, two fiercely independent women, and a truly magical friendship.

Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.

“A mesmerizing fusion of the mystical and the everyday” (Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author), The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story about the magic of books that feels more than a little magical itself. Prepare to fall under its spell.

***

5 Stars

When I first started this I had no idea it would be a series. By the time I finished, I knew that if it wasn’t going to be a series, it needed to be. So many more stories to tell in this universe.

The Book Charmer series will focus on the 7 Dove sisters of Dove Pond. This book is supposed to be about Sarah. She has a magical ability to know just what book people need to read. The books speak to her. When she was younger, she found a journal that showed Sarah the history of Dove Pond. This journal made Sarah realize that she would be instrumental in saving Dove Pond. Later she is a bit dismayed to realize that she only had a small part in saving the town and that Grace Wheeler would be the one to accomplish that feat.

This book is sort of a community driven book and although it is mostly about Grace Wheeler, her niece Daisy and foster mom Mama G you get to see how one person can effect an entire community for the positive and give them a giant blessing. That is, after they allow her to do that. The scene in the Moonlight Cafe after Grace is splashed by a car sloshing into a giant mud puddle I thought was the turning point of the story. That scene chokes you up and makes you wonder why she didn’t give up right there on the spot.

I wish there had been more scenes between Grace and her neighbor Trav. I felt like I missed out on a lot of stuff that was left unsaid between the lines. The author assures me that any threads left hanging by the Sarah/Blake relationship will be addressed in book two which will be about Ava and her Tea Shoppe and a duct-taped box hiding under her bead trying to get out.

This book was just so sweet and heart warming. I wish all small communities on the brink of dying would read this book and know there is hope out there if they only put their trust in all the people around them and their community spirit.

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This is a lighthearted, charming story of small town life. Grace Wheeler has moved her family to Dove Pond, hoping that her foster mother's childhood home will help with her Alzheimer's diagnosis. She keeps repeating that it's only for a year, but as she gets more involved with town life and its people, the more it feels like home.
I was disappointed that the story made Sarah, the woman who can hear books, a secondary character. She was important to the story, but I wish she had been in it more. Maybe in later books, as I noticed this is book 1 of a series. I look forward to reading about some of the other characters in later books. Overall, this book was cozy and inviting, a great book to snuggle up with under a comfy blankie with a cup of tea.

There are books I read and I come away just amazed at how good they are, how they really couldn’t have been better, even though the story itself was just a simple, straightforward story. It’s the authors who are able to spin their tale and weave their words in a manner that is just…RIGHT. I love those books and I love when I find new authors who pull me into their settings, where I feel I know their characters, and I want to become their friends. This can’t be an easy thing to do for a writer, which is evident when you get a change to read something that could’ve been, but sadly, wasn’t quite there.

Small southern town Dove Pond is facing some troubles. Not a lot of work to be found, so people have started moving away. When Grace moves to the town to take a position working for the town mayor, she doesn’t realize her job is going to be much bigger than just the town clerk. Between her and Sarah Dove, they are going to find a way to bring back Dove Pond to its former glory, because the books have spoken! Although a super cute premise, I found myself struggling to get into this book. I found a lot of it predictable, some chapters completely unnecessary, and simply not enough attention given to the actual books. The books “speak” to Sarah? Why then don’t we get to hear from those books just a little more? I guess I’m just disappointed, and not very “charmed” by this one.

Ahhh what a cozy, feel-good, magical delight this book was! Sarah, Grace, Travis, Mama G, Daisy... really the entire town of Dove Pond won my heart completely over here, and I just love it when a piece of my heart remains with a book once I finish it.

This story and its wonderful writing had me enthralled from the very first pages, and I loved how it touched on all my emotions. While at times my heart broke, like for Mama G in her battle with Alzheimer’s and the unique struggles certain characters faced, at many others I was left grinning from ear to ear.

It’s worth mentioning that while books with magical realism don’t tend to be for me, I couldn’t be happier that I took a chance on this one because that element only added to the overall pleasure that reading this story was. I appreciated that it was just enough, not over the top. So if you’re hesitant like I am on magical realism, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how well done it is here!

I was so sad to turn the last pages on these characters and their town of Dove Pond, but am happy to see that it appears this will be a series. I’ll be over here eagerly anticipating the next book.

Just as Sarah the “book charmer” would confidently place in a person’s hands the specific book they needed in their life, I’m going to channel her magic and nudge you to pick this book up because I can basically guarantee you’ll be just as charmed by it as I was.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the complimentary copy.

Summary : Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.
If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.
 
Review :
Looks like we have a charming series to look up to this year. All bookworms dream of books talking to them about their contents and this book does that.
Set in a cozy small town with a dash of magic from the Dove sisters. The lead character is not Sarah Dove, even though it looks like it. It basically revolves around Grace Wheeler. The first book of this series has done perfect justification for the character of Sarah Dove. The book takes you into the world of the librarian and her relationship with the books that talk to her. I would give this book a four star rating, so if you love magical fiction books, this one is for you. Perfect for a read at the library or by your porch.

I really liked this sweet romance. A little magical realism similiar to Sarah Addison Allen’s books. The town, the characters and the story all make you wish you lived there.

Karen Hawkins has crafted a delightful book. The Book Charmer is well-written and so much fun to read. Its about Dove Pond, a small town populated with a crew of characters that are kind, funny, and very nosy. The Dove family has produced 7 girls in each generation since founding the town. The girls in this generation, especially the seventh daughter,Sarah, have special talents. Sarah is the titular Book Charmer and local librarian. The books actually speak to her and one in particular, a diary of the founder of Dove Pond, tells her that Grace will save the town from falling to ruin. Sarah has no idea who Grace is or what she's supposed to do, that is until a new family moves in to Dove Pond.

Grace is a tough, organized financial adviser. She doesn't let people close except Mama G, her foster mother who has Alzheimer's, and her niece, 8 year old Daisy. The little family moves to Dove Pond, where Mama G was raised, hoping the familiar place will slow her decline. Add to their troubles is the death of Grace's sister and Daisy's mother, Hannah, from overdose. Three sad, angry people who love each other dearly and are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Travis lives between Sarah and Grace. He recently lost his father to dementia and is still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder so barely sleeps and is usually on the grumpy side. Trav and Sarah have been friends since pre-school so she knows what a great guy he is. He slowly comes back to himself as Daisy and Mama G work their way into his heart, as does Grace, much to her discomfit.

Dove Pond works its magic on these people and their problems as does Sarah and her books. There was a lot of sorrow to be overcome, but Hawkins handles everything with loving care and sensitivity and a great sense of humor. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - it was like taking a vacation from my own life and hanging out with an excellent group of friends. Readers of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen will love the Book Charmer as will anyone who reads it. The Book Charmer is also suitable for young adults as well. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!