Was not able to get into the story. Just fell flat for me in terms of the characters and the overall story wasn’t for me.

A fun sweet read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC.

"Lost Coast Literary" by Ellie Alexander is an intriguing tale that introduces readers to Emily Bryant, a book editor who unexpectedly finds herself in the charming town of Cascata on California's Lost Coast. The story revolves around Emily's inheritance of her grandmother's Victorian mansion and the peculiar condition attached to it – she must edit old manuscripts to claim the estate.

The premise of the story is unique, blending elements of family secrets, magical realism, and the power of storytelling. The idea that changes made by Emily in the manuscripts come true adds a fascinating twist to the narrative. The exploration of the consequences of her edits, where good intentions lead to unintended chaos, adds complexity to the plot.

While the concept is intriguing, the execution may leave some readers wanting more. The pacing of the story feels uneven at times, and the transitions between the magical elements and the real-world consequences could be smoother. The characters, including Emily, lack a certain depth that would make them more relatable and memorable. The relationships and dynamics in the seaside community of Cascata, though promising, could have been further developed.

The narrative's strength lies in the exploration of Emily's journey as she unravels family mysteries and grapples with the repercussions of her edits. The themes of self-discovery and the potential for rewriting one's narrative are engaging. However, the resolution of the story, particularly with the discovery of the last manuscript, may feel rushed to some readers.

"Lost Coast Literary" has the foundation for a captivating story with its blend of magical elements and family drama. However, the execution falls short in fully realizing the potential of the concept. Despite its flaws, the book offers a light and entertaining read with moments of charm and whimsy. A three-star rating reflects the novel's promise but also acknowledges the areas where it could have been more refined and developed.

I DNF’d this book at about 22%. I’m trying to go back through all my books I requested on NetGalley from a while ago and get caught up, and I was eager to jump into this one. But it felt very repetitive, and just couldn’t get myself into it any longer

This author is known for her engaging cozy mysteries but fans of magical realism will absolutely love this book. The setting is perfect and I loved getting to know the Bryant family, especially Emily's grandmother who we meet through stories and momentos she has left to her granddaughter. I also loved how Emily's character evolved and at the end she finally got the family she had always dreamed of.

Whether you're a bookworm, an aspiring writer, or simply someone who appreciates a masterfully crafted novel, Lost Coast Literary is a must-read. Ellie Alexander has crafted a mesmerizing work that will leave you inspired, captivated, and eager to explore the magic of literature in your own life.

What I love about Lost Coat Literary by Ellie Alexander is, well, the books! It is a love letter to books and the power of stories to help us. The title and that premise is what draws me to this book and keeps me reading until the end. Something unexpected would have helped the story go farther, but a sweet story about unpacking the past and finding home.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/03/lost-coast-literary.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Nice blend of reality and magic within this book. I appreciate the review copy. I liked this one a lot. I enjoyed traveling to California despite being stuck in South Carolina in reality.

This was a very interesting read. I have read everything by Ellie Alexander, and I kept waiting for a murder to happen, lol.

Fans, this is not a Cozy Mystery. Yes, there is a mystery into the past, but this is Magical Realism on a Cozier level. And, it's about books!!

Ellie Alexander is a beautiful storyteller, and I could feel all of the emotions coming from the characters.

What would you do if you could have some control over the future? Could you rewrite the story of people's lives? I don't think I could handle the stress and pressure but thankfully, the Bryants can.

I am not sure if this is going to be an ongoing series or if this was a stand-alone novel, but I would really like to continue with this journey.

This was the book my heart needed. A cozy story with a large house by the sea surrounded by books and literary references. I wanted to move there and thoroughly enjoyed meeting all the characters of the small town.

Our main character Emily had arrived in the town of Cascata at the summons of her estranged and recently deceased grandmother. The will required not only that she visit the mansion that has been bequeathed to her, but that Emily must edit some specific manuscripts before she is allowed to sell the property. Sprinkle in a touch of magic and small-town community and you have the makings of a lovely little tale that is waiting to give you a literary hug.

Lost Coast Literary is a special book. It captures the heart of stories, life changes, and following your heart. It delves into how complicated families are and how much community and finding your place in the world matter. It's a unique and magical story that took me completely by surprise! I loved every page so much so that I read it in one sitting. I needed to know about Emily and Gertrude and their family. I would love more of these characters. Everyone felt real and raw. If you believe that stories have power you must add this to your TBR!

I thought this was such a great book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I loved the plot and characters of the story. I love Emily as a main character. The book starts out with Emily finally getting her dream job in New York as an editor when she gets a call from her Uncle that her grandmother has died and needs to come back to her home because she left her the estate, but to get everything she needs to come stay and work through some manuscripts. She has not been to her hometown of Cascata is years not after her mother died. I love the idea of what if someone can edit people's lives and give them a nudge to their fate. I love the side characters of her family and the people from the town.

Review posted on Goodreads, 12 June 2022:

Ellie Alexander is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers, so when I saw she was writing a book-themed cozy, I was super excited. I didn't even read the synopsis of LOST COAST LITERARY before I dove in. Imagine my surprise when I discovered it was not a mystery at all but a...what? Family saga? Fantasy? Drama? And it involved magical realism, which is always a hard sell for me? Hm. Skeptical though I was, I persisted because, like I stated above, I enjoy the books I've read by Alexander.

Unfortunately, I was right to be skeptical about LOST COAST LITERARY. Although I liked the moody, broody small-town setting and the Bryant family members who live in Cascata, there is nothing else about this novel that really captured me. Even though I usually relate to bookish main characters, I found Emily to be quite insufferable. She has no real personality other than a poor-me whininess that really bugs. Plotwise, there's not much going on in this book, which makes it feel slow and plodding. The action that does occur is utterly predictable. I mentioned I'm not always big on magical realism, which I rarely find convincing. This book is no exception. The whole "book therapist" for "forsaken manuscripts" thing made little sense to me. Its inner workings are not explained well at all. I found the whole concept confusing, illogical, and really just kind of ridiculous. Add in a bunch of melodrama, stereotypical characters, and some cheesy scenes and yeah...this book just did not work for me.

If I could, I would give LOST COAST LITERARY 2 1/2 stars; since I can't, I'm rounding up.

This family tale by Ellie Alexander, a fantastic author of cozy mysteries, delves into literary fiction with a touch of magical realism in Lost Coast Literary.

It starts with 29 year old Emily Bryant, a huge bibliophile going into her first publishing job in New York. She is called to Cascata, California to claim an inheritance from her paternal grandmother. She has a task list to perform in order to claim it and reunites with long lost family.

Will they mend a decades old feud that her father started? Will she find her true self in Cascata? Does she also inherit her grandmother’s talent for story editing?

All these questions are answered so beautifully in this book. I enjoyed seeing the family come to realize what occurred in the past and how to forge a new future.

I was enchanted with Emily’s cousin Shay and how quickly she took to Emily and how they got to know each other as adults.

The cover of the book is absolutely beautiful and such a great image of what The Ballard was in my mind.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

I did not expect magical realism in this story, although the blurb does talk about it. Sometimes in such stories, I enjoy a little diversion in the form of magic or the inexplicable, but this time around, I was not as drawn.
I began with this introduction not to discount the book but to mention a very important aspect of it. Since it forms the foundation of all the angst in the story, it is something an average reader would have to be sure to expect if they are to relish their reading.
Our lead protagonist has retrained very late in life to take up a job in an editorial position. She wants to advance further to have a stronger say in the drafts that move on to the acceptance stage, but she is not there yet.
She is then called to her childhood home, a place she has few memories of but knows that her father wants her to stay away. She decided to put old issues to the rest and sets out and surprises herself with what she finds there.
I have been a reader all my life, but I did not seem to get along with Emily's brand of book love and what she did with it.
Thirdly, the twist - the hidden secret seemed quite obvious as soon as the magic came into play. Once again, after all this, it might seem like I am not recommending this book to other people, but that is not the case. It did not work for me because of the three above-mentioned factors. It was easy to read and picture, and the flow did not pause at any point. We kept moving from one thing to the other, making it quite easy to follow a train of thought even with all the diversions.
It has received a lot of rave reviews in the blogosphere, and I think many will like it more than I.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I've read Ms. Alexander's the Bakeshop Mystery series since book 1 and was delighted to see this new book (and hopefully a series).

I think one reason that I enjoyed it was a departure from the mysteries that I usually. I was intrigued by the thought that someone could change the outcome of someone's life by editing the manuscripts. I enjoyed the characters and the description of the town that it was set.

It grabbed my attention very quickly and I stayed up late into the night to finish this one. I do hope that there are more books planned for this series. I can't wait to see what happens next!

This was a very well plotted magical little book.. I liked the whole premise of it and it was written quite well!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

In order too inherit her Grandmother's home, Emily must move to California and edit several manuscripts that were written by her Grandmother. Emily left the area when she was 8 and her mother died of cancer. The rest of the family isn't happy that Emily is inheriting. With magic in her blood, Emily has the ability to change the ending of books and life just like her Grandmother. A story with a twist and all about family and love. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I found this book to be utterly charming. I'm a huge fan of this author and I immediately read all of her cozy mysteries. I was thrilled to read this book that is a departure from her cozies. I really enjoyed the magical realism, and I loved the setting of the Lost Cost in California. The characters were interesting, and I loved getting to know them. This book is a standalone, but I would be happy to see it become a series.

Emily, a junior editor for a publisher in New York must travel to California after the death of her grandmother. Once there, she learns that in order to receive her inheritance, she must finish editing the stories in her grandmother’s office. As she looks them over and does some re-writing, she realizes that her edits come true for people in the community.

This is an enjoyable story with a new character for Ellie Alexander.