I would like to thank NetGalley, Forge Books and Ms. Webber for ARC in exchange for an honest review. While I found the book a wee bit slow, I will say the ending makes up for the slow storyline. I guess there is a slowness to it that only someone who has been in the south during heat of July and August understands. Time seemed to creep slowly like honey spilled from a jar in Driftwood. I guess there was an underdevelopment of characters that I would have liked to know better. I wanted more scenes with Molly & Norman. I wanted to see the wedding between Deb and Carmella. I want to know the name that Ava names her daughter. I want to hear more about her stuffed animal shop in Driftwood. Overall, I would rate with this book as a B+ read for me. With some revisions tailored to my wants, I could easily bump this up to an A read:-) Either way, I will be next in line to read her next book in the summer of 2024.

Like all of Heather Webber's books, this one is full of lovable, quirky characters with just a little bit of magic.

Ava receives a mysterious job offer in the mail shortly after her ex-boyfriend is killed. She decides that she will follow where this path leads and ends up in Driftwood, Alabama taking care of an old man and working part time at a coffee shop run by his daughter, Maggie. Maggie is at the heart of the town, running the coffeeshop started by her mother and handing out the 'curiosities" she collects to people who need them most.

Driftwood is a delightful town to spend some time in with Webber's wonderful characters. Ava and Maggie both discover what they truly want and not what others think they need.

Heather Webber is back with another sweet magical realism tale that includes her signature quirks and charms.

When Ava receives a letter from beyond the grave she decides to come out of her cocoon and head to the small oceanfront town of Driftwood to start over. Maggie, runs an unusual coffee shop in Driftwood that offers its customers more than a hot drink. The cafe is also a curiousity shop where Maggie has a special gift of pairing random treasures with customers. Ava and Maggie's paths cross in magical ways, helping them both to heal from their pasts and find their freedom. Along the way, eccentric townsfolk, mysterious happenings, and small town hospitality come together to assist Ava and Maggie in moving forward with their new lives as the women they were always destined to be.

I liked this story as it had feel good cozy vibes and a good amount of mystery and charm. The magic had an uplifting effect on the characters as it was a healing and quirky rather than fantastical. As always, Heather Webber knows how to write about complex family issues and relationships in an enchanting unique way. Curious and ghostly, this story offers a magical message about transformation.

the mood for a heartwarming, uplifting book with quirky, but lovable characters, some magical realism, and a bit of romance, you’ll enjoy this book.

Ava Lane Harrison’s world is upended when her ex-boyfriend is killed in an accident. When a mysterious letter with a job offer arrives, Ava leaves her safe and sheltered life in Cincinnati to take care of a peculiar old man in Driftwood, Alabama.

Maggie Mae Brightwell is worried about her father, who has been forgetful and mysterious. There’s talk about town that he plans to sell Magpie’s, the coffee shop that Maggie runs and holds on to because it was her mother’s. He’s even clearing out his house and storage units, planning to sell off almost everything he owns.

Maggie has the uncanny ability to match found things with people. She immediately senses that Ava belongs in Driftwood, so she hires her to work in the coffee shop and to help her father. A cast of lovable quirky characters and romantic interests round out the story. It’s a perfect summer escape!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are mine.

Short Synopsis: Ava Harrison receives a mysterious job posting a month after her ex-boyfriend's sudden death. Convinced that it's a sign from him to start an adventure and since she wants her own fresh start she travels from Ohio to Driftwood, Alabama. A small, coastal town with a BIG cast of characters. Ava finds herself drawn quickly into the town and the mystery within it. Maggie, the owner of the local coffee shop Magpie's, hires Ava on the spot sensing that there's more to her than meets the eye. The two strike up a fast friendship but both women must let go of the past that they hold on to so tightly that they can't move forward.

I loved this book! The small town reminded me a lot of Stars Hollow and/or Virgin River. Quirky, quaint, and full of entertaining characters. Ava and Maggie both have a lot of grief and growth in this book. I think the author did a great job covering how grief changes and evolves and how hard it can be to let go of guilt and what ifs. Estrelle, the local spooky old woman, was high on my list of favorite characters. She knows what's going to happen before it does and dishes out advice in mysterious tidbits to all the towns inhabitants. There's a little romance and I enjoyed the buildup and was thrilled with how the book ended. A magical ending for a magical book. This was such a cozy and whimsical read that also dove into tough issues. I 100% recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Forge Books for the ARC

I haven’t read this author before but was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked the writing. The story isn’t something I’m normally into (magic) but I really enjoyed it and thought it was a well rounded book.

✨ Like a hot cup of coffee on a cold day! ✨

This was fantastic! “At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities” was my first book by Heather Webber and it will not be my last! It was heartwarming, magical, romantic, uplifting and had me captivated from the start!

We follow Maggie and Ava in a duel POV story about love, loss, starting over and finding yourself again. Both women are at a crossroads, unsure how to move forward but with a bit of magic and a town full of caring neighbors they find themselves surrounded by love and connected in ways they never would have imagined.

This book was so special and I have a feeling it will stick with me for a long time. 5/5⭐️!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forge Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I have read all of Heather Webber's books and thoroughly enjoyed. Her new one, set on the Alabama coastline, is set with characters trying to find their ways after new circumstances have changed their lives. A feel good novel with some mystical elements, one will love this southern lit book. I can't wait for her next book!
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Many, Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor for the opportunity to read At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities
by Heather Webber. I love every word ever written by Heather Webber. None have filled my hear quite as much as this one. Twenty beezillion gold stars. I love this book. Nobody does magic better than Ms. Webber.

This is just a sweet, cozy story all around. There are some interesting discussions about grief and moving on, and how working through the emotions after someone close to you dies affects everyone differently; but overall it’s a comforting world. It’s set in one of those fictional small towns where everyone’s welcoming and quirky and the newcomer instantly becomes part of the community. The magical elements felt secondary to me, they were there and enjoyable, but the story could have happened without them.

This was the first book I’ve read from this author, and I’ll totally look for more of her work next time I want a charming world to sink into.

OMG! I loved this book. Once I finished it. I had to read it again. It was like being transported down to the coast, by the beach and hearing the lullaby. This book is magical. The family found in Alabama and the most lovable quirky characters.

Everything about this book filled my heart💚
This story is like a decadent dessert- richly layered with magic, charming characters and a setting I’d love to visit. I wanted to savor every page.
I adored the main characters, Maggie and Ava, each grappling with her own inner turmoil. Small communities where everyone is in each others business and everyone looks out for their people, are my favorite settings for stories and Webber draws the reader into the heart of Driftwood. I also fell in love with the secondary characters who make up the community.
The story examines grief and managing life’s unexpected changes while experiencing the magic of everyday life.
I highly recommend this one and I can’t wait to have a signed copy on my shelf!

The little town in this cozy novel reminded me of the fictional Star Hollow from the TV show Gilmore Girls. This is a comfy read suitable for summer or a rainy weekend. Lot's of sensory details, quirky characters, and relationships that work out. Animal presences includes an adorable dog, a grumpy cat, and manta rays. Lot's of love, in terms of friendships and romantic amore.

Ava is magically drawn to Driftwood, Alabama by a letter about a job. She has always been different because of a medical condition. Now she is fitting in. ARC from NetGalley.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


This is a cute story with a number of curiosities and twists and turns. The characters are full of whimsy, love and magic. All of them are connected in one way or another. The author leaves it open for maybe a sequel which would be fantastic as I have so many questions that are still not answered.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC.

I loved how the topic of grief was handled in this book as well as the messages surrounding it. Feeling your grief and learning to let it go was highly relatable for me. I loved the characters and their stories as well.

Still mourning the death of her boyfriend, Ava harrison takes a job as a live in carer for an elderly man and his grumpy cat in a small town in Alabama. There she encounters Maggie Mae Brightwell, the proprietor of Magpie cafe and and curiosity shop. Underneath her bubbly exterior, Maggie grieves over the loss of her mother and worries about her elderly father. The two women bond over shared grief and together, learn to let go of regret and live for the future. This is a lovely, heartwarming book, sure to soothe a troubled soul