I unfortunately had to dnf this book. Over the past couple of months I have tried to start it several times. But, I can never get past the fifteen percent mark.

Both Ava and Maggie sound like extremely interesting characters, but the atmosphere and dialogue of this book is giving Hallmark movie dipped in Sweet Tea. Don’t get me wrong. I can watch Hallmark movies if there’s nothing else on tv and I need background noise. I can’t intentionally focus on them though.

Magical Realism is one of my most irritating genres. It’s the presence of magic without the actual acknowledgement of magic. And, that frustrates me.

And, for these reasons, I’m out. I can’t. I tried.

A wonderful story that has just a touch of magical realism. This is another of Webber’s - can’t put it down - books that creates a small town that you just want to move to with the beach, coffee shop, bakery, and best of all, the people. As each character is developed, the chapters move between Ava and Maggie with the narrative described through their two perspectives. I always hate to finish one of Webber’s books as I know each stands on its own, but I don’t want to leave the people and the town she’s created.

Is there magic in the everyday? Yes, and you will see it in this charming tale set in Alabama. I love stories set in the south, they seem to have a particular warmth and charm. And they're often filled with quirky characters who warm our heart. Ava suffers the loss of her boyfriend and yet a new door opens almost immediately and she forges a remarkable once-in-a-lifetime bond with Maggie. A wonderful book and I heartily recommend it! Heather Weber never disappoints and all her series are a treat to be savored.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Ava is reeling from the unexpected death of her boyfriend when she gets a mysterious posting for a job in Alabama. Believing it is a sign from her late ex, she decides to move on a whim. There she finds, Maggie, the owner of the local coffee shop, who dealing with her own trauma from years past. As Ava starts working for Maggie, they both learn about letting go.

I really enjoyed this book! It was one of those pure-hearted books where there isn’t a lot of drama, just great characters and character growth. I will say I think the last chapter should’ve been an epilogue from like a year later. It happens in what feels like a month or two later and some things felt rushed for a timeline. Besides that, it was just heartwarming and so hard not to fall in love with the characters!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book! It took me by surprise and had me hooked!

However, there is a trope that appears near the end that I HATE. Though I love the characters, the relationships, and the twists, that one plot point dropped my rating ever so slightly.

This book was an absolute delight. The setting is so beautifully described I felt like I was reading this on a beach vacation. I love the author's style. It is like reading a Hallmark movie. It is the perfect light read that was incredibly enjoyable. Highly recommend!

So heart warming and the idyllic town just captures you in its story. Loved the setting and the main characters.

Ava Harrison thinks she may be haunted. One month after her ex-boyfriend’s death, she receives a mysterious letter with a job posting far from her home. The caretaker job for a peculiar old man and his cranky cat in Driftwood, Alabama is the chance for a brand new start. Even though she’s always been wary of traveling, Ava throws caution to the wind and heads to this coastal town to begin again.

Maggie Mae Brightwell, the cheery manager of Driftwood’s coffee and curiosity shop, Magpie’s. It was her mother’s dream, and she’s determined to keep it going. It’s got a lot of love and maybe even a little magic. Behind her warm exterior, Maggie is hiding the painful baggage of her mother leaving and dealing with her aging father. Maggie and Ava quickly learn they are kindred spirits, and they both will have to overcome and let go of their painful pasts if they want to move on and have the promise of a happy future.

I’m not sure why I picked this one up. It’s not in any of my usual genres, but there is a bit of magical realism, and I’ve always had a soft spot for that. In any case, I’m glad I gave it a chance. It was heart-felt with honest characters who were all kind-hearted but all needed to find the courage inside themselves to build a future they want. They also help each other, and I enjoyed the community of this small town. Solid characterization, and it gave me those cozy, sweet feels. Recommend if you’re looking for an easygoing character development with a happy(ish) ending.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber is an Interesting Blend of Magical Realism and Paranormal Fiction!

Twenty-seven-year-old Eva Harrison receives a letter with an enclosed job posting for a live-in caretaker in Driftwood, Alabama. She's always been fearful of taking off on her own but somehow this sounds like a chance she wants to take. A new normal and who wouldn't want to live in a small beach-side community?

Thirty-eight-year-old Maggie Mae Brightwell runs Magpie's, a coffee shop with a collection of curiosity offerings in Driftwood, AL. She's always full of cheer and busy as a bee on the outside, on the inside she's full to the brim with quiet worry and loss.

As Eva and Maggie become better acquainted, they find their lives are similar in many ways and discover that taking chances and making changes can be almost magical...

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is exactly what I needed. It's like a Hallmark Channel movie on steroids type of listen but it fit perfectly at the time and I enjoyed the heck out of it.

And, what's not to love about this story?

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities has wonderful characters, both human and otherwise, a gorgeous Southeast coastal setting, quirky small-town life with beautiful writing and creative storytelling. There's Magical Realism, which I love, and the magic that happens when all the stars align and life begins to feel right for the first time EVER.

And it's all between the covers of this book!

The feel of At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and the sound of the audiobook is reminiscent of Karen Hawkins' "The Book Charmer" and the "Dove Pond Series" which also depicts small town Southern life with sprinkles of Magical Realism. The narrators Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis do a fine job right down to the Southern accents, however, I do wish more brightness would have shown through in their voicing of both Eva and Maggie. Also, the story and audiobook felt a little long at 12H 10M. Just two small quibbles.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. When I'm looking for another feel-good read, I'll know exactly where to find it. I love this one and definitely recommend it!

Book Summary:

Ava Harrison is in desperate need of a fresh start. So when a mysterious job offer arrives shortly after the death of her ex-boyfriend...she knows she has to take it even if it does seem a bit strange (and perhaps haunting).

Then there's Maggie Mae Brightwell. She runs Driftwoo's coffee and curiosity shop and loves doing it. It's mostly because it's a distraction she desperately needs in her life. If she keeps working hard, maybe she'll forget the pain and grief she's drowning in...

My Review:

There's nothing I love more than diving into a book with quirky and lovable characters. And that is precisely what I got when I picked up At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. If you're looking for characters to love, it will be Ava and Maggie.

As a bonus point, At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities has a bit of that found family vibe that I love. Throw in a mystery and a romantic subplot, and you've pretty much got the perfect book. At least as far as I'm concerned.

Bonus points for small-town vibes, careful handling of mental health, and perfect secondary characters. It made this book so much more than it otherwise could have been. This is the second book I've read by Heather Webber, and I feel like I need to check out the rest of her backlog.

Highlights:
Romantic Fantasy
Contemporary
Magical Realism

Thanks to Forge Books and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Heather Webber's books just get better and better! I loved At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities, and have recommended and hand sold it many times. The author understands small Southern towns without relying on stereotypes. This book in particular explores the effect of past trauma and the healing qualities of found family. Recommend for fans of Sarah Addison Allen!

I enjoyed reading about the small coast town this book took place in. I would have loved to visit! This story was refreshing as it wasn't like anything I've read before. Two women have found a friendship when they discover they both have unique gifts. I loved the magical realism and quirky characters! Story about hope and healing.

✨At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber✨⁣⁣⁣
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📖 I received this digital copy by @booksbyheather from @netgalley! I absolutely adored “Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe” so I was definitely looking forward to this one.⁣
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This book was so cozy and cute and had just enough magical realism in it without being cheesy!⁣
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Ava received a mysterious letter with a job ad and spontaneously decides to leave her home to pursue it. What happens next can only be considered pure magic.. because there’s just too many coincidences! ⁣
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If you’re looking for a feel good book, this is the one! I read it on vacation and didn’t put it down til I read the whole thing!

With AT THE COFFEE SHOP OF CURIOSITIES, Heather Webber has created that ultimate story woven with strong, memorable and relatable characters, a powerful plot, and a setting so real I want to visit and stay awhile. While Ava has lived her life sequestered, safe, and protected from epilepsy, a strange letter arrives and she follows it to its logical conclusion, meeting and changing the lives of the loving, smart, and tight community of Driftwood, including its heart Maggie and the ones who know and love her, who come to know and love Ava as well. Magic plays a role in the story, but the real spark comes in the connections between the people and their reliance on and caring for one another. I loved every moment of this read -- cannot wait to return to that incredible storytelling spell cast by Webber. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

I felt immediately drawn into this story; at the outset you’re reading about the mysterious events that lead Ava to venture outside her comfort zone and literally leave home to live in a cutesy small town, but the why is revealed slowly as the book unfolds. The town itself is.. everywhere you’d want to go and the cast of characters so well developed that you form a camaraderie with them all. There are elements of magic and whimsy that help propel the story forward and it’s told from dual perspectives chapter by chapter throughout the book - Ava’s story and Maggie’s story intertwine so beautifully. I was surprised closer to the end of the book that Maggie and Ava weren’t closer to the same age and it made one of the twists of the book feel a bit off for me personally but I really enjoyed the unique and loveable characters and small town!

Thank you NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to my friends at @forgereads and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.

It’s rainy and dreary here today. Fall has definitely arrived. This is the kind of day that I want a snuggly blanket and a magical read. Queue any and all books by Heather Webber, to include this most recent release.

Heartwarming and utterly enchanting.

Webber excels at creating the perfect small town atmosphere overflowing with charm. The front porch swings. The nosey neighbors. The coffee shop steeped in “well-meaning” gossip.

Add to that a few slow strolls in the sand, and I was almost ready to pack up my Ohio home to head to Driftwood.

This story follows Ava and Maggie, both bold characters wrestling with the past. With a depth of characterization, it was easy to feel for both and cheer along their personal growth journeys.

At its core, this is a story about grief and acceptance. It’s teeming with emotion and easily relatable with important reminders.

But it’s the strands of magical realism thread throughout the story, full of warmth and whimsy, that really make this story shine.

Once again, I was swept away by the magic in Webber’s writing. Her books always feel like a warm hug for my soul, and this one was just the comfort read I was needing.

🎧 The narration by Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis (and their perfect southern accents) made both characters come alive in a rich way that added charm of this read.

Heather Webber writes heartwarming stories with magical elements, and this is the latest.

It's written from alternating viewpoints, those of Ava and Maggie. Ava receives a mysterious letter, offering her a job as a live-in caretaker for an older man in Driftwood, Alabama. She's to be interviewed at a coffeehouse, Magpie's.

Maggie is kept busy with Magpie's, but worries about her eccentric father Desmond. Maggie collects unusual odds and ends - curiosities that make magic happen.

Ava soon becomes a valued member of the community - and magic does happen.

DNF at page 100, i couldn't connect with the characters or the story, although the concept was super interesting, it didn't keep me hooked.

DNF, I felt I keep reading and reading and nothing happend. Not for me. I only read up to 25% but I think that should be enought for the plot to start

This is my first book by this author and the genre is a bit tough to nail down but I'd put it firmly in light magical realism/contemporary fiction which lends itself nicely to the fall season. I'd definitely recommend this for fans of OTHER BIRDS by Sarah Addison Allen or any of her other books with the small-town light possible magic vibes. I enjoyed the cast of characters in this one including Ava, the main character, and Maggie, who she comes to befriend and work with. I felt that one or two characters could have been fleshed out a bit more, and I was impressed that everyone seemed to get along so easily, but that made for easy and non-stressful listening and it was fine. This book also felt maybe a little long for what it was, but I certainly wasn't bored and I was antsy to get to some of the hints resolved at the ending. There are several hints at romance in the story, but it's far from the focus.