This book read like a hallmark movie. While it was a slow development in the beginning, mid-book the plot picked up. I wish the beginning of the book would have developed the background stories a bit more without giving away pieces of the story to help me stay engaged. I felt like I had a hard time staying with the book in the beginning. However, once I had developed a relationship with each character, the book became a much more easy read. The characters were like-able and was a book I would compared to snuggly with your favorite comfy blanket. Giving the story from multiply perspectives gave the story depth. While I marked I would not recommend this to my student because of the romance and mature views needed to fully appericate the story. This book could be a book in an advance English course. This a book the reader should take their time to read to develop their apperication for each character's specific traits. I would however recommend this store to reading clubs or book clubs as their novel. The story lended itself to multiple discussion points in the story. Book clubs could discuss the meanings behind the curiosities and their matches, as well as, the characters and their choices.

I have to admit that the cover and synopsis drew me into this book and I am more than happy it did. Great read.

What a fun read. Just a hint of magic in the wonderful small town of Driftwood, Alabama. The town where people go on vacation and decide to live there. Ava is still in shock over the death of her fiance and gets a job notice. She has no idea where it came from or how it made it her way but decides she needs a change and drives to Driftwood to apply. Maggie needs someone to help out with her father and writes up an ad for help only to throw it away. No one can figure out how Ava is in town applying for the job. She fits right in and becomes friends with so many of the unusual towns folk. I have read several of Ms. Webber's books and always look for her next creation. Enjoy this love story with it's hint from the great beyond.

Ah Heather Webber, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1) meaningful relationships between characters 2) emotional but redemptive stories 3) sweet romances 4) charming small town settings 5) quirky secondary characters 6) a touch of magic. Since reading Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe, I have been enamored of everything I’ve since read from Heather Webber. When I saw a friend review this eARC she got from NetGalley, I immediately went and requested it too and was so excited to be approved for it.

This story is like a warm hug or like catching fireflies in a mason jar as a child under the watchful eye of your loving parent. It’s the perfect thing to cozy up to under a blanket on the beach, listening to the waves crash and a chilled breeze flutter by. The fictional town of Driftwood comes to life with Webber’s skilled pen. The characters she writes are lovable and real in ways you can relate to, and she treats them and their conflicts gently, making you realize the lessons that the characters learn in your own life.

Another beautifully written story made all the more lovely thanks to that little touch of magic.

Thank you to Tor Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.25/5

A small town with charming characters, a mysterious newcomer and just enough magic realism to be a Heather Weber book? Count me in! I found the two main characters written well, the banter realistic and the overall experience lovely. It wrapped up a little too perfectly and too tied for my taste which bumped it down slightly and I could have done entirely without the last chapter, but overall highly recommend if you like magic realism, found family or small town stories!

I would like to start by thanking everyone involved in allowing me early access to this ebook. All opinions are my own.

I don’t really know how to rate this book. “At the coffee shop of curiosities” is a book about dealing with grief and loss. I’ve seen wonderful reviews, but, somehow, I think I missed the whole magic of it and ended up not liking it.

We have a small town community, which is extremely well achieved, with everyone concerned with each other but also with the love for gossip! I liked it a lot. Additionally, I felt anyone would fit in in the community, which was another amazing aspect, as there is not the mentality of small towns to despise the difference. However, the plot in itself didn’t convince me. I felt the story was too slow and leading nowhere, which would be ok if I felt some character growth, which I didn’t feel as well. Both characters and plot line felt too plain and the supposed plot twists were not surprising at all. We have two different perspectives, Ava and Maggie’s, which I usually enjoy, but in here felt sometimes repetitive. I think, if I was enjoying the book, I would enjoy getting to know the two perspectives of what was happening, but like this I just felt it to be repetitive.

This review will also be available on my Goodreads profile and, later on, on my Instagram account (@cat.literary.world)

Mystery, ghosts, a touch of magic, loves lost and found - this novel has something for everyone. Ava is drawn to the quaint town of Driftwood, Alabama and quickly finds a place among the quirky residents. A wonderful story about relationships of all kinds and stepping out of your comfort zone to find happiness.

Sadly, this book did not do much for me. Too many characters but not enough character development. So much of the story felt unimportant and just droned on and on. I couldn't connect with any of them. The town itself was irritating with everyone in everyone else's business ALL THE TIME. I didn't enjoy it.

Where do I even begin?

I have absolutely adored every magical realism book that Heather Webber has put out in the last couple years. They are filled with family, love, and, of course, magic - each one a warm blanket on a snowy night...the first warm rays of sunshine after a long winter. And "At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities" is no different. In fact, "Curiosities" is, hands down, my favorite of this small town collection.

When you love a book because of how it makes you *feel,* it's sometimes hard to put into words as to why. In our sad, scary world, books like Webber's are the escape we all need. We get to be transported to a small, southern town (this Kentucky girl's favorite!) surrounded by characters that look out for each other, genuinely care for each other, and welcome in strangers as if they were long, lost family.

In "Curiosities," Webber's town of Driftwood is a sanctuary for many, a place to hide for some, and a new adventure for others. Our two main characters, Ava and Maggie both need to start over (though only one of them may realize it), but through it they learn to find themselves and open their eyes to see others anew.

Again, words cannot describe the feelings this book brought out in me. Read the description...you'll know immediately if it's your kind of book or not. But just know that while you are reading it, it will feel like you are getting a huge, comforting hug and, after, you will be hugging the book itself right back.

Solid 5 Stars
And wish I could give it more...

I absolutely loved this, unique, magical, gift of a book. I Couldn’t stop reading the story. I enjoyed how the author created a splendid mix of magical, realism, romance, and wise women’s fiction, and how she kept me guessing about a few mysteries hinted at throughout the book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! How I love Heather Webber's books! I look forward every year to a new amazing book from her. She is the queen of magical realism! I absolutely loved the characters and the settings. I felt like Ava and Maggie could be my friends and the setting descriptions make the reader feel like they are in the story. I have read all of Heather Webber's books and she is an auto buy author for me! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities by Heather Webber is a dual-POV fantastical slice-of-life novel that stole my heart from the very beginning.

Summoned to a small town by a mysterious letter seemingly sent by a recently deceased ex-partner, Ava takes the chance despite her concerns for her health and fear of stepping outside her comfort zone. Maggie, the small town’s coffee shop owner, welcomes her with hesitantly open arms, and soon, both women will lose and gain more than they bargained for.

This book does a fantastic job of introducing us to well-rounded characters and allowing us to be a part of their journeys as they grow and transform throughout numerous drama-filled situations. It contains romantic love stories, heartbreaking stories of loss, and the all-too-common fear of letting go. Practically bursting with small-town charm, this book is a relaxing read, and one I am thankful I picked up.

I very much enjoyed the level of description displayed on the pages. The way the author describes surroundings, sounds, feelings, and thoughts almost felt like poetry or song. It was very easy to get sucked in and lose yourself in the story. Everything felt so vivid and the characters felt so real. I truly felt like I was a local in town and was actually a part of these people’s lives. The story was also teeming with symbolism and little details that were called upon in various parts, allowing for a cohesive and satisfying read. It was very easy to recall details of conversations from the beginning of the book when everything came full circle at the end.

Speaking of the end…this book made me cry. I’m not sure if it is because I am getting older, or that i saw myself in Ava, but the way everything was wrapped up was so heartachingly beautiful that I have to admit…I had a few runaway tears make it down my cheek. Any book that can elicit an emotional response from me gets an immediate 5/5 rating. I enjoyed myself so much while reading this that I didn’t even pick up on anything to critique. If I HAD to pick something it would be the unfair description of Molly in the beginning half of the book (as a cat person, I knew she just needed to find her human!). Anyway, if you spot this book on a shelf, or if it is delivered to you by butterfly, you will read it, and you WILL love it. It has been said.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities, is a warm sweet read, with a lot of personality. We first meet Ava, who has had a sheltered past, but after loosing someone she loves, takes a chance, moves across the country, and starts a new chapter in her life. There she meets Maggie, an empty nester single mom, who runs a coffee shop in a quaint town off the coast in Alabama.

There, both women embark on a journey that ultimately teaches them separately that they have to eventually let go of the past. This lesson is taught through the unique abilities of some of the key characters, like a cooky old lady, Estrella, as well as second chance at love situations.

When Ava becomes the caretaker for Maggie’s strange aging father, secretes are revealed, and everyone is forced to look into a future that’s much different than the realities they have clung so tightly to.

The town and characters are full of magical realism elements, and they are charming to read about and imagine to yourself. I did like the characters very much, however, there were a few too many to keep straight for me.

The story itself was fun and neat. I liked the overall plot, and I always like a dose of magic.

The part that really stood out as 3 star for me, was the dialog. It felt a little forced or flat. I wanted more depth. The conversations felt rehearsed, and the banter felt too silly. I know this kind of played into the magical elements, but it felt too cheesy and I think a more developed and organic dialog would have really helped push the book into a more polished rating.

That being said, At The Coffeeshop of Curiosities is a warm hug that will be welcomed by readers, with a sweet message, endearing characters, and all the cozy vibes for an easy anytime of year read!

I absolutely loved this book! This will easily be a re-read for me. The magical realism is something I haven’t really read but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love a book with dual POV.


Romantic, magical and overall captivating. This follows 2 lost people looking for answers.


My first book by this author and I’m excited to see what else she writes.

Thank you NetGalley and forge books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this cozy Christmas read. Kerry and her brother Murphy, both in their thirties, have packed up a load of their family farm's Christmas trees and traveled from North Carolina to NYC to garner those high prices city dwellers are willing to pay for the perfect tree. It's usually their father with Murphy, but he is home recuperating from a heart attack. Kerry was recently laid off from her ad director job and had returned home while planning for the next phase of her career and her life. Roughing it in the city in a tiny old trailer for a month in New York's biting cold isn't her idea of fun, but she soon realizes that her temporary neighbors are gradually becoming her second family and she revives her interest in creating art--gorgeous custom wreaths and whimsical drawings.

Ava receives an envelope in the mail containing a job advertisement from Alabama. She thinks it must be from her dead boyfriend. She drives from Ohio to interview for a caretaker position, where she meets Maggie. Maggie posted the ad, briefly, at the coffee shop she manages. She is looking to find a caretaker for her dad, the coffee shop owner, as he has started talking to ghosts and is misplacing things. Ava gets the job and much more...

I found this book to be a quaint, quirky, slight (possible) fantasy of a book. The author gives us just enough taste of whimsy to keep us wondering about some of the experiences we read about. I enjoyed the characters, writing style, and the storyline. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for light, fun reading. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

Yet another wonderful book by Heather Weber. I have enjoyed each of her books. When reading them, you can really be made to feel that magic can happen. I enjoyed filling part of the town that just took everyone in and made them a whole. The book really warmed my heart, I love when I read a book that makes me feel like I could walk right into that town and live there. Heather Weber’s books usually do that for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book I’ll give this book 4 1/2 stars.

Ava receives a mysterious letter in the mail with an employment ad inside. The job is described as being a caretaker for a difficult, cranky old man. Ava had a grand mal seizure when she was a child and since then has lived a very cautious life. Ava is convinced that the letter came from her ex-boyfriend Alexander. The thing is, Alexander died in an accident, but there's something so compelling about the letter that Ava decides to throw caution to the wind. She drives down to Driftwood Alabama, a town on the Gulf Coast, to apply for the job.

Arriving in Driftwood, she finds a quirky little town, filled with lovely people. There's a cafe in town called Magpies owned by Maggie. Maggie has too much stress in her life. She's already experienced a mini stroke which she thankfully recovered from. The cafe is so very important to her because her mother created it. Maggie's mother went swimming one day and never returned. Maggie holds out hope that one day her mother will return, and she's afraid to change anything, even the menu, just in case her mother comes back.

Maggie's father has become forgetful and mysterious, and rumor has it that he has visited a probate lawyer to sell his house and maybe the cafe too.

Thinking her father might be suffering from early dementia, Maggie had placed an ad for a caretaker, but then had quickly torn it down. She can't understand how Ava came to have the ad but Maggie decides that Ava would be perfect for the job anyway. Ava and Maggie's father hit it off perfectly, and a deal is struck that Ava will work part time for Maggie's father and part-time in Maggie's Cafe.

I would love to live in Driftwood. The author has created such a lovely magical place.
As with all of Weber's books, there is kindness and beauty and a sense of community and caring. There's romance, funny animals, and people with magical gifts. The reader gets to see both Ava and Maggie realize their dreams, find love and find themselves.

I absolutely loved this book! Magical realism at it's best!

Heather has done it again. She absolutely never disappoints. She has the most amazing way of putting you right inside the story. You can feel the wind on your face, taste the salt on your tongue, and hear the lapping of the waves in this magical way that has you entranced from the first page.