A heartwarming story with magical aspects which I love. Cozy story. Always enjoy southern charm in these books.

An over all very enjoyable read. The story was cozy and fun. I liked the slightly magical element.

One recommendation that I would make to the author is to run her stories past a Black beta reader when she includes a Black character. The preferred term is 'locs' not 'dreadlocks', and it didn't need to be mentioned over and over again. Every time the character appeared, his locs were mentioned. It's cool to describe them one time, but after that you can just say "he pushed his hair back" or whatever. Locs are hair, you wouldn't mention the "blonde ringlets" every time a character touches their hair or appears on the scene, Black hair should be given the same treatment. It was particularly jarring while listening to the audio. So perhaps the author should have someone read her manuscripts aloud to her before hitting send.

The other thing was that the main characters pregnancy was extremely obvious from the moment she started to struggle health-wise. I don't know if the author thought they were surprising us, but they didn't. That aspect of the story seemed to drag on because of how obvious the outcome was.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Absolutely loved this audiobook. Once I started I couldn’t put it down. The quirky and sweet cast of characters all trying to find what they want in life and to do their life’s purpose. The intertwining of the characters lives at the end of the book was just perfect.
Such a good listen that while it did have some sadness and heartbreak, it also had so much positive about finding yourself and making yourself happy and taking chances.
Great book. Great narrators as well.

I enjoyed this story of magical realism. Our characters were enjoyable, and the "big reveal" at the end was PERFECT. I couldn't stop reading this but was so sad to have to leave these characters behind.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

What a delightful, whimsical story about two different women, both searching to find themselves in different ways. So many beautiful examples of kindness, acceptance and hope. I loved the narrators, and especially loved Ava’s sweet voice.

This book was an absolute pleasure to read, and reminded me of Sarah Addison Allen’s magical books. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was such a fun and engaging story. Heather Webber's "At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities" did a fantastic job of creating well-developed characters that I quickly fell in love with and rooted for. Each character and their respective storyline was completely enthralling and I loved how easily this novel sucked me in.

At the Coffeeshop of Curiosities features a charming town full of quirky characters, with a story touched by mystery and magic. The focus on human connection evokes a peaceful, nostalgic feeling.

It's a sweet, thoughtful read perfect for the summer months, just like all of Heather Webber's books.

Format Read: Audiobook from NetGalley (released 8/1/23)
Review: I am learning how to follow more fiction on audio and this was a fun story to practice with. Some of the audio was grating, but overall done well. The story is cute and fun with serious topics involved. Overall a good and entertaining listen.
Recommended For: Those who want a feel good story.

Heather Webber creates such charming stories. At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is no exception. It’s a dual-narrative novel, told by Ava & Maggie and includes a host of quirky characters living in the seaside town of Driftwood, Alabama. There are some secrets and mysteries concerning the townsfolk that drive the plot. Unfortunately, that fell a bit flat for me and the book was too sweet for my mood. If you’re in the market for some wholesome southern fiction, I can recommend checking this one out. It is enchanting and original, with beautiful narration by Hallie Ricardo & Stephanie Willis.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities was such a cozy listen that gave small town vibes and all the found family feels.

I enjoyed listening to the story of how Ava got to the town of Driftwood, Alabama and connected with Maggie- the owner of the coffeeshop - because she received a mysterious letter. As you dive into the story, you meet all the wonderful small town characters that are full of love and they quickly take Ava in as one of their own.

The story was a bit slow for my taste, but I did enjoy the character development for both Ava and Maggie and how they began to realize how important it is to put themselves first, and the very unexpected twist at the end.

This was a great story and the audio was very well done!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my ALC.

I love Heather Webber, who always paints a beautiful world with a healthy dash of magical realism. I just have a really hard time with “lack of communication” trope, so this ended up being not the right book for me.

This story had so much heart! I loved seeing Ava settle into the small town atmosphere. The book was so comforting, like a hot cup of tea (or coffee). I definitely think it's more character driven with warm and fuzzy kind of vibes, which I know not everyone is looking for, but I found it so refreshing. There are some heavier topics, but the story overall is pretty lighthearted. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

4.5/5

I love Heather Webber and her absolutely magical writing, style but this one lost me a little with the pacing. It was a well executed plot but I fell off frequently and took breaks because it was a little slow for me. Still a fun story and endearing characters who find themselves though a little bit of "otherworldly" assistance. I would definitely give this one a try! Really wonderful narrators as well.

It is official. I am not a cozy story reader. At least not right now. A woman mysteriously gets a job listing that wasn;t even meant to be serious, packs up for this small town, and then is given the job because the town psychic tells the coffee shop owner who didn’t mean to hire anyone that she needs to hire her. It was a nice palate cleanser after many of my recent reads. I don’t feel like any of the characters will stay with me very long.

At The Coffee Shop of Curiosities a great book. I love the magical realism. The coffee shop is so interesting, I'd like to visit a shop like this. All the characters are lovable, I was rooting for the couples. This town sounds so awesome, Too bad it isn't real. The books of magical realism by Heather Webber are such good books, I jump at listening to these books. I adore this book, if you liked Midnight at the Blackbird Café then you'll love this book too.

Such a sweet, beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking story…
Ava is a young woman with a somewhat haunted past. She has issues…
She receives a letter in the mail with a job posting that is curious in itself!
Lists a caring position for an elderly gentleman, Dez, (peculiar) and his crazy cat! Ava is usually afraid to try anything new…yet alone travel to a NEW place… But, she picks up and travels to Driftwood, Alabama….only to find that the job posting wasn’t actually posted! And how did she get this letter? And why does it look like her old boyfriend sent it? The one who recently passed??
Lots of questions to be answered in this sweet story!
In Driftwood Ava meets Maggie (the daughter of the peculiar old man in question) who runs the coffee shop Magpie’s…that basically brings the whole town together…every day!
She also meets all the townies…who form a beautiful hodgepodge of a town with all its quirks, beauties, and some secrets too!
Oh…and Estrelle, who everyone in town seems to be afraid of! (She seems to be able to read your mind!!) 😮
LOVED this one!
Made me laugh! Brought me to tears! Also added in a little ghostly factor, as well as butterflies and curiosities to be paired with people who flock to the coffee shop! As I mentioned….very sweet book!
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

This was a very standard 'cozy' story with a 'everyone is special' vibe. It felt very YA in its logic and character flows. Nearly all of the characters are adults, but they are all quite awful at communication. It was a reflection of how teens believe adults to be as they develop their communication skills, versus how most adults actually are.

I hesitate to give it less than 3 stars, because although I didn't care for it, I do think that this book will be well received and loved among the many who read it. If you enjoyed Jane The Virgin, you will very much enjoy this one.

The audiobook narration was done exceptionally.

Thank you NetGalley for this digital free ARC. Narrators Hallie Ricardo & Stephanie Willis were a joy to listen to. The characters are well developed, and I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. The story was magical, and I couldn’t put it down. It was the perfect summer read helping me relax and bringing me happiness and joy. I felt the audio was done perfectly and enjoyed listening to this ARC immensely. I would recommend this book to all.

3/5

It's a cute read, but didn't stand out to me as anything remarkable.

This is a split narrative book, with Ava and Maggie as the main characters. They both are working through their struggles, with Ava trying to find an identity outside of her medical issues, and Maggie dealing with the unresolved grief of the loss of her mother.
There was a whole cast of quirky and loveable characters, and it was an easy read. I personally found this book to have major Hallmark vibes, and that's the main reason it received 3/5 stars from me. If you want a book that neatly ties up at the end, and with predictable plot twists, then this is the book for you. I wasn't amazed by it, but it was primarily due to personal preferences in the types of books I enjoy. This was toted as a fantasy book, and while it had a few fantastical elements, I wouldn't put it in a fantasy category.

I read this via audiobook, and I thought that the talent did an excellent job, and I liked how they had two different narrators for Maggie and Ava.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Heather Webber never disappoints. Her quirky characters and the small details that we've throughout to show the progression of the story are hallmarks of her writing that were fully evident and on display in this newest book. The end somehow is always what you expect but also not in the same way.

I already want to read it again.

#arc
#netgalley
#coffeeshopofcuriosities