Once again Heather Webber has created a small town full of big hearts. I immediately fell in love with the town of Driftwood, Alabama and everyone in it.

When a letter from her dead ex boyfriend shows up with a job listing, Ava decides to take a leap she desperately needs to start living her life. It is a trip of firsts after a long history of illness has kept her from most things. She arrives to interview for a position as a caretaker for an older man, Des, and meets his daughter, Maggie. Maggie is going through her own struggles and needs to decide what she truly wants in life.

Ava and Maggie immediately create a strong bond as if they've known each other for longer than a few weeks. One of the things I love about Heather's books is that the women have each other's backs. They support each other and build them up. Strong women and sisterhood is a common theme in all of her books.

The narrators do a great job of adding their character's unique voices. And matched each other for other characters. I found it very relaxing to listen to them while the story unfolded.

You can always expect that a Heather Webber book will have warm characters, charming small towns, heart warming moments and a touch of magic. She excels in creating these worlds so perfectly that I'll never grow tired of reading her books. If you are in need of a hug or an uplifting story, look no further than At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. You'll laugh, you'll cry but most importantly you'll smile and feel good.

Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Webber, Forge Books, and Macmillan Audio Production of the opportunity to listen to At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. I have written this review voluntarily.

This was a second chance romance, wrapped up in a small town love story, wrapped up in a story of grief, loss and new beginnings. All with a hint of of the mystical.

This was a charming, cozy book that felt like a warm hug and a cup of hot chocolate. It was heart-warming.

It was a perfect break from the fantasy I had been reading.

My one grievance was having to listen to the narrator say qua-bark so many times. It eventually made sense but it got quite irritating.

This is my first book of Heather Webber and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire read. I found the audiobook to be enjoyable and engaging and really easy to follow along. It's very much a "feel good" book that is perfect for crushing your reading challenges. The narrator had a great voice and the perfect amount of enthusiasm.
I listened to this on my commute to and from work (2 hours total) and it made my drive feel like a breeze.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook of this ARC.

I have read previous books by Heather Webber and have always found them to be an easy listen or read and something to enjoy when I want a "feel good" book after I have read something serious. This book fits that bill and I think that fans of Heather Webber will enjoy this one. That being said, I did not enjoy this one as much as I did her previous books. I just didn't find the characters as likable, but I did still enjoy the story. The narrators of the audiobook did a wonderful job conveying the two main characters and keeping the listener engaged.

This small town Alabama novel with a twist of magical realism is heartwarming and quirky. Some of the language and character worked for me; other scenes and plot lines felt out of place and ordinary in a book filled with magical realism.

Ava and Maggie both struggle with moving beyond death and with change. It’s a bit sad and does Justice to the feelings of grief emanating from both characters.

If you’re interested in quirky characters, magical realism, and a story on growing after grief, check this out!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the chance to read this book. This was my first book to read by Heather Webber and I really enjoyed it. The readers did a fabulous job.

Ava Harrison’s ex-boyfriend had suddenly died. She tried not to blame herself even though she did at times. If she had just opened the door he may not have had the accident. One month later she receives a strange letter telling her about a job as a live in caregiver taking care of a “Peculiar old man”. That is where the story takes us…to southern Alabama to the small town of Driftwood. She is desperately looking for a normal life and she thinks this might be her chance. She hops in the car and drives to this town and this is where her new chapter begins. She meets her new friend Maggie working at the coffee shop in town. Many mysterious things begin to happen and there are some elements of fantasy. I usually don’t like anything with fantasy, but this time it worked. It was cute and fun.

Strong themes in this book are learning to love yourself, learning to stop being so afraid and learning to fly. Change can be very scary, but sometimes its just what we need. While these ladies were looking for acceptance all they really needed was to accept themselves. It’s ok to be quirky and different.

I really enjoyed this lighthearted and fun book.

🪄This was a beautiful and feelgood magical realism read. There's a few love stories, hard life lessons, health struggles, a little but of magic and a LOT OF COFFEE. What more could you want?

🦋The story is told from two perspectives. The first is Ava, a women thinking she's being haunted after the sudden death of her ex-boyfriend. She receives a letter for a strange job offering that intrigues her enough to interview. The second is Maggie who is also dealing with her own losses while she runs the town coffee shop, Magpies. The two random women have much more in common than it first appears. 🪄

☕This was my first book by Heather Webber and it 100% won't be my last.

🪄Books with similar vibes that I loved:

🏰The Miniscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges
🍋The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden
🏝️The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

🎧I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend going that route! I know I say that a lot (but there's a lot I wouldn't recommend on audio and don't, too lol) but I'm serious!

👍Thank you so much to @forgebooks for the physical copy and to @macmillan.audio for the audio version

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! This was such a sweet story. I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters were so loveable. I always love a good story that has a coffee shop involved since I'm obsessed with coffee!! Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis told the story so well. They had such soothing voices. I highly highly recommend this audiobook!!


Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!

I wasn't expecting this to be such a lovely listen! This is a cozy story mainly about Maggie and Ava, and how their lives collide when Ava receives a mysterious letter for a job as a caretaker for an older man who turns out to be Maggie's father. Ava moves to a small town and is offered a job working in the coffee shop run by Maggie where she meets a variety of interesting and whimsical characters who live in the town. There are elements of magical realism, mystery, and ghosts to the story but ultimately it's about overcoming and moving on from grief and found family. Really glad I picked this one up!

Ava Harrison receives a letter with a peculiar job listing. She is compelled to apply and drives to the cozy seaside town of Driftwood, Alabama She is reeling from the death of her ex-boyfriend and finds herself braving an opportunity that is way out of her comfort zone. The town is so charming and its quirky residents are as caring as they are interesting. Ava forms a bond with Maggie, who runs the coffee shop in town. Maggie is an amazing woman that cares for the residents of Driftwood and over extends herself to avoid thinking about the past. There is a lot of change happening in Driftwood and the pair learn how to confront the past and look forward to the future, with a little help from some magic along the way.

This is the first book I have read by Heather Webber and it will definitely not be my last. The charming town, the magic and the wonderful cast of characters make this a must read. Similar vibes to Sarah Addison Allen books with the southern charm and magical elements. This was delightful, like snuggling up in a warm blanket.

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #AttheCoffeeShopofCuriosities#HeatherWebber

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I loved every single minute of this book. The writing reminds me so much of Sarah Addison Allen. It was whimsical with love and hope and friendship and magical notions. A perfect book with characters that I fell in love with so easily. I cannot wait for the author to publish another book.

I really enjoyed this novel! At first it was slower going, but I once I got more into the story, and realized exactly what it was about, I liked the fact that it was centered on friendship, healing from grief, and looking how a community can heal and support each other. I will note that Alexander was her ex-boyfriend, not finance, as the description stated when I initially got the book, and I did wonder if it was a romance or a friendship brewing. Friendship becomes pretty apparent quickly.

I loved Norman so very much, as well as the cat. The animals are very well written in this. I had two great surprises at the end of the book, and I always enjoy it when I can be shocked. I will say that I was left with more questions than I typically like... but then again, the magic is apart of it.

There are times I find you just need to listen to a story with a little bit of mystery, loads of small town character and charm, and a touch of magic. Heather Webber is an amazing story teller and At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is a book I would highly recommend. I was fortunate enough to read both an ecopy as well as listen to the audio version and thoroughly enjoyed both. I appreciated the two main points of view of Ava and Maggie as told by the narrators in the audiobook because it was very easy to fall along with the dialog with Maggie's southern accent. After Ava receives a mysterious letter and decides to take a chance and drive from her Ohio home to Alabama to inquire about an ad for a caretaker, she is welcomed into a charming and unique small beach town filled with a interest cast of local people. This book is funny, heartwarming, emotional at times but with just enough magic and whimsy to keep it light. I think this book would be a great gift for the book reader in your life who enjoys an easy, enjoyable read or listen. Thank you to Macmillian Audio and Net Galley for an advanced audiobook, all opinions are my own

Book Title: At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities
Author: Heather Webber
Narrators: Hallie Ricardo and Stephanie Willis
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery/Fantasy
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 320


This story is told from the POV of Maggie Laine Brightwood and Ava Dowling who are both dealing with loss. They are trying to finding a way to deal with grief and regret.

While living at home in Vermont, twenty-seven year old Ava receives a mysterious yet humorous help-wanted ad for an in-home caretaker for an elderly cancerous gentleman. If interested come to the coastal town of Driftwood, Alabama and stop in the Magpie Coffee Shop and speak to the hangered Maggie.
The letter also includes a special message ~ “Whatever you ever wanted is just one job away”.

Although Ava has concerns that the letter was sent by a recently deceased ex-partner ~ she cannot turn down what seems like something magical calling to her.

When she arrives at the quaint village, she immediately likes the looks of the Magpie Coffee Shop as well as the other village shops. They are arranged in three parts of the village square the fourth part of the square and the central part is a white church with a high steeple (Aww sounds like a New England village scene on a Christmas card!)
Ava is offered the job of part-time caretaker to Desmond Brightwood and also becomes the barista at the ‘Magpie Coffee Shop’ which is also known as the coffee shop of curiosities—and owned by Desmond's daughter, Maggie.
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I just LOVE this story! 😘
Plus ~The narrators did a great job performing the characters!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 1, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities.

At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities is a dual narrator story of Ava Harrison, a young woman in early remission from epilepsy who has lived a very sheltered life, and Maggie Mae Brightwell, a woman in her early forties, who runs a coffeeshop in the quaint town of Driftwood. Ava, living in Ohio, is mourning the loss of her ex-boyfriend and receives a job posting in the mail for a caretaker position in Driftwood, Alabama that she believes was sent to her by the ghost of her ex. Maggie is still caught up in the loss of her mother, who was never recovered after she was swept into the Gulf by a riptide when Maggie was a little girl. As both women learn to live with their losses they become close friends buoyed by their neighbors in the small town.

I really enjoyed At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities! It is such a cozy book. The characters of the town are all delightful. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a delightful read that is like being wrapped in a tight squishy hug.

The audio narration was EXCELLENT!

When Ava receives a mysterious letter pointing her towards a position in a small southern town, she decided to follow it. Her grief after losing her ex-boyfriend in the accident is soothed by a small community of heartwarming people who will change her life forever. She forms a special bond with an employer and her future friend Maggie, who herself struggles with discovering what is behind her father's strange behavior.
The book consists of small events that made me smile and awe over the characters' kindness. I must shout out to the disability representation because Ava struggles with her health yet decides to come to terms with it as a part of her, not an obstacle. I loved this trope as I believe there are not enough characters who approach their health with equanimity rather than fighting against it. One thing spoiled the book for me. Its cozy vibe, so beautifully emphasized in writing often was spoiled because narration decided to tell the reader about the events rather than show it. The best example is the growing friendship of the main characters that happens outside the audience's view. It's a strange feeling to witness those two characters meet up, and a couple of chapters later let the character inform how close they are and how they would do anything for each other. Despite that, the coffee shop vibe was intact, and its calming vibe was represented perfectly by the narrator as audiobook was my medium of choice in this case.

Oh my goodness but this was a lovely and sweet tale full of magic and found families and figuring out one's place in the world.. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and capturing all of the pathos of the story. Webber is definitely someone I will look up again!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Tor Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is out on August 1, 2023!

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This was my first Heather Webber book and as a long time fan of Sarah Addison Allen, I think I've found a new author of soft, small town, cozy magical realism to add to my auto-reads list!

A letter with a job listing brings Ava to a tiny, southern town as she tries to escape the pressing guilt of her boyfriend's death. Only... that listing was never posted and no one knows who sent it to Ava.

Maggie's just trying to hold on to the coffees and curiosities shop that her mother built and left behind when she was lost at sea, dreaming of the day she'll come home.

When Maggie's told she must hire Ava, that's exactly what she does - taking her on as a sometimes caregiver for her aging father who's been carrying on secretly with a ghost and his highly suspicious cat, also letting her pick up hours in the cafe where the two begin to grow together, to learn more about each other, and to discover they may have a lot more in common than they think.

This is a story where love and grief are at the crux of it and the reveals I didn't really see coming. The story is soft and loving and leaves you wondering about the magic, whether it's real or not.

I also have to say I thoroughly enjoyed BOTH narrators, though usually I'm not a fan of heavily feigned accents with audiobooks, but something about that southern twang made me feel like I was existing in a Reese Witherspoon romcom.

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe was one of the best books I read in 2021. It was moody and perfect with the small town magic.

I think I unfairly went in expecting those vibes from this book. This book features another small town in Alabama. Ava gets a letter with a job listing in a small town that she suspects was sent by her newly dead ex boyfriend. They parted on good terms but she feels responsible for his death since she refused to go out with him the night he was in an accident. So she drives from Ohio to this tiny town in Alabama and finds the job is not exactly what she was expecting.

Maggie owns the coffee shop that her mother opened prior to her death. She refuses to change anything because her mother set it up this was for a reason. So it's in total purgatory. Her father would like to sell it to shake things up for Maggie and she is horrified because that's more change.

I wanted to love this, I truly did. I just didn't find that I clicked with the main characters very much. The last chapter or so what a snapshot of what I would have liked to have seen in the entire book. I just didn't feel like a ton was happening to progress the story until it picked up at the very end and then it was over. I was just left disappointed.

I thought the narrators did a good job. I felt like Maggie was written as a much older woman so I was shocked when she said her age was 38. The narrator really did a good job trying to bring some of the youth to that character that was missing from the text.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Tor Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book surprised me. It isn't a genre I usually go for, but I am so glad I did! It was sweet, had a fun mystery running throughout. Heather did a great job tying everything up at the end. Ava will stay with me for a while. She was a very real character.