I absolutely fell in love with this book and the house! It's not every day that a main character in a book can be a house. Magical Realism at it's finest with a touch of mystery, found family, friendships, and getting through hard times to find your happily ever after is how I would describe The Magic All Around.

Mattie's mom, Lilith, passed away and that had her heading back to her home town of Ivy Ridge, Georgia to see her Aunt Penelope. Penelope was a constant for Mattie and welcomed her with open arms. As soon as Mattie returned the house was up to it's old tricks with magically tuning radios to songs that matched each moment and doors not opening until you told the house the truth. The house knew just what you needed.

Mattie was left an inheritance but in order to receive it, Lilith set up tasks and clues that had to be completed. From baking class to planting flowers, Mattie worked hard at getting things complete so she could purchase and open an art studio in San Francisco.

A blast from her past, Jonathan, just happens to be in Ivy Ridge helping care for his father's business while he recovered from illness. Jonathan was a workaholic and the slow pace of Ivy Ridge was making him go mad up until the moment he ran into Mattie.

As the characters and story develops, you can't help but fall in love with every person that plays a role in getting Mattie to her finish line. Even Penelope has an unexpected gift that Lilith made sure would happen. I loved that the story had an epilogue so you weren't left hanging. I would love to see another book expanding on what happens to Penelope!

Thank you @netgalley and @jenniferrmoorman as well as @harpercollins for the audio copy to devour and review!

2.5⭐ rounded up to 3. Small-town romance, boy next door, life after loss, whimsy and witchy, first love… I really wanted to like this one. However, I really struggled to finish it. To sum it up in 3 words: sweet but plain. I think it had tremendous potential, but too many things got on my nerves. I love a feel-good book, but this one failed to make me feel good due to the rather unpleasant characters.

❤️ Easy, cozy read with a witchy feel
❤️ Sassy sentient house
❤️ Gardening and plant love
❌ Love interest impossible to root for
❌ 25-year-old FMC that feels and sounds like a teenager
❌ Very predictable
❌ Too long and repetitive

Trigger Warnings: death of a parent, grief, miscarriage, heart attack.

Plot:
After being on the road since birth, Mattie returns to her hometown following her mother’s sudden death. But Ivy Ridge doesn’t feel like her home, so Mattie plans on leaving right after the funeral to continue travelling. However, to claim her inheritance and buy the art gallery she sets her heart on, she needs to complete seven tasks in Ivy Ridge. She begrudgingly undertakes the tasks, making friends, finding her birth father, setting down roots, and meeting up with her first love along the way.

I liked the plot, with the quest / tasks and the parallel romance, but there were simply too many irritants, especially when it came to the characters. I wasn’t even remotely surprised by any of the plot twists. The fantasy elements didn’t feel as whimsy as I had hoped—too much and not enough at the same time. The random songs got on my nerves at some point. The plot also felt too slow, then too rushed.

Characters:
It was very hard for me to feel involved, and it’s mostly because of the characters. I didn’t feel any attachment for any of them, except maybe Penelope and Stephen. Some were so stereotyped (Mattie is *not like the other girls*!) or exaggerated (such as Sophia and that girl from the nursery whose name I’ve already forgotten) I cringed a few times. Mattie felt like a 16-year-old who had a very toxic relationship with her selfish and manipulative mother. She was so clueless and annoyed me to no end. Jonathan sounded like a jerk, and his character development didn’t make him a more interesting love interest. So, it’s hard to enjoy romance about two characters you don’t like.

Writing:
The writing wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great either. It felt plain and repetitive. I couldn’t find a quote to add to my review, like I usually do, so I guess that says a lot… (And for the love of God, when adding words or sentences in another language, it’s basic writing rigor to make sure the spelling is correct!)

Audiobook:
The voice actor was wonderful! Loved the narrating.

The Russell family women have magical gifts: older sister Penelope can infuse the clothes she creates with love, strength, joy – whatever the wearer needs, while younger sister Lilith always happens to run into someone with exactly what she needs at any time, such as a job or an apartment, as she moves from city to city. Lilith’s adult daughter Mattie always hears the perfect song playing around her and is able to paint pictures that will mean more to their buyers than she could imagine. When Lilith dies, her will requires Mattie to stay in the family’s hometown of Ivy Ridge while she completes a set of tasks in order to receive a trust. Resistant at first, Mattie is able to learn more about her past, who she is as a person, and what she wants for the future as she works through her mom’s tasks.

I liked the magical realism of the book, with the women’s talents being set in an otherwise ordinary world. It took a while for the plot to start moving, but once it did, I enjoyed the story. I think tightening up the first half of the book could have allowed some deeper exploration of the things that happen in the second half. Despite the book being about Maddie’s mom dying, it was not a heavy or sad read overall. Kathleen McInerney did a nice job with the narration of the audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
I adored this book. It was magical! The house was a character! I loved the little mystery, the family, the romance--just everything. I'm ready to move to Ivy Ridge and make friends with all the characters.. This book was a warm hug. If you need a feel good book this is it.

Thank you to @netgalley for the opportunity to review The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman. After the sudden death of her mother Lillith, Mattie Russell returned to her family home in Georgia - the family home that seems to be sentient! Mattie has to stay in the house long enough to complete seemingly absurd tasks in order to claim an inheritance.

It was fun getting to learn each of the Russell family members' secrets, and I thought the some of the silly tasks were charming. The multiple POVs were enjoyable, but it did seem to slow down in parts, but then was very fast in other sections. I liked the mysticism of it and how the idea of fate was woven throughout.

The narration by Kathleen McInerney, as usual, was perfection.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked it, fun while I was reading it
The Russell women have always lived in a house that is as special as they are—a century-old Victorian with a radio that tunes itself to the listener’s mood and a pantry that rearranges to provide just the right ingredients for any baking need. Lilith Russell was the exception. She left the family home in Ivy Ridge, Georgia, and has been flitting like a hummingbird from place to place with her daughter, Mattie, in the decades since, only returning each summer to drop Mattie off with Lilith’s sister, Penelope.

When Lilith dies suddenly, Mattie is left without her sole companion and the captain who steered her ship. That is, until she visits Ivy Ridge and learns Lilith charted one last course for Mattie: a series of tasks that she must complete to earn her inheritance, with Penelope overseeing the process.

Part mystery, part family drama, part treasure hunt, part examination of grief and one's past, I really enjoyed this cozy magical realism story. I loved how the house and town were their own characters and how Mattie found herself through reflection, uncovering memories, and intuition. She was nudged into her own selfhood by the living and the departed. This heartwarming novel centers around themes of love, family, home, community, gifts/talents, and growth. The characters are magical, eccentric, and genuine which all adds up to a sweet tale of finding your adult path.

The narrator, Kathleen McInerney, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension. It was a pleasure to listen to.

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus, NetGalley, and author Jennifer Moorman for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. The Magic All Around is out January 16, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Moorman, and HarperCollins focus for an eARC of The Magic All Around.

This book was quirky and cute. I lenjoyed the innocent love story between Mattie and Jonathan, the fun way the house interacted with the Russels, and I thought the premise of the book was super intriguing.

The descriptions of both the Russel house and the Delacour mansion made the house come alive in my mind. I had such a vivid picture of both in my head that I could probably draw them!

The pacing of this novel was a bit slow for my taste and the drawn out emotional scenes are, in general, not my taste. With that being said, I still did enjoy the book and all of its fantastical, magical elements.

3.5 stars rounded up!

This was a wonderful book and I could hardly stop listening. It was just the right combination of sweet and poignant. Family drama at it's best. As a music junkie, I really loved the radio and the song choices!! It was a delight and I really enjoyed it.

A very heartwarming story that revolves around themes of family, love, home, community and self-discovery. I loved my trip into Mattie's world, her family, and her community as she tries to get over losing her mom. It had just the right amount of magic to make it pleasurable yet it wasn’t too over the top. Highly recommend! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just not for me. It's a little too slow to keep my attention. I couldn't get into it. I wasn't hooked in the beginning. I had a hard time paying attention.

When I started “The Magic All Around” I was a bit confused, it took me a few chapters to pick up who was who and remember their names. But once I was in the story I loved it! It gave me some Encanto vibes with the whole very peculiar and magical family, the house with its own character, and all the secrets surrounding the family. I loved all the characters, the twists and the story were absolutely beautiful. I even cried, yes I did.
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Highly recommend!
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Audiobook- the narrators were fantastic! They 100% gave life to the story and made the experience so beautiful!

This is a wonderfully sweet magical realism romance. I would have liked to have seen a little more diversity as I think the genre needs it, but the author has done a wonderful job of creating a cozy, low stakes story. I ill definitely purchase this as a gift!

After losing her mother, Maddie learns that her will stipulates Maddie completes a series of tasks in order to inherit. Through the course of her tasks her mother guides her to reflect on her home, future and relationships.

This was a very cute and cosy read. It was low stakes, and a great introduction for anyone wanting to explore magical realism. I really enjoyed the whimsical feel of the house, and the love and acceptance of the residence of the small town.

The audio narration was engaging and animated. I enjoyed the narrator’s performance of different character voices, and found the audiobook a great way to lose myself in the story.

Thank you HarperCollins Focus and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Narrated by Kathleen Mclnerney
There were two things that drew me to this audiobook, The title and the front cover I just love hummingbirds.
The story was about a family, a story where hearts heart, relationships are improved and 'magic is all around' and who wouldn't mind a bit of magic in our lives?
The narration was OK.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Muse audiobooks for allowing me to have access to this beautiful book.

I truly enjoyed this book. It was a cozy, magical, feel good book.
While I enjoyed the story and loving nature the family had for each other, I also felt the pain of them trying to recover after the mother/sister passes away unexpectedly.
I loved how the house was a key character in the book and would make its wishes known as things played out. It made you laugh instead of cry and wonder what that would be like.
The narrator was fantastic and drew me into the story every time I turned it on and helped me to feel the magic.
It was released on 1/16/24 and I’ve already ordered it and sent it to my mom.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the advanced copy of this wonderfully magical book.

This was a sweet, cozy, and even emotional story. The romance was clean, it was a nice little touch to the plot that is about dealing with family, grief, personal history, and it all comes together for a lightly magical read.

The characters were charming, felt realistic, and were enjoyable to read about. The various relationships in this book were nicely written and structured.

Audiobook edition: the narrator was nice to listen to.

All in all, a good book. I enjoyed this one!

I really liked the book.
The magical realism gave it a cozy and feel good book vibe.
The book is very engaging and puts the reader into the experience.
The characters were so sweet and the entire family relationship was really loving, and still left room for them to grow from what they were, which feels so good to hear.
The house was really a character and everything was so connected. I really enjoyed the experience.
The narrator did a great job bringing the characters feelings to us and giving them a voice and personality. Everything in a soft tone that did involve us and accompanied us throughout the book.

What a fun story! I loved the vibes this was giving- a little Encanto, a little Practical Magic all rolled into a story about love and loss. We follow the Russell family after the loss of sister and mother to Mattie, Lilith. Mattie is trying to navigate life after the loss of her mother, who was her best friend. They moved a lot throughout their lives and after Lilith's passing Mattie is left wondering where she belongs. The Russell family is peculiar in that they have special "abilities" that aren't easily explained and the house they inhabit is more than a little special as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my only complaint is that the MC friend seemed a little childish for her age. Other than that the characters were likable and relatable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun and unique read!

The Magic All Around had some cute and quirky moments but fell short in it's depth.

The best part of this book for me was the anthropomorphic house the MC resides in. It serves as a character in itself and I found myself quickly endured to it's habits and quirks. The rest of the characters though...they just fell flat for my personal tastes. Without feeling any kinship to the characters, I found it a struggle to care about the plot or overall outcome of the story.

I appreciate the magic in the mundane take the author took...trying to infuse sparkly into everyday moments, I do fear, that readers who have read widely in the Magic realism genre though will find the authors attempt underwhelming.

While the story wasn't a home run for me., I did listen to it, and was really taken with the narration. The narrators voice and cadence seemed to fit the story and it helped in bringing the moments alive.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for this wonderful, uplifting ALC. I truly enjoyed this mystery/magical book. The plot follows Maddie on her quest to complete tasks left for her upon her mother's death. These tasks not only give Maddie her inheritance, but it also helps her to find herself and her dreams. The novel tackles themes such as love, secrets, redemption, family, and the power of fate. The magic realism elements were so endearing! The house is as much a character as the rest of the wonderful cast in the book. I kept imaging the house from Encanto while listening to this beautifully written, full of imagery, novel.