I love Moorman's writings and I've been seeking out all her books since I read The Baker's Man. This book did not disappoint. It's just as magical as all of her books seem to be, and since I also have a love of hummingbirds, I couldn't get enough of this story.

February 8, 2024
First I have to comment on the absolutely beautiful cover, it feels magical. This is the first book I've read by Jennifer Moorman, and I found it delightful. I will be seeking out her other books.

Upon her mother's death, Mattie has returned to her mother's family home for the funeral. When there she learns that the Russell house, and the Russell women are enchanted. She all learns through her mother's will that she will have to perform a series of tasks on order to inherit a rust fund her mother set aside for her. These tasks seem random and odd, but we soon learn that it was all a magical plan.
This book is so sweet and heartwarming. I loved all of the characters, and the wonderful little town it takes place in.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus for the advanced listener copy. Kathleen McInerney's narration was wonderful. I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse, for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Kathleen McInerney who does a fantastic job.

This is such a different read for me, and I really enjoyed it! I am new to the magical realism genre and this was a magical journey about the memories of places and people we carry throughout our lives. I found the special gifts the Russell family had to be inventive and fun. I loved the list of things Mattie had to accomplish for her inheritance, and what she found while she was performing these tasks. I liked the entire Russell family. The pace was solid and the story kept my attention.

I recommend this fun read.

This one wasn’t for me, unfortunately - 2.5 rounded up. It’s a slow magical realism story that should have a lot of what I enjoy (character study, female relationships), but I found myself struggling to plod along.

Premise - a beautiful young woman moves in with her beautiful, aging in reverse, female family in a magical house following the death of her mother and finds herself.

It’s no Encanto, unfortunately, but contains the beauty means goodness trope of old school Disney. The book even explicitly said that if someone is good, you’ll see it on their face (stated by the preternaturally lovely, looks younger than she is, grandma). I thought we left that in the 90s.

📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: magical realism
📚 Target Age Group: adult

💕 Characters: 2/5
💕 Writing: 3/5
💕 Plot: 2/5
💕 Pacing: 2/5
💕 Unputdownability: 2/5
💕 Enjoyment: 2/5
💕 Book Cover: 4/5

Thanks, NetGalley and Harper Muse, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Russell family lives in Ivy Ridge, Georgia. They all have special talents aka gifts. Lilith's talent was getting men to fall in love with her which made living in a small town impossible. She moved around a lot with her daughter Maddie. Maddie has been moving with her mom and is lost when Lilith suddenly dies. She goes home to Ivy Ridge and finds out her mom has a will and some tasks she needs to do.

I Loved this book. I bawled. I love magical realism books. This one reminded me of Karen Hawkins, Sarah Addison Allen and Heather Webber. I was so excited to find she has other books. I listened to the audiobook and it was just perfect. There were so many sweet moments that I just bawled. 😭 Seriously if you love magic and sweetness, pick up the audiobook of this book. *Chef's kiss

Another beautiful read!
I know that I like time travel and dual timelines, and I guess that I now know that I also like Magic!

This one did not disappoint.

Mattie is a young woman who is an artist. She is called back home after her Mother dies, and needs to be present in her 'small town' for the funeral and the reading of the will. She has no intentions of staying there.

But, to her surprise, her Mom has left some surprises for her...requiring her to remain in her small town for a little while while completing some tasks.

No worries though, she has her Aunt Penelope and her godmother Sophia? (I forget..but I think it was that, or maybe just another Aunt type figure...) Her Mom never stayed in one place very long, and it seems like Mattie is following in her footsteps.
But, being back in the place where she spent her summers growing up is bringing back all kinds of memories....

She meets up with her neighbor/school girl crush, Jonathon, as well as many others in the town who would love nothing more than for her to stay!

Jonathon is also back in town for a short stint after his Dad had a health scare.... so, the timing seems to be perfect!

Add in a haunted/magical/living house, a small town vibe where everyone is looking out for everyone else, and the chance at maybe...love??? And, well, you have a very special book indeed!

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!

#TheMagicAllAround by #JenniferMoorman and beautifully narrated by #KathleenMcInerney.

Thanks to #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsFocus and #HarperMuse for an ARC of the audiobook which was actually released last month (1/16/24), but just arrived in my inbox yesterday! But you should be able to find it already!

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Thanks so much for reading!📚⭐️📖

What a delightfully charming book! The beauty of well written magical realism is that it does not feel impossible. The Magic All Around is tied together with a delicate ribbon woven of love.

Mattie is adrift since her mother’s unexpected death. Together they lived a nomadic life, never staying in one place long enough to establish roots. Mattie doesn’t expect to stay in her mom’s hometown much past the funeral, but finds herself unable to leave until she fulfills the conditions set forth in her mother’s will.

The Russell women have a reputation for being gifted with special abilities and Mattie seems to be continuing that tradition. As she works on completing the tasks her mother set for her, she discovers that her mom is continuing to guide her even after her death. The magical components in this book are subtle and feel like a comforting hug reminding us that love lives on.

Thank you to Netgalley Harper Collins Focus, and Harper Collins Muse for this the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I loved this one! The whole story was magical. Mattie has always followed her mother to wherever she went. Now her mother has passed and she doesn't know what to do with her life because she's always been on her mother's coat tails. This is her journey.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins Focus for this incredible book in exchange for an honest review.

The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman is a charming, magical story and Kathleen McInerney narrated it wonderfully.

The book is written from multiple POV's and creates an encompassing, fluid narrative that is warm, engaging and entertaining all at once

Mattie struggles with how to conduct her life following the passing of her mother but this event brings the siblings back together in an enchanted house in Ivy ridge. A simple core premise is a strong foundation for elegantly woven storylines and Moorman does no dissapoint. The character development is wonderful and written so well that you cannot help but feel empathy for each one of these strong personalities as you listen to the book

The book is about reflection, family, honesty and dreams, but most of all about love for each other

Definitely a book of the warm fuzzies and perfect for this very cold winters evening

Thank you to Netgalley Harper Collins Focus, Harper Collins Muse, the author Jennifer Moorman and the stunning narrator Kathleen McInerney for this beautiful ALC. My review is left of my own volition

The Magic All Around
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loved the book & the Audio! I didn't want it to end. After reading it I listen to all the great songs that were named in the story. So much fun. You will fall in love with the characters, even the house. It was a charming magic story. I love Jennifer Moorman books! Keep your eyes open to embrace ALL the MAGIC around you!

“You can tell a lot about the state of a person‘s heart by looking at their face… If they are full of life and vitality, if you can feel the joy all around them, you can bet those are the people you want to know, to listen to. Those are the ones to keep close. They are truly alive.”

4.5 stars! Wow. I was so very pleasantly surprised at just how much I loved this book! I was sent a physical copy and #gifted the audiobook and I am so grateful for that!! Magical realism isn’t a genre I tend to pick up because it’s so up in the air as to whether or not I’ll enjoy it. But I am learning that I really need to change that mindset as I have been truly enjoying this genre lately.

I just loved these women! This story is so whimsical and magical. Dare I say that the house is my favorite character? It breathes. It feels. What a warm and comforting feeling, no? Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Muse Books, and the author for the ARC and @libro.fm for the audiobook.