I initially found this book so intriguing because of the cover. Look at it, it’s utterly gorgeous and definitely exudes magic. However, I also initially had the fear that it might verge into the world of schmaltz, and I don’t really enjoy that, which is why I generally read outside of the romance genre. Having never read any other Moorman books, I had no idea what to expect. Overall, I wound up being pleasantly surprised despite having some issues.

Synopsis

Having only ever experienced a nomadic lifestyle as she accompanied her mother from life to life across the U.S. landscape, Mattie Russell isn’t sure how to cope when her mother unexpectedly passes. She finds herself back in Ivy Ridge at their family’s old Victorian home, now occupied by her Aunt Penelope. Despite having no intention to stay, Mattie finds herself sticking around Ivy Ridge in order to fulfill her mother’s last requests, a list of seemingly nonsensical tasks she must complete before she can collect the surprise inheritance her mother left for her. Also complicating things? The boy next door, the one who got away, has also returned, and Mattie still finds him as compelling as she did before.

Review

First, I’ll get the bad out of the way. I can’t get over the fact that if the Hallmark channel did a live action version of Encanto, it would basically be this. We have a matriarchal family living in a magical house, and each of them have their own unique special abilities. The house is a character in and of itself, and it’s sweet and cheeky and a tad bit meddlesome. What we get is a coming of age story in which Mattie realizes the full potential of her abilities and just what a vital role she plays in the Russell family. Do you see what I mean? Then there’s the fact that Mattie has this strange ability to control the radio with her thoughts and emotions, ensuring the perfect song plays at the perfect time. OMG… she’s a transformer.

Ok, that’s maybe a little bit of a stretch, but do you see what I mean? I just felt like so many details in this book seemed borrowed from elsewhere. I know in this world in which there’s such a plethora of digestible content, it’s difficult to come up with something truly original, but this one had so many overused themes. Girl meets boy. Girl kisses boy. Girl never sees boy again until they both return to the same small, sleepy, charming town they both vowed they’d never return, and we can basically guess the rest without actually reading it.

Having said that, there were some really charming elements to the book that kept things fresh and interesting. I did like the concept of Mattie having to complete the tasks. These helped us learn a lot more about her mother, a character we never truly meet. We only hear about her through others. If anything, I feel like this aspect sort of got swallowed by all the other stuff and was treated mainly as an afterthought. I think it would have been more effective had this mystery been more at the forefront and the romance taken a backseat. I don’t know that Jonathan’s perspective needed to be featured at all. He could have still been a supporting character while not detracting from the heart of the story, which is ultimately about the relationships between the women in this family. Or it should be, anyway, in my opinion.

Aside from those quibbles about plot and story structure, the book really is quite lovely. It’s well-written and never drags. There’s a tiny bit of mystery, but it’s ultimately a character study. I would recommend it to someone looking for something light and cozy and not overly complex. And that cover!

Published January 1, 2024 by Harper Muse. ISBN 9781400240524. Audiobook. Runtime 11 hrs 40 mins. Narrated by Kathleen McInerney.