A book review of The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins. A light, whimsical novel set in the fictional charming town of Dove Pond. Readers looking for a light read with a touch of magic and a sprinkle of romance will love this one.
"I didn't ever want it to end!" - Maddie Dawson
The One Where the Books Talked!
This post is my personal, honest review of The Book Charmer!
The Book Charmer
A Novel by Karen Hawkins
Talking books. A charming town with a touch of magic and whimsy. A gorgeous cover perfect for home decor. The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins had it all and then some. There was no doubt that I had to read it. This is the first book in the Dove Pond series by the author, each book featuring one of the seven Dove sisters, each with a unique gift of her own. For those of you who love Magical realism stories, the world of Dove Pond awaits.
The Book Charmer features Sarah Dove, a local librarian, whose gift is talking to books. The books help the citizens of her charming town in ways neither her nor they could have imagined. Karen Hawkins lovely story explores themes like friendship, alzheimers, family, love, PTSD, town festivals and traditions, coping with change and children growing up in a foster home.
It's no secret that I love books about books and The Book Charmer fits that bill. It is one of those light, heartwarming reads that are perfect for Books, Babes and Life book club.
So without furter ado, here is our September 2022 Book Club Pick.
Happy Reading!!!
Book Synopsis & Details
- from the publisher
New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins crafts an unforgettable story about a sleepy Southern town, two fiercely independent women, and a truly magical friendship.
Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern town of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.
If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.
“A mesmerizing fusion of the mystical and the everyday” (Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author), The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story about the magic of books that feels more than a little magical itself. Prepare to fall under its spell.
Book Details:
Title: The Book Charmer
Author: Karen Hawkins
Publisher: Gallery Books
Print Length: 368 pages
Publication Date: July 30, 2019
Genres: Magical Realism, Small Town, Southern Fiction
Buy on: Amazon
The Story - A Spoiler Free Review
Dove Pond is a lovely town where people genuinely care about each other. Sadly it looks like their beloved town is in trouble and it is the knowledge and expertise of one out-of-towner that may hold the answer to it's promissing future. If you love the Gilmore Girls or Hart of Dixie you will really enjoy this whimsical world where books talk and flowers change colors.
Filled with beautiful quotes, The Book Charmer tells the story of Grace, the town's new clerk, her beloved Mama G, lively niece Daisy and the residents of the charming town of Dove Pond. It takes us on a magical journey of self-discovery and personal growth, overcoming grief, dealing with change and taking chances.
The book starts off slowly as we are introduced to all the characters and their back stories, so it does take some patience, but it does pick up pace in the second half. It was not exactly what I expected either, as the focus was not the book charmer Sarah, but Grace who is to save the town from ruin. The books were not really instrumental to Grace's character arc or the solution either, so the story was not the one I imagined I would be reading based on the publisher's blurb.
"Love can't cure a broken heart, but it can hold the two sides together while they heal."
Karen Hawkins, The Book Charmer
It was however a lovely story, about a family who loves each other in a new town where people genuinely care and are there to land a hand. The magic came in the shape of love and care shown by the community. I loved how difficult and sensitive topics of PTSD, dementia, foster care and drug abuse were handled. The last few chapters were an emotional roller coaster and I found myself laughing and tearing up along the journey these fantastic characters take.
Add to all this a touch of slow-burning romance and you get yourself a lovely light read that will make you root for the town of Dove Pond and its residents, each one more entertaining and lovable than the other. I love traditions and what Karen Hawkins has done with this story to highlight the importance of history and embracing traditions is brilliant.
By the end of it I was in love with everything Dove Pond and couldn't wait to find out what happens next. The Dove sisters and their unique gifts are fascinating and I am looking forward to reading all their stories.
"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship."
Karen Hawkins, The Book Charmer
About the Author and What to Read Next
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Hawkins writes novels that have been praised as touching, witty, charming, and heartwarming. A native Southerner who grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee where storytelling is a way of life, Karen recently moved to frosty New England with her beloved husband and multiple foster dogs. Her highly acclaimed Dove Pond series is a nod to the thousands of books that opened doors to more adventures, places, and discoveries than she ever imagined possible. - from the author's web page
Book Recomendations for Fans of The Book Charmer
If you are a fan of Magical realism or Historical romances and you have never read Karen Hawkins you are missing out. Brilliant writing, masterful ways to gently address sensitive topics, and stories full of heart. With over 30 books in print and more to come Karen Hawkin's series offer a lovely way to escape the reality while helping us face it head on as soon as we put the book down.
Final Thoughts
The Book Charmer by Karen Hawkins is a lovely story perfect for book clubs. It offers plenty of discussion opportunities on topics from family and tradition to magic and love. In it there is something for everyone. A light read full of heart, The Book Charmer will delight readers looking for an escape from the ordinary.
The idea that books offer guidence and hold the answers we need in order face our everyday needs and fears is something I absolutely loved reading about. Of course they do hold the answers and of course they speak to us, but it is one thing knowing this and another reading about it. Karen Hawkins makes us look at books and the wisdom they hold in a new light. We fall in love with her characters and the charming world of Dove Pond.
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