The Book Charmer

I'm a sucker for a gorgeous cover and a story that has a library in it so The Book Charmer clearly fit the bill. Based on the blurb I was expecting a magical realism-type read with a strong Sarah Addison Allen vibe. But what I got was a very light, contemporary fiction story that needed a lot more oomph and direction to its plot and depth to its characters. 

On the outside, this book ticks all the boxes: big issues (Alzheimer's PTSD, loss, foster care ...), a big cast of characters and a sweet, hometown feel. I give credit with how sensitively Alzheimer's is handled but overall, the issues are merely skimmed over leaving readers with a plot where not much actually happens. Most of the page time is spent 'telling instead of showing' with a lot of time wasted on tedious dialogue that didn't benefit the plot or character development.

The characters were a sweet bunch but thinly developed - from the Khal Drogo-esque tough guy next door who has a heart of gold underneath his muscles and tattoos to uptight Grace who is an overworked ice queen to sweet Mama G and finally to Sarah, the town librarian whose mystical ability should be the heart of the story. But, surprisingly, it's not. It is incidental to the plot and is never quite explained to the reader. Misleading and a little frustrating for this reader.

This is a good pick if you want a very light story with a strong Hallmark movie of the week vibe about saving a withering town. It's a story you can pick up and put down easily without getting lost in the plot or remembering who's who. But if you're looking for a book that gives you something to think about and characters you can connect with, this may not be the book you're looking for.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Karen Hawkins

Genre: Light Contemporary Fiction

Type: Trade Paperback (368 pages)

Series: 1st in the Dove Pond series

Source: Local Public Library

Publisher: Gallery Books

First Published: July 30, 2019

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.