Item: The Magic All Around
Rating: 3.50
Author: quirkycat

by Jennifer Moorman

In this latest enchanting novel from bestselling magical realism author Jennifer Moorman, a treasure hunt through the past reveals one woman’s extraordinary gift for arranging the future.

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.

Both Mattie and Penelope are outraged by Lilith’s seemingly random stipulations: throw a Halloween party, take a local pizza cooking class, share secrets with someone . . . But Mattie soon realizes that if she completes the tasks, she may unearth her mother’s secrets, including the identity of Mattie’s father. She may also discover more about the Russell family “gifts” and why Lilith chose Penelope’s former love to be the executor of the will. She may even learn how and why Jonathan Carlisle, the boy who stole her heart ten summers ago, also happens to be back in town.

Mattie can only hope that Lilith’s final map will finally point her home.

Summary:

The Russell family is full of magic. It's not the showy type of magic - the subtler type that takes a keen eye to pick up on. Penelope can infuse emotions into the fabric of the dresses she makes. Lilith will always find exactly the person she needs - a person with a spare apartment or a person with a meal to share.

Then there's Mattie. Mattie can kick off the perfect song for the moment, regardless of its audio form. Mattie recently returned home following the unexpected death of her mother in a desperate attempt to find her place in the world. In the process, she'll finally learn about her roots.

Review:

If you’re looking for a cozy new fantasy novel, consider checking out The Magic All Around. Despite (or maybe because of) all the magic in this tale, it feels so wonderfully human.

The Magic All Around plays with common elements and themes, such as family, love, community, self-discovery/actualization, and home concept. Many of these subjects will resonate with readers, as we’ve all questioned our place in the world at some point or another.

This novel is split into three perspectives: Mattie, Jonathan, and Penelope. The choice of perspectives surprised me at first, but I quickly became enchanted with the combination of narratives.

The Magic All Around is absolutely a book worth reading, especially if you like gentle romances, human stories, and just a dash of magic.

Highlights:
Magical Realism
Fantasy Romance
Cozy Fantasy

Thanks to Tor Harper Muse and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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The Magic All Around

by Jennifer Moorman

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on Sep 8, 2024

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