Garden Spells

By: Sarah Addison Allen

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers.

Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants - from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor.

Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys - except for Claire's rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire's quiet life is turned upside down - along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy - if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom - or with each other.

©2007 Sarah Addison Allen (P)2007 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"The blending of horticultural folklore, the supernatural and a big dollop of Southern flavor should find favor with a wide swath of readers." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Spellbindingly charming, Allen's impressively accomplished debut novel will bewitch fans of Alice Hoffman and Laura Esquivel." ( Booklist)

so cozy

I loved this book! very much like an Alice Hoffman book but a little less dark. wonderful story excellent writing. loved it to the last drop.

Really Good

Listened in almost one sitting. I really did enjoy it. Just the right touch of magic and romance. Great narration too.

Magical✨

I listen on a yearly basis because it’s one of my favorites. All things magic & love intertwined.

Utterly charming!

Completely absorbing first moment to last! I love how magic weaves in and out of everyday occurrences! Skilled characterization right down to an apple tree and the house itself!

Comforting and Magical

I loved this book in print and really enjoyed listening to it narrated. A magical read.

Got spelled in the garden..

Fluffy, dopey, predicatable and thoroughly enjoyable. Good choice if you just read/listened to something heavy!

My Favorite Story!

I could listen/read this story over and over and I so wish it were a movie already!! I absolutely love Evenelle, would love to read a story based solely on her backstory. the dynamic between the sisters is an accurate portrayal of most sibling relationships in my humble opinion. And I delight in the focus on edible flowers and the old superstition of the south. I grew up in the south so its an added treat, no pun intended. 😍

Frustrating narration

The book was ok, a bit sappy and predictable, but overall a nice story. I'm not sure if it was the narrator or the sound editing, but the narrators voice would frequently trail off at the end of a sentence and become inaudible. I became tired of backing it up and replaying it at a higher sounds level and settled for missing the words.

The Apple Tree

Would you consider the audio edition of Garden Spells to be better than the print version?

Most definitely,

Who was your favorite character and why?

I had two favorite characters, Clare and Evenelle. I liked the mystery of Evenelle who always seemed to be interfering without really doing so. Clare I loved her strength and her ability to hold everything together. She had the courage to take what she wanted without becoming an overbearing character.

What about Susan Ericksen???s performance did you like?

Very much so, it was so easy to imagine a face for all the characters. Even down to who was tall and who was small.

If you could rename Garden Spells, what would you call it?

The Garden of Enchantment

Any additional comments?

I did not want to finish reading as I came to the end of the story. I was truly enchanted and felt like this could continue with the lives of these people so intertwined. All the characters had a dark side to them which love allowed them to overcome. Great read!

Great book!

Intriguing look at a family dealing with how their special gifts them and others.