The Magic of Found Objects

A Novel

By: Maddie Dawson

Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo

Length: 11 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners comes a feel-good story about becoming who you were meant to be all along.

Phronsie Linnelle was conceived at Woodstock in a serendipitous liaison between a free-spirited hippie and a farmer’s son and was born with magical wonder flickering in her DNA and rationality knit into her bones. All her life she’s been torn between the two. But now that she’s been betrayed by both love and the mother she once idolized, her rational side is winning.

So when her best friend from childhood proposes that they give up on romance and marry each other, Phronsie agrees. Who better to spend your life with than your best friend? Maybe the connection they already have is love. Maybe there’s no falling to be done. But immediately after they announce their engagement, she encounters someone who makes a very charming and compelling argument for revisiting romance.

While her even-keeled stepmother argues for the safety that comes with her new engagement and her mother relays messages from the universe to hold out for true love, Phronsie must look to her own heart to find the answers that have been there all along.

©2021 Maddie Dawson. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

I missed it when it was over

It takes me a while to finish a book because I don't have long periods of time available to listen.
I wasn't crazy about the reader at 1st, but she really grew on me and she she did an incredible job. The whole story was interesting and thought provoking in the realm of love which is not a realm I spend much time in!
It was mildly predictable but I was in the mood for that.
My absolutely favorite part was when The main character's mother describes Woodstock. It may be the best description of anything I have ever read, and some of that credit must go to the reader because she read it beautifully. I was just a toddler when Woodstock happened but felt like I was there, and the emotion that she put into it was was epic.

Quirky characters, friendship, love and family!

The Magic of Found Objects was a refreshing and compelling read. I read it on Audible, and played it continuously for 2-1/2 days, including on my earphones while water walking in the pool! The story was moving and interesting, and I, like a few other readers, hope there will be a sequel. I found the pacing and complex interrelationships very well done. I loved meeting Phronsie and Jud and their families. The story was greatly enhanced for me by a truly superb reader -- such a relief after many a bad or annoying one. I thought her light, sensitive approach was perfect. This was a genuine and moving story of the difference between love and friendship, and how longing for romance isn't a sign of weakness at all, but a crucial divining tool for sorting the two. As a mother and step mom, I was also gratified by Phronsie's connection to both her Bohemian mom and her steady caring step-mother. I thought the wedding dress shopping scenes were hilarious, and oh so true. Hats off to Maddie Dawson for yet another tale of people we can care about, shake our head over, and root wholeheartedly for!

Loved!

Yes it’s a RomCom but with a twist. Phronsie is trying to figure herself out, detangle her past and move forward. Just life does, when you stop looking for love it happens. Great lovable characters! Excellent narrator.
Included in Kindle Unlimited!!!!

A lLove Story

Though somewhat predictable, the story was well written and the storyline being non-linear helped keep it moving and suspenseful.
My main criticism is in the voice of the male characters: most of the men sounded the same and all of them sounded like a female trying to sound masculine.
This being said, Dawson’s story is a good one and worthy of reading/hearing if you like love stories, which I do… otherwise I wouldn’t have purchased it. It successfully tugged at my emotions and made me feel good.

Story about being free to who you want to be

I would not call this a rom-com or even a romance book. I would call it women's lit. I enjoyed hearing about the experiences at Woodstock and how it made everyone feel as it contrasted to life on the farm with rules and routines. This was a very long story with so many tales of childhood and expectations. I only gave it 4 stars because the ending was so abrupt and not satisfying after such a long listen. Narrator was great.

Good, easy listen

A nice story to listen to when you need something that doesn't take brain power. A good look at the value all types of personalities bring to life.

pleasant read but predictable

This was an easy to read novel but not super compelling. The plot was predictable, so the ending was no surprise. Very Hallmark movie-like.

If only it was faster!

I loved this book and the insight into Phronsie's past life and her insecurity and broken heart. I related to that. But, it was devastatingly slow and stretched out. It could've been more paced and less, "told rather than shown."

A sweet little romance

I’m not usually much for romance, but this was a sweet little story. Pure fluff. Didn’t require any brain power to keep up with the story. Great for vacation or beach listening.

SNOOOOZE

I am so sick of this story and I still. have 4 more hours to suffer through. I am so tired of all the characters and their lives. I am ready to move on to a book that comes out next week.

*Whimsical Love*

This has to be one of the most unusual books I have read. I added the Audible Narration and I have to say it added to the book. I found a lot of humour in the book with bittersweet moments.

Robert who has a girlfriend named Maggie goes off to Woodstock and gets caught up in the scene of music, sex and was drawn to a hippie type woman named Janet who calls herself Tenaj and to cut a long story short she gets pregnant with twins Phronsie and Hendrix, he decides to do the honourable thing.

After some time he receives some sad news he has to return back to the life he doesn’t want. The Maggie who he leaf behind takes him back but life is not all rosy.

The main focus of the book is about Phronsie, after a broken marriage and a string of bad dates she is disillusioned about love. Her stepmother is all about safety and her mother is all about spells and talking to the universe.

Phronsie’s childhood best friend Judd decides they should get married. He reasons they know each other for years and things will always be safe, after all they don’t need to be losers and have broken hearts right…. Meanwhile waiting in the wings is Adam, what will Phronsie decide……