Emily Benedict has come to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew, she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life: Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, not only wishing to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth but also dreaming of rekindling the love she fears might be lost forever. Can a hummingbird cake really bring back a lost love? Is there really a ghost dancing in Emily’s backyard? The answers are never what you expect. But in this town of lovable misfits, the unexpected fits right in. — Random House
Photo courtesy of Amazon.com
This is, by far, the first book I think I’ve read in only a matter of hours. Eight, to be exact. I could not put this one down. Except when I had to, which was to drive. Other than that, my attention was solely for the pages in this novel. I was not only sucked into the story, but felt I could relate to it. Yes, I learned something while reading The Girl Who Chased the Moon because it’s full of hope and unrequited love and romance and oddities and sweets. Interesting combination, right?
Emily is a teenager who moves in with her grandfather after her mother’s untimely death. While she knows nothing about her mother’s home town, she goes into the new experience with little to lose and everything to gain. She finds friendship, family and love all in a matter of days. But she also finds out about the secrets in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina which clue her in to the person her mother once was. On the flipside to Emily’s tale, we find Julia—a native of Mullaby—who has returned “temporarily” to settle her father’s debts. The one man she wanted to avoid while there seems to pop up when she least expects and works his way back into her life. There is a connection between the two and Julia does her best to fight it.
What I love about this book is the hope that rings throughout every page. I never felt that our two protagonists wouldn’t eventually find their happiness in some way. This isn’t a supernatural book in the extreme sense, but there are some quirks that give the characters and occurrences a nudge into the “other” genre. The little oddities I speak of—a gentle giant, the Mullaby lights, magical wallpaper—are what make this tale different from any other romance I’ve read. It also doesn’t hurt that the male love interests for Emily and Julia—Win and Sawyer, respectively—are both gorgeous, rich, and southern gentleman. I couldn’t help smiling when they made their appearances, being such intriguing and mysterious persons. Who doesn’t like a little mystery? What I like most about them is they aren’t pretentious rich kids. Yes, they have family money, but they are down to earth and sweet. I find most male characters in this position are more likely than not jerks and overly cocky with every woman they come in contact with. So it was refreshing to come across such familiar yet new characterizations.
Sarah Addison Allen is on my list of authors to look out for. I stumbled upon her book while browsing the Borders website and checking out some of the recommendations. Once I saw there was cake involved, I had to at least see what this novel entailed. I was not disappointed and wish I would have picked it up earlier this month when I first came across it in my local library. Allen hops right into the meat of the story without throwing too much at you all at once. While I did find some story lines predictable, I didn’t mind it. In fact, I was happy to see things going the way I hoped. Not only did it make me excited to read more, I kept thinking I’ll enjoy it even more on my second read-through.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cake, romance, and a bit of the extraordinary. The Girl Who Chased the Moon will make you smile with its light and fun feel. But don’t be fooled, there’s a villain I loved to hate. Come back once you’ve read it and let’s talk.
Latest posts by Elle (Posts)
- The Walking Dead Season Finale – “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life” Review. It’s Showtime! - April 6, 2017
- The Walking Dead – “Something They Need” Review. Full of Guns and Surprises and Guns. - March 29, 2017
- The Walking Dead – “The Other Side” Review. Girl Power! - March 22, 2017
- The Walking Dead ― “Bury Me Here” Review. The End Is Near. - March 15, 2017
Follow Us!