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readhikerepeat's review
4.0
From The Book Wheel:
I won Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson From Isi, one of my favorite book bloggers who lives across the globe. I had a feeling I would like it because I trust her judgment, and I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed. Told from the viewpoints of three different characters, Caramel and Magnolias is not the simple love story that I expected it to be based on the title. While the book does emphasize loss and renewed love, the driving force behind the story is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl and the butterfly effect that results.
One of the reasons I was so drawn into this book was that it was filled with random little details that I could relate to. There are references to Law & Order (my favorite show), the brothers have the same names as some brothers in my family, I love the name Madison, there’s an Allison, and one of the character’s favorite driving snacks is cheddar popcorn (I’m a big SmartFood popcorn fan). I know the author wrote these details with absolutely no intent of speaking to me directly, but the number of similarities drew me in.
For the full review, click here.
I won Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson From Isi, one of my favorite book bloggers who lives across the globe. I had a feeling I would like it because I trust her judgment, and I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed. Told from the viewpoints of three different characters, Caramel and Magnolias is not the simple love story that I expected it to be based on the title. While the book does emphasize loss and renewed love, the driving force behind the story is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl and the butterfly effect that results.
One of the reasons I was so drawn into this book was that it was filled with random little details that I could relate to. There are references to Law & Order (my favorite show), the brothers have the same names as some brothers in my family, I love the name Madison, there’s an Allison, and one of the character’s favorite driving snacks is cheddar popcorn (I’m a big SmartFood popcorn fan). I know the author wrote these details with absolutely no intent of speaking to me directly, but the number of similarities drew me in.
For the full review, click here.
felinity's review
3.0
Sylvia desperately wants a baby. Cleo is detached from life. Peter feels abandoned. Jack is suicidal. And desperate teenaged girls are getting pregnant and giving their babies up for cash.
This multi-viewpoint story easily moves from character to character, giving insight and understanding each time while advancing the overall plot and the characters grow (or stagnate) realistically. The ending feels a little too simplistic, but only by a touch.
This multi-viewpoint story easily moves from character to character, giving insight and understanding each time while advancing the overall plot and the characters grow (or stagnate) realistically. The ending feels a little too simplistic, but only by a touch.
Spoiler
Alva is the only one who seems a little two-dimensional, but I could have done without the "adopt and you'll get pregnant" trope. Seriously, Sylvia had been going through IVF and they hadn't said "Oh, by the way, the main problem's with your husband?"jillyfay's review
4.0
Great story
I really enjoyed the romance and police suspense of this. Took some good twists and turns. Looking forward to the next one in the series!
I really enjoyed the romance and police suspense of this. Took some good twists and turns. Looking forward to the next one in the series!
ctorretta's review
5.0
The beginning of this had me a tad confused but only because there are so many characters. I got them all set in my brain and was able to continue without too much trouble. There are a lot of characters but each of them are fleshed out so well, with their own faults and questions about life, wishes and loves. It was amazing to see all of these characters and such a great plot in a relatively short book. 246 pages and Tess Thompson is able to give you the ins and outs of everyone as well as bringing everything together in the end.
The two main women Cleo and Sylvia have had some major issues in their lives. Even some of the men have. There are a few things that I guessed at but it was the well given clues that I felt like Tess purposefully added into the story, and each of these clues came together. There are so many plots, not just one main road that you’re heading down and that made it even more fun, albeit it confusing at first. Funnily enough I had no clue who the bad guy was in this. Although there are clues, for some reason my brain didn’t go there. But I love not being able to guess everything in a plot so this was a nice twist.
This really was true to life, scary in a way because it cuts to the core of many difficult subject matters and at times it just hurts to read this but I was wondering what was going to happen so I just couldn’t stop reading! But it was one of those true to life books where you’re cringing knowing that the characters have gone through so much and wanting so much more for them.
Sylvia was probably the one I most felt connected with. Although I loved all of the characters, Sylvia was a woman that could face the things that she did wrong in life and try to work through it. But it were also her issues of not having children that really hit home for me and had tears streaming down my face.
This was a wonderful read. My first of Tess Thompson’s books but it will not be my last!!
The two main women Cleo and Sylvia have had some major issues in their lives. Even some of the men have. There are a few things that I guessed at but it was the well given clues that I felt like Tess purposefully added into the story, and each of these clues came together. There are so many plots, not just one main road that you’re heading down and that made it even more fun, albeit it confusing at first. Funnily enough I had no clue who the bad guy was in this. Although there are clues, for some reason my brain didn’t go there. But I love not being able to guess everything in a plot so this was a nice twist.
This really was true to life, scary in a way because it cuts to the core of many difficult subject matters and at times it just hurts to read this but I was wondering what was going to happen so I just couldn’t stop reading! But it was one of those true to life books where you’re cringing knowing that the characters have gone through so much and wanting so much more for them.
Sylvia was probably the one I most felt connected with. Although I loved all of the characters, Sylvia was a woman that could face the things that she did wrong in life and try to work through it. But it were also her issues of not having children that really hit home for me and had tears streaming down my face.
This was a wonderful read. My first of Tess Thompson’s books but it will not be my last!!
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