**ARC Provided in exchange for an honest review**

Title: The Book Charmer
Author: Karen Hawkins
Series: Dove Pond #1
Publication: July 30th, 2019
Read: July 2019
Format: Digital
Rating: 4 Caffeinated Stars

Goodreads Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins crafts an unforgettable story about a sleepy Southern town, two fiercely independent women, and a truly magical friendship.

Sarah Dove is no ordinary bookworm. To her, books have always been more than just objects: they live, they breathe, and sometimes they even speak. When Sarah grows up to become the librarian in her quaint Southern toThe characters in The Book Charmer were so much fun. I enjoyed getting to know their nuances and quirks, and I felt like Dove Pond was remarkably similar to another favorite town that I grew up with, Stars Hollow.wn of Dove Pond, her gift helps place every book in the hands of the perfect reader. Recently, however, the books have been whispering about something out of the ordinary: the arrival of a displaced city girl named Grace Wheeler.

If the books are right, Grace could be the savior that Dove Pond desperately needs. The problem is, Grace wants little to do with the town or its quirky residents—Sarah chief among them. It takes a bit of urging, and the help of an especially wise book, but Grace ultimately embraces the challenge to rescue her charmed new community. In her quest, she discovers the tantalizing promise of new love, the deep strength that comes from having a true friend, and the power of finding just the right book.

“A mesmerizing fusion of the mystical and the everyday” (Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author), The Book Charmer is a heartwarming story about the magic of books that feels more than a little magical itself. Prepare to fall under its spell.

My Thoughts:

The characters in The Book Charmer were so much fun. I enjoyed getting to know their nuances and quirks, and I felt like Dove Pond was remarkably similar to another favorite town that I grew up with, Stars Hollow. The town itself had a beautiful feel to it, and the townspeople just enhanced the story. Each character brought a fun aspect to the novel, and I loved seeing all of the interactions. I especially loved the romance aspect of this book. I will admit, the magic realism of the book at times felt a little off. It was almost repetitive at times, and that became a bit dull for me.

Even though the magic realism was a bit too repetitive, I found that I loved how realistic Karen Hawkins was able to write real-world issues. This book dealt with some serious and hard issues such as PTSD & Alzheimers. I do feel that Karen Hawkins did an excellent job of showing the problems that PTSD & Alzheimers can bring up. Along with that, I liked seeing the characters dealing with those occurrences as well.

The one big problem I had with this book was how slow it felt. There were only a few instances where I was on the edge of my seat. The Book Charmer seemed to mosy around a bit. I found myself bored at some instances, but by the 50% mark, the pace quickened. I would have loved to feel more drawn in.

All in all, the characters make this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Gilmore Girls and Matilda. I definitely will look into the next book in the series.

Did my review convince you to buy this book? If so here are the links to buy your very own copy!

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