Just South of the Buttonwood Tree, a baby is crying. Blue Bishop and her neighbor are nearby and find the little girl – Blue has a long history of finding lost things. They had no idea, however, how much this baby would change their future…and that of the whole town.
Best-selling author Heather Webber is known for her ability to weave magical realism and romance into gripping stories of family drama. South of the Buttonwood Tree, Webber’s follow up to The Blackbird Café, delivers on that legacy. Utilizing folklore and mysticism similar to tales told throughout the Appalachian region, Webber reveals a town suffering from misconceptions about their neighbors and a need to hide any imperfections. This book is about following your heart and accepting that we are all a little flawed.
I give South of the Buttonwood Tree 5 out of 5 stars. This is my third Webber novel and I love them all so much! Webber slowly builds the backstory and history of each character in a way that keeps readers invested and wanting more. I finished this novel wanting more of these characters – see how the various romances and family drama play out, and watch the baby grow up.
I would recommend this book for readers who have loved Webber’s other works, or the works of Alice Hoffman. The magical realism and family drama in Webber’s works is so similar to Hoffman’s! I would also recommend this book to readers who enjoy southern folklore. With light references to violence and death, this book would be best for readers over 13.
I chose South of the Buttonwood Tree for the Booklist Queen Reading Challenge prompt “by an author you love”. I was first introduced to Webber’s works last year when I read Midnight at the Blackbird Café for a reading prompt of “with a bird on the cover”. Earlier this year, I was fortunate to receive an ARC of her latest release At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities. I hope to continue reading through her standalone books in 2024!
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman
- Current audio book: Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman
- Book I’m most looking forward to: The Rules of Magic, Alice Hoffman
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