Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Sunny’s life has been full of secrets these past few months: secrets she is keeping from her estranged husband, secrets her grandfather kept from her, and secrets her new hometown seems to depend on as much as the air its residents breathe. She came here to reconnect with her grandfather’s legacy and her newly discovered family, but she was unprepared for the way the town would bring every secret—especially her own—to light. Will Sunny’s family build a future together, or will the truth tear them apart once again?
Heather Webber is the queen of magical realism and small-town romance, with a gift for weaving everyday moments together with mystery and hope. Her latest novel, The Magic of Chamomile Cottage, builds on that legacy with a story that draws readers in with its magic from page one and keeps them invested through its tender relationships and vivid sense of community. Readers familiar with Webber’s books will be delighted by the return of avian characters, a charming tea shop, and light crossover references to familiar places and characters. At its heart, this is a warm, inviting story about found family and the power—and cost—of secrets.
I give The Magic of Chamomile Cottage 5 out of 5 stars. As a longtime fan of Heather Webber’s work, I was still surprised by how completely this novel swept me away. It may be her best yet, blending a slow-burn romance, hopeful longing for the future, and a community determined to breathe new life into its sleepy town. A large cast can easily overwhelm a story, but Webber keeps every relationship clear and purposeful, using those connections to generate both tension and humor. I could not put this book down, and I was not ready to say goodbye to its characters. I can only hope Webber returns to this town someday—even if it is just for another glimpse of the tea shop.
Because the novel includes discussions of family conflict and infertility, it may not be the right fit for every reader. Still, it is an easy recommendation for anyone who loves Webber’s hopeful, heartfelt storytelling. I would also suggest it to readers who enjoy Catherine Mann, Alice Hoffman, or Meg Shaffer. With its blend of magical realism, women’s fiction, romance, horticulture, and homeopathy, it would make an excellent book club selection.
The Magic of Chamomile Cottage will be released on December 1. You can preorder your copy today through our Bookshop.org page.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Murmuration, TJ Klune
- Current audio book: Harboring the Enemy, R.C. Duffy
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Murmuration, TJ Klune
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