Sarah Addison Allen

a novel

The girl who chased the moon

Rebecca C Wright

Love and magic go hand in hand in this lovely story by Sarah Addison Allen. I am solidly a big fan of her writing:)

Emily Benedict came 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 realises 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 neighbour, Julia Winterson, bakes hope in the form of cakes, offering them to satisfy the town's sweet tooth - but also in the hope of rekindling a 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.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon

Colleen

3.5 Stars
 
The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a sweet Magical Realism story about the people of a small town of Mullaby, North Carolina. It all starts with orphaned seventeen-year-old Emily Benedict being sent to live with the grandfather she never knew was alive. She quickly notices that there is something strange about the town of Mullaby. Everyone seems to have a secret, and the town holds a hateful grudge against Emily’s mother.
 
I won’t lie; this story did not grab my attention right away. I was bored and frustrated for the first couple chapters. This was mainly because the story dumps the reader unceremoniously into the story without explaining the background. So I had no idea who the characters were. They kept making deliberately vague references to past events and secrets that the reader has no possible way of comprehending. I briefly considered abandoning this book altogether. But I am glad I stuck with it. Once I figured out who everyone was and once the narrative finally started to fill in the background information, I started enjoying the story much more.
 
Although the book starts focused on Emily, it does switch back and forth between several characters POV all in third person. I was quickly engrossed in all of the characters’ stories, and I wanted to wrap them up in soft blankets and give them each Happily Ever Afters. I felt their ups and downs as well as the frustration of small town dynamics. It’s definitely a character-driven story with very descriptive writing.
 
Although the tone of the story is very heartwarming and syrupy, there are actually some heavy themes discussed (including self-harm, bullying, teen pregnancy, parental neglect, and grief). It kept the story from being too fluffy.
 
Some of the magical elements were more interesting than others, but there were some creative ideas. The whole Mullaby Lights angle fizzled out for me, but the rest of the town came alive. I could picture everything clearly. I could smell all that amazing food. I loved how food played an important part in the story. That theme was woven throughout and helped enhance the air of Southern charm.
 
I wish the ending didn’t fade out when it did. It felt too open ended. And though I know that’s the way life is, I wanted just a bit more from the ending. That is part of the reason I’m not rating this higher, but it’s mostly because of the rough start to the book. But overall, this was a beautiful, enchanting story. I will definitely check out more of Sarah Addison Allen’s work.
 
But this story made me so hungry. Oh, and I totally want the wallpaper from Emily’s room!


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 4 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 4 Stars
Originality: 3 Stars

Jessica Ford

I loved this book, just like I loved The Peach Keeper by Allen. This is another magical book. I loved all of the characters, even the kooky Beverly. Sometimes you just want a fun, unreal book to make you feel good, and this is it.

Taryn Quigg

Was an overall very enjoyable and interesting book. I was pulled in from the first chapter and didn't want to put it down until I was finished. The characters are great and I loved that the twists weren't ones that were obvious, they took you by suprise after you spent time trying to figure out what was going to happen. This was the first book by Allen that I have read and I will definitely be checking out more of her work.

Celeste Richardson

As pretty and sweet and light as the cakes baked within its pages.

Sandra Gomes

Kate

I had some issues with this book but it also made me cry. So.

Shawna Gavas

Emily has arrived in Mullaby after the death of her mother. Her only living relative is her 8ft tall grandfather Vance. Until now, Emily has never known about Vance. Her mother never spoke of the past...and now Emily is about to find out why. 

Julia was a troubled teen. But that was 20 years ago. She has come back to Mullaby with a 2 year plan: bring up the value of her dad's barbeque restaurant, sell it for a tidy profit and leave. But nothing is ever what we plan....

Win Coffey is a rather unique boy. He wears a linen suit and a red bowtie on his morning strolls through town, he's extremely handsome, and he does NOT come out at night. None of the Coffey's do. They haven't for centuries.

What I love about Allen's books are the whimsical way she weaves magic into her stories. Wallpaper that changes depending on your mood, ghosts fluttering in the yard at night, bake a cake with the window open and your loved one will find their way home.

If you haven't read one of Sarah Addison Allen's books before you really should. She has such a poetic way of writing that she captures the readers attention and transports them into a seemingly normal small town only to find it anything but. Everything and anything is possible.

The girl who chased the moon a novel

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