From the Bookshelf of Nothing But Reading Challenges…

The Peach Keeper

Sarah Addison Allen

Start date: July 12, 2012

Finish date: July 31, 2012

Why we're reading this: We voted and you chose this one for our Anything goes BOM. Discussion here! …more
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What Members Thought

Aug 27, 2011 BJ Rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: gr-authors, library-books, contemporary

I have been in love with Sarah Addison Allen's writing since I read Garden Spells, and was tickled to see Claire Waverly & her magical culinary talents brought into this book. This wasn't quite as good as GS, but it was a fun, compelling read.

I liked the variety of things that "her grandmother used to tell her." I liked the folklore that was brought into the story, especially the bit about putting a penny on the windowsill and leaving the window open a crack to allow the ghost to be sucked out ...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Bonnie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2011-books, romcom

This book was just TOO CUTE! I didn’t think I’d like this one at all—I thought it would be overly sentimental chick lit.I needn’t have worried! This was good. A quiet magical realism and a bit of a murder mystery (kinda; that's really more of a subplot). But really it's a romance. It's pretty much pure fluff, but that was exactly what I needed and it was utterly satisfying fluff.

It would be really easy for Allen to have descended to pulp novel-level stereotypical characters. But, somehow, even This book was just TOO CUTE! I didn’t think I’d like this one at all—I thought it would be overly sentimental chick lit.I needn’t have worried! This was good. A quiet magical realism and a bit of a murder mystery (kinda; that's really more of a subplot). But really it's a romance. It's pretty much pure fluff, but that was exactly what I needed and it was utterly satisfying fluff.

It would be really easy for Allen to have descended to pulp novel-level stereotypical characters. But, somehow, even though they fit “types” the characters felt whole. Willa, the ex-bad girl (well, not really bad, just a prankster with a bad spending habit) who, after her father’s death feels ashamed of disappointing him (she thinks! Of course, he was actually proud of her but for some reason never tells her) so returns to town and tries to be as normal and as good a citizen as possible. She, of course, has to learn to open up a little more and let a touch of her wild child loose. And Paxton, the too-good girl, a perfectionist with a controlling mama and an inability to stand up for herself. She, of course, also has to learn to let go and be true to herself. I did love that Paxton was the rich, popular girl who was never a mean girl. She just happened to be wealthy and so involved that she was naturally popular. In a lesser story, Paxton would’ve bullied Willa in high school or been a snob or something. Instead, they just had some honest misunderstandings of how they felt about each other and also just never were in the same social circles.

Colin was a solid love interest for Willa—a normal guy who weirds Willa out by putting her high school self on a pedestal and who runs away from dealing with his family’s perceived expectations for his life instead of staying in town to work them out. I thought it was funny that Willa kept trying to avoid him, but he was sweetly (and not overbearingly!) persistent. That sentence sounds weird and stalkerish...but it wasn’t! My heart really belongs to Sebastian, though. Unfortunately, his storyline is pretty spoiler-ish, so that is all going to be spoiler tagged.

(view spoiler) ...more

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Apr 12, 2011 Kiki rated it it was amazing

This story sucked me right in. I loved the intricate way the characters lived intertwined, the hints at lore and magic, the suspense, etc. The friendships and romances had you rooting for them. The setting was expertly crafted as well as each character. The back stories were as good as the main ones. It all came together so nicely. I truly loved everything about this novel! I just couldn't put it down, and now that it is over I want more. I will be buying more of this author shortly. ...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Wendy rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2013-reads

I wanted to read this one because it sounded like a fun, quick read. However, nothing about it felt right. There were parts that included some magical elements and it just never flowed with the storyline. The relationships among the characters seemed very superficial and unrealistic. I was hoping there would be at least a surprise ending, but it was so predictable right from the start. I'm giving it 2 stars because I think the setting and idea of the story was interesting, but that was it! I'm g ...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Morgan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, five-star-reads, chick-lit

Third book I've read by this author (The Girl Who Chased the Moon and Garden Spells were the others) and I really enjoyed them all. I'd say this one was my second favorite, bumping Garden Spells down one.

Small town North Carolina, a dash of history, and a dash of something magical. It could be the same equation for all three of the books, I mentioned, but it's a wonderful equation.

Will definitely seek out more of her work in the future.

**borrowed from the library** ...more

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