I loved this book! It's well-written, enjoyable, and a great read. Karen Hawkins did a great job of writing in a way that captures the readers attention, and makes you not want to put it down until you're finished! I would highly recommend it!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Plus, books about books or bookish people-right up my alley!! It felt atmospheric, feminist and like I was transported to this world. I didn’t find a ton of depth in this book, but I enjoyed it all the same and glad I read it.

"The Book Charmer" by Karen Hawkins is a enchanting tale that weaves together the magic of books, the bonds of family, and the power of community into a captivating narrative that will linger in readers' hearts long after the final page is turned.

Set in the picturesque town of Dove Pond, North Carolina, the story follows the lives of Sarah Dove, a descendant of the town's founding family with a special gift for matching people with the perfect books, and Grace Wheeler, a newcomer to Dove Pond who finds herself drawn into the town's quirky charms and mysteries.

At the heart of the story is the magical "book whisperer" phenomenon, where certain residents of Dove Pond are chosen to receive mysterious messages from the town itself, guiding them towards the books they need most in their lives. As Grace settles into her new home and forms unexpected connections with Sarah and the other residents of Dove Pond, she begins to uncover the secrets of the town and its inhabitants, including Sarah's own struggle to preserve the town's unique magic in the face of change and uncertainty.

Hawkins's writing is imbued with warmth, humor, and a deep appreciation for the transformative power of stories. Through her vivid descriptions and evocative prose, she brings the charming town of Dove Pond to life, painting a richly detailed portrait of a community where magic and reality intertwine in unexpected ways.

The characters in "The Book Charmer" are wonderfully drawn and multi-dimensional, each with their own quirks, flaws, and hidden depths. From Sarah, with her quiet strength and unwavering devotion to her family and town, to Grace, whose resilience and compassion shine through even in the face of adversity, every character feels authentic and relatable.

What sets "The Book Charmer" apart is its exploration of themes of family, friendship, and belonging. As Grace and Sarah navigate the challenges of their own lives, they find solace and support in the bonds they form with each other and the other residents of Dove Pond. Through their journey, Hawkins reminds us of the power of community to heal, inspire, and uplift us, even in our darkest moments.

In conclusion, "The Book Charmer" is a heartwarming and enchanting read that will appeal to fans of magical realism, small-town fiction, and literary romance alike. With its charming characters, whimsical premise, and poignant exploration of love, loss, and the magic of storytelling, Karen Hawkins has crafted a truly unforgettable novel that will leave readers spellbound until the very end.

I loved how this story drew me to all the characters. I loved Grace, Mama G, Daisy, Sarah and Trav. I love that Sarah can tell what book a person needs at a certain time in their lives. I laughed and cried. I loved that Grace finds what she needs in her life. I received a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review that I gave of my own free will.

This is adorable small-town romance in Dover Pond, NC.

The townspeople want to save their hometown with the help of Grace Wheeler but has no intention of becoming an active denizen.

This was a cute read with lovely characters. However, it wasn't anything special - entertaining but would not read again.

Set in Dove Point, NC near Asheville, Sarah Dove becomes town librarian (note: not a degreed librarian, but a young local woman who likes to read--books speak to her). Grace Wheeler, the new town clerk, has moved with her foster mom and her niece to Dove Point; she quit her finance job in Charlotte to care for them. Grace is given responsibility for the annual Apple Festival, the town's main event, that has been losing money for the last decade. The novel centers on the newcomer and the locals working out their differences. The Book Charmer has all the makings of a Hallmark movie.

Delightful Southern fiction about a town called Dove Pond where more people are moving out than moving in. Grace, a loner, with anger issues over her sister, niece and foster mom, comes to Dove Pond for one year until she can deal with these issues. She soon learns what it means to be part of a community and to have friendships. Quirky characters with just a touch of magic, especially Sarah who listens to the books talking to her

I quite enjoyed this book!
Although the title is The Book Charmer, Sarah and her books were a side character and this book focused on Grace and her family. I was not disappointed by that as I found the issues Grace was dealing with made for a good story (I do feel the title was a tad misleading). I thought the issue of dementia was handled with care and was not too upsetting to read, although if you are dealing with this issue in your own life be aware it is a major subject in this book.
I enjoyed the setting of Dove Pond and the characters.
I both read and listened to this book and the three narrators did a wonderful job.
Overall a 4 star read for me.

The Book Charmer is well written and an easy read. It is based in a small town and all that comes with it. If you are a fan of books and magical realism, then you will enjoy this read.

"The Book Charmer" is a delightful tale of a woman living in a small town with powers that allow her to hear and understand the books in her library. This power allows her to reach out to a new neighbor who desperately needs understanding, while simultaneously saving the town she loves.

Thank you NetGalley for providing this book for an honest review.

I was given this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. As a librarian who can't love a book about books speaking to you. The book was fun to read and I was able to connect with the characters. I really enjoyed this book!!

The Book Charmer felt like a kindred spirit. I’ve long believed books call to me to read them and not the other way around & my grandmother was a librarian of a small branch library, housed in a white historic cottage which looked straight out of Green Gables. It was as if author, Karen Hawkins wrote a story personally for me. The characters in Dove Pond feel real which makes you thankful this is book 1 of a series. I love the bits of magic woven through and it reminds me to also pick up a Sarah Addison Allen book again. This also would make a lovely gift for a book loving friend.

The Book Charmer is set in a small town in North Carolina called Dove Pond. Dove Pond was named after the Dove family, many of whom have unique abilities. Part of this book follows Sarah Dove, who can hear books speak to her. As the town’s librarian, she finds a way to get the right books to the right people, even if she doesn’t know why they need them. But Dove Pond is struggling financially, and it can only recover with the help of something, or someone, extraordinary.

Enter Grace Wheeler. Her sister has recently passed away, leaving her in charge of her niece, Daisy, and her foster mother, Mamma G, whose dementia is worsening by the day. Grace moves Mamma G and Daisy to Dove Pond because Mamma G is from there and she wants to do whatever will help. However, Grace has a very specific timeline. She only intends to live in Dove Pond for a year before she heads back to the city.

The book also follows Trav, a veteran with PTSD whose father recently passed away from dementia. He lives next door to Grace and is able to connect with Mamma G and Daisy and help out a little, though he’s quickly intimidated by Grace.

Readers who love books with magical realism set in a small town will thoroughly enjoy The Book Charmer. Hawkins did well at writing characters that felt distinct, yet worked well together despite their differences. The most basic thing that readers need to know is that it felt like a Hallmark movie. This simple statement will either sway readers toward the book or away from it. It ultimately comes down to preference.

This book wasn’t for me. Although Hawkins discussed topics that are a little darker (PTSD, dementia, trauma), I didn’t connect with these issues in the same way that I have in other instances. And I think it’s because of the way Hawkins chose to present these issues. I wanted the conflict within the book to go a little deeper than it did, and I wanted to see more of Sarah Dove’s “power.” I think the author did what she intended with this book.

Readers who want a lighter read that features real issues will enjoy this book.

The Book Charmer was a charming book that some may see as a light, fluffy read. This book had love and laughter and heartache and was just a wonderful, feel good book. I can’t wait to go back a visit the people of Dove Pond again soon!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

I loved this book. I loved the small town setting, the interesting characters and the importance of the library. It has magical realism in it and I have already pre-ordered book #2. I highly recommend it.

This book doesn't seemed to be well titled, IMO. Yes, there is a character, Sarah Dove, who talks with books, however, she is not the main character. This story centers around Grace Wheeler who moves to Dove Pond with her orphaned niece and her former foster mother, Mama G, who has developed dementia. Grace has taken on the job of town clerk which has duties that she is not interested in undertaking. She only wants to make life easier for Mama G for the time that she has left. But because everyone in town believes that Grace is necessary to save the town from financial ruin, trickery and manipulation are involved in making her stay.

The segments that are related to Mama G's dementia and its effects were well-written and moving, however, the sections which were related to Grace as a mother to her niece and her interactions with the other town folk lack depth that would have made this a great book, now it is only pretty good. I wonder what will come in the future for the residents of Dove Pond.

I loved this book so very much-- I enjoyed the magic, the town, the townspeople, the romantic elements, the alternating in narrative perspectives among the chapters. This book was very well written and has so much to offer-- the characters were sketched with care, and it was very immersive (I really felt like I was in that town, and could envision the town and its people). I would have liked a bit more magic with the book charmer aspect, beyond just the books talking with Sarah. Overall, a very enjoyable read, and I'm looking forward to reading the sequel!!!

The Book Charmer is a sweet little book about small towns, recovering from family trauma, and a little touch of magic.

Sarah Dove isn't just your ordinary book loving child turned book loving librarian. No, where Sarah Dove is involved, books literally speak to her and they tell her how to help out the town members and the quaint little town of Dove Pond, where her family has literally lived since the town began.

But it's not just Sarah who has a touch of magic. There's also something about Grace, a woman who ends up coming to Dove Pond and, after some hesitation, agrees to help keep the town on it's feet. Thus begins a beautiful friendship.

The Book Charmer is, in a word, charming. The characters all have their flaws and quirks but they are generally enjoyable to read about. And Dove Pond just sounds lovely. I loved the little touches of magic but just how real all of the situations and characters seemed. All in all, I found this book to be fantastic and I certainly plan on reading whatever Karen Hawkins has coming next for this series.

So, what would you do if books began to talk to you when you were only 7? No - really - TALK to you. If you were Sarah May Dove, youngest of 7 sisters in a family with very deep roots in Dove Pond, you might simply say "no" to the old journal in the library's glass case. After all, you came to the library to hunt for books about dragons, and dragons you shall have.

You might relent, though, if the journal appeared, uninvited, in your backpack, and when images of your family's long and unusual history filled your mind at first touch.

This novel will introduce you to long-time residents and returnees to the town, people who have vanished, and people who are - for better or worse - changing. The losses of memory, some due to dementia and some not, seem to parallel the economic and spiritual losses the town has suffered. A town can "sundown" as well as a person, and it takes a loving caregiver to make things right.

Sarah's talent as an adult is to put the right book into the right hands, even if the recipient is bewildered or annoyed by the librarian's offering. Grace is bewildered and annoyed by Sarah's insistence on _Little Women_. She has recently, and not happily, returned to Dove Pond, hoping that her beloved foster mother's dementia will be less fearful in her home town. Mrs. G is not Grace's only challenge, though. She is also raising her dead sister's angry, sullen, unpredictable young daughter, Daisy. Homely, old _Little Women_ is not the book she need or wants. Stay in one place, raise a family, knit mittens, bake bread? No. She just wants to return to her high-powered job in finance.

The mayor, Grace's new boss, gives her an assignment that is as close to unbearable as she can imagine: join the Dove Pond Social Club, and plan the town's annual Apple Festival. She balks, she is rude, she is as imperious at the first meeting as Daisy would have been. She realizes, belatedly (but not too belatedly) that her financial, outreach, and business skills are exactly what the town needs to be energized and to thrive once again.

As the plans for the Festival come together, so does the town, and so does at least one potential romance. With the help of neighbor Travis, whose PTSD begins to ease when Mrs. G and Daisy become involved with him and his wandering cat, even Daisy begins to see some potential in her new life. The reader will meet townspeople who begin to remember, contribute, and love what is happening, and they give Grace the first real friendships she has known.

Is this a work of magical realism, akin to Alice Hoffman or Sarah Addison Allen? Yes. Sarah's gift, flowers that change their hue depending on the emotional tenor of the town, leaves that fall in patterns - these are all magical ingredients. But the characters are real, and the plot hinges on human growth and contact more than magic. As Amy March says, "I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship."


Highly recommended. I can hardly wait for the second installment of this lovely series.