The Book Charmer is about the small town of Dove Pond and it's close knit community. It's a everyone knows everyone and everything kind of place. Sarah Dove comes from a long line of Dove's who founded the town. Their family is said to bring good luck and each member has a bit of something extraordinary. Sarah, the town librarian, hears books talk. They tell her what books a person needs and she makes sure they receive them. A librarian who can hear books talk is what drew me to The Book Charmer. I am not wholly decided on if the story is reflected in the title since I find myself wanting more of the talking books in the narrative.

Dove Pond is in financial trouble but it is not Sarah who is slated to save it. However, she knows who will. Grace Wheeler is an uprooted city girl who moves into the town temporarily with her foster mother and niece. She becomes an unwilling participant in the town's survival efforts.

Due to the story being told from three perspectives you don't get much of the books talking aspect. That aside it was a cute quick read. I loved Dove Pond even though some of its residents are mighty pushy! I am looking at you Sarah!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for an e-arc of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review. Cleverly written tale about a girl who can hear books talk! Wonderfully written prose with fun, interesting characters that keep you turning the pages to "The End". Enjoy! 📚

Cozy small town charm and just a touch of magic. The Dove family has always been special and Sarah Dove, the town librarian, is no exception. The books in Sarah's library speak to her, and not just in the way that books "speak to" the rest of us. The books have told her that Grace Wheeler, a newcomer to the town of Dove Pond, is going to be the one to pull the town back from the verge of bankruptcy. This book started out a bit slowly for me but had me hooked by the end. If you're a lover of the Hallmark Channel Movies, you'll love this story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

RATING SCALE 1 (LOW) TO 5 (HIGH)
Unputdownable-ness: 3
Ugly Cry Potential: 1
LOL: 1
Steaminess: 1
Character Development: 4
Originality: 4
Quality of Writing: 4
Intellectual Depth: 3
Emotionally Trying/Hard to Read: 1

I sent it because it asked me to. I don't get to pick the books. They pick the readers. That book picked you.


This book charmed me in every way possible. With the lovely town of Dove Pond and the quirky citizens that lived there. The character driven prose is on why we all are on Goodreads, Amazon and our hometown library. It is how books speak to each of us in different ways. Sarah Dove has a gift that a book will speak to her on whom should be reading any book. She is a book whisper/charmer. Don't ignore Sarah if she happens to give you book because you will be happy if you do. That is what Grace found out as she and her niece and mother moved back to Dove Pond. Grace brought back her adoptive mother to Dove Pond in hopes that it would slow the Alzheimer process if her mother was in a familiar place that had held a special time in her life. Her niece Daisy is now under Grace's care after her mother died of an over dose. With an 8 year old girl and a mother that is becoming more and more forgetful, Grace has her hands full. She has no time for friends and she is ready to go back to Charlotte NC as soon as she is able to finish her duties as new city clerk of Dove Pond.

Upon moving in day, Grace puts on a cold shoulder to Sarah and the dark silent mysterious type Trav. The friendship between Trav and Sarah is a friendship that anyone would covet. In breaking down the walls of Grace and her new position of City Clerk, Grace begins to develop as a likable character. A driven character that has carried a load alone and silently and how the town opened up to her and her family.


I love some of the quotes of this special town

Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit.
Truth was a funny thing. On its surface, it was all good, a measure of a person's character. But under certain circumstances, truth was a burden you spared someone else. A weight you carried for them so they could continue on, free from the pain of reality.

A book on relationships and the value of people! I loved it!

A Special Thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

I received a complimentary copy of this title from NetGalley. All opinions are given freely and are completely my own.

When Grace Wheeler arrives in Dove Pond with her foster mom and niece in tow, Sarah Dove knows she is there to save the small, struggling town. But for Grace, she’s less sure. In Dove Pond for a job (with plans only to stay a year), she hopes the time in Mama G’s home town will help slow the signs of dementia. Meanwhile, she also must cope with caring for her niece Daisy who is still mourning the loss of her mom. Still, Sarah is certain that Grace will save the town and stay forever to keep it afloat. Why? The books told her so.

This is a whimsical little novel full of well-developed characters and lots of charm. I could not put it down. While I am not normally a fan of talking books, it didn’t seem to matter here at all. I just kept reading because I found myself invested in the charm and whimsy!

4.5 Charming Stars

I adore this book, the story line and characters! The Book Charmer is a magical read that brings the town of Dove Pond to life. The author pulls you into the lives of these characters and I couldn't get enough of them. Sarah Dove may seem strange on page, but she - along with her family, are loved by the town. Their something magical that each Dove sister brings to this town.

Sarah Dove is the town librarian and ever since she was little, the books spoke to her. Sounds weird? It is, but it works - she's such a vibrant and caring character, you just want to be her BFF. When Grace Wheeler and her family move to Dove Pond, Sarah knew right away that Grace was meant to come to their town and save it.

Dove Pond is the last place Grace wants to be. But after a tough childhood and recent family tragedy, Dove Pond is the only place she needs to be to help her niece and sweet Mama G. Grace is determined to stay in this quirky town for only a year and then she it out and heading back to the big city. But little does she know how much this town needs her and how this town changes her life.

The Book Charmer is a sweet summer read about small towns, love, finding peace and magic! I'm looking forward to more in the Dove sisters and their magic.

Honesty time…I would have been interested in this book just judging by its cover and title alone. No matter what the description says, I saw that title and wanted to get my hands on this story. This is a new-to-me author, but I was willing to take the risk on that cover art. It was like getting a bonus when I read the blurb and realized this book is right up my alley.

I don’t think I’ll be the only reader to fall in love with Sarah Dove from the very beginning. She’s precocious, funny, caring, kind, and loyal. While always thought of as a bit odd while she was growing up, she didn’t take fact that she wasn’t a “popular” kid to heart. She had her sisters, her neighbor and best friend Trav, and books. All grown up now, Sarah is still thought of as odd. But now it’s said with affection and love. This quirky town knows that Sarah has everyone’s best interest at heart and will do anything for anyone without even being asked.

Where Sarah stole my heart from the first, Grace broke my heart in the beginning. And kept breaking it over and over. So much pent-up sorrow and pain! I even wanted to get mad at her quite a few times and just couldn’t. The things that woman kept inside her whole life, the things she did for her sister their whole lives, the walls she put up to feel secure, all those things kept me from tipping over into anger.

The front end of this story moves quite slowly. I enjoyed getting to know Sarah, Grace, and Trav on their own before they interacted on too deep of a level. Yet it seemed to go on too long. There were brief interactions here and there, but nothing too meaningful for a good half of the book. On top of that, once everything finally started coming together in a bigger way it seemed to barrel toward the end. So, I felt a little cheated out of the upside to these relationships. Not only the Grace/Trav romance that was brewing, but also the Sarah/Grace friendship that developed. Since this is the first book in a series, I’m hoping to see more interaction with these characters in future stories.

Overall, I enjoyed this story quite a bit and will definitely be looking into reading some of this author’s earlier stories. In addition, I’m now invested in the small town of Dove Pond and I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Hopefully we’ll see a Grace/Blake romance!

I loved this book! I admit it would make a wonderful Hallmark movie, but sometimes that’s what you crave. The story was formulaic as Grace, the hard-edged business woman from the big city is forced to settle in small town Dove Pond and juggle family responsibilities instead of balance sheets. Every one she meets is a character but none more than Sarah the town librarian, who might also be called The Book Whisperer. Sarah’s gift is pairing the perfect book with the right reader. She loves the little town of Dove Pond and has always dreamed of being the one to help it return to better days. Now, however, the books tell her it will be Grace who is needed to restore Dove Pond to its former glory. Grace has other plans, and it takes all Sarah’s wiles plus her best friend Trav, the lonely army veteran living next door to Grace to help the city girl see the warmth of this small town is what she really needs. I told you it was like a Hallmark movie, but for the purposes of this book review, the writing was much better than any Hallmark script. If you are looking for a feel-good story with just a touch of drama to keep you turning the pages, this is the book for you.

Three and a half stars: A sweet story set in a charming small town with a touch of magic.

Sarah Dove is the librarian of Dove Pond. She comes from a long line of Dove women, who possess magical abilities. Sarah’s unique talent is that she can talk to books. Books talk to her and tell her who needs to read them, and Sarah delivers. Lately, the books have been telling her that something isn’t right in Dove Pond. One wise book in particular tells Sarah that a new arrival to town, Grace Wheeler, is the key to saving the town. Grace can help the town, but she must remain there forever. Grace comes to Dove Pond in hopes of finding help for her foster mother who was recently diagnosed with dementia. Grace has no intention of remaining in Dove Pond. She intends to stay for a year, and then move back to the city. Little does she know, the townsfolk have other ideas in mind for her, and they might need her just as much as she needs them. Can Grace finally find a place to call home?
What I Liked:
The Book Charmer is a delightful story set in a charming small town, with lots of lovable characters and a hint of magical realism. There is a lot to love about this book.
I loved the characters in this one. Sarah Dove with her ability to talk to books is charming. I loved her unique talent and her bubbly personality. I couldn’t get enough of her. Grace starts out prickly. She doesn’t want to make friends, she wants to do her job and get out. Slowly, she learns to accept help, and she in turn, helps the town. I loved watching Grace transform from an angry, unwanted foster child, to a competent woman who takes charge and saves the town. Underneath her strong facade is a woman with a kind heart. Then there is Travis, a former solider suffering from PTSD. Travis recently lost his father to dementia, and he is constantly hurting. Travis doesn’t want friends or sympathy, but soon he finds himself helping his new neighbor Grace. I loved watching each of these characters grow and transform. I also loved Mama G, even though it was heartbreaking to see her decline from dementia. She had a big, kind heart, and she always brought joy to others. The rest of the townsfolk, aside from the mayor, are all kind and ready to help one another. I love small town folks.
The town of Dove Pond is quaint and cozy. It provides the perfect back drop for the story. I always enjoy small town setting, and Dove Pond doesn’t disappoint This town is unique in that it has a touch of magic in its confines. Loved it.
The magical realism is delightful. There are subtle hints of magic, from the flowers changing colors to the Dove sisters wielding their unique talents. I love that the magic just exists without the need for explanation. It was a fun added touch to the story.
I liked that this book was about personal growth and transformation as well as community and helping one another. It was the perfect pick me up read.
The ending is bittersweet. It is a bit sad, a bit hopeful and it ties off the majority of the story, but there are still story lines to complete, hopefully this is just the beginning.
And The Not So Much:
I am not going to lie, I was sad about certain developments in the story. It was a bit of a let down as I was enjoying this magical, happy story. I wanted things to be different.
The romance didn’t quite work for me. It felt like something was missing. It moved rapidly from point A to point B without covering all the good parts in the middle. It needed more depth and development in my opinion.
I was disappointed that the story line between two characters and their long unrequited crushes was left undone. I wanted to see them get together after all those years and the awkwardness.
I don’t know, for me there was just a little something missing from this one. I felt that certain aspects were hurried, and I wished for more detail and depth.
The Book Charmer was a delightful feel good story. If you like small town settings, likable and relatable characters along with a hint of magic, this is one to check out. My only hesitation was that I didn’t like the sad parts, and that I wished for more depth and development with certain parts of the story. Pick this up when you are in the mood for something light and cozy.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.

The Book Charmer is the first book in a series set in a sleepy small town in North Carolina. Founded by the Dove family, the sisters of the family have had individual "gifts" throughout the generations that have benefited the town. Only two of the sisters in the still live there, Sarah Dove and her sister, Ava. Sarah is the bookworm of the family, and her gift allows her to pick the perfect book for any person, one that will help that person with a challenge or need. Sarah is the librarian, so it is a handy gift, indeed. Sarah's books actually "speak" to her, insistently at times.

All is not well in Dove Pond, however. The population is declining, businesses are leaving, and the town is a fiscal disaster. Sarah always thought that she would be the one to save the town in hard times, but when a newcomer, Eve Wheeler, arrives to take the job of Town Clerk, one of Sarah's books tells her that Eve is the one who will change things. Eve is very different from most of Dove Pond. Raised in the foster system, along with her sister Hannah, Eve is a hard-charging, successful, aloof woman who doesn't plan to be in Dove Pond long. Her sister, Hannah, has recently died, leaving her daughter Daisy for Eve to raise. The woman who took in Eve and saved her from a wrong path, Mama G, has Alzheimers Disease. Mama G grew up in Dove Pond and Eve hopes she will be more comfortable there. Sarah immediately tries to befriend Eve, but she is not interested as well as overwhelmed. The journey to friendship is rocky, but Eve learns just how powerful it can be. It does take a village, including the scarred Afghanistan Vet next door to save Eve, her little family and Dove Pond.

The Book Charmer is as cozy and warm as a blanket, a fireside and a cup of tea on a cold night. I enjoyed the town and its quirky characters, especially Mama G, who even amid her terrible disease provides an anchor for Eve and Daisy. I highly recommend it and look forward to the rest of the series. Many Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

I absolutely love reading The Book Charmer!!

The Book Charmer is an emotional, fun, journey that will be especially impactful for those of us that have experienced the horrors of dementia, either side of the foster system, or the loss of a sister. I completely understood Grace, and her love of Excel, so much that I laughed, cried, and cringed my way through every page of this marvelous read.

This is a sweet story filled with likable characters. The town of Dove Pond reminds me a bit of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls, where everyone knows everything about everyone, but unfortunately does not have a Taylor to keep the city running - until Grace moves to Dove Pond.

Grace moves to Dove Pond to afford to take care of her foster mom, who is suffering from Alzheimer's, and her niece, whose mother passed away from a drug overdose. It is only natural that Grace is struggling with these new responsibilities. Throughout the story, the reader can see the everyday difficulties of caring for someone with Alzheimer's. On a personal note, as someone who watched a family member struggle with this disease, I found those moments in the book very realistic. With all these responsibilities and a stressful city clerks job, Grace is convinced by other members of the town to help organize the town's Apple Festival, which will also hopefully save the town from financial ruin.

There is a bit of magical realism in this story that adds a some fun and intrigue to the plot. Mama G seems to be able to read people's thoughts. The Dove family is known to have certain powers. Ava Dove has an amazing green thumb and with the plants she grows, she creates teas that help people, depending on their needs. Sarah Dove's power is that books talk to her. The books let her know when they will be useful to someone. Sarah has a special connection with a book about Dove Pond that insists that Grace will place an important role in Dove Pond. While the book does not tell Sarah exactly know what that role is, she befriends Grace and encourages her but can she convince Grace to stay in Dove Pond?

I enjoyed this enchanting read. It was a bit repetitious at times, but the plot still managed to flow, and I enjoyed the character interaction immensely. I feel this story possessed a lot of great lessons in hope, love, compassion and the importance/power of relationships.

"The Book Charmer" is a delightful read in the vein of Sarah Addison Allen's "Garden Spells" - sisters who have special--dare I say, magical--gifts they use to help others. Each character was a delight, the story was heartwarming without being saccharine, and I enjoyed the entire book. I would recommend this novel for those who enjoy magical realism, small towns, quirky but fun characters, and bittersweet moments that tug on heartstrings.

This was the best magical escape I could have asked for!! I just LOVED this book!

Have you ever read a book and was so completely sad that you finished the last page? Well.. this was that for me! I was savoring every moment and didn't want it to end!

I would love to live in this special town of Dove Pond. Sarah Dove is the librarian for Dove Pond and what a librarian she is. She lives, breathes, and even talks to the books. Her wonderful gift is to place each book into the hands of the correct reader.

A new fellow traveler has come to the town of Dove Pond named Grace Wheeler. She has become the talk of the town and according to the books of this town... Grace is to be the savior of this dying town.

Grace has her hands full... she is taking care of her foster mom who is suffering from dementia and her niece Daisy who just lost her mom.. who is being taken care of by Grace now.

The story alternates between the POV's of Grace, Sarah, and Trav (the next door neighbor who suffers from PTSD). Oh my goodness my friends this book was so beautiful and I fell in love with this entire town and the amazing people in it!!

I couldn't get enough of Dove Pond... I can't wait to see where the author brings us with the next in the series!!!

This is a must read and one of my favorite reads so far this year!!!

Absolutely love love love!!

4.5 stars!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery Pocket Books for the advanced arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 7/30/19
Published to GR: 7/23/19

Oh my word, this book was so good. It was everything a good book is. Funny, sad, endearing, moving, lovable characters. I rushed through it, as I could not put it down and did not want it to end. I hope we get more stories about this lovely town and it's residents.

The book was charming if a bit slow. I really enjoyed reading about a family that is family by choice, and how a small town and good friends can make all the difference when one needs help.

Sarah Dove has had books talk to her for years. They ask her to read them or tell her who shoild. She's the librarian now and having that skill is handy. The Dove's have always had a touch of magic bur they don't brag about it. Right now, she's a bit worried about her town. Vendors have been leaving and the town populace has been dwindling. They've got to revitalize the town or it's going to die.

Gallery Books and Edelweiss let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published July 30th.

When the town clerk retires and hires a new woman in town to take her place, an old journal tells Sarah she's the one that can save the town. Sarah doubts it but visits with her. It seems she only plans on staying one year. Her foster mother is having memory problems and this is her home town. Grace is hoping being here will help her. Grace is also raising her sister's girl. Hannah overdosed and Daisy needs a Mom. If only she knew how to be one.

One of Grace's first challenges is to plan the apple festival. She attempts to shuck the duties off on another committee member but then she finds there is almost no money to allot to that budget. She goes to give them the bad news and finds herself chairing the group again. She asks them for time to do research on the festival. When she shares what she found, she also comes in with new ideas and assignments for each committee member. There's mumbling and grumbling but they get it done.

While she's trying to save the town, her foster mom wanders at night. One evening she gets a call from her next door neighbor telling her she's in his house making spaghetti...

Mom gets lost one day and the whole town turns out to find her and the little one. And mixed in with all that is her romantic interest in the next door neighbor. She tries to deny it, but it keeps growing. He's interested, too.

She might have only come for a year, but the town doesn't know that...

The Book Charmer is a simply beautiful book. Karen Hawkins transports the reader to Dove Pond where magic happens to the residents through books. I hope she will continue their stories.

Oh how I loved this book!! I just loved the little town Dove Pond and the story behind it. The cover drew me and I was hooked from the first page. I love reading stories about books.

The Book Charmer is my first Karen Hawkins novel, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I requested this book on NetGalley. When I first came across this book, it sounded right up my alley. I'm a book lover (I know, shocking), and I love reading books that feature a book lover. I generally can relate to the characters more, and I LOVE when I can relate to a character.

The characters in The Book Charmer were so much fun. I enjoyed getting to know their nuances and quirks, and I felt like Dove Pond was remarkably similar to another favorite town that I grew up with, Stars Hollow. The town itself had a beautiful feel to it, and the townspeople just enhanced the story. Each character brought a fun aspect to the novel, and I loved seeing all of the interactions. I especially loved the romance aspect of this book. I will admit, the magic realism of the book at times felt a little off. It was almost repetitive at times, and that became a bit dull for me.

Even though the magic realism was a bit too repetitive, I found that I loved how realistic Karen Hawkins was able to write real-world issues. This book dealt with some serious and hard issues such as PTSD & Alzheimers. I do feel that Karen Hawkins did an excellent job of showing the problems that PTSD & Alzheimers can bring up. Along with that, I liked seeing the characters dealing with those occurrences as well.

The one big problem I had with this book was how slow it felt. There were only a few instances where I was on the edge of my seat. The Book Charmer seemed to mosy around a bit. I found myself bored at some instances, but by the 50% mark, the pace quickened. I would have loved to feel more drawn in.

All in all, the characters make this book. I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Gilmore Girls and Matilda. I definitely will look into the next book in the series.