Heather Webber has become one of my favorite authors. She writes stories set in small Southern towns that have a touch of magical realism.
Sadie left Sugarberry Cove eight years ago after an accident that changed the course of her future. She gets a phone call that her mother is in the hospital and she heads home to help her sister Leala care for her. This story alternates between Sadie and her sister Leala Clare's point of view. This book has a great cast of characters and is such a sweet story. I flew through this book and I felt like I had been spending time with friends sitting by the lake.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for review.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to review an early copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.

I enjoyed this book and it fits in well with past books from author Heather Webber; themes on family, identity, reconciling the past, and magical realism are all interwoven in this story of Sadie, and also her sister Leala and their mother and some extended family and close friends.

The strengths in this book come from the author's clear affection for Southern life, for family, and for her relatable characters and from her appreciation that in order to move forward sometimes we must first reconcile, and better understand, the past and work to better listen, and really hear, those we love. Indeed the plot is at first seemingly simple (in a good way) in terms of the focus on Sadie returning home in response to her mother's illness and being forced to deal with her decision to leave and past events and relationships in her life, but when I step back I see some bigger themes on how the characters were only going to grow and change if they were honest with themselves and also with those they love about their past intentions and actions as well as learning to not feel limited by past plans and actions and seeing times of change as opportunities to expand or change pathways. For me there is always value, and joy, in reading about women who find ways to see tenuous or strained relationships and challenges as opportunities to grow, to reconcile who they were and who they are/want to be, and that the past does not have to be their present.

There is also a consistent theme on the value of really talking to family and friends, being honest with wants and needs and fears, and that wishes (a theme in the book) are perhaps better when not kept private. There is for me a thoughtful progression from wishes in the past that seemed self serving or selfish to wishes that are either reconsidered as not as selfish as seemed or an change in understanding that a wish for oneself can also be about improving the lives of family and friends.

I think this book is one to look forward to for book club discussions and summer reading. I will continue to look forward to new work from this author!

This author has quickly become a favorite of mine! I’m a little partial to her writing because she writes about Alabama where I live. But her style just has a way of drawing you in and making you never want to leave the magic she’s weaved with her words! This book is no different than the previous 2 I’ve read in that I loved it! The beginning is a little slow and it’s a little difficult at first to feel Sadie and Leala, but as their story develops we learn about them and want nothing but happiness and everything good for them and those around them! Read this book, you will not be disappointed!!

Looking for some light in your life? Visit Sugarberry Cove, or even just read this book. A family torn by an accident eight years finds the potential to heal after coming back together when the mother has an heart attack. Written with Heather Webber's sure touch of creating characters that we care about and a sprinkling of magical realism.

4 Stars

This novel is written from the perspectives of two sisters, Sadie and Leala. The story begins with Sadie, a youtube creative, visiting Mrs. Iona Teakes to film one of her “A Southern Hankerin’' episodes. Sadie is from Sugarberry Cove, but doesn’t visit often since her accident eight years ago when she nearly drowned in the lake on the night of the Lantern Festival.

That quickly changes when she gets a text from her sister, Leala, that their mother had a heart attack. The two sisters decide to stay the weekend with their mother so that they can help run their mother’s bed and breakfast, while their mother recovers. As they check-in visitors and begin to fix-up the B&B, they soon realize their mother is drowning in debt/bills. But this isn’t all. Sadie has to face the ghosts of her past, Leala has to deal with her marital problems, and their family has a lot of healing to do.

I enjoyed this book, the magic, the mystery, and the dreamy lantern festival. It would be a great summer read.

Thank you netgalley and MacMillan-Tor/Forge for providing me with an ARC in exchanged for a honest review.

Sugarberry Cove is a delightful small town that has a special event once a year where everyone puts a small lighted boat into the water. Each boat is decorated with things that the creator loves as well as a special wish written in invisible ink on the floating device. The Legend is that the Lady of the lake will grant some of the wishes. Eight years ago at this festival, Sadie fell in the water and hit her head. Her friends and family jumped in to save her but she was under water for 10 minutes. The crowd knew she would be dead after that long under water but she came up alive. They all believed that the Lady of the Lake brought her back to life. After this her hair turned to a sparkly silver color that would not hold any dye. This was believed to be a sign that the Lady of the Lake saved her for a special reason. After that time, the lives of Sadie and her family all changed and relationships were strained. Sadie left town and started an internet podcast that was all about Southern cooking. She would visit various individuals and record their story of the family recipe. She was very successful at this. When their Mother had heart issues, Sadie was called home by her sister, Leala. Sadie and Layla ran their Mother’s B & B while their mother recovered. During this time, a lot of emotional talks took place and misunderstandings between the family members came to the surface. This is an excellent book on love, family, relationships and forgiveness. I highly recommend it.

I am a big fan of Heather Webber so I am always happy to see her new books. This one does not disappoint.

A family story set in the south brings two sisters back to their mother's B&B after she has a heart attack.. Family secrets that have been long buried are bought to the surface at the annual Lady of the Lake celebration.. It is a quick read that you can enjoy with your sweet tea and finish with tears in your eyes.

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a charming story of family, healing, love, and small town Southern charm by USA Today bestselling author Heather Webber. This is my first read of Heather Webber and I am impressed. The book was a delightful read, one that made me smile at the end.

The Plot
‘The Lights of Sugarberry Cove’ is the story of two sisters- Sadie and Leala. A family tragedy forces them back home in Sugerberry Cove. It is here at Sugarberry Cove the sisters along with their friends and family fall under a spell- the spell of the mysterious lake. This spell makes them realize their deepest desires. This magic stems from a local legend of a small town magic and a special lantern festival where wishes can be fulfilled. The family at Sugerberry Cove soon begin to reconnect, work on their relationships, mend their broken hearts and try to work towards living a meaningful life.

The Review
A simple straight from the heart narrative, it takes you back to small towns and homes. It brings to the forefront that finally it is what we make of our lives, working towards happiness, which is important. The book had a perfect blend of realism with magic. Well written narrative that kept the plot crisp and easy to read. The Lights of Sugerberry is touching, and a charming story, one that I couldnt put down until I completed it. With a set of southern characters, ‘The Lights of Sugarberry Cove’ is a heartwarming story with a perfect touch of magic to it, which will remind you of what truly matters in life.

Also read: Finding Ashley by Danielle Steel

The Verdict
So should you pick it up? Of course you should if you have a lazy afternoon at hand and want a book which would delight you. A book as gentle as the breeze it describes, of small towns and magic, it makes for a pleasurable read.

The Rating
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a mix of family drama and magical realism. I agree with other reviewers that this could certainly make for a good Hallmark movie. Generally recommended and probably a nice summer read.

This was a sweet, poignant story. With it's touch of magic and focus on food and cooking, it reminded me a bit of Sarah Addison Allen's stories. It's a pretty quick read and focuses on relationships and the choices we all make.

I enjoyed this book and will definitely look for more by the author.

The lights of Sugarberry Cove is a wonderful book, Sadie who almost drowned by the Lake near Sugarberry Cove. During a festival that happens every year where your wish will be granted by Lady Laurel. She was saved by theLady laurel. She leaves home and her family B&B for eight years until life calls her back home. She has a successful youtube channel Southern Hankerin.

Her Sister Leala helps run the B&B when Sadie comes back for a family obligations which also happens to be close to the festival time. The idea where your past will catch up with you, love lost and found comes all back together. Where Family can be the strongest thing you have. The rebonding of Sisters and re getting to know old connections when trying to leave your past behind. Its a stunner and very visual descriptive it feels as if your buy Sugar berry Cove. But that's just wishes and magic.

This Arc Was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Comes out July 20 2021

Sadie Way died when she was 18 but was brought back to life. She left her hometown soon after to find her purpose and ultimately ends up making an online video series called A Southern Hankerin'. After 8 years away, she returns home when her mother has a minor heart attack. Full of difficult relationship dynamics, secrets, the power of wishes and magic, Sadie Way learns her real purpose. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.

When her mother has a heart attack, Sadie Way Scott rushes back to Sugarberry Cove to help, but she dreads the return. Eight years ago, Sadie fell in the lake, hit her head, and should have died, but miraculously survived due to "lake magic," a term you'll see a lot in this book. Because of the accident, Sadie’s hair has turned silver with sparkles in it, making everyone gasp; also, she can’t feel pain, and any injuries heal miraculously. She has resisted coming home because she doesn't want to run into Will, her true love who cut her off without explanation, and the fact of everybody's reaction to her hair.

But that’s just her. In addition, her sister, Leala, is having marital troubles, Mom and Leala are barely speaking to each other, Sadie and Leala have a difficult relationship, Sadie’s sweetheart is in town, Mom's B&B is falling apart and she's in mysterious financial trouble, Mom and the neighbor are true loves but she won’t speak to him, Mom’s old friend arrives in town with a wounded (literally and figuratively) teenager in tow...there is a lot going on in this book. Plus magical realism. And lots of sharing of life strategies from the elders. This is a Hallmark movie in waiting. The characters are fully developed, the descriptions are rich and beautiful, the streets are clean and all the neighbors wave to you. A delightful read. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity.

A lantern festival, a cottage b & b, and magic; what's not to love about this book? I wasn't sure what I expected when I started this book, but I loved it every step of the way. Heather Webber spoke of the love and difficulties between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and family. This book did not disappoint. Set in a small town in Alabama with a little bit of magic. Two daughters come back home to help their mom after she has a setback. I thought this would read like a Hallmark movie, but it was so much better with more character development than I could ever ask for. Thank you to NetGalley and Heather Webber for the opportunity to review The Lights of Sugarberry Cove.

I am a big fan of Heather Webber's books in the magical realism genre. This book was another great read. The characters are incredibly well developed and the story of a complicated family is relatable. The Alabama setting is comfortable to this Georgia girl and the splashes of magic in the book are not over the top. Loved the story and the writing.

Y'all I have a hankering for more Heather Webber! She hit this one out of the park! LOVED LOVED LOVED it. I would put this book at the top of my 2021 list. She surprised me with the ending for Camp and Iona that I did not see coming. It makes me want to go back and reread the whole book again to see where I missed the clues. Once again, I love the double southern names Ms. Webber gives her characters - Sadie Way and Leala Clare and even Susannah (which sounds cliche but when was the last time you read about a character named Susannah?). I want Sadie's Youtube channel to be real. I want her to be discovered by The Food Network and I want to watch the show. I want to read her cookbook and make Bree's Mac and Cheese. The plot line is Alabama summer slow in unfolding but yet I was pulled in. I wanted to throw down all my responsibilities in my life and just read this story. Tucker with kissing everyone's owies to make them "bettah" absolutely won my heart. I even loved Moo and think Ms. Webber could start merchandising Moo, vintage Mr. and Mrs. mugs and Y'all I got a hankering t-shirts. I want to attend water lantern festival. I want a little lake magic in my life. I want to take Leala's yoga class and take Nigel for a walk. I want to hang with all of them around a camp fire near the lake. Do yourself a favor and stop what you are doing right now and just hit buy. You will not regret this purchase of a book. Let's book a week at the B & B during water lantern festival weekend. I will bring the ambrosia salad!

A sweet, sweet story, kind of like Southern tea in that it can overwhelm with sweetness. It has all the requisite elements with a lovely town, people and a mysterious lake. The coincidences, or magic, defy belief, but the author ties it all up neatly with a pretty bow.

Really enjoyed this book. I never read anything by author but I will now. Definitely recommend this book. Sweet story

Heather Webber has a gift for taking everyday happenings, infusing them with magic, and transforms them into lasting stories that touch the heart.

"The Lights of Sugarberry Cove" focuses on the Scott family: a mother, and her two daughters. Life has not been easy for them. They have built emotional walls and have made choices that have in a sense, driven a wedge between them. The time of the Light Festival at Sugarberry Cove is about making wishes, but it is also a time for choices.
This was the perfect story that had a message of healing, a little romance, and of course, a little magic.

4 stars

This is a beautifully written story of a mother, Susannah, and her two adult daughters, Leala and Sadie, struggling to move on from the things left unsaid, and, possibly even more so, with the things that *should have* been left unsaid. It takes place in a fictional town in North Carolina, whose tourist industry is mostly focused on a lantern festival. Participants write their wishes on paper lanterns then launch them in the lake. Be careful what you wish for, as the saying goes....their wishes and the repercussions pull them apart, but eventually bring them back together.

The only thing I was not a fan of was the supernatural/magic element in this book. Apparently, that's a hallmark of Heather Webber's books, so it is more on me than on her. Her storytelling ability is excellent, bringing a wide range of characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Tor-Forge for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in return for an honest review.