I adored this book, when I read what it was about i knew I was supposed to read it, almost like it called to me. I live in a Victorian home, which has a personality. I also have abilities as do generations of women in my family. My mom is no longer with me, and her favorite was hummingbirds when she comes to visit that's her sign to me.

If you are looking for a wonderful story with romance, mystery, magic and strong female characters this is your book.

The author Jennifer Moorman is able to draw you in immediately with a story you have to read. I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. The characters are people you end up caring about what happens to them. Her descriptions about who, what, where, when and why are amazing it really add the visual perspective so you can see them in your minds eye. The dialogue is so believable you can hear them talking so you feel like you're ease dropping on their conversations.

I talked out loud, screamed, laughed and cried while i read it. This book is truly magical from start to finish.

This is my first novel by this amazing author and I am sure it won't be the last.

Thank you @jennifermoorman @netgalley for allowing me to read this fantastic book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is a really cute book and completely different than the psychological thrillers that I find myself reading all the time. I loved everything about this and can't wait to read more by Jennifer Moorman in the near future.

It has been a while since a book made me cry but this one succeed. (But a good emotional cry)

Mattie is a young adult who has followed her mom around always on the move to a new adventure. That is until she dies suddenly and leave Mattie with an inheritance. To earn her inheritance though she must complete tasks in her hometown.

I absolutely loved the magical realism beautifully written in this book. Reminding us that magic is all around us.

Dnf at 14% in. I just couldn't get into this, I started it months ago and decided to restart it this week but again couldn't get into it so unfortunately dnfing it. The writing is good and I think many people will enjoy it!

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Moorman’s The Magic All Around is a heartwarming tale that blends Southern charm, magical realism, and the healing power of community. Set in the enchanting town of Mystic Water, the story follows Eliza Gray, a woman returning to her childhood home after a personal loss, only to discover that her family and neighbors possess a mysterious knack for weaving magic into everyday life.

Moorman’s prose is evocative and brims with vivid descriptions that transport readers to a world where magic is subtle but deeply intertwined with daily routines. From the aroma of enchanted baked goods wafting through the air to the whispers of secrets carried by the wind, every detail enriches the sense of wonder.

The characters are beautifully drawn, especially Eliza, whose journey of self-discovery feels authentic and relatable. Her struggles with grief and self-doubt are delicately balanced with the hope and whimsy brought by Mystic Water’s residents. Supporting characters, like her wise grandmother and quirky best friend, add depth and humor to the narrative.

While the novel’s pacing occasionally slows, particularly during the more introspective moments, the emotional payoff is well worth it. Themes of forgiveness, love, and finding magic in the mundane resonate strongly, leaving readers with a sense of warmth and hope.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Susanna Kearsley will find The Magic All Around a delightful escape into a world where the extraordinary is hidden just beneath the surface of the ordinary. It’s a charming read that invites you to believe in magic—not just in the pages of the book, but in your own life as well.

I really wanted to like *The Magic All Around*, but it fell short in some significant ways. It’s disheartening to see that in 2023, we’re still grappling with problematic tropes.

The book is plagued by the ‘she’s not like other girls’ syndrome and an obsessive focus on women’s appearance, constantly measuring them against impossible beauty standards. The portrayals often feel objectifying and reinforce harmful stereotypes about aging and beauty. Additionally, Jonathan’s problematic attitudes toward Mattie’s appearance and insecurity only add to the issues. Besides the awkwardly-injected magical features, these problematic elements were too significant to overlook.

Mattie, who starts out a little cranky, but soon gets curious had me from the first few pages. All the odd aspects of her family's quirky house in Ivy Ridge, George, the advocacy of animals, plants and home appliances - along with her humans were compelling, and I couldn't break away. Before I knew it, we were done and settled. Book closed. *sigh*

She's got a gift. All her girls have a gift. She has mysteries to unwrap, problems to solve, a house that talks to her, a treasure map left by her dead mother, and a cat named Enid. Who wouldn't love to read about all that?

Gotta go. Am looking up my next read by Jennifer Moorman.

*A sincere thank you to Jennifer Moorman, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #The MagicAllAround #NetGalley

Review posted: 4.10.24

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I recently posted on my Instagram account about this book: “This book is giving me Practical Magic (movie) and Heather Webber vibes.

MAJOR COMPLIMENT because I do so love both those things!

Ya’ll… can we talk about this cover for like a minute? I adore this cover. I LOVE this cover. Hummingbirds are so perfect and I adore the extra sparkly ones the best. They just seem to have a bit extra magic to them.

What I Liked:

The cover! SO perfect!

Our girl Mattie. I loved her. She had been dealt a terrible loss but it was good for her in a way too because it began to plant the seeds in her mind about what she really wanted out of life one day.

The house. Oh it’s a character that needs to be mentioned. Houses have feelings and this house def showed that.



Bottom line: For me, this was a great feel-good book. I loved the characters, the settings, the book cover. Would love to see this made into a movie!

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

This was such a fun and heart-warming read. It had so many elements that I personally enjoy reading about - magic, a mystery. the family, their bonding and characterization, The house itself was such a personality!

Mattie Russell returns to the family home after her mother’s death and learns that she must complete a list of tasks before she can inherit her share of a house that is almost as much of a character as the humans in the book. Her decision to stay or go is made for her when the house locks her keys in the attic. As Mattie checks off the items on her list, she reconnects with her long ago love, Jonathan Carlisle, makes some new friends and begins to understand her mother a little bit better, including discovering the long-kept secret of who her father is.

Loved this! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advance copy.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of "The Magic All Around" by Jennifer Moorman.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I could not put it down. I don't want to spoil a thing for you, but let's just say this magical family is sure to enchant you. This book is full of family dynamics, travel, art, romance, self-discovery, and a healthy dose of fantasy and magical realism.

You will not regret picking up this book, y'all — "The Magic All Around" is so special.

Jennifer Moorman's "The Magic All Around" is a captivating tale that skillfully blends elements of fantasy, romance, and self-discovery. The novel's enchanting prose and richly imagined world draw readers into a story where magic isn't just a distant concept but a tangible presence in the characters' lives.
"The Magic All Around" is a charming and magical read that will appeal to fantasy and romance fans alike. Jennifer Moorman has crafted a tale that reminds us of the magic within and around us, making it a book well worth reading.

I kept postponing this book - so I guess it magically waited for the right moment to be read.
I really enjoyed this book - I just adore small town stories with cozy and witchy vibes! This story is full of everything- bits of magic, loads of love, dealing with loss, a found family, a dream boy, a lovely small town community - and all of it meshed perfectly together!
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me arc of this lovely, cozy book!

The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman is a heartwarming story about the mother daughter bond and the lengths we go to for family. I enjoyed the story and the growth the characters experienced as Mattie made her way down her mother's required checklist. I especially liked Penelope. I thought the Russell family magic was well done and adored their victorian home.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Magic All Around" and all opinions expressed are my own. I listened to the audio book. Well I was going to give up on this book. There was a lot going on in the beginning but I gave it a day and started listening again. I'm really glad that I did. I enjoyed the story, heartwarming and inspiring. Magical realism usually draws me to books and the narrator was awesome. I loved how the magic and the tasks all fit together. A lot of the story touched me, especially about looking for signs, as I am dealing with grief that I think will never go away. I would have given it 5 stars if it didn't start off slow. 4.5 is my review and I am now searching for the authors other books.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this advanced copy.

Things I loved:
- Set in Georgia with flashbacks of Florida; that was exactly me in college!
- The “old timey” names: Lilith, Penelope 😍
- Amazing food descriptions!! 🤤 I stayed hungry!!

Read this if you love:
- A cozy mystery with family elements
- Magical realism
- Southern charm and meddling family members, including the house itself

I’ve also read The Baker’s Man by Moorman, and I salivated throughout that one too!

A heartwarming and whimsical story that will capture readers with its blend of magic, family bonds and love. I loved the victorian house with personality and magical touches.
Many thanks to Harper Muse and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

In this whimsical modern fiction novel, readers follow Maggie, Penelope, and Sophie as they cope with the death of Lilith, Maggie’s free spirited mom. Finally back in her hometown of Ivy Ridge, Maggie has to complete a series of tasks in Ivy Ridge to receive her mother’s bequest, learn how to live in one place (especially a place she thought she had escaped), and uncover some family secrets about love, life, and magic. Strangely enough, all of the tasks Maggie needs to complete are all happening around the time of her mother’s death -- maybe there was some truth to the stories about Russell magic. Maggie also isn’t expecting to build connections or find love in Ivy Ridge, but the world just keeps surprising her. Moorman’s characters and their relationships are the heart and soul of the story, and the relationships between the Russell women are particularly enjoyable to read. Maggie’s friendship with Lucy is also wonderful and heartwarming, and the setting of Ivy Ridge acts as another character, one which everyone in this novel has a relationship with. Moorman’s novel of home, family, connection, magic, and love is an immersive, fascinating read full of nostalgia, warmth, and charm that readers are sure to enjoy.

The Russell family women have magical gifts: older sister Penelope can infuse the clothes she creates with love, strength, joy – whatever the wearer needs, while younger sister Lilith always happens to run into someone with exactly what she needs at any time, such as a job or an apartment, as she moves from city to city. Lilith’s adult daughter Mattie always hears the perfect song playing around her and is able to paint pictures that will mean more to their buyers than she could imagine. When Lilith dies, her will requires Mattie to stay in the family’s hometown of Ivy Ridge while she completes a set of tasks in order to receive a trust. Resistant at first, Mattie is able to learn more about her past, who she is as a person, and what she wants for the future as she works through her mom’s tasks.

I liked the magical realism of the book, with the women’s talents being set in an otherwise ordinary world. It took a while for the plot to start moving, but once it did, I enjoyed the story. I think tightening up the first half of the book could have allowed some deeper exploration of the things that happen in the second half. Despite the book being about Maddie’s mom dying, it was not a heavy or sad read overall. Kathleen McInerney did a nice job with the narration of the audiobook.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book. in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
I adored this book. It was magical! The house was a character! I loved the little mystery, the family, the romance--just everything. I'm ready to move to Ivy Ridge and make friends with all the characters.. This book was a warm hug. If you need a feel good book this is it.