Mattie Russell is sent on a journey of magic, love, and family in this cozy feel-good story. I loved the magic, the family, and the journey that Lilith sends Mattie on after her death. Marvelous and heartwarming read!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
This is my second novel by Mrs. Moorman. I really enjoyed it a lot. If you are a fan of Sarah Addison Allen then you will not be able to put this book down.
This novel when you open it up on the first page just hugs you like good southern comfort food. It just satisfies your soul! Highly recommend.

There is indeed magic all around in this fascinating novel! I was able to connect the most with Mattie and Sophie, and found some of the backstories of the others a bit too long and tedious. Otherwise, this is beautifully written with an intriguing premise. I enjoyed seeing Mattie’s character change as her story unfurled.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As a music lover, I'll admit the draw to this book was seeing that Mattie could always get a song to start playing based on her mood. This was a sweet, heartwarming book that showed the Russell women's magical gifts, along with showing Mattie how to find her way in the world without her mother. The task list Mattie got at the reading of the will was an odd one, but it definitely revealed the magic all around.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for a chance to read this book early! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I know you're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this one happens to be a work of art *chef's kiss*. If you love magical realism, mysticism, old Victorian homes that may or may not be alive, this book has all the magic. Vivid descriptions and imagery bring this charming small town to life. It's not the most substantial literature you'll ever encounter, but is a sweet, cozy, light, whimsical read.

A cute, whimsical story about mothers and daughters, with a hint of magic, secrets and a mystery. I really enjoyed the interesting premise of this novel and it was well written and a lovely read.

The Magic all Around is a sweet story about a young lady named, Mattie, whose mother dies and leaves her questioning her future. Mattie has some major decisions to make and the story explores how the people in her life influence her decisions.

It is a wholesome story told with colorful descriptions of the town, people and events she encounters. It has suspense, surprise, some interesting magic and a warm happy ending.

Many thanks to Harper Muse for the ARC via NetGalley.

The Magic All Around is a southern magical realism story about learning to follow your heart to the truth.

The Russell family have a special kind of magic- Penelope can sew magic into dresses, Lilith always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and Mattie can make songs start playing to fit any moment. A family tragedy forces Mattie to return to her mother's hometown where secrets from the past awaken each Russell woman to a truth buried deep within each of their hearts.

Magical realism is my favourite genre as the blending of everyday reality with magic is both enchanting and inspiring. However in this story, there wasn't quite enough magic for my liking. The quirky powers of the sisters could have been incorporated a lot more into the story because the synchronicities and coincidences in the plot overshadowed the magic. I understand that the author wanted to write a story about the magic that is all around us, when we learn to see the opportunities and love that exist in our lives, but the whimsy wasn't really used to move the story along, so it felt a bit random and pointless. Also, the overall storyline was boring and the romance in the story was a little cheesy.

Magical realism is one of my favorite genres. This plus the gorgeous green hummingbird on the cover drew me to this book. Initially, I was a bit disappointed as I struggled through the first half of the book – the ponderous pace coupled with lackluster backstories made for a challenging read. However, the remainder of the novel held my interest and provided a satisfying, feel-good ending.

My favorite “character” is the house which was an integral part of the magic surrounding the Russell family. Mattie Russell returns to Ivy Ridge, Georgia upon the unexpected death of her mother, Lilith, a free spirit who led Mattie on an adventurous and nomadic lifestyle. Penelope, Lilith’s older sister, lives in Ivy Ridge, the closest thing Mattie has ever known as home by virtue of spending her summers and birthday there. Each of these three women has a different gift, one that reflects the expression of “the magic all around.”

As the story unfolds, family secrets are revealed, broken hearts are healed, and second chances at love are embraced. The primary focus is Mattie’s metamorphosis from a young woman dependent on her mother for direction in life to one who is clear about her own vision and willing to take risks to achieve it. While there are significant life issues addressed, these are balanced by the levity of the spontaneous musical accompaniments perfect for the circumstances at hand.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

The Magic All Around
Jennifer Moorman

3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley for my copy of The Magic All Around. I have not received any compensation for this review. All thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own and mine alone.

It is best to describe this book comparing it to Sabrina the Teenage Witch (90’s version) and Disney’s Encanto, a slow burn, low magic book with a slow burn romance.

For the first half of the book it was hard to keep interest in my opinion due to the fact the storyline felt all over the place and not streamlined. I was very tempted to DNF. When I say streamlined, I felt that in the first half of the book, there was no real character development with the main character. Mattie appears to be ‘airy fairy’ in a way, her character doesn’t really progress until the second half of the book. She tends to flip flop around with her behaviour and story rather than progress in a linear fashion. The second half of the book the writing actually took off in a good way. I liked the way Mattie progressed and developed in her romance with Jonathan. That said, I felt the romance had been put in the story too late, kind of like an afterthought. I felt that some of the events that Mattie experience was a little bit like throw this at the wall to see what sticks such as the finding out of who her real father is. While it was interesting, it felt rushed.
I was expecting more magic. I wanted more magic, especially the title is called Magic is All Around. I wanted Mattie to have powers, I wanted the aunts to have more powers. I liked the idea of the house having magical powers and wished that story line could have been elaborated on. The fact that her mother leaves breadcrumbs for her in the will was a good idea, except the things she had to do to complete them. I felt at that point there could have been better quests considering there is supposed to be magic all around.
Overall the writing was sound and at times I could find myself visualising some of the scenes as they play out, so I was semi engaged in the story. I feel 3.5 stars is pretty accurate for this book.

The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman

Mattie's journey to heal and repair in a magic place where she understood her Father and learned to appreciate her true-self. I love this and enjoy it very much. 10/10

This was a charming novel overall. I enjoyed going on Mattie's journey to complete the tasks and learn about herself, the town, her father, etc. along the way.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

First, thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Romance with no spice
Cozy
Magic and a magical house

This book was amazing for me. It's a cozy book, filled with family, love, grief and magic. This heart warming story follows Mattie and her family while they work through their grief with different tasks to help them find their way to find happiness.

This story has different POVs including the POV of a love interest.

I love that the house is a character of its own, and I enjoyed the simple magical abilities the Russell family has and how different they were among each other.

If you're looking for a book that brings you joy and comfort this is the book to read. I really enjoyed reading this book and I love how everything had a purpose and was connected.

A fun escape into an enchanted house where hearts heal, relationships are repaired, and magic is all around.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read The Magic All Around by Jennifer Moorman. HOW have I not been aware of Jennifer Moorman until now?! I have some catching up to do! If you love Sarah Addison Allen, Alice Hoffman, Heather Webber, and Ellery Adams, you will love The Magic All Around.

What an enchanting book!
Love, mysticism, family, friendship, and magic are all here within the pages!
Anyone who is not able to believe the old adage "Everything happens as it is supposed to or meant to be" truly must read this story and meet Lilith, Mattie and their family and friends.. You will definitely be caught up in this amazing group.
It sure made my day!
Thank you to #NetGalley and #Harper Muse for this special ARC and allowing me to read and provide my own review. Well done!