Book Review - The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

Title: The Girl Who Chased the Moon 
Author: Sarah Addison Allen
Year: 2010
Page: 269
Genre: Fiction - Magical Realsim

FTC Disclosure: Borrowed from the library

Summary (from goodreads.com):
In her latest enchanting novel, New York Times bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen invites you to a quirky little Southern town with more magic than a full Carolina moon. Here two very different women discover how to find their place in the world…no matter how out of place they feel.

Emily Benedict came to Mullaby, North Carolina, hoping to solve at least some of the riddles surrounding her mother’s life. For instance, why did Dulcie Shelby leave her hometown so suddenly? Why did she vow never to return? But the moment Emily enters the house where her mother grew up and meets the grandfather she never knew—a reclusive, real-life gentle giant—she realizes that mysteries aren’t solved in Mullaby, they’re a way of life.

Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes.
Everyone in Mullaby adores Julia Winterson’s cakes. She offers them to satisfy the town’s sweet tooth and in the hope of bringing back the love she fears she’s lost forever. In Julia, Emily may have found a link to her mother’s past. But why is everyone trying to discourage Emily’s growing relationship with the handsome and mysterious son of Mullaby’s most prominent family? Emily came to Mullaby to get answers, but all she’s found so far are more questions.

Is there really a ghost dancing in her backyard? Can a cake really bring back a lost love? In this town of lovable misfits, maybe the right answer is the one that just feels…different.

First Sentence:
It took a moment for Emily to realize the car had come to a stop.

My Thoughts:

Why this book?

• After I read The Sugar Queen (read my review here), I just wanted to read everything else but the author! I was still waiting to see if Garden Spells (the first book) would end up being a book club read, so I thought I'd try this one instead.

First thought:

• Not as good as The Sugar Queen...

Cover Art:

• It is okay... it goes with the story but not very inspiring. I like this version better.

Title:

• Fitting. Made you wonder why she'd chase the moon?

Writing:

• Still an easy read.

Plot:

• While still a magical realism story, it seemed a bit more far fetched and didn't quite did it for me

• Made you wonder if the main story is about Emily, or Julia? I kept thinking there would be this big secret but felt a bit left down

Characters:

• I liked both Emily and Julia fine... but it seemed both didn't get much development

• I thought Emily's grandfather was a bit of a waste in the story - it seemed like he'd play a bigger role and I wish we got to learn more about him better

Ending:

• It's okay, if not a bit predictable

Emotion:

• I kept waiting to be wow-ed.

What I Learned:

• I think I like magical realism only if it's realistic... kinda ironic, I know... 

PS:

• While the "magic" was explained, I wish it would go into a bit more details... 

Read this Author again?

• Yes I'd still keep reading the author's books!

Quote:

Everyone had left him because they'd hadn't been quiet enough to hear him. (p224)

Overall Rating:
2.5 Stars. Could have been better.

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