3 and half to 4.
I like Webber's books for some pleasant diversion, and I liked her characterization of the lake's magic, and the surprise twist at the end.

But I am finding her characters a little too predictable and flat. Leala in particular just seemed like a whiny brat to me that I grew increasingly annoyed with. And the denouement of each character as they changed and grew seemed a bit stretched.

Still, though, there were some very imaginative elements and I liked the overall feel of Sugarberry Cove. Enjoyable chick-lit.

ps: I see that Ms. Webber lives in Cincinnati. That explains it.. I kept wondering how there was so much time pleasantly spent outdoors in Alabama in the summertime. Even at a lake, the heat and humidity are BRUTAL. :) ( )

I love everything by Heather Webber and it looks like it took me forever to read this but I actually had to read two book club books in the middle of it and had to put it aside. I love reading anything special about small inns and lakes. Don't miss this one, and I know the author will get another one out on the shelves soon! ( )

This is a gentler, sweeter, more idealised version of Sarah Addison Allen's brand of magical realism. Having read quite a bit of Webber's other work, I was prepared for the almost-but-not-quite saccharine theme, but after the 'meh'-ness of my previous two reads I was in danger of slumping, and was in the mood for some magical realism. This fit the bill nicely and I found myself delightfully pulled into the story, something I needed.

The book bounced between the POVs of the two sisters and how they deal with coming together after 8 years to help their difficult mother after a minor heart attack. Everybody's carrying guilt over something and not telling anyone else about it. And of course there's a love interest left behind, and a marriage in jeopardy. But while the tropes are all there, Webber avoided dealing with those tropes in a cliched fashion. Nothing outrageous (beyond being magical realism, of course), but just subtle choices that made for an interestingly predictable story instead of a boringly predictable one.

It all comes together a little too neatly at the end, but the story redeemed itself for me with the twist in the last few pages. Webber surprised me and delighted me with that twist, so it gets 4 stars in spite of the too tidy ending everybody gets. It is a feel-good kind of novel, after all.

And now I suspect I'll be re-visiting Sarah Addison Allen's books. ( )

A cute story great for an afternoon at the beach or by the pool. While it does have a magical realism element, I was looking for something a little deeper in that vein, ala The Midnight Library. Yet it does have likable characters, an uplifting message, with a little bit of pixie dust thrown in.

Recommended for those who like books where all the characters learn what they should and everyone has a happy ending.

A big thank you to Heather Webber, Forge Books, and NetGalley for providing a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.

To grab a copy of The Lights of Sugarberry Cove for yourself, head on over to www.BookShop.org – the online bookstore that gives 75% of each book’s profit margin back to independent bookshops. Find yours at https://bookshop.org/a/13638/9781250774620.

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The Lights of Sugarberry Cove by Heather Webber is a story about family, hope, choices, expectations, disappointments, and magic. I thought The Lights of Sugarberry Cove was well-written with vivid descriptions. The authors word depictions transport you to Sugarberry Cove. The characters are realistic and developed. They will remind you of your family members and friends. The story is told from Sadie and Leala’s point-of-view. They are sisters who used to be close but grew apart after Sadie’s fall into the lake. Eight years prior when Sadie was eighteen, she tripped, hit her head, and ended up falling into Lake Laurel. It was ten minutes before Sadie resurfaced forever changed. I like that we see events from each sister’s perspective. Their mother has a heart attack which has both sisters returning to Sugarberry Cove to help her. The weekend turns out to be a revelation for Sadie, Leala, their mother, and their guests. You can feel the emotions coming through the pages. Readers can relate to what the characters are experiencing because who of us has not dealt with heartbreak, concerns about a marriage, the loss of a dream, or feeling hopeless. It is the magic that sets this book apart. Imagine that you live near a lake where a lady will grant wishes on a certain day in August. Her magic weaves into the lives of those who live near the lake. But she does not grant just any wish. It really gets your imagination working. There are good life lessons included with my favorite being that our lives do not always turn out the way we thought they would. Events happen beyond our control. We need to find a way to move forward and find joy. My favorite phrase from the book is, “Everyone bears scars, inside and out. And behind every single one of those healed wounds is a story of strength and resilience and recovery. My scar is simply part of me, part of my story.” The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is a novel that is not be rushed. You will want to sit and cherish this story until the very last page (make sure that you will have uninterrupted reading time with a cool beverage and plenty of chocolate nearby). The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is my favorite book by Heather Webber. I am looking forward to her next spellbinding tale. The Lights of Sugarberry Cove is an enchanting story with a lady in the lake, haunting hair, rampant renovations, a mulish mother, a lost love, a cute canine, and lighted lanterns. ( )