( Starred review.) It’s refreshing to find a Southern novel that doesn’t depend on folksy humor or stereotypes but instead on the imaginative use of magical realism. Though Allen's prose can lean toward the pedestrian and the romance subplots feel perfunctory, the blending of horticultural folklore, the supernatural and a big dollop of Southern flavor should find favor with a wide swath of readers. Claire, in turn, begins to open up to her sister and in the process learns how to welcome other possibilities. As Sydney reacquaints herself with old friends and rivals, she discovers her own Waverley magic. Claire's younger sister, Sydney, however, followed in their mother's footsteps 10 years ago and left for New York, and after a string of abusive, roustabout boyfriends, returns to Bascom, N.C., with her five-year-old daughter, Bay. Consequently, Claire has remained close to home, unwilling to open up to new people or experiences. She abandoned Claire and her sister when they were young. Thirty-four-year-old Claire Waverley manifests her talent in cooking using edible flowers, Claire creates dishes that 'affect the eater in curious ways.' But not all Waverley women embrace their gifts some, including Claire's mother, escape the family's eccentric reputation by running away. Two gifted sisters draw on their talents to belatedly forge a bond and find their ways in life in Allen's easygoing debut novel. Everyone in town knows about the garden-it's legendary-but few have ever stepped inside. Claire Waverly has a secret garden in which she grows flowers and herbs for her catering business. Garden Spells offers an easy introduction to magical realism. But if you're worn down by tackling dense, darker works, this may be the tonic you need. This is a sweet book-pretty thin, even predictable.

Garden spells book review