First Frost: A Novel Paperback – January 5, 2016

First Frost is a tender, delicious novel perfect for fall. It's a sequel to Sarah's first book, Garden Spells, but stands fully on its own. Claire Waverly started a retail candy business with her magical lozenges; it's a huge success, but is it really rewarding? Claire's niece Bay is fifteen and weaving her own way through the Waverly magic and mystique. The Waverly women always grow unruly before their apple tree blossoms in the fall, topsy-turvy to the rest of the world...and then, a stranger comes to town, with sinister intent.The author is in full flower here, just like the Waverly's cranky apple tree. With the lushness of summer, the ripeness of fall, the coziness and crispness of winter, and the promise of spring, Allen's story is a Thanksgiving feast for all seasons, rich with flavor and sensation. It's rare to find a perfect book, where the promise and the practice match with no false notes. Is it the greatest novel ever? No. But it is a perfect example of magical realism: better than life, with just enough ballast to give you the vision to see how you might get some of that magic into your own. Better than life: life-affirming. Allen's gentle humor and flavorful prose are a recipe for delight.Give yourself a wish-fulfilling pleasant few hours in a world where dreams come true, true love lasts, and happy ever after is real—after a few bumps and bruises, of course—and settle down with a pumpkin latte, a slice of fig-and-pepper bread (recipe included in the book) and First Frost.

I finished Sarah Addison Allen's First Frost last night and as I write this review, it occurs to me that I have several strong thoughts/opinions to share. But first, a bit of background: First Frost picks up the story of the Waverley sisters, Claire and Sydney, back home in Bascom, NC, living settled, mostly happy lives in the shadow of their family legacy and the same, spirited apple tree living in the back yard. While all seems mostly well, there are undercurrents of dissatisfaction, and not just between the sisters: Bay, now 15, has revealed her feelings to Josh Matteson, who doesn't reciprocate, and nine year old Mariah, who has suddenly developed a friendship with a girl no one knows. There is also the presence of a mysterious stranger who doesn't seem to have the Waverley interests at heart.So, on to my thoughts:1) This book is filled with beautiful, luxurious statements that had me pausing to savor the words. A couple of my favorites: "...happiness isn't a point you leave behind. It's what ahead of you. Every single day." "...it was like she's brought the entire month of July with her." Gorgeous writing.2) A story doesn't have to be about a big, sweeping tragedy or event to make it worthwhile. It can be about a series of small events that resonate with your life and cause you to think.3) A touch of magical realism never hurts anything and generally helps.4) We believe what we choose to believe.5) Visiting with old friends, even old friends who need a good lecture, is always a welcome thing.6) Sometimes, all it takes to get you out of a reading slump is one fantastically engaging book. This is it.I loved this story, even if I did get frustrated at times, especially with Claire. I love all the characters, especially Evanelle and Fred; their interactions were genuine and touching. If I'm still not sure about the ending with Violet and Sydney (no spoilers here), I can still believe in it. Allen's writing is so vivid and alive, I would probably go along with an ending that involved unicorns and talking frogs (neither of which make an appearance, thankfully).Every time Sarah Addison Allen releases a new book, I'm practically giddy until I finish it, and this is no exception. My biggest problem is that now I'll have to wait more than a year for her next entry. First Frost is as good as it gets, and I suppose I'll just have to bask in its glow until the next one.

I love Sarah Addison Allen and have been anxiously awaiting this release. I hate to admit that I'm a tad bit disappointed though. First Frost lacked the natural, soft magic that made Garden Spells, the Peach Keeper or the Girl Who Chased the Moon so special. The beloved apple tree spent the whole book sleeping, until the end, which was of course first frost. But that took a lot away from the book. The "special magic" each female in the family was defined, but it wasn't magical. I felt like the author was trying to set up the characters for future sequels rather than focusing on making this another incredible, can't-put-it-down book. I still enjoyed it, but am just left feeling...flat.It's always difficult to decide to read a book when the reviews are mixed, or in the middle, like mine. If you love Sarah Addison Allen, then of course, read this book. If you haven't read her books before, start at the beginning of her career -- you're in for a GREAT treat!

Sequels are notorious for being awful, so I was nervous about reading this book. But this story had all the charm, all the loving care of the characters, that Garden Spells had. There is a level of maturity in the writing that translates well to these characters, too. The author clearly loves these characters as much as the readers do, but still allows them to be flawed, continuously working to overcome their natures and become better people.The story picks up ten years after Garden Spells left off. Claire is still a worrier, but has gotten better at letting people in, especially her sister Sydney. Sydney is still working on forgiving herself for ever leaving town, and desperately wants to give Henry a son. Her daughter, Bay, has the problems that come with being a teen, but with a confident sense of self that comes from understanding where things belong. Mariah is coming into her talent. And the men in their lives know that their role is to support these women in their roles. So when a con man comes to town and tries to upset the balance, these women must overcome their own natural inclination to keep secrets and come together.It is tremendously satisfying to read such a well crafted story.