The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.

A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants—from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys—except for Claire’s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.

When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire’s quiet life is turned upside down—along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy—if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom—or with each other.

For some reason, I kept putting this book off. I think I came across a few mixed or negative reviews that made me hesitate. But lately I’ve been getting more into magical realism, and this one kept popping up everywhere. I figured it’s popular for a reason, so I finally gave it a shot, and I’m really glad I did because I ended up loving it.

As far as content goes, there is some language and a few mildly spicy scenes. They’re not fully open-door, but not completely closed-door either. Nothing graphic, more along the lines of intimate or implied moments. I’d give it about one pepper. There are also gay side characters, and one subplot follows a gay relationship, for those who like to know that going in.

What really stood out to me was the soft, subtle magic woven throughout the story. At its heart, this is a story about two sisters learning to navigate life, love, family, and their relationship with each other. The Waverly family has this quiet, magical reputation in their small town, which gave me strong Practical Magic vibes, just without explicitly calling them witches.

I loved getting to know the characters, especially sisters Claire and Sydney, along with Sydney’s daughter, Bay. Their cousin Evanelle completely stole the show at times. She’s older, a little sassy, and brought just the right amount of humor to balance out some of the heavier moments. I really enjoyed watching Claire’s relationship with her neighbor, Tyler, develop, and Sydney and Bay starting over after leaving an abusive situation added a lot of emotional depth to the story. The family dynamics, especially between the sisters, felt authentic and engaging.

Each of the Waverly women has her own unique magical gift, and I loved the moments where those abilities came into play. And I have to mention the enchanted apple tree. It’s a standout detail. It has a personality of its own and throws apples at people, but definitely don’t eat one unless you’re ready for the consequences.

Overall, I was completely pulled into this story. I always looked forward to picking it back up and found myself thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading. It’s cozy, whimsical, and charming, but also layered with emotion. It doesn’t shy away from heavier topics like domestic abuse, so that’s something to be aware of. Nothing is graphic on the page, but it could still be sensitive for some readers.

There are so many meaningful themes woven in, from love and forgiveness to family, identity, and healing. I could easily see myself coming back to this story every spring and picking up on something new each time. I’m really excited to continue with the sequel and read more from this author. This was my first book by her, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much it resonated with me.

I was very close to giving it five stars. There was just a small something missing for me, along with the language and light spice, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the overall experience. I’d definitely recommend it. It’s one of the better magical realism reads I’ve come across.