Tag: magical realism

Posted on

Twice by Mitch Albom


Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

5 Stars

TWICE by Mitch Albom was an intriguing, creative story that I gobbled down in one day! I love contemporary romances that find a unique way to include magical realism. This one did it and kept me turning pages.

Book Summary

The story begins with Alfie Logan being questioned at a casino. He put his money on three correct numbers in a row in roulette, an impossible feat to do legally. Then he suspiciously and immediately wired the two million dollars to a woman’s account. Detective LaPorta is convinced Alfie gained his winnings illegally and wants to know how he did it. Alfie claims he’s innocent and that his notebook will tell the detective everything he needs to know. It reveals Alfie’s life from childhood to present time, including an unexpected how and why of the day at the casino.

Image of the novel cover for Mitch Albom's TWICEEight-year-old Alfie discovers he has a special gift. He can redo any moment he’s personally part of. As he tries out his gift, he uses it to undo awkward situations, correct mistakes, and risk his life knowing he can get a redo. He can go back minutes, months, or even years, but then he must relive events from that moment forward. The catch? There are several: First, he has to live with the consequences of the second time around, good or bad.  Next, he can’t change when someone will die. Last, he can’t make a person fall in love with him a second time. (His grandmother warns him to be careful with love.)

When he falls for Gianna, he uses his gift to make himself more attractive to her. They are happy together until Alfie is tempted by another woman. He can go back in time to change things, but he remembers the warning that he can’t make a person fall in love with him again.

This is a love story, but also one that explores how our selfish desires can lead to losing everything we ever wanted and already had.

My Thoughts

TWICE by Mitch Albom was a creative story and thought-provoking for such a quick read. Book clubs will get a lot of discussion out of it. I didn’t want to stop reading this unique book once I started.

As the detective delves into Alfie’s notebook and we hear how Alfie uses his gift throughout his life, I got more interested in his choices to use it or not. As the story progresses out of childhood, I became invested in his relationship with Gianna. With the detective’s curiosity, I got more curious as to what really happened at the casino and why. I found myself trying to unravel the mysteries of Alfie right along with Detective LaPorta as he uncovers more of the unbelievable story. Although the book requires suspension of belief, the magical realism of Alfie’s redo’s in a romance story was interesting and right up my alley.

I absolutely loved the ending. I didn’t see it coming quite the way it happens, but it is satisfying and hopeful.

The premise of the book will cause readers to contemplate the choices in their own lives. What if you could redo events in your life? Would you? Which ones? And how would that change the person you are today?

Since HarperCollins published TWICE by Mitch Albom in 2025, copies are currently available in bookstores and online. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. You can purchase here. 

Several quotes from the book remain with me.

This first one appears a few times when he can’t change certain circumstances, like death.

“I want, you want, and God does what God wants.”

When discussing why he only gets one do-over, his grandmother tells him,

“Alfie, if you keep getting second chances, you won’t learn a damn thing.”

When Alfie is afraid of letting people see his true self, awkwardness and all, he often does the moment over and learns a lesson.

“Instead, I hid my flaws, afraid they would cost me her affection. That would prove to be a mistake, and my first lesson in The Truth About Love: what we yearn for, deep down, is a heart that will embrace us after we make a fool of ourselves.”

About the Author

Photo of author Mitch AlbomMitch Albom’s website states his books (collectively) have sold 42 million copies worldwide and have been published in 51 territories in 48 languages. Some of his stories have been made into Emmy Award-winning television movies.

His New York Times bestseller TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, the bestselling memoir of all time, topped the list for four straight years. Readers also know Mitch for writing THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU MEET IN HEAVEN, FINDING CHIKA, and THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT.

Beyond being a best-selling fiction and non-fiction writer, Mitch is a journalist, screen and playwright, radio and TV broadcaster, musician, and philanthropist. Much of his time is spent operating the nine charitable programs of SAY Detroit, including the nation’s first medical clinic for homeless children. He founded a dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line to help fund his charities. Additionally, he operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.

If You Like…

If TWICE by Mitch Albom sounds interesting, check out my past reviews on these recommended books: The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, Big Fish by Daniel Wallace, Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon, and Midnight at the Blackbird Café by Heather Webber.

 

Would you be so kind to share my book reviews with a friend? 

My book reviews can be conveniently delivered directly to your email box whenever I post  (1 – 2 times per month)! Sign up here.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Unwritten Rules of Magic

Robin’s Reviews – 2026

If you’ve ever wished for more control over your circumstances and the lives of those around you (haven’t we all?), then you may enjoy reading THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross.

Book Summary

Emerson Clarke’s father, a famous author, has recently died. She’s a successful ghostwriter, but she hasn’t taken the jump into publishing under her own name. As she goes through her father’s things, Emerson finds and takes home his vintage typewriter which he had forbidden anyone to use.

With her father’s recent death, her mother’s alcoholism, her teen daughter shutting her out, and a looming deadline for work, Emerson is overwhelmed. She wishes she could control her circumstances and the choices of those around her to create her perfect life. She types a wish on her father’s typewriter. When the wish comes true, she types another, just to make sure it wasn’t a coincidence. Wishing is dangerous since she can’t control how the wishes play out, and there’s a price to be paid each time she asks for something.

Emerson feels guilty manipulating others and taking away their rights to make their own choices. Her guilt raises a question in her mind—how much was her father manipulating her life?

Image by Michael Treu from Pixabay.com

Could the wishes coming true simply be coincidences? A self-fulfilling prophesy from her desire for these things to be true?

Emerson must decide what to do with the typewriter. Can she avoid its provocative allure?

Trigger Warnings: death of a parent, dysfunctional family, alcoholism, abortion

My Thoughts

I recommend THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross. If you’re considering reading it, be aware that the title is deceptive. If you’re looking for a book with wizards and spells, this isn’t it. This isn’t fantasy, as one might assume from the title. It’s magical realism, meaning the story takes place in our ordinary world, but an element that doesn’t exist in our world exists in this one. In this case, the element is a magical typewriter that grants wishes.  THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC is more about family dynamics than magic.

One theme is about letting go of control, the struggle to stop trying to control the uncontrollable. It’s also about how every person, including those you love, have faults. The book reminds us how others need our help and forgiveness, not our judgment.

Several heavy issues enter the lives of the characters. One in particular toward the end is a controversial topic. The decision a character makes, whether you personally believe it is right or wrong, is one she’ll have to live with. She will have to deal with the consequences, just like we must do with our choices in real life.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross comes out January 27, 2026. Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. Order here.

About the Author

Harper Ross left her legal practice to raise her children. That’s when she discovered her creative side. She writes books with a dash of everyday magic while exploring friendship, family, and forgiveness.

Her website says when she’s not writing, she’s probably singing badly in her car, dancing in her kitchen, or walking her adorable dog. THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC is her debut novel.

If You Like…

If you think THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF MAGIC by Harper Ross sounds interesting, check out my past recommendations: The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman,  The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer,  Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young, and Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber.

Would you be so kind to share my book reviews with a friend? 

My book reviews can be conveniently delivered directly to your email box whenever I post  (1 – 2 times per month)! Sign up here.

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2024 

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young is a unique novel. I’m being careful to not give you too much about this one because it’s best experienced by the reader. If your reading tastes are similar to mine, you’ll love it!

This time travel novel includes the loyal/loving family theme wrapped with mystery and a touch of romance, but it also has a complexity that will keep you on your toes. Your brain will be engaged while reading this book, and it will keep you thinking long after, all in a good way.

Book cover for The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne YoungSummary

The Farrow women are well-known for two things: their flower farm in Japer, North Carolina, and a mysterious curse. Years ago, after showing signs of mental instability, Susanna Farrow disappeared. She left behind baby June to be raised by the grandmother.

Now an adult, June is very familiar with the town’s rumors and whispers about her family and her mother’s disappearance. When June hears a voice calling her name and wind chimes that don’t exist and sees a ghost horse and a mysterious red door that appear out of nowhere, she questions if she is headed down that same slippery slope of mental illness. That’s why she feels she must sacrifice finding love and having children. The curse will stop with her.

Early in the story, just before June’s grandmother dies, she mails an old photo to June. June questions how the two people in the picture could be together since they didn’t live in the same time period. June investigates more about her mother and the disappearance. Every bit of information leads to another question. After receiving a yellowed envelope with the message “Trust me,” June decides to test her hallucinations. The next time the red door appears, she opens it and walks through. When she does, June must navigate a scenario where the present and the past intertwine, and answers lead to tough decisions.

My Thoughts

In the beginning of THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young, the author tosses the readers tidbits of strange experiences until she hooks you into the story. You suddenly realize you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole, but the Mad Hatter doesn’t seem so mad after all. Here, the impossible becomes reality. As Junes learns about the Farrow women’s ability to time travel, her view of the family curse changes.

Motherhood is a major theme, revealing the family love and loyalty of generations of Farrows. The story explores the choices we make and what we’re willing to sacrifice for those we love. Add a murder mystery and fierce, heartbreaking romance, and you have a winner of a novel.

Author Adrienne Young
Author Adrienne Young

I’d rate THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW with 4 1/2 stars out of 5. The only reason it isn’t a 5 is that trying to understand the timelines as they relate to the Farrow family makes my head spin. Once I understood the familial relationships between the characters, I was fine. It’s amazing how complex time travel is in this story, but the author handles it smoothly. Readers will let down their walls of believability long enough to accept the impossible is possible, at least in this world.

So I pose a question to you: If a door appeared that wasn’t there a moment before, would you step through it? Leave me a comment below.

If you like…

If this book appeals to you, check out these books I’ve previously reviewed and recommend: Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young (same author), Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, and Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber.  Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors?  Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Netgalley Professional Reader

Posted on

Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen

Robin’s Rave Reviews – 2022

Other Birds book coverSarah Addison Allen fans have waited patiently for seven years for a new book since she took time away to deal with personal and family needs. Other Birds, her newest novel, was worth the wait. For readers new to SAA,  each book she writes has a unique magical realism element or two.

By page two, I already admired Sarah Addison Allen’s skill for painting beautiful word pictures.

“Zoey nodded, distracted now because the small sea island had just appeared on the horizon and she didn’t want to miss a moment of it. It was rising from the marshy coastal water like a lackadaisical sea creature sunning itself, not a care in the world.”

Imagining of Mallow Island

The Setting

Fictional Mallow Island sits off the coast of Charleston. A popular novel set there, written by longtime resident Roscoe Avanger, as well as the island’s history of making marshmallow and candy, draw tourists to this small community. From the sales of his book, Avanger bought an old building, called it The Dellawisp, and renovated it into five condos. They surround a courtyard full of noisy, thieving, dive-bombing birds of the same name as the complex. The quirky characters who live here begin to bond after the death of one of the tenants.

The Cast

LizBeth is a paper hoarder and the old lady busybody, who spoils everyone’s fun. Her sister Lucy is a recluse. Henna artist Charlotte is running from her past, believing she can never settle or it will catch up with her. Executive chef Mac is grieving the loss of the woman who took him in and raised him, who fed cornbread to the island’s poor children, and who taught him that making and sharing food is love. Frasier is the building manager, often found with a Dellawisp named Otis sitting on his head. And Zoey, the most recent tenant, has just graduated from high school. She inherited the condo and hopes to learn more about her mother there. Zoey is the magnet that attracts the other tenants and bonds them together. Now add a touch of magical realism by adding ghosts (not scary ones), cornmeal sprinkled over Mac every night, doors seeming to unlock themselves, and an invisible pigeon to the mix.

These characters have all been broken and are burdened with secrets, but in time, they create a family. They help each other let go of the past to focus on a better future.

Other Lovely Quotes

“The building revealed itself to be like a geode—rocky on the outside but sparkling with unexpected decadence inside.”

“The mist was moving like someone taking a deep breath and blowing it away.”

“The sudden quiet made Charlotte’s bedroom feel as if it had been plunged underwater. Even the small glass ball ornaments she’d hung by fishing wire from the ceiling gave the impression of air bubbles floating to the water’s surface.”

“Some customers didn’t like when books were marked, like it was a crime against literature. But Zoey thought it was a far greater crime to forget passages like this, so beautiful they made you breathless.”

 

Other Birds was a charming, light read. If you’re looking for something different and haven’t read Sarah Addison Allen, pick up Other Birds. If you read and enjoyed The Kindred Spirits Supper Club by Amy Reichert (see my review from last fall), you’ll like Other Birds.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book. The review above states my honest opinion.

 

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!

@author.robin.shelley

Posted on

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber is categorized as Southern magical realism. This isn’t a normal genre I would pick to read, but I’m glad I did.  The title and cover intrigued me, and I had to find out why so many people were recommending it.

The cafe gets its name from a cluster of blackbirds that consistently appears outside the cafe only at midnight. This unusual behavior brings a large number of bird watchers to the small town.  The cafe also attracts the townies who come to get their fix of blackberry pie. They are “characters” in more than one sense of the word. They believe that eating the pie enables them to get messages in their dreams from their dearly departed loved ones. Readers are lead to draw conclusions about the birds and their connection to the pie and Anna Kate. This is where the “magical” in magical realism comes in, but it isn’t overdone.The characters are the main focus of the book, not the magical aspects, and the points made through the story are important ones.

The book is organized by alternating Anna Kate and Natalie’s point of view. Anna Kate has come to Wicklow, Alabama to bury her grandmother, Zee, and settle her estate. If she stays and runs Zee’s cafe for two months, she will inherit it. Anna Kate wants to sell it and go on to med school in the fall, just as she had planned. Natalie has just returned to Wicklow, the town where she grew up.  She and her daughter are seeking refuge in her parent’s guest house after the death of her husband. Living so close to her overbearing mother is difficult, but Natalie doesn’t have many options. Although the cafe has been set as off-limits by her mother, Natalie needs a job.

As Anna Kate finds herself embracing the town, she learns more about family secrets that explain why her mother kept her away from Wicklow her whole life. As family secrets are uncovered,  it becomes obvious that the two young women are more connected than they could have guessed.

Heather Webber

At the beginning I had to tell myself to keep going, that it’s just a different kind of book than I’m used to. Once I let go of expecting traditional conventions, I enjoyed the book. Occasionally reading something different helps to ignite creativity in my personal writing because it gets me to think about stories in a new way. Although it isn’t usually a word that describes literature, I felt the book was folk-artsy in the best possible way.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Fannie Flagg will enjoy this story. Just like some people love apple pie while others love cherry,  Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe won’t be everyone’s first choice, but I recommend it. Blackberry may be the flavor of the day!

 

Proudly powered by WordPress