Published by Dutton Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism
Format: ARC, eBook
The Peculiar Gift of July has that little bit of magic that I love in books! It also has secrets, found family, community, and a cast of quirky and interesting characters. When fourteen-year-old July shows up at Anita Odom’s doorstop she doesn’t know quite what to do with her. July who has been recently orphaned, was the daughter of Anita’s estranged cousin.
Anita runs the local grocery, and July has a knack for knowing what each customer needs. Her gift of knowledge soon begins to brighten the lives of those in town. This book is like a smile wrapped in a hug served along a slice of coconut cream pie! I enjoyed the quirky cast of characters and how July came to their small town and changed all their lives. I especially enjoyed watching Anita’s transformation from being a lonely woman set in her ways to being a warm embrace and supportive caregiver.
This is a lovely tale about found family, the bonds of a close community, secrets, learning the truth, relationships, and magic! Speaking of magic, I enjoyed the ‘gifts’ or ‘knowledge’ that July had. It was used in a minor way in the book and appeared naturally and seamlessly.
Charming, heartwarming, delightful, original and a joy to read! I look forward to reading more of this author’s books in the future.
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
