A book that matches the season can be even better than pulling out your favorite sweater on the first chilly day.
Winter
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey 2012
​
I have been hearing about The Snow Child for a while--mostly from What Should I Read Next? And from other Bookstagramers. Pretty much everything I heard was positive, and it just sounded magical. Well, it is magical! The character development had me in the first 10 pages or less. The author writes Mabel in such a way that I could perfectly understand her perspective and why moving to Alaska would be alluring to her. The plot does have its bleak points, but overall the mood is positive and almost wistful. The development of the mystery around Faina (the snow child) is masterful. I wouldn’t change a thing about it. This is definitely one of those books I will be thinking about for a long time. I would be cautious about recommending this book to women who have experienced infertility as this is an issue that is one of Mabel’s biggest life struggles. I’m not sure if it would be cathartic or not for those who have had that experience. I would recommend this book to those looking for literary fiction and fans of magical realism.
Fall
First Frost by Sarah Addison Allen 2014
​
After reading Garden Spells, of course I had to read the follow up, and it did not disappoint! I had heard mixed reviews on First Frost, so my sense of urgency to read it wasn’t as intense as it might have been, but I have to disagree with people who thought it wasn’t as strong as Garden Spells. First Frost builds on the Waverly saga wonderfully. There was still a lot of mystery with the family lore to draw from, and the author did a great job keeping me interested in the Waverly history as well as the new conflicts of this second novel. If you read Garden Spells and are hesitating to read First Frost, stop now and read it!