The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel

After her mother's death, Emily Benedict moves in with her grandfather in the small town where her mother grew up. It doesn't take her long to realize the Mullaby is no ordinary town; the wallpaper in her room changes according to her mood, and strange lights can be seen in her backyard. The other inhabitants of the town are also far from ordinary. Julia bakes cakes that float sparkles and aromas through the air, and the Coffey family refuses to go out at night. The mysterious Coffeys have a turbulent history with Emily's family and when Win Coffey begins to take an interest in Emily, the secrets are threatened to be revealed once and for all.

I absolutely love all of this author's books. The story moves along quickly and Emily, Julia and all the other characters are likeable and relatable. I enjoyed the relationship between Emily and Win and how the town's secrets are wrapped up in the history of the Coffeys and Emily's mother. The little touches of magic are the trademark of Sarah Addison Allen and add so much enjoyment to reading. You cannot go wrong with one of Allen's books.

In the quaint town of Mullaby, North Carolina, Emily Benedict finally meets her mother’s father as she moves into her mother’s old room. She has never been to Mullaby before and she hopes to learn more about her mom and maybe even herself. However she finds herself in a town filled with secrets, where rumors about her family and her very, tall grandfather run rapid and strange lights appear in the night beckoning her to follow. As if this wasn’t enough to intrigue young Emily, her neighbor, Julia Winterson bakes the most heavenly desserts ever. Julia has several secrets of her own and her desserts carry the scents of love and dreams of a united, happier future.

Even though there is magic in every scene of this book, the main characters feel real and readers will be able to relate to them. Readers will be moved by the emotional stories connected to both Emily and Julia. These two characters form an ever-lasting friendship as they each crave what they have never had. As readers read this chapter their hearts and taste buds will be set aflutter. Sarah Addison Allen oozes Southern charm with every word in this book, from childhood and high school football, to adulthood with past regrets and hope for the future. A poignant, emotional tale that will grip each reader’s heart and soul.

Notes:
This review was written for My Sister's Books.
This review appeared in the November 2013 issue of Sasee Magazine.
This review was posted on Ariesgrl Book Reviews website.

Mullaby, NC is a mysterious and secretive town where Emily Benedict has come to live with her grandfather after the loss of her mother. Not only did her grandfather know of her existence until recently, but he is also a giant, towering over everyone in the town. Emily discovers the overly tall man is not the only oddity in Mullaby, but also little lights that dance around in the woods near the house and other strange happenings. Emily has to find her place in this bizarre town and uncover secrets about its residents and even about her own mother.

This is another fantastic novel from Allen, and it was actually the first by her that I read and I instantly fell in love with her style of writing. It's so beautiful and poetic with a lovely flow and she has an amazing way of making magic seem realistic. The cover is what attracted me to this book originally with its dark background, contrasting subject and fluttering butterflies.

Emily is a strong character that has to cope, not only with the death of her mother, but also the harsh way some of the townspeople treat her and make her feel alienated. I didn't have a single favorite character because they were all so well written. By the time the book ended, there was an opening left to be able to continue a story for a different character, and I am hoping the author does decide to write one for this character.

Everything is nicely wrapped up for this novel and nothing is left in question. This is a truly wonderful story and I can't wait for more from this author. Highly recommended for those who enjoy an element of magic and a literary novel.

Poetic, mysterious, meaningful, beautiful, absolute pleasure to read!

I had no idea what I was getting into as we chose The Girl Who Chased the Moon as the first novel in our summer book club. What I didn't know was what I would feel as I finished reading it. I feel like butterflies are in my chest with love for this book and characters. They seem so real! It is such a beautiful, magical book!

A sensitive and intelligent teenager, Emily, has to move in her grandfather she never knew existed after her mother dies. She meets Julia, who is in her 30's, that lives next door and a friendship forms. Julia tries to help Emily adapt to Mullaby, North Carolina when hurtful stories of her mother's actions turn the town against her. Win, the Mayor's son, has a special attraction to Emily. Can the town keep them apart?

Julia has had a hard life and is trying to save enough to open her own bakery while living far away from the town that she grew up in. After her father dies and leaves her his restaurant back home, she decides to manage it while saving up enough to leave for good once more. Will she be able to leave her troubles behind and start life anew? Will she be able to find the love that she so whole heartily deserves? Will Emily be able to fit into a town that is determined to hate her?

I couldn't love this story any more if I tried. Each chapter was the perfect length. Each character was developed and cared about. The stories of the characters are well adapted, interesting, and resolved. Could I ask for more than talking about food (love), relationships (love) and magic (Love, love) in a well written story? I think not.

I give The Girl Who Chased the Moon a very tall, it's almost falling down 5 STACKS!

Love, love, love, STACKGirl Shannan who is so ready for book club and already made the yummy Hummingbird Cake!

I like Allen's books. They always seem to have whimsical aspects to them that I just can't get enough of. And this one is no different, despite some troubles with the book, I enjoyed it overall and thought it had that same sense about it that her other books have.

After the death of her mother, Emily makes the trip to Mullaby, NC to stay with her grandfather, who to her surprise, turns out to be a giant. But that wasn't the only secret her mother kept from her, as she goes about town meeting people, she discovers that her mother appeared to be running from her past, and that some people blame Emily for her mother's faults. But one boy, who has cause to not like her family, is drawn to her, and Win Coffey has secrets all his own. Meanwhile, Julia has returned to set things in order after father's death and it seems that part of that is taking over his business until she can settle the debts and sell it for a profit. But that plan nearly backfires on her when she encounters someone from her past whom she has had painful memories of all her adult life. But she has other goals in mind, and as she runs the restaurant, she also bakes cakes non-stop, in the hopes that something good will happen from it.

Emily is such a nice girl and a pleasant surprise to read about. Often teenagers are described as bratty non-listening whiny individuals and while I'm not arguing that's true for some, there really are some delightful teenagers out there too. So I'm glad Emily got to be representative of that. Win on the other hand I didn't like. Too mysterious and his motives too weird, he just didn't make sense in the novel, even if you do allow for the magical aspects of it. Julia also was a very good character and while my childhood was nothing like hers growing up, I really felt like I could identify with her. She also had a good match in Sawyer, even if he did stir up feelings in her that she didn't want to think about. Emily's grandfather I thought was vastly under-used in the novel. He had the capacity to be such a bigger part of the story and I was disappointed to not see him appear more.

The plot was somewhat predictable, but that's ok. It was smooth reading and enjoyable and I loved all the magical elements that Allen included. She has a way of working them in seamlessly that makes it seem like something that could actually happen. And her descriptions of food, although not overly wordy, are delicious and part of what I look forward to in her books. So is her description of small town South and the kind people who can inhabit such a place. Part of that use of description though does include a sex scene, so reader, you have been forewarned if that's not to your taste. I was a little disappointed that the ending cut off so short. I can only hope that maybe there's a sequel in the works, but somehow I doubt it. I just didn't want the book to end there.

Another delightful read by Allen. I'll read her books anytime I can get my hands on them.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon
Copyright 2010
269 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2012

This book opens with the classic elements of a traditional gothic novel - the young heroine, tragically orphaned and alone in the world, the mysterious heretofore-unknown grandfather, the crumbling neglected mansion full of deserted rooms, the secret that everyone knows and no-one will talk about, an Ancient Wrong.

And in fact, the book doesn't disappoint - it is indeed a traditional gothic novel, and beautifully executed. The book sparkles and dances like sunlight on water. The suspense builds, and builds, and all is finally revealed in a wonderfully satisfying ending, with two sets of star-crossed lovers united and two broken families mended.

The writing is superb and the editing flawless, so there is nothing to detract from the reader's experience. No proofing errors, no clumsiness of language. The few love scenes are handled with dignity and restraint, as is fitting in this genre.

When well done, there is nothing more entertaining or better to read than a gothic romance, and this one is a beautiful example of the genre brought into the modern day. I very, very rarely award the fifth star on Goodreads; it is usually reserved for people like Austen and Trollope, but I could not withhold it here.

This is the story of Emily Benedict and Julia Winterson. Emily Benedict comes to Mullaby, North Carolina when her mother dies to live with a grandfather she didn't even know she had. Julia Winterson who grew up in Mullaby but left and saw no reason to return until her father dies, is living in Mullaby until she has paid off the mortgage on her father's BBQ restaurant at which point she will return to her life that has nothing to do with her past in Mullaby. When Emily first arrives she finds the difference between her life with her mother and life in Mullaby hard to adjust too.

"Emily hesitated, then paid him and got out. The air outside was tomato-sweet and hickory-smoked, all at once delicious and strange. It automatically made her touch her tongue to her lips. It was dusk, but the streetlights weren't on yet. She was taken aback by how quiet everything was. It suddenly made her feel light. No street sounds. No kids playing. No music or television. There was this sensation of otherworldliness, like she'd traveled some impossible distance." (p. 3-4)

At night Emily sees a light in the woods and finds it odd and interesting. Once she ventures into town she finds that her mother's past in Mullaby is not what she thought and many of the things she thought of her mother are not as they seem.

"I'm Julia Winterson. I live over there." She turned her head slightly, indicating the yellow and white house next door. That's when Emily noticed the pink streak in Julia's hair, tucked behind her ear. It wasn't something she expected from someone so fresh-faced, in flour-stained jeans and a white peasant blouse. ... [Of an apple stack cake Julie says,] "It means..." she struggled with the world, then finally said, "welcome. I know Mullaby has its faults, as I'm sure your mother told you, but it's also a town of great food. Your going to eat very well while you're here. At least there's that.".... "My mother didn't tell me anything about Mullaby," Emily said, staring at the cake. "Nothing?" "No." Julia seemed shocked into silence. (p.23-24)

Emily's lack of understanding of the town and everyone else's understanding of what her mother "did" leave her an outcast. Win Coffey is the only one that seems to be interested in her yet he is the only person that everyone wants to keep her away from.

Julia has been back in Mullaby for a year and a half and she has done everything she can to avoid Sawyer. Until one small slip while she is talking with Stella, her best friend who she lives with, leaves Sawyer wanting to get close to her.

"Don't you want to know what Stella told me last night?" [Sawyer] asked. ... "Stella was drunk last night." "She said you told her that you bake cakes because of me." (p.17)

Julia and Sawyer have a past and not one that Julia is likely to forget.

"She couldn't blame him for being a scared teenager when he'd found out she'd gotten pregnant from their one night together on the football field all those years ago. ... But she resented how easily he'd gotten on with his life. It had been just one night to him. One regretful night with the freaky, unpopular girl he'd barely even talked to at school. A girl who'd been madly in love with him." (p. 20)

Getting over the past is something both Julia and Emily must overcome to find a place where they can fit.

Like with many of Allen's books food plays a big roll in the story. Expect to be hungry when you read this. BBQ and Cakes play a big part in the story and how the characters interact. I really enjoy reading a book were food is an important part of the story. Sometimes when you read a book and you never see the characters eat it makes you wonder if they are real. This makes food seem magical which I really liked.

This is an easy read. I enjoyed the story, a hint of magic and a little bit of tension make it a good read. I enjoyed the characters and how they seemed so real. Yes there were times when you must suspend disbelief but I don't have an issue with this and really enjoyed the magical elements of the story.

As with all of her stories Sarah Addison Allen takes a setting in rural North Carolina and makes it come to life. I like that her setting is real. I'm from North Carolina and while it feels much like some of the places I have traveled in North Carolina it is a setting that is friendly and it is clear that Allen knows what she is writing.

"Belonging has always been tough for me"

Emily Benedict has come to live with her grandfather, Vance, (her mother's father) in Mullaby, North Carolina. But there, she begins to see that all isn't as it seems, that her mother was a much different person.

Meanwhile, Julia Winterson has a secret of her own--a secret that chased her away from Mullaby years ago. She is back in Mullaby just to raise enough money for her own bakery, but Stella and Sawyer are trying their best to crack through her tough exterior.

This book is firmly in the chick lit section. So what made a scifi/fantasy junkie like me interested? I am embarrassed to admit it was the title. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon"? "Moon"? Oh, yeah, that sounds good.

I finally got around to reading it on a flight, needing something light and frothy and generally not stressful. That is a really good way to describe this book: light, frothy, not too intense or serious. And if you come into this book without realizing it, you will be sadly disappointed. Don't expect a lot of explanation of the magic, don't expect lots of subtlety or some twisty-turny ending. Just realize this is a fun book, and you will have a great time.

I like to say there are three major characters: Emily, Julia, and Mullaby. Emily is our teenaged protagonist, something that wasn't made 100% clear on the back blurb (curses, you back blurb writer!). But fortunately (Whewsh!), she is not annoying. Yeah, her romance with Win is like Twilight-lite, but she is a well-written character and her discovery about her mom is heart-breaking and insightful. Julia is our other main character, and her character arc is great. She starts the book a woman looking out for herself, holding a grudge against her ex, and wanting desperately to leave. As we learned about her childhood and her depression, I really felt for her.

But by far, I think Allen writes Mullaby best. The town really becomes a character of its own. The Main Street, the woods, the parks, the lake, the BBQs...there were times I could almost feel the warmth on my face from the sun, feel the sand in my feet, and smell the BBQ and cakes in the wind.

These two ladies' (and one town's) stories intertwine peripherally. Julia befriends Emily, and their relationship feels very organic (and is greatly welcomed!). Emily tries to get Julia and Sawyer together, while Julia tries to protect Emily from the town.

But other than that, the stories are separate. And, if you don't mind my saying, a little predictable. I was pretty much able to guess the outcome of both at the end. And what I didn't guess, wasn't that astonishing. I am not upset about each character's happily ever after, just the execution, how quickly they were wrapped up.

The other thing that perturbed me was how much of a backseat the "fantasy" element took, i.e. the "changing wallpaper". I didn't expect it to be explained in excrutiating detail as it would in a fantasy or scifi novel, but it was sorely underused and almost felt tossed in for kicks. There are only a few random references to it, and the wallpaper itself does nothing to propel the story. The Coffey secret (which I had basically guess within a few pages) was more important. And speaking of the Coffey secret, while I had no problems with it in general, I hated the stupid "it's fueled by the moon". Oh, really? If so, then why does it always happen even when there is no moon?

Lastly, the Emily/Win relationship got a little creepy, particularly when it was revealed that Win, a la Edward Cullen, snuck into Emily's room. At night. Stalker boyfriends = NOT COOL!

Rating time is always hard, and this book is one of those that is challenging (I would probably rate it 3.5 stars if the .5 star was allowed). It's not like those books that are horrible and easy one stars or those books that are amazing and are easy five stars. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" was a good book. But because it was only a "good" book and not a "great" book, I will rate it 3 stars for being an enjoyable, light, frothy book.

Brought to you by:
*C.S. Light*

Recently, going through a rough time I needed a feel good book. A good friend recommended Sarah Addison Allen, and it just happened that I'd received a copy of her book "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" for my birthday in March. I hadn't picked it up yet, but I felt like now was the perfect chance, and my friend couldn't have been more right. This was the perfect feel good book to escape into.

Sarah Addison Allen's writing is magical, the town she has created is possibly the fictional town I would most like to live in! (Sorry Susan Mallery, Fool's Gold is still very close to the top, but it just can't compete with the magical elements of Mullaby NC!!) The characters (who I will discuss next) are so perfectly written that they feel real. The magical elements, so fantastic they could almost be real! And her recipes at the back of the book are to die for! She really touches every imaginable sense with her writing.

We start this book with Emily, we don't know much about her or where she's from. But we know she's meeting her Grandfather for the first time in her life, and we can piece together that she's recently lost her mother - which is soon confirmed. But she is the most normal of our characters - there's her grandfather, the giant. Her neighbor, Julia who bakes magical cakes which bring hope. And Sawyer - SWOON - oh Sawyer, how I love you! (And by the way? Handsome and wonderful Sawyer can actually see sweets - a magical golden glow around them!) And then, there's the mysterious glowing lights that appear at night and flit through the woods.

The mystery of this town and it's inhabitants will have you hanging on every word anxious to discover what is happening in this town and what is the secret that Emily's own mother buried so many years ago!! Magical and savory, The Girl Who Chased The Moon is most definitely the perfect pick me up book to escape into if you're looking for an afternoon away from life. I look forward to reading much more from Sarah Addison Allen in the future.

What can I say about this book? Let's see, I picked it up at 11:30pm, and didn't put it down until 4:30am and I was screaming out NOOOOO!!! I didn't want it to end. I have very rarely read an author who pulls you into the world, not just shares the story but makes you feel like your there, walking the streets of the town, watching the Giant go walking by, smelling the sweet smells coming from the BBQ, meeting your friends at the local fair and having a good ol' Southern time in North Carolina (I'm a Virginia girl myself and must say when she describes the food my mouth just WATERS). *wipes drool off just remembering*.
The characters are like friends you haven't seen in a while, the story fantastical and wondrous, yet so believable, even in it's unbelievability you can just imagine wondering into town and discovering that everything she wrote about is actually true.
I got so involved in the story and couldn't wait for the characters to get out of their own way, especially Julie ohhh girl I would ... wait no spoilers, but let's just say i would have snatched her bald for her oppurtunity. I loved that the young lead Emily, came into town and helped to change it in her own little way; that her presence made each of the other characters take a good look at their lives and seek change. I really really loved her Grandpa the Giant, I could almost see him like a older (cleaner but only a little bit) version of Hagrid. yeah it's a Harry Potter reference and?? Yeah Id don't think so Lol, ok y'all knew I was crazy coming on here so don't gimme those looks, I enjoyed reading about Win and his family, this town like the other towns in her books, have so many quirky characters, and townspeople with special gifts and traits. Some of the plots in the story left you wondering and made you really think, especially abut Dulcie and her past, and how it affected her daughter's future.
I loved this book, the story, the characters, and even though I keep looking to see if maybe I was dreaming and it really didn't end that way, I even liked the ending.

I loved reading Garden Spells, I fell deeply in love with the Sugar Queen, and I must say that Sarah Addison Allen is fast becoming for a favorite must read author. I loved this book so much i almost (i said almost so don't gimme that look) didn't return it to the library * of that now means I MUST buy my own copy...heheheheh, another reason to shop Borders*

I will say that I loved this book as much as I loved Practical Magic and that i have placed in all it's witchy and everyday magic (yeah I know it's only in my mind, but my blog, my opinion) her along the likes of Alice Hoffman. yeah I said it.
Go a get this book, it will be worth it I promise!!
Be Blessed

I finally did it.
I read a Sarah Addison Allen novel back in April after years of avoiding the author for fear her stuff would not be to my liking for the simple fact that everyone seems to love her. To be honest the only reason I read it was because it was a buddy read in my Goodreads group.

When I was reading it it too me a little while to get into because for me the book started off really slowly and it wan't until around page 60 that I really started to get into it and once I did I finished it pretty quickly.

What I liked about it was that it was a light read and at under 300 pages it was relatively short. I can understand why her writing appeals to so many people there is no doubt that she has a talent for the written word. I'd have to say my favourite character was not Emily but the 34 year old Julia who runs a diner in Mullaby. For me she was the star of the novel. I really felt a much stronger connection to her than I did to Emily who I found really annoying for some reason.

I truly enjoyed the simplicity of the novel and how sweet and laid back the author was in writing it but I just wish it had more...it just felt to me as though it was missing something. A few times while reading the novel it seemed to start and go a bit but that could just be me because this is my first time reading the authors stuff.

All in all I enjoyed the book it had just enough of that southern comfort to make it appealing to readers young and old and I think no matter what your tastes in books are chances are you'll walk away after reading this book feeling pretty good. It's just one of those novels that lifts your spirits and makes you feel good so I recommend this one to everyone. I especially think that it would be a great mother daughter read. I will absolutely be checking out more of this authors books in the future.

Apparently Sarah Addison Allen is pushing "magical realism" as far as it can go without actually writing fantasy. "The Girl Who Chased The Moon" is a lushly written little novel that injects the everyday world of a little Southern town with magic, mystery and alluring sweetness, and Allen's writing is absolutely exquisite.

After her mother's death, Emily is sent to live in the town of Mullaby with her reclusive giant of a grandfather Vance Shelby, and soon finds that Mullaby is a strange place -- strange ghostly lights dance outside the house, and the wallpaper's pattern shifts to fit her moods. She quickly makes friends with Julia, a woman with a troubled past who has a knack for baking magical cakes, and a quirky young man named Win Coffey.

But Emily soon discovers that not all the people of Mullaby are so friendly -- especially the wealthy Coffey family -- and that her do-gooding mother used to be the cruel queen-bee. Over the days that follow, old secrets are laid bare as Julia confronts the ghosts of her thwarted high school love, and Emily discovers what her mother did to the Coffey clan -- and what secrets she exposed to the world.

Ghostly dancing lights that return lost jewelry, wallpaper that changes with your moods, a gentle giant, and a family that never EVER goes out at night. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" has a gentle, magical air that makes it feel a little like a fairy tale in a small Southern town, and Sarah Addison Allen injects that feeling into almost every part of the book.

Her prose is simply exquisite -- she has a knack for describing everyday things in a delightful way (a smell is described as trailing "like a kite's tail"), and there are many poignant moments in the pasts of the characters (especially the cute story about why Vance checks the dryer). The subplots are woven together nicely into a silken rope, but the most important are a pair of coming-of-age stories -- one for the newly-orphaned Emily and one for the older, troubled Julia.

The only thing that bothered me was the fact that NOBODY would tell Emily what the Coffey family secret is through the book (although she guesses "werewolves"). At least Allen lightly sprinkles the plot with clues.

They're nothing alike, but Emily and Julia are a good pair of heroines -- one is a rather nice, ordinary girl raised by a seemingly morally perfect mother, and the other is a former Troubled Teen who has carved out a new life for herself. Sawyer seems like a charming jerk at first, but eventually Allen peels back the layers to show a genuinely loving, fearful man, and Win is an enchanting, mystery boy who seems to be passively breaking away from the past.

Magic and moonlight (though I can't recall any magnolia blossoms) "The Girl Who Chased The Moon" fill this southern fairy tale. Utterly enchanting.

What is home to you? A comfortable, warm place filled with loving faces? Is it the scent of freshly baked cookies or pie wafting through the air? A worn blanket draped across a favorite chair and a good book? The soft, silky touch of a beloved pet's fur? Finding shelter in the protective embrace of a lover? Home is more than just a place it is a destination where you feel safe; someplace where all is right with the world; a spot you always want to be. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is all about finding that elusive point called home.

What I Liked:
*As with all the Sarah Addison Allen books this story is inhabited by characters that are genuine and amiable. I feel like they are old friends after hearing their stories, that manage to reach out and touch my heart. Julia, has unwillingly returned back to her home town of Mullaby, North Carolina after twenty years, to put her father's business in order and sell it for a profit. She is filled with regrets and unsettled; unsure of where her home and heart lie. She has no intention of staying or getting mired in her past. A past that involved pink hair, self inflicted cuts, one night with a handsome boy named, Sawyer, a teenage pregnancy, and the difficult adoption of her tiny, infant daughter. Since then she patiently bakes her deliciously, fragrant cakes and pies hoping that the sweet scent of vanilla and sugar will guide her daughter back to her one day. Emily, is a sixteen year old girl, reeling from the death of her mother. She comes to Mullaby to live with her grandfather, a man she has never met, nor even knew existed. Emily discovers that the town of Mullaby holds a grudge against her mother for a past transgression. Somehow she must right a wrong, and make the people of the town see her mother was not the girl of her youth. Her grandfather Vance is an eight foot tall man, who is adrift in a sea of loneliness. He is constantly peering into the dryer hoping to reconnect with the ghosts of his past. His a kind hearted giant, whom I felt needed a big hug. Then there is Sawyer, the man that has always been in love with Julia but never acted on his feelings. After a failed marriage, his heart still holds a soft spot for Julia in spite of their troubled past. He has a unique ability that allows him to see the glittery, sugary trails of sweet aromas. Winn, is a sixteen year old boy with a big, mystical secret. He is eager to have someone see his true self. He just might know a thing or two about the mysterious Mullaby lights that appear when the moon shines.
*I love the writing. Ms. Allen's books always have fantastic characters, magnificent, detailed descriptions and just a wisp of magic. I can almost smell the tantalizing food scents; buttery vanilla, bold, tangy, smokey BBQue, and fragrant cakes and pies. If only those scrumptious aromas could drift out of the pages.
*The story is a complex chorus of many people. Each lends their own voice to the blend and they all come together so sweetly and subtly into the perfect, poignant story, just like a beautiful melody. Julia's song is making peace with old ghosts and learning to open her heart and love. While Sawyer's tune is about reaching out and grabbing his heart's desire. Emily and Winn harmonize to find their identities. Emily rectifies her mother's past and establishes her place in the town. Winn reveals to Emily his true self and in her eyes he finds the acceptance he so desperately sought. Together they hear the promising notes of a new beginning. Vance learns to sing with Emily and he is able to turn forward and peer into the future instead of his past. In the end there is harmony and home for all.

And The Not So Much:
*This story builds with such emotion. I wanted to savor it like you would a piece of cake. Slowly eating each scrumptious bite; saving the rich, velvety, chocolate frosting for the end, to relish the melting taste of the heavenly, sweet cocoa. Just as I got to the rich, sugary creaminess, the moment Julia's glittery cake aroma is answered, the story ends and it is snatched away. I wanted to revel in all that decadent emotion. I felt robbed...please tell me there will be a continuation and I can read Maddie's story.
*I was a bit disappointed with the whole story line behind the Mullaby lights and the moon. It was just one element that I just couldn't relate to. It is a good premise but Winn and Emily's story didn't speak to me the same way that Julia and Sawyer's story did.

The next time you are feeling down and need a cozy escape, pick up the Girl Who Chased the Moon. In its pages you will meet some new friends, who will invite you to Mullaby for a decadent piece of cake and a sweet story about the journey to home. You will laugh and shed a tear and leave the town knowing your friends have found their own comfortable corner in the world.

Favorite Quotations:

"He not only saw her, he accepted her."

"We get to choose what defines us."

"Adolescence is like having just enough light to see the step in front of you and no further."

"I am always homesick, I just don't know where home is."

"The broken circle of history should have let all the animosity pour out but it didn't."

Mullaby, North Carolina is home to many mysterious and marvelous wonders so why did Emily Benedict's mother never tell her about this place?

When Emily's mother left Mullaby she didn't look back. When she passed away after years of philanthopic efforts and a straight-laced lifestyle the last thing her orphaned teen daughter expects is to be shipped off to live with her grandfather in North Carolina. She's never even heard of the giant, Vance Shelby, or the strange light that flutters about in the woods behind his house. No one will tell her why she's looked on with a mixture of disgust and trepidation, at least not at first. Taken under the wing of her grandfather's neighbor, Julia Winterson, she begins to feel a little welcome until the mystery of why her mother left begins unraveling... and she has to question everything she knew about her mom and everything she's learned about the strange town she grew up in.

RT Book Reviews had an article about this book that sold me on it long before I was offered a chance to review it. It isn't every day that something this whimsical, magical and still substantial comes along. Every character in it plays a significant role and leaves an impression. But the town itself is one of the biggest characters. Every location comes alive through Allen's masterful storytelling. Emily's adventures in Mullaby are bittersweet at times and it wasn't hard to believe her when she painted a different portrait from the one others saw of her mother.

Like others I can't help but liken this story to the film Big Fish. While it's contemporary fiction at its base the magic woven into it gives it the flavor of a tall tale. Julia's cakes and the story behind why she bakes them actually had tears streaming down my cheeks and not many books can pull that off!

If you're looking for a charming, sweet read for a book club I think this would make an excellent selection. It has its sad moments and even some that are a little tense but on the whole it is a story about foregiveness, redemption and the value of keeping secrets. I really, really enjoyed it and hope to try some of Allen's other work in the future.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is not Sarah Addison Allen's best novel, but that doesn't make it awful. I'll get the bad parts over with quickly: partially cheesy dialogue, semi-cheesy romance, predictable plot and outcome. Done. Moving on.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon contains all the magic and sparkle of Sarah's previous novels, this time in the form of the sweetness of cake and the glow of young love. Emily Benedict moves to her mother's hometown following her death. Greeted with cold shoulders and dark glances, Emily has no idea that her mother's legacy is not one the town is willing to forgive. With her eight-foot tall grandfather choosing to spend more time in his bedroom than explaining her past to Emily, she is forced to fend for herself and find out why Mullaby, and a boy named Win, are so mysterious.

Julia has returned to Mullaby for her own parent's death. Left with her father's barbecue restaurant and costly mortgage, Julia counts the days until she can leave again and return to the life she's created since she left Mullaby when she was a teenager. But fate has a different plan for Julia, and the love of her teenage life refuses to let her go so easily.

Surrounding these two stories are the secrets of Mullaby: the lights that glow in the woods every night, the strange townspeople, the Coffey's and why they don't leave the house after sunset, the ever-changing wallpaper in Emily's mother's room. Each nugget of mystery is almost as magical as Sarah's other novels, and just as delicious as the cakes Julia bakes every day and night.

While The Girl Who Chased the Moon is not as effortless as Garden Spells or The Sugar Queen, it's still a delicate, magical morsel of a read. Part of it feels as though the author was grasping at straws, trying to repeat her earlier success with a carbon-copy type of novel. It's not as original as her earlier works. Still, I do love Sarah Addison Allen's hold of magical realism; it's fantastical without being pure fantasy, and seductive without hitting you over the head with its obviousness. She's still one of my favorite magical realism authors, and I hope The Peach Keeper is a better representation of her skill.

Sarah Addison Allen treats us to another delightful tale in The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I'm a huge fan of Sarah's, having already read and loved her two previous novels, Garden Spells (my review) and The Sugar Queen (my review). What I love most about her books is that little bit of magical whimsy she weaves into them that just picks you up and engages you fully into the story!

We meet seventeen year old Emily in The Girl Who Chased the Moon. She has just lost her mother and has arrived in Mullaby, North Carolina to live with a grandfather that she's never even met. Emily is very curious about her grandfather and the town as her mother never told her anything about her life there and would never visit either. Emily is hoping to uncover all the secrets that her mother Dulcie seemed to have kept hidden.

Emily is in for a shock though. It isn't enough that she's in a new town with no friends but people keep looking at her strange and nobody seems to want to talk to her about her mother. Emily finally learns that this is because nobody liked her mother. Something happened in this town to cause Emily's mother to leave and it wasn't good. Unfortunately for Emily, her mother's reputation seems to make people have predisposed feelings towards Emily. Emily can't understand it because her mother was a really good person who did lots of good things for others. What caused everyone to dislike her mother so? Does Emily really want to know - will it change her feelings towards her mother?

Now Emily's grandfather Vance is a whole other story. He's eight feet tall but considered a gentle giant. And what about this town of Mullaby? There are strange lights and she's living in a room where the wallpaper changes on it's own to suit a person's mood (who wouldn't love to have this!). Then there's the people of the town, particularly the Coffey's. They're a strange bunch - they don't go out after dark! What's up with that - Emily's thoughts run rampant thinking about that town secret.

There is, to me, two stories interwoven somewhat in this novel and the other is of Julia who came back to the town a year ago after having left as a teenager. She knows what it's like to be looked down on and she befriends Emily. Julia had never fit in and got bullied in school and left town for secrets of her own. But now she's back and running her father's diner biding her time until she can leave again. Julia is a baker who makes wonderful goodies. Is the reason she makes those fantastic bakery delights somebody in town? Julia didn't come back to Mullaby to confront her past but ultimately everyone has to.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a pure delight to read. It has just the right blend of magic, romance, food, mystery and emotion to make it a great read for me! The characters draw you in quickly and you find yourself loving them and feel so sad when you have to say goodbye. The writing is just what I expect from Sarah Addison Allen; beautiful and magical. She recreates the town of Mullaby so that you feel as though you are walking down Main Street. The only thing I wished for in reading this novel was that it had been much longer. Otherwise it was perfect!

Have you ever felt quieted and contented in the aura of a place, lulled into its sights and scents, acutely aware of its currents? If so, then you should take a good look at THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON, set in a small town with exactly that kind of quality.

Written by bestselling author Sarah Addison Allen, the novel is about the magic of Mullaby, North Carolina. The story's two protagonists are newcomers Emily Shelby and Julia Winterson. They're ordinary people in a place that could be any small town in America, its residents caught up in the humdrum and the trifles. No one has any secrets here, and everyone knows everybody else. Amid this chaos and peculiarity, Emily and Julia are trying to quietly cope with what life has handed them.

Emily is a cute but awkward teenager who has been orphaned, her mom having been killed in a car accident recently. She was the only person Emily was ever close to, and Emily is now being sent to live with her grandfather, Vance Shelby. Her mother rarely spoke of Emily's grandfather, and Emily had never met him before now. But after the funeral, Mullaby has become her home. The man is older, stoic and mild-tempered, and he towers over her at a height above 8 feet. Vance is known locally as the "gentle giant" and never speaks of what he's lost.

Julia is a 30ish-year-old woman whose home is in Baltimore. She grew up in Mullaby and moved away as soon as the opportunity presented itself. The death of her father a few months ago has necessitated her return to settle his business affairs, and she has moved in with her friend, Stella, next door to Vance. Julia's father was a prominent figurehead here as the owner of a small cafe that all the locals frequent. He was always welcoming and friendly to everyone, and his place remains a favorite hangout for many. His was the best smokehouse barbecue on Main Street, the sweet aroma drawing people in.

Julia is still grieving but has mixed feelings about returning, remembering her reputation as "the goth freak" years ago. Both her notoriety and her home life became so unbearable that, by age 16, she grew emotionally disturbed and began habitually harming herself. The discovery of her scars by her self-centered stepmother led to Julia being forcefully sent to a troubled girl's school. Since her return to Mullaby, Julia has been working at the café daily, but she plans to wrap up the business, sell it, and then leave.

While the past experiences of Julia and Emily and their families leave them feeling like social outcasts, being in Mullaby soon doesn't feel as odd as either thought it might. As neighbors, Julia is one of the first friends Emily meets, though a boy named Win Coffey also seems quite interested in becoming close to her. Strangely, the rest of his family treats her unkindly, and his father has forbidden Win to even speak to her. Julia's high school boyfriend, Sawyer, has also been practically beating down Julia's door, determined to win her over despite barriers of the past. In a place where people can so easily become an outsider, it seems strange to find that it also welcomes the eccentrics.

With a pleasant story and superb writing, THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON takes flight about halfway through, beginning slowly and letting the mystery unravel. As you read more, Mullaby and its people begin to sparkle with magic, the brightness of their personalities revealed before the past is. Though the characters may sound sappy on first impression, they've been written in quite an unemotional way. What people have been through or done in their lives seems to matter less than who they are and what they will become. The vitality of the writing permeates the mind and the senses, filling your thoughts with sweet aromas of warm cake and barbecued pork. Quiet afternoons draw cheerful crowds to the carnival, and dazzling moonlight entices young girls into the night. Familiar routines become serendipitous in Mullaby, the dispirited managing to see their way into this magic.

Reading this, you come to understand that strange and wondrous experiences aren't meant to be explained --- only appreciated.

After reading and loving both of Sarah Addison Allen's first two books I just went ahead and popped her on over to my auto-buy list and sat back to wait for THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON. I was lucky enough to discover Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen only a few months ago and so it hasn't been that long a wait. But Garden Spells was perfectly delightful and The Sugar Queen was quite literally an example of the perfect book at the perfect time. I can't wait to re-read it again. So I found myself just about as anxious to find out what delights Ms. Allen had in store for us next as I would have been had I been forced to wait a year or more as is so often the case when I discover a debut author. I suppose that's just the way of things with the good ones. And, given how much I enjoy these reads, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Emily Benedict is seventeen and motherless the day she moves in with her Grandpa Vance in the out of the way town of Mullaby, North Carolina. Having never been to the town where her mother grew up, Emily hopes to get to know her unusually tall grandfather and find out more about her extremely private mom. Her first night there, Emily meets her next door neighbor Julia Winterson, when she knocks on her door bearing a welcome cake and a warm smile to go with it. Julia is a native of Mullaby who hasn't been home in a long time and is now living a determinedly temporary existence there just long enough to sell her dead father's diner for a tidy profit and get the hell out of Dodge. She never loved it there and the memories are bad enough to have her faithfully marking off the days on her calendar. Chief among those memories is Sawyer Alexander. The golden boy of Mullaby. The soccer playing, scholarship getting, beautiful boy who seemed to understand and even like her for the briefest of moments in high school and then forgot all about her. Unfortunately, try as she might (and for various reasons), Julia was never able to quite forget about him. Now he haunts her bakery and upstairs apartment trying to reforge that old connection just as she evades his attempts in a desperate bid to leave the past where it belongs. But as Julia befriends Emily, they both discover truths that make their lives difficult in so many messy ways.

As with her two previous novels, THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON features a sleepy Southern town, a couple of young women in need of healing and a whole lapful of magic, loss, and longing. The narrative shifts back and forth between Emily and Julia's experiences and I have to say I wish it had spent more time with Julia. I've realized that with Allen's novels I tend to identify more with one of the two protagonists and in the past they have both been the characters with the most page time as well. But in this case I just didn't connect very well with Emily and her adventures with the infamous Coffey family, so her sections were a bit harder to get through. Not that the lovely writing is ever anything like a chore, but I kept speeding my way through those portions to get back to Julia and Sawyer and their wonderfully aching history. Because it was simply a delight to read and I found myself fingers crossed, full of hope for them. A favorite passage:

As Julia took two towels out of her bag and spread them out on the sand, Emily shaded her eyes from the glare of sun and looked around. "Were you meeting Sawyer here?"

"No. Why?" Julia asked as she shimmied out of her white shorts, revealing the bottom half of her red bikini. She left her gauzy long-sleeved shirt on over her red bikini top, though.

"Because he's coming this way."

Julia immediately turned to see him walking down the beach toward them. Sawyer stood out too much to blend in anywhere, but the closest he came was here, with the sun and the sand. He was golden. A sun king.

"He's nice," Emily said wistfully. "The moment I saw him, I knew he'd have an accent like that. I don't know why."

"Some men you know are Southern before they ever say a word," Julia said as she and Emily watched Sawyer's progress, helpless, almost as if they couldn't look away. "They remind you of something good--picnics or carrying sparklers around at night. Southern men will hold doors open for you, they'll hold you after you yell at them, and they'll hold on to their pride no matter what. Be careful what they tell you, though. They have a way of making you believe anything, because they say it that way."

"What way?" Emily asked as she turned to her, intrigued.

"I hope you never find out," she said.

"You've been spoken to that way?"

"Yes, she said softly, just as Sawyer stopped at their towels.

And that's why I love Sarah Addison Allen books. Because, like Sawyer's smile and Julia's cakes, they make me feel wistful and warm, sated and full of good things. This book was just as well written as her books always are, but I think it suffered a bit from uneven pacing and the unfortunate placement of the more compelling storyline in the background. That said, I was captivated with Julia's story. She was an incredibly sympathetic character and I wanted to sit on the banks of Piney Woods Lake with her, eating apple stack cake, talking about Southern men, and worrying about nothing at all.

Mystical and magical, like spun sugar shimmering in the sunshine. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a superb addition to the works of Sarah Addison Allen, which include The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells. When asked to list my favorite authors, this is one that instantly comes to mind.

In her newest release, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Sarah Addison Allen weaves a delightful spell of forgiveness, open-mindedness and the belief that even the seemingly impossible is possible. After the death of her mother, Dulcie, Emily Benedict is sent to live with a grandfather that she never knew even existed. The awkwardness of moving to a new town, knowing no one, and feeling lost are bad enough, but then to come to the realization that your mother was greatly disliked, was cruel and moved away suddenly, leaving behind heartbreak and anger, life just becomes increasingly more difficult for Emily.

Emily is a strong-minded, kind and intelligent young girl who quickly becomes friends with her new neighbor, Julia, who was one of Emily's mother's victims in high school. Julia, however, has long since forgiven Dulcie, and holds no grudges against Emily, as other town members do. Julia has her own issues to come to terms with and work out. The relationship that quickly forms between Emily and Julia was one of my favorite parts of the book and incredibly wonderful.

Another issue that Emily must learn to deal with, in this new town of Mullaby, North Carolina, is the fact that Julia has a literal magic touch with cakes, Julia's high school crush is gifted with the talent to "see" the scents of cakes baking, wallpaper in Emily's room changes all on its own, ghost lights make an appearance during the late nights, her grandfather is a giant (really and truly), and that's just a touch of the uniqueness of Mullaby. As Emily is learning to adjust to all of the newness of her life, she meets Win Coffey, a boy her age who is handsome, intelligent, fun and off limits - according to Win's family. Win's uncle was the the tragedy to end all tragedies as family secrets were unleashed and the family faults Dulcie for his suicide, thereby causing an instant hatred for Emily. Win, however, sees Emily as the delightful girl that she is and a plan soon forms in his mind - a way to possibly bring peace and let harshness die away.

Readers will quickly and instantly fall in love with the characters in The Girl Who Chased the Moon. The plot and storyline are delightful, characterization perfectly developed and dialog wonderfully portrayed in southern style. Honestly, I cannot think of a single aspect or thing that I disliked about this book. I fell in love with Sarah Addison Allen's work with Garden Spells, her first release, and continue to be thrillingly blown away by her writing. The touches of the supernatural perfectly blended with the multiple dimensions of human nature are interwoven in a way that is simply irresistible.

Will Emily be able to find her place within Mullaby and will the townspeople accept her for who she is, not as her mother's daughter? Will Julia's baking magic bring her her heart's desire and will the mystery of the ghost lights be solved? These questions and so many other delights await within the pages of The Girl Who Chased the Moon - so be sure to get your hands on a copy as soon as possible! You will be thrilled you did!

Emily Benedict has arrived in Mullaby, North Carolina, her mother's hometown and a place that is a complete mystery to her. Emily does not understand the animosity the town seems to hold against her, but one special boy is going to explain it to her and in the process, hopefully become her friend. Of course, in a town where rumors run deep and grudges are held for a long time, the friendship of Emily Benedict and Win Coffey seems impossible.

Julia Winterson may have been raised in Mullaby, but she is just as much of a stranger to the town as teenage Emily. Julia has vowed to leave Mullaby as soon as possible and the possible finally seems within her reach. After her father's death, she had to settle his estate but found out that his money problems were deep and she could not just disappear from the town that haunts her as she wished. But she has to get away soon, before Sawyer Alexander woos his way back into her heart, the very heart he broke as a teenager.

Sarah Addison Allen brings her signature magic writing back in her new book, The Girl Who Chased the Moon. The hint of the impossible, the improbable and the truly wonderful peppers the pages of this story. Cake scents that light up the sky, magical lights that show up only at night, an eight foot friendly giant, all these details and more make this story, and the town of Mullaby, come to life.

Emily and Julia are both interesting and vivid characters. At two very different points in their lives, they are looking for many of the same things: belonging, hope, family, a place to call home. But their stories are also different enough to make the pages of this story flourish with the very magic that is Mullaby.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen's previous books, The Sugar Queen (Random House Reader's Circle) and Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery), will also enjoy this story. It has much of the same whimsical and imaginative feel of the other stories. The plot of this story is perhaps not the most original book ever written, but it has such a feel-good, down home old Southern charm to it that readers may be able overlook some of the mundane details and fall in love with the enchantment of the author's descriptions and tall-tale appeal. I will say, it was perfect light reading for a two hour plane ride!

Emily has come to live with her grandfather, a man she had never met. Her mother has died and she misses her. She wants to know more about her mother's early life and hopes her grandfather will fill her in. There is so much she doesn't know. She isn't prepared for his height, his quietness, or the wallpaper in her room. But, at night, Emily sees a light in the woods that intrigues her. Her grandfather calls it the Mullaby lights and asks her to stay away from them. Emily, however, lets her curiosity get the better of her. What will she find, if anything? Emily also discovers that some people hate her mother. Why? What could she possibly have done that would last this long and transfer to her daughter? Julia lives next door and she knows the story, but also has a story of her own. Why does she diligently bake cakes? What is their power? Come on, take a trip to Mullaby and discover the truth behind these and other life stories.

I love books by Sarah Addison Allen and have read most of them. She has a wonderful way of pulling you into the story and making you believe in magic. I would love to have the wallpaper that was in Emily's room, at least most of the time. This is a delightful story of love, hope, forgiveness, and new beginnings. It will grab you from the start and I recommend it to all readers. The Reader's Guide also makes this a great choice for reading groups.

The small town of Mullaby in North Carolina, where everybody knows everybody else's business, is a tough environment for Emily Benedict to be introduced, a young teenager coming to live with her grandfather after the death of her mother in a recent car accident. The town indeed proves to be not very welcoming to Emily on account of her mother's troubled relationship with the son of one of the town's most important families, but it's a side to her mother than Emily doesn't recognise and is unwilling to accept. There are other secrets however in the town that people prefer not to speak about, but there are also others who try to make Emily feel welcome, making Mullaby a strange and sometimes magical place to the young seventeen year-old girl.

The Girl who chased the Moon does seem to be pitched as a young-adult book, confronting issues of bereavement, bullying, self-harm, sexual awakening and teenage pregnancy - or simply just the difficulties of any young person trying to fit into an adult world that is difficult to comprehend, seeming to be made up of secrets that no-one wants to talk about. The book is however is anything but academic in its treatment of these issues, delicately casting a spell of mild magic over it all, without diminishing the importance of the subjects.

It's consequently a wonderfully light and entertaining read, with a laid-back Southern States feel that is delightfully enchanting and never talks down to the young reader. The author presents reasonably complex characters who are not entirely one thing or the other, but rather show many facets of their personality and have the capacity to be reflective and change. The magical elements then are not a distraction, but a way of expressing the complex emotional make-up of the characters and the forces of attraction that lie between them, and it works wonderfully.

Sarah Addison Allen's newest offering, `The Girl Who Chased the Moon,` is a take-a-big-breath-and-read-it-all-tonight novel.

Allen's plot, if nothing else, is straightforward: recently orphaned teen Emily Benedict is sent to live in Mullaby, North Carolina, with her previously unknown maternal grandfather. Once there, she is chagrined to discover that her greatly admired mother was disliked by the locals. When that dislike begins to include her, Emily determines to learn her mother's true story and reconcile the woman she knew so well with the unpleasant girl the town remembers.

Mullaby is literally a magic place. There are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit the occupant's mood, magic lights that flit through the yards, homing signals sent through confectionary. It is, to readers familiar with Allen's works, the world of garden spells and sugar queens. Matters of the heart take precedence, and while magic can weave its spells, people are still held responsible for their actions
and must make amends for past misdeeds.

And there is much requiring regret and atonement. There is Vance, Emily's grandfather, literally a gentle giant of a man, who feels responsible for the selfish and destructive behavior of his daughter, Dulcie. There are Julia and Sawyer, who once shared the usual small town rich boy/poor girl romance that left them both with guilt and regrets. And there is Win Coffey, the boy Emily seems destined to love and lose, whose family guards a dark secret.

But Allen approaches all this regret and sadness with a light hand. Her novel is as light and airy as one of baker Julia's hummingbird cakes. The wicked are punished, the good triumph and are rewarded, and the reader finds herself able to discover a little magic in her own world.

Five stars. `The Girl Who Chased the Moon' should appeal to those who enjoy wandering quietly through Allen's charming, if dysfunctional, North Carolina where the human heart rules and logic is merely a suspect Yankee innovation.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen, a Kindle book I started reading on July 11th. Okay, so maybe I'm a little dense to realize that, after my 3rd S.A.A. book, the theme of each book is of a woman (or a woman and the women she becomes close with) coming into her own and finding her niche where she lives and against mildly-adverse townspeople who live in a picturesque, magical town.

This book immediately had a screenplay feel to it, most likened to that of Big Fish, which features the town of Spectre. Mullaby, the town in Girl Who Chased with Moon, seems also to be enchanted, embracing, shimmery, and poignantly 1950-1960s timed for touristy pleasure. Dotted within Mullaby are both settled Southern and awkward displaced people that are finding their way through life after little and big crises, all while a mother's daughter tries to find her own way while living with her grandpa.

The Girl Who Chased The Moon
by Sarah Addison Allen

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy | Young Adult

Emily Benedict is about to find out if wallpaper can change pattern on its own, if a cake can bring back a lost love, and if there really is a ghost dancing in her back yard.

When her mother passes away, Emily is sent to live with her grandfather in an run-down house which contains a room with enchanted wallpaper. Adjusting to a new life is tricky, but even harder when the whole town expects Emily to act just like her mother did in high school - vindictive, evil-spirited, and spooled - someone who she never knew or expected her mother to be. Emily's memories were of a quiet & serious mother who founded a strict school for girls based on volunteerism. While in her new home, Emily meets the next door neighbor Julia who also shares a past with the town, her mother, and Sawyer- an old crush from Mullaby High School. While one lady is making her entrance into the town, the other is planning her exit and both learn to except their past, embrace their-selves, and to positively look forward to their future.

Since I highly enjoyed Garden Spells, I jumped right into another of SAA's books and while this was a fun read, it was somewhat less satisfying. The book balances both Emily and Julia's story and focuses on their connections to everyone in the town while dipping into their past lifestyles. Lots of emotionally turmoil and endearing characters are what I remember most about the story. Yet, the relationship growth with Julia and Sawyer was entertaining as well. Overall, good quick read but somewhat unsatisfactory compared to Garden Spells.

Likes: The grandfather was so loveable!!

Dislikes: I'm finding this to be a trend in SAA's book, but the epilogue added such a big turning point in the story which was then quickly concluded...SO...I really wanted more and that feeling left me unsettled since I know there will not be any sort of continuation/sequel.

I absolutely loved Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen's first book. I don't think her next two (The Sugar Queen and this one) were as good, but if you like Alice Hoffman, you'll probably like this author. She writes in the same "ordinary people whose lives are touched by a bit of mystery and magic" vein. Her characters are always enjoyable. They are imperfect, flawed in one way or another--physically or psychologically (like the rest of us), but always likeable.

There is usually a secret or mystery from the past that plays a part in her stories, and this book has plenty of those from page one. Allen does a great job of weaving rich personal and family histories into her plots and using them to help her characters triumph. This one starts with Emily arriving on her grandfather's doorstep after the death of her mother. The grandfather she never even knew existed.

Allen writes excellent female characters. They are the kind of people you want to be friends with.

I think I would have liked this book better if some of the "magic" hadn't reminded me so very much of one of the elements of Twilight (not the vampire part!). I'm sure this was not intentional (at least I hope not) but it instantly transported me to Twilight and kind of put a damper on the rest of the story.

I don't know why I picked up this book - I'd never heard of Sarah Addison Allen, and I had no idea what to expect, but I am SO glad I read it. I cannot say enough good things about it.

In some ways, this is a story about a small town with a long memory, which is a theme that has been touched on before. This is a story about the ways that people deal with being outsiders, and how fiercely people will protect what they see as "their own." It's about the ways people hurt each other, intentionally and accidentally. It's about the ways that we reach out to people, without knowing why and sometimes without knowing that we are doing anything at all.

I don't think I have the vocabulary to describe how much I adored Allen's writing style. Her language is unbelievably sensory. On almost every page of this book, I could see, feel, and smell the settings she created. Also, I love the elements of magical realism in the book. I've read books before where incorporating these elements felt jarring, but in Allen's writing, I felt like I got a brief peek behind a curtain and into something extraordinary.

Possibly one of the reasons why this book spoke to me so strongly was because it takes place in a small town in North Carolina, and I've lived in NC my whole life. I loved her description of the barbeque festivals and her explanation of certain Southern idiosyncrasies. For example, Julia tells Emily, "Some men you know are Southern before they ever say a word. They remind you of something good - picnics or carrying sparklers around at night. Southern men will hold doors open for you, they'll hold you after you yell at them, and they'll hold on to their pride no matter what. Be careful what they tell you, though. They have a way of making you believe anything, because they say it that way." This book felt familiar and warm, which is excellent, because it's a story about how characters are pulled "home." Emily and Julia are trying to figure out if there is a place for them somewhere. I felt like Allen was calling to me, and I felt pulled into this book just as the characters are drawn to Mullaby and to each other.

Quickie POV: The Girl Who Chase the Moon is a rich mix of magic, regret and love. The author's tone and voice paint a picture that you can taste. Her poignant use of imagery and unique metaphors imbued a depth into this novel in a way that I have never experienced before. I could almost see the words float form the pages and circle my head. Those same unique metaphors and similes stopped me often and made me reread them, almost laughing out loud at their truth. Then underneath the beauty of her words, the author told a story that made me think, it made me feel and it let me enjoy, all while experiencing the lives and growth of the characters.

Review: Emily Benedict, reeling from the death of her mother, makes her way to the town of Mullaby, North Carolina in hopes of finding family and maybe to learn more about her mother. Her mother had never told her of her Grandfather Vance. Her mother had never told her about the town of Mullaby and the secrets it held. On Emily's arrival she realizes that this town will probably not answer any of her questions, only raise a lot more. The first day there she meets an enigmatic boy her age, old-school Southern boy, he hints at a past between the two of them and this is their first meeting. Emily gets the distinct impression that what he hints at is not a good thing, but still she feels drawn to him.

Julia Winterson is the other character covered within this novel. Julia, after 18 years away from Mullaby and the past that haunts her, has returned after the death of her father. Julia has a plan, a plan that doesn't involve falling in love, or staying very long in Mullaby. But as they say about the best laid plans, Julia's life is thrown in to turmoil as old emotions arise and her past comes back to haunt her.

I don't know whose story I enjoyed more, the innocent tale of Emily, or the older more ragged tale of Julia. Both touched me, yet both were so different, even though they had the same underlying message. Emily's tale was just starting, while Julia's tale was beginning again. They both painted a very explicit picture of choices and decisions that are made when you are young affecting your entire life. Emily's were the choices of her mother, Julia's were the choices she made herself. Both women are haunted by those choices and spend the novel trying to break away from the consequences. All this is done while wrapped in the mystery that is Mullaby. The mystery that is the strange lights that haunt the woods behind Emily's house, and the secrets that everyone seems to know but Emily. The answers to all the mystery are just as surprising as they are believable. I was thoroughly charmed with this novel and was sad as I turned the last page, though excited as it hinted at a follow-up.

Recommendations: I recommend this to a wide range of readers. While it has some paranormal aspects, I wouldn't put this in the genre. The substance of the novel was the message, and the plot and not the tiny bit of paranormal that gave the novel it's mystical flavor. The tale of regret and innocence lost might be a bit much for younger readers, but there is nothing explicit about it for parents to worry over. It does cover topics involving teen sex, but their consequences that result from those actions would be more likely to deter instead of promote. Read the book.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon was full out the southern charm and magic that I have come to expect from Sarah Addison Allen. No one does magical realism quite like Allen. The magical happenings are so subtle and interspersed that it makes them seem so...normal and beautiful. I wish I could live in one of Allen's books.

This is the third book I have read by Sarah Addison Allen, and it might be my least favorite. That doesn't mean I didn't like it, because I definitely did. I just don't know that anything can beat Garden Spells for me. I was so enchanted by that book. But at the time I read that I had never read anything like it before, so it is forever ingrained in my mind. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was still a fantastic read. I felt the story moved a little slow at times, but that was nothing major.

The characters were all very interesting and the mysteries surrounding them definitely kept me turning pages. I love that Allen adds so much...southern-ness to her books. Not just to the characters, but to the entire story. There's a scene in the book where the grandfather explains to Emily--the northern granddaughter-- that barbequing has nothing to do with hamburgers and hotdogs, barbeque is pork. He tells her that in the south hamburgers and hotdogs are called Cooking Out not barbequing. That made me giggle, because it is so true.

Overall, I think Sarah Addison Allen's books are some that you don't want to miss. Even if you are a YA reader, these books have great crossover appeal.

When Emily Benedict's mother passes away, she finds herself on the doorstep of an unknown grandfather, in Mullaby, NC. Emily is not sure what caused her mother's departure of the town where she grew up or the estrangement with her family that resulted. All Emily knows is that her mother has left her on her own and she now has a grandfather she didn't even know existed. So she is in awe when a "giant" opens the door and introduces himself as her grandfather Vance. And by giant, I mean giant, the man is ginormously tall, a little hunched because of his age, but otherwise, a gentle giant.

Julia Winterson is only in Mullaby temporarily. She spends most of her time baking deserts for the barbecue diner her father left her when he passed away. She offers these cakes as a way to satisfy the town's sweet tooth but also in the hope of bringing back the love she fears she's lost forever. In Julia, Emily may have found a link to her mother's past. But it seems that she can't get any answers as to her mother from anyone. As she seeks for answers it seems that all she finds are more questions....

Did the wallpaper in her room really change to reflect how she was feeling? What exactly are those lights that dance in her backyard? Can a cake really bring back a lost love?

Sarah Addison Allen won me over from the moment that I read Garden Spells. So I definitely could not contain the anticipation when I first heard of The Girl Who Chased the Moon, and I am happy to say, I was not disappointed.

The town of Mullaby and its residents were wonderfully charming. I want to live there. I want to know these people. I want to get caught up in their magic. I loved all the relationships and different examples of love expressed throughout the story. The love of a mother for a daughter, of a man for a woman, of a child for her parent.
This story has a little bit of everything... romance, mystery, forbidden love and did I mention food... mouth-watering food, and on top of all that, sprinkle a hint of magic. It was utter perfection.

Ms. Allen's writing is stunning, enchanting, whimsical, magical... it is so detailed, so fresh, so charming - that it will leave you with a smile on your face and a skip to your step.

Once again, Sarah Addison Allen has ensnared me with her beautiful storytelling. For those of you who (like me) believe in magic - you just HAVE to read this book. I mean it, go get a copy of it right now. You will not be disappointed.

I adore the writings of Sarah Addison Allen. Her novels remind me of adult fairy tales - sprinkled with magic dust; flawed, soulful characters that lure you into their world with beauty and mystery. This book fits right in with the program!

It revolves around two women, Emily and Julia. Emily is a quiet teen who goes to live with her 8-foot-tall gruff grandpa in a house that first appears creepy, but later - extremely captivating. Of all the rooms in the house, Emily chooses the one that belonged to her deceased mother. The wallpaper changes patterns depending on the changes that take place in Emily's life. Happy frogs appear inside the dryer. Dancing lights live among the trees in the backyard. Romance sparks. Emily falls for a local boy who comes from a family with a long history of pain and misery. There are no werewolves or vampires under this Moon, but let's just say...Emily's guy carries a supernatural secret of his own.

Julia's story is equaling compelling. A past decision from her teen years haunts her as an adult. She is forced to trust in destiny to bring closure and peace to her heart. And for being brave enough to confront her insecurities and regrets, she is rewarded with not one gift of love, but two. A tasty highlight: Julia's passion is baking cakes and she uses the recipes and scents to attract positive energy to her life.

Magic or no magic, this is a wonderful book about taking risks, trusting instincts, asking questions until the truth is revealed.

I was thrilled when I found out that Sarah Addison Allen was publishing a new book. I loved her first two books (The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells) and was eagerly awaiting this one, The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I believe it was supposed to be published last year but was pushed out until this year. I waited very patiently and was rewarded greatly when my request was fulfilled at my local library (yes, the same library where this happened - can you believe they let me take out more books?!).

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is somewhat of a dual story. Emily is the daughter of a woman named Dulcie who had left the small town of Mullaby years ago in disgrace. Emily comes back to live with her Grandpa Vance (who is 8 feet tall) because Dulcie has died. Dulcie is the subject of some scandal that nobody will talk about, leaving Emily bewildered and lonely. When she takes up with Win Coffey, she finds out what happened and is even more confused.

Meanwhile, next door, Julia is winding up her two year stint of making her late father's barbecue business profitable, biding her time until she can leave. She has been avoiding Sawyer, the subject of a "fling" on the night before she left town at 16.

I don't want to say much more about the book because it really would give away a lot of the fun of it.

I really enjoy Allen's books because she incorporates a bit of magic into all of her works. All of the characters are very nonchalant about it, as if such things as the Mullaby lights (lights that dart through the woods) and a giant man are everyday occurrences.

My only complaint with this book is the way the neat, tidy package is tied up in the end. I don't want to give too much away but from about halfway through, you can tell what is going to happen at the end. However, this is not always bad. Sometimes a book where everything and everybody is all peachy-keen at the end is fun to read.

This book left me feeling good. It was a fairly fast read. Maybe it was a bit predictable, but this did not make me dislike it. I'm looking forward to Allen's next work. I hope it's just as enjoyable as this one.

I picked up The Girl Who Chased the Moon because of Sarah Addison Allen's first book Garden Spells. I thought Garden Spells was truly amazing and it made its way to my "favorite books ever" list. So, I set extremely high standards for The Girl Who Chased the Moon. While the book didn't live up to these expectations, I thought that it was a pretty great book.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is an enchanting novel. Magical realism is something that Allen seems to do really well. Her books are deeper than chick-lit, yet retain the perfect summer read feeling. The Girl Who Chased the Moon was filled with quirky, loveable characters that are in a whimsical little town.

Every thing in this book is infused with touches of magic, yet it wasn't really a fantasy or supernatural read. The magic was a bit understated and it wasn't that focal to the plot. It was mostly in the background (except for really one part where it was out in the open). These characters weren't magical, they just happened to live in a town where strange, yet wonderful things happen.

The reason why I'm giving The Girl Who Chased the Moon four stars instead of five is because while I liked the characters quite a bit, I didn't love them as much as I loved the characters in Garden Spells. Since the book was so short, I didn't really get attached to the characters. I did want them to get happy endings, but I didn't really care how they got there. Also, the subplot with Win and Emily, while it was sweet, seemed to have happened to quickly that I didn't really see how we got from Point A to Point B.

Anyway, regardless of these minor flaws, I thought that The Girl Who Chased the Moon was a great. It was a very comfortable and quick read. It not only made me crave cake (seriously, I have a terrible sweet tooth and this just made it worse), but had me craving for the familiarity of a tight-knit town. This book is recommended, yet I recommend Garden Spells way more.

I was thrilled to have had the opportunity to read an advance reader edition of: The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I was a big fan of the author's two earlier books: Garden Spells (Bantam Discovery) and The Sugar Queen (Random House Reader's Circle). I am happy to report this book was another magical treat.

After the loss of her mother, seventeen year old Emily Benedict returns to her mother's hometown of Mullaby, NC. Emily is determined to find out more about her mother's past, and why she vowed never to return to her childhood home. From the moment she arrives, she learns that perhaps unraveling her mother's past will not be an easy task. Why didn't Emily's mother tell her that she had a grandfather, Vance, (eight feet tall) who still resides in Mullaby? Vance, a quiet and gentle man, begins to shed some light on Emily's mother, who also lost her own mother when she was only twelve years old. Those who do talk about her mother, Dulcie have negative things to say about her. Emily learns that her mother was very popular in high school, was given everything she wanted, and that others followed her lead. Her directives to others, however, were often acts that hurt other classmates, and for that reason Emily is resented in this town.

Julia Winterson is another character who returns to Mullaby after 18 years. Her father has passed away, and Julie needs to get his affairs in order. She spends her time baking beautiful and sometimes magical cakes and sweets. However, behind this facade Julie is haunted by decisions she made in the past when she was a young girl, and she quickly learns that it is not always possible to leave the past behind. Julie was a victim of one of Dulcie's hurtful pranks, but yet she finds it in her heart to befriend Emily.

Both stories are magical, and cleverly woven together. There is a family that never goes out after dark, wallpaper changes from lilacs to butterflies, and unexplained lights that dance in the dark at midnight.

MY THOUGHTS: This book was very good, magical yes, silly no. The authors skillful use of imagery, creates a fast moving and sometimes poignant tale about how complicated life and love can sometimes be. The ending led me to believe a sequel might be possible. RECOMMENDED

Once again we are taken to North Carolina. Mullaby has its share of oddities: a kind, elderly Giant, changing wall paper, and mysterious lights. Seventeen year old Emily Shelby doesn't mind these as much as she minds the fact that her Grandpa Vance and the other residents of the sleepy town won't discuss her late mother, Dulcie. And why didn't her mother tell her about Mullaby and the man "who is so tall, he can see tomorrow"? Luckily, Julia Winterton lives next door. Emily bonds with the young woman with a pink stripe in her hair and begins to lean another side of her beloved mother. But Jane has secrets of her own: scars on her forearms and a compulsive need to bake cakes with her windows open. Together they may find ways to ease their painful hearts.

Like THE PEECH KEEPER the reader must suspend some disbelief while reading THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON. After all, Allen entertains with her writing. She has no agenda except to allow the reader into another world in which wonderful characters dwell. Her stories are to be enjoyed. And she spins sweet tales and has Julia's cake recipes at the book's end. Oh, the oven timer is going. Got to get my cake out of the oven. Yes, it is one of the Blue Eyed cakes, and Sawyer has seen it. He's knocking on my door. And he says to tell you more of the plot would spoil the story from Sarah Addison Allen.

This is a book about two estranged couples and several more people of this small Carolina town who have secrets they are hiding from others who already know and accept these hidden things.

But what makes this an unusual work, not just a confusing one, are several manifestations of magic. A grandfather who is an eight foot two giant. Bedroom wallpaper that changes according to the occupants mood and strange glowing lights outside at night.

There are a few too many characters and Emily and Win seem a bit young, but backstory is everything and when it comes to the inevitable conclusion, there is an element of real magic we are willing to accept because Sarah Addison Allen has laid a a foundation of fantastic things that seem real. I thought the book seemed to go on a bit too long until the last chapter, which I loved, and made it all just seem right.

- J. Lehman, Rosebud Book Reviews.com

 

This was my first time to read Sarah Addison Allen. This was a charming, romantic, feel-good read. Typical of a southern setting. The two intertwining story lines were very intriguing. There was a lot of suspense. Although, at the end I was left wanting more.

I absolutely loved the entire story between Julia and Sawyer... their secret lived up to the suspense throughout the novel, and the magic surrounding his "sweet sense" and her baking cakes was fun. I also loved the story of Emily returning to the town where her mother grew up, learning her mother's life long secret, and reconnecting with her grandfather.

What I did not like about this story was the Mullaby family secret and the romance between Emily and Win. There was so much build-up for what felt like no reason after the family's big secret was revealed. The family secret has no reason behind it and honeslty made the story turn cheesy and Twilight-ish at the end. Kind of sad, because I really enjoyed the rest of the book.

That being said, I will read other Sarah Addison Allen books and give her another chance. I did enjoy her writing style. I just wish the story would have been fleshed out a little more and given a reason for the Mullaby family secret.

Oh... and there are recipes in the back of the book for some of the cakes that Julia cooks! I know, right?!

With her mother dead, Emily Benedict has arrived in Mullaby, North Carolina to live with her Grandpa Vance, who she has never met. Mullaby is a world unto its self, the air is scented with hickory and at night there are strange flashes of light that both enchant and tempt. As she meets people, Emily is beginning to understand why her mother never talked about her hometown. Her mother Dulcie, was part of the most popular group and yet there was a scandal/tragedy that is the only thing the townsfolk seem to remember. Emily finds a friend in Win Coffey but doesn't understand why their relationship is so frowned upon. And her next door neighbor, Julia Winterton knows more about the past then she is willing to tell.

Julia is struggling with her own past, and a high school love that she is trying to avoid. She returned to Mullaby to close up her father's house after his death. She has a plan to get his affairs in order and to get out of town quick. As long as she keeps baking cakes and cookies and the like she'll keep customers coming to his business and eventually be able to sell it to cover his debts. Baking is a way Julia copes with her losses and hopefully weaves a spell that brings an old love back.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is another spellbinder from Sarah Addison Allen. Afar reading Sugar Queen, I willingly suspend that cynic inside that does not believe in magic and wonder whenever I pick up one of her books. In this book she crafts a bittersweet lesson in love and forgiveness that lingers like a light dusting of sugar and flour.

If anyone were to ask me what "summer reading" means, I would tell them to buy this book.

When I think about summer reading I think about something that is light-hearted and poignant, something that will have me happily flipping the pages at the pool, a book that will tease that little smile to my lips so often that others walking by will stop to ask what I'm reading. I want to hear the music of the crickets chirping through the descriptions inside the pages and feel the humidity pressing down on me as well as the cool relief of the AC when the characters slip inside.

All of these things and more were given to me as I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon. I could rant on and on about how fantastic this book is, but instead I want to write a little note to the author.

Dear Ms. Allen,

Thank you for giving me a reason to love summer again. In just a short 24 hours while I devoured this story you wrote I forgot about the broken AC and stresses of upcoming school-days. I didn't mind getting up to hang my clothes on the line because I could drift into Mullaby in my imagination imagining the gentle giant, the lights and the sweet, sweet romances taking place.

I'm not often as touched as I was by this book and over the last several months have become somewhat jaded when it comes to light-hearted mysteries and affairs of the heart... but this story broke through those walls I'd begun to build and made me remember just how much I love reading a good story.

Thank you and I cannot wait to read what else you have in store for us.

Your newest fan,
Lydia.

This is an interesting story of interpersonal relationships and the way we let the past effect them and sometimes the past of one person effects the present of another. It is a story that we can all relate to, 10-15-20 years from high school, you still let the trivial or not so trivial events of "school children" effect the way you view them or how you think they view you. The author weaves this deeper plot with a whimsical cast of characters from an 8ft tall grandfather, to people who can see the scent of sweet confections in the air and oh so much more. While I wouldn't say this is my usual genre of book to read, I just can't seem to put down this authors books. Definitely worth a read!

I really enjoyed this book. It seems the more I read by this author, the more I like her books. It started with Garden Spells, which I enjoyed but didn't think much of. Then went on to the Sugar Queen, full of quirky characters just like I like it. And now the Girl Who Chased the Moon which I enjoyed the most. When I first started reading it and one of the main characters was a teenage girl, I was at first put off because lately there seems to be so many novels (and movies) of teenagers, and I've been one and lately I don't feel like ready about teenage angst. But I kept reading after the introduction to her grandfather. And I kept reading. I was somehow able to escape all my duties of this world (kids, husband, chores, work) for enough hours to read this book almost non-interrupted and even a few days after finishing it I still feel like a balmy breezy day surrounded me while I read it. It had a magical calming effect about it. I loved both love stories in it and the history that develops, and the town where it all takes place seems like a perfect southern town that I need to visit before I die. So of course I'm dying to read other books by S.A.Allen, and see if there's a trend and if I like them more and more.

I really enjoyed this enchanting magical-realist tale set in the quaint small town of Mullaby, North Carolina. The story follows two central characters, 17-year-old Emily, who, after her mother's death, has come for the first time to the town where her mother grew up, and Julia, her neighbor, a former high school outcast who has returned after almost 20 years, and bakes cakes whose aroma can do more than just satisfy the sweet tooth.

After Emily arrives in Mullaby, she finds many unusual things. She discovers that her grandfather, whom she has never met before, is a gentle giant more than eight feet tall. There are mysteries to be solved: Why does the wallpaper in her bedroom change from lilies to fluttering butterflies? What is the ghostly light that appears at night in the backyard woods of her grandfather's house? What terrible thing did her mother do to become so despised by the townsfolk? Why won't the reclusive Coffey family go out at night, and what is the big secret they're hiding?

This charming, fun-to-read novel was a delight. It's beautifully written, and the town and its quirky inhabitants are vividly portrayed. The author certainly kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next. So if you enjoy light, atmospheric, romantic tales with a little magic and a happy ending, you might want to give this a try.

This was just a great story. I was a little leery at first of the "magic" stuff. In the wrong hands, it's just goofy. But even though it could easily have gone over the top in weirdness, the author kept it all tightly knit and totally believable and to suspend disbelief with people seeing baking smells and weird lights at night, well, that's quite an accomplishment. I loved the characters, I loved how she moved us into their lives at perfect pitch and then resolved things with perfect rhythm. I will most definitely go back and read the previous works of this author and anxiously await new ones!

I wanted to say something like, if you liked this book, try... but honestly, I cannot think of another book quite like this one. Tim Farrington's books, The Monk Downstairs and The Monk Upstairs, come to mind for gentleness, but there was no magic in them. Secret Lives of the Sushi Club by Christy Yorke had some magic in it but I remember a lot more angst and frenetic energy to it, less gentleness. Those were all fun books though, in their own way.

In any case, I strongly recommend this book and I hope it transports you to a place of possibilities and gentle caring like it did for me.

With the death of her mom Dulcie, Emily Benedict moves in with her maternal grandfather whom she never met in Mullaby, North Carolina. She hopes to better understand what motivated her mother to abruptly run away from home and never return. However, not everyone welcomes the daughter of Dulcie while the newcomer finds life with her gentle giant grandfather kind yet odd especially accentuated by the changing wallpaper.

Julia Winterson welcomes Emily with a cake. She hopes to pay off her dad's debt, which would enable her to shut down his restaurant and leave town to open a bakery elsewhere. Sawyer hopes she will stay and give him her heart as she owns his. Win Coffey and Emily are attracted to one another too, but their families are at the heart of the secrets that the outsider seeks to learn.

This is a warm whimsical tale with a strong message of don't relive past transgressions forever especially when the present provides a chance for a different future. Readers will be hooked to learn the Dulcie-Coffey secret and root for the two couples to make it. Not even Dean Smith paints Tarheel magic as well as Sarah Addison Allen does (see Garden Spells).

Harriet Klausner

As Emily comes to Mullaby for the first time, she discovers her unknown grandfather and a town full of secrets. As some of those secrets are revealed and as Emily comes to understand her roots, she finds more than she ever hoped she could: friendship and family and love.

These are characters who grow on you. I loved Emily. I loved Julia. The descriptions are so vibrant and vivid: I could just picture the magical cake scents that would drift out of Julia's window as she baked. In my mind, they sparkled and left a trail, just like fairy dust. I'd have a hard time not following them back to their origin, too! And, I want wallpaper that changes with my moods.

Enchanting is an adjective that I have used to describe each Sarah Addison Allen book, and this one is no different. Charming, delightful, captivating, and endearing all come to mind as well. I love that each of her books has a mystical aspect, and I love that it is so easy to accept those magical elements as normal!

Here, just as in Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen, we find that ordinary people possess extraordinary gifts, and that honesty in our relationships is something to treasure.

This was a fun story to read. It wasn't phenomenal or overly engaging but I enjoyed it none-the-less.
It is about a young girl, Emily, who returns to her mother's home town after her mother's death. There are family secrets, old mansions, 'ghost' stories and romance.

I think what got to me was that the story was trying to be too many things and never got really deep into one particular aspect. There was some odd magic but the rest of the story was very 'real life' so the magic seemed out of place. There was romance but when the main character, Emily, was astonished that someone was going to kiss her it seemed a little off for a 17 year old.

I liked the symbolism of Julie's cake baking and all the wonderful things she did for others by baking them. Ultimately, her cake baking was her own salvation.

The story had some charm and flow. It built up at times and I found myself wanting to read more but it never really hit the big ending that I thought it could.

Nice writing, a whimsical story, probably a fun beach read.

I loved the author's debut novel, Garden Spells, and was surprised by how easily I was able to suspend belief and enjoy elements of magic in the plot. There may be even more magic in this novel, including magic wallpaper, magic cakes and magic lights, as well as a giant.

The title character of this novel is Emily, an orphaned teen from Boston who is sent to live in a small North Carolina town with the grandfather she never knew. But even though Emily gets top billing, the story is shared equally with her grandfather's neighbor Julia, a 30-something baker.

Emily quickly discovers that family secrets make her unwelcome in her new town. At about the same time, she meets Win, a boy her age who also has family secrets. But Win's good looks, charm and extreme wealth will never make him unwelcome, even if he does have his eccentricities. Julia, who also has secrets, remembers her own troubled teen years and befriends Emily.

Although I enjoyed this book, it didn't have the same appeal for me that Garden Spells did. I think that's because Garden Spells had very adult themes, while this felt much like a teen novel aimed at fans of the Twilight series. Though neither is a vampire, Emily and Win have much in common with Bella and Edward. Even most of the adults in this novel are characterized more by their actions as teens, especially in their roles as bullies and the bullied, than they are as adults.

I would recommend this to girls of middle-school age and up, as well as to fans of the author's previous novels.

"The Girl Who Chased the Moon" totally won my heart. It's one of those rare books that I did not want to put down. After finishing the book, I fell asleep wondering what the lives of the characters would now be like. That happens when a story captures my imagination. As far as I know, Mullaby is a made-up North Carolina town. However, Sarah Addison Allen who lives in Asheville, NC certainly portrays the flavor of a small North Carolina town. The offbeat romance between town society boy Win and newcomer Emily Benedict is sweet. Vance, the grandfather, is an unusual character, written as a young girl might perceive him, hard to get to know. Even the minor characters such a wild woman Stella are so colorfully written to capture the imagination. The magical elements give the novel a flavor, highlighting this extraordinary time in Emily's life. This was a book I think fans of the Twilight series (before it became so dark) might embrace. Enjoy!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is another of Allen's stories laced with magic, food and mystery. I have read all of Allen's previous work ( it started when I found the delectable Garden Spells at a used bookstore) and I love the fabled perimeters of her characters' lives.

Emily, whose mother has just passed away, moves in with her grandfather in a magical house in Mullaby, North Carolina. There, lights whisper to her at night above the tips of the trees and the wallpaper in her mother's childhood room changes patterns with its moods. The sensual aroma of BBQ and cakes float from the Main Street restaurants and, most significantly, from the open window in neighbour Julia's apartment. While Emily and Julia's paralleled lives---with romance and passion and regrets---are slowly stitched, the past is little by little stirred carefully in.

I enjoy Allen's fairytale view of the real world and the mythos of her colourfully lanquid American south. You can bet I will fish out her next tale the moment it is spun.

This is a charming, in many ways "old fashioned" story about love, family history, finding a place in the world.... all those old values that, no matter how many post modern, deconstructionists we read, we still secretly prefer.

This is the story of a teen, Emily, who, after the death of her mother, discovers she has a grandfather she never knew about. She returns to her mother's hometown in North Carolina and meets a wonderful array of folks, from Julia who bakes beautiful cakes, to her giant (over 8 feet) grandfather, to a nice boy who has a strange secret. Another mystery is why her wonderful, kind, activist mother is remembered as a dreadful, thoughtless person.

I also loved the manner of speaking that people have in this book. Perhaps it is a function of the lovely Carolinian accent in print, I don't know. But the writing itself seemed so gentle and nice.

I really enjoyed this book. I bought it at 5pm today and finished it about an hour ago (10pm). It was a quick read, but very, very satisfying.

Welcome to the world of Emily Benedict, the lonely orphan girl, the daughter of small-town Mullaby's former outcast. Emily would do anything to uncover her mother's past, and the family she never knew she had and she has found the opportunity in Mullaby, a small town in North Carolina with its fair share of eccentrics, who one way or another have vowed to keep their town's dirty, unnatural secrets. Will Emily ever find her way in this hush-hush little world of strange, suspicious characters, or will her mother's past overshadow any chance at happiness?

This isn't the only tale to tell in Allen's magical Mullaby - there's that of the legendary Coffey family, who for some odd reason never venture outside their mansion after dark. There's Julia, Emily's disillusioned neighbor who dreams of leaving little Mullaby forever, but at what cost? And there's Emily's grandfather, the town giant, who has watched both his beloved wife and daughter slip away, and will now have to welcome the granddaughter he never knew. Is it possible for all these folks to find shiny, sparkly, shimmering happiness in the space of 265 pages? Sure, why not?

This was plenty of fun to read the whole way through. Mullaby's various threads of history and crazy characters with their hopes and dreams all carry sheen of magic. If you're looking for a nice, sweet beach read this summer (or need a break from this terrible winter) with a hint of the supernatural, you can't go wrong here. Be prepared to lay out beneath the stars and dream of coming home again.

Sarah Addison Allen's THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON is a pleasing afternoon read of escapism. The characters were fun and the food delicious, but just when the reader thought she might have explored a situation in greater depth the point of view changed.
The wonder of human relationships are what fiction is all about, their quirks are the spice. When Emily Benedict finds herself lost in a world she's never known she seldom expresses any resentment for a mother who left her in the dark as to her heritage. Emily was too accepting to be believable.
It has a great title that has no relationship to the story except for a since line from a secondary character.
Good, light read, but nothing special.
Nash Black, author of CARDS OF DEATH.

Although I have heard lots about books by Sarah Addison Allen, this is the first book I have read by her. And the best way to descibe the book would be "enchanting".

The characters were endearing. Win Coffey seemed sweet and I thought he and Emily made a cute couple. I really wanted to know what his secret was and while I had my own predictions, they were way off. In fact, I have never ready a story where this "secret" was part of the story. I love new things! I also like Julia and Sawyer. Sawyer seemed the like all-around-good-guy and without saying whether or not they ended up together, I will say that I definitely wanted them to.

My only complaint about this book is that I felt it was too short. I want to know more. I want to know how Win and Emily's relationship pans out. And I want to know what happens with Julia and Sawyer's secret!

There is just a touch of magic in the book and it was definitely the sweet kind. I look forward to reading other books by Sarah Addison Allen!

This is a lovely tale of mystery, romance and is sprinkled with magic. It's beautifully written and the town and its quirky inhabitants are real and alive, and charmingly portrayed.

We are taken into the town of Mullaby, North Carolina after Emily has lost her mother, Dulcie, where she is transported to be with her extremely tall, reclusive grandfather, whom she didn't know existed. She learns of her mother's childhood, which seems so different from the woman she knew all her life. Emily discovers that her mother was involved in a scandal and that a young man had committed suicide over it. No one will tell her what it was.
She quickly makes friends with Julia, a woman with a troubled past and who bakes cakes that seem magical. Emily becomes involved with a local boy who is linked to the mystery from the past, one that centers around her mother and an event that turned the little town on its heels.

There are many poignant moments, magic wallpaper, magic baking, and mysterious lights in the woods that all come together to provide the reader with hours of enjoyment.

ENCHANTING READ!

I absolutely loved this story. The story is about a young girl who just lost her mother, who moves in with her grandfather and is unwelcome in the small southern town. There are a few elements of magical realism - her grandfather is a giant, the wallpaper magically changes depending on the person's mood, the ability to "see" the smell of cakes, the mullabie lights, the Coffy's secret...All of these elements added just enough fairytale to this intriguing story.

I also loved the characters. Allen did a great job in developing each one - you could feel the pain of Julia's past, you could hear Sawyer's sweet-talking southern twang, and you really fall in love with grandpa Vance.

It seems the only criticism the other readers have of this book is that it maybe more appropriate for a young adult audience. It's true that it is an easy, quick read, and has some magical components, but anyone can enjoy it. You are never too old for a fairytale!

After her mother's sudden death, Emily is forced to move to Mullaby, North Carolina in order to live with her grandfather, whom she never met before. But when the seventeen-year-old arrives in Mullaby, she is surprised to find out that she's already the talk of town. The residents act strangely around Emily, because they suspect her to be just like her mother Dulcie. However, Emily doesn't understand why that would be such a bad thing, after all, her mother was a kind and selfless person. But then, Emily doesn't really know anything about her mother's past, since Dulcie has always been so secretive about it. Since her grandfather, a real-life giant, doesn't want to talk about Dulcie's past, Emily is determined to learn more about her mother from the residents. But even her new acquaintance Julia won't tell Emily more about Dulcie, and the heroine becomes more and more suspicious. However, as the story evolves, the seventeen-year-old girl makes some shocking discoveries concerning her mother's past. What secrets did Dulcie hide from her daughter and why did she never return to Mullaby? Also, why is Emily's new friend Julia always baking cakes? Does she bake them for someone special? Since everyone in Mullaby seems to behave strangely, Emily feels out of place there. Odd things seem to happen in this small Southern town and the young girl doesn't know what to believe. From wallpaper that changes to suit your mood and mysterious lights that appear at midnight, to a family who never goes out after dark, Mullaby is a place surrounded by magic and many secrets. When Emily's questions are answered in the end, the readers will find that nothing is quite as they would have expected, as is the case with all of Sarah Addison Allen's books.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is such a fantastic book about forgiveness, lost love, consequences and the haunting shadows of the past. It's a delightful story about two women who try to find their place in the world and who, in the end, learn that they shouldn't let the past define them. I loved everything about this book, as it had all the right elements for me - it was magical, charming, engaging, and full of secrets and surprises. Furthermore, I loved all the characters as they draw you in and you begin to sympathize with them from the beginning. I also loved Sarah Addison Allen's beautiful writing and her vivid descriptions of Mullaby. But what I probably loved most about her book was the fact that it had all these magical elements in it. I must admit that I normally like to read books set in the past, preferably in England as I like to learn more about forgotten times. However, when I heard of this book, I knew I had to read it because it sounded so good. And I am so glad that it was everything I expected and even more! The only negative thing I have to say about The Girl Who Chased the Moon is that it was too short. Why is it that whenever I love a book it happens to be too short? I wanted to learn more about Mullaby and its residents, I wanted to be surrounded by more magic and charm and thus, I was sad when I finished this book. I read it really fast and after I finished reading it, I realized that I should have taken my time with it. But luckily, Sarah Addison Allen will write more books, and I plan to read them all in the future (I only read Garden Spells a few years ago).

I highly recommend this book to everyone out there who likes Magical Realism and to those who like to read a wonderful novel that is full of suspense, mysteries and Southern charm!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you are looking for deep, meaning-of-life literature, you won't find it here. What you will find is a fun, interesting story with "big reveals" that are well executed. The author does a great job of bringing in just enough paranormal. This is not a book in which you start to question the odd things that happen; quite the contrary. She doesn't dwell on the unusual as odd so you won't either and there is no need to suspend belief. The author does a fantastic job of blending multiple story lines in particular with Emily and Julia. They have separate stories, but cover ground together as well to draw a few parallels. I found myself interested in the background stories of each character which are revealed at an appropriate pace. The author doesn't rush in to provide too much detail too early or drag it out to the point of disinterest.

Just a bit of a spoiler here, but I appreciate the author providing closure to the book. It seems lately everything I read is open-ended and part of a planned trilogy. It's refreshing to read a well-written tale with a defined and appropriate ending.

I am a huge, HUGE Alice Hoffman fan and when I first read the description of Sarah Addison Allen's southern magical realism book The Girl Who Chased the Moon I immediately thought of Hoffman and hoped that finally I had found a book that would tide me over until The Red Garden comes out in paperback. My instincts were correct.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is the story of a young girl named Emily who goes to live with her grandfather, after her mother's death, in a small North Carolina town called Mullaby. Her mother had always been philanthropy obsessed but when Emily arrives at the town she is surprised by the reputation her mother left behind as a girl. Meanwhile, Julia is a woman determined to get out of Mullaby and back to her life in Baltimore, she bakes the best cakes in the town and works at her late father's barbecue restaurant. She too has secrets from her past and takes Emily under her wing.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon explores how the past and the future can loop and how each new generation has the opportunity to fix old wrongs. Allen does this with elegant magical realism touches: faded wallpaper that reflects mood, freshly baked cakes that lure loved ones home, and the mysterious Mullaby lights that watch over the town. I cannot wait until The Peach Keeper hits the shelves in paperback.

I enjoyed this book, but it has all but completely disappeared from my mind three days after I finished it. I liked the story and the characters though I found the big secret to be a little disappointing. This author's books are all very, very light and easy reads with feel good endings. So long as you don't expect any significant story, you won't be disappointed. As I have felt with her other two books, I was a little disappointed with the character development. You can typically see from the beginning how the book will end, and this was no different. Along the way you find out a little more about the main characters, but you are always left wanting more and feeling as though many of the characters are very one dimensional. Which is unfortunate in that the little we get sets up amazing characters. Nonetheless, it is still a fun read and if you have enjoyed the authors other books, you will not be disappointed be the one.

This was an exceptional book. Sarah Addison Allen is quickly becoming an all-time favorite writer. Her writing is just so beautiful, and I love how she incorporates the most amazing magic in her books.

In this novel, Emily has come to her mother's home town to live with her grandfather after her mother's death. She quickly realizes that the mother she knew was completely different from the Dulcie that the town remembers. As she tries to discover what her mother was really like, and why her mother kept so many secrets from her, she finds love, acceptance, family, and magic.

Julia has returned following her father's death - finding that he was in debt, she took over his restaurant with a self-imposed time limit of 2 years before selling the restaurant. As the 2 year anniversary approaches, she must finally deal with the past so that she can live happier in the present.

If you enjoyed The Sugar Queen and Garden Spells, you will love this one.

When Emily Benedict's mother dies, Emily goes to her old hometown to live with her grandfather Vance. As Emily searches for her mother's history, she becomes entangled with mysterious Win Coffey, who has secrets of his own. Meanwhile, Vance's neighbor Julia Winterson, bakes delicious concoctions and dreams of her past, of connections made but long broken.

As with Allen's other novels, this one is light, charming, and faintly magical, but somehow, I didn't enjoy it as much. Partly it was because I was much more drawn to the Julia parts than to Emily and Win, especially once a plot element had been revealed which reminded me far too much of Twilight. (No, nobody is a vampire, but there's an unmistakable similarity.) Allen is often compared to Alice Hoffman, but there's a depth of feeling and character in Hoffman's best which Allen so far hasn't attained.

I give the novel The Girl Who Chased the Moon written by Sarah Addison Allen a solid nine! It was one of the best books I have read. It grabbed my attention and had me staying up late to find out what happened next. One of my favorite things about the book is how it switches to a different character's perspective each chapter so you get to experience how each individual thinks. I have never read a book like that and it really makes it interesting. Another thing I liked was the magical feel Sarah Addison Allen brought to it. It takes place in a small town called Mullaby where if you're lucky you will see dancing light in the middle of the night. The question is, what are these skittish lights that have been around forever. Some people are afraid and some go looking for them. The two main characters is switches between are two strong women. Emily Benedict goes there seeking answers about her mother she never knew. Julia returns to her bakery in Mullaby and reconnects with a guy she never thought she would see again. Their quirky personalities fit well in Mullaby and all that comes with it. When you think you finally figured things out Sarah Addison Allen throws a curveball and you left speechless. The good thing about it was that you never were left not knowing. Sarah did a good job breaking down what just happened. I would highly recommend this book to young adults that are interested in romance and a little science fiction. It has mystery and suspense also. It is an overall very good, easy read.

When Emily Benedict's mother dies, Emily goes to her old hometown to live with her grandfather Vance. As Emily searches for her mother's history, she becomes entangled with mysterious Win Coffey, who has secrets of his own. Meanwhile, Vance's neighbor Julia Winterson, bakes delicious concoctions and dreams of her past, of connections made but long broken.

As with Allen's other novels, this one is light, charming, and faintly magical, but somehow, I didn't enjoy it as much. Partly it was because I was much more drawn to the Julia parts than to Emily and Win, especially once a plot element had been revealed which reminded me far too much of Twilight. (No, nobody is a vampire, but there's an unmistakable similarity.) Allen is often compared to Alice Hoffman, but there's a depth of feeling and character in Hoffman's best which Allen so far hasn't attained.

Sarah Addison Allen writes satisfyingly sweet stories. Not sickly sweet, but just right. She always includes quirky characters, one of them in this story being a "giant," of a grandfather and a woman who bakes cakes that bring people home. I also like that her characters have pasts. Things weren't always peachy for them, so the endings always seem well-deserved and definitely satisfy the romantic in me. The magical realism doesn't hurt either. ;)

There were a couple of cheesy aspects to the story, but it didn't bother me too much. I love how Allen always builds up the mystery behind the town and family secrets. Sometimes I almost figure it out, but it's always a delicious surprise when all is revealed.

[book:The Girl Who Chased the Moon|5126859] by [author:Sarah Addison Allen|566874]

Emily Benedict has lost her mother in a car accident and now is moving to live with her grandfather. The mother she had known was kind, always putting others first instead of herself. What Emily can't understand is why her mother was hated by the towns people of Mullaby and the secrets that were kept from her.
Julia Winterson was known for her bakery sweets and was sought after for her baked goods. She and Emily form a bond of friendship, even though Emily's mother was the bully that made Julia's life miserable when she was a teenager. Julia has a secret of her own, and can't wait to leave Mullaby to start her new life over in Baltimore. Will Julia bolt and immerse herself in a new life or will she face the secrets of the past to be with the man she once loved.

I loved the storytelling in this novel. It had me laughing, crying and rooting for the underdogs. Nice touch on the descriptions of each of the full moons during each calendar month that it appears.

In this delightful confection of a novel, "strange and wondrous things" happen in Mullaby, North Carolina. Teenager Emily Benedict comes to her mother's hometown to live with her grandfather (who happens to be eight feet tall). Her wallpaper changes to suit her mood. She sees the "Mullaby lights" (which no one will explain) in her backyard. When she meets Win Coffey, the locals won't tell her why they shouldn't be friends.

Julie Winterson is an avid baker running her late father's BBQ joint with a plan to get out of town. Sawyer's "sweet sense" is triggered whenever Julie is baking cakes. The two have a shared past - and Julie has her secrets - but can they move on?

In this magical town where not everything can be explained and strange happenings are simply accepted, two women find what they've been looking for.

Lovely and touching with laugh out loud moments, this book is wonderful. The characters have depth and easily draw the reader in. The magic is understated, a sweet undercurrent but never over- powering. Allen does a great job with her unique characters, and in laying a believable setting.

I was reminded of A Discovery of Witches: A Novel (All Souls Trilogy) as I read; this has similarly flawed but relate-able heroines, long-suffering and heart-warming families, and just the right amount of magic. This was the first book I've read by this author, but I will definitely be reading more of her work in the future!

Previous reviewers are right though - you may find yourself itching to bake while you read this!

The Girl Who Chased the Moon is about two young women arriving in the small town of Mullaby, NC. Seventeen year old Emily is coming to live with the grandfather she's never meat, after the death of her mother. Thirty-something Julia is returning to the town to take over her father's restaurant after his death. Both young women learn about family and acceptance. Both young woman have a romantic interest.

Mullaby is a charming town -- literally. From families who `glow', to women who bake cakes designed to attract certain people, to magically-changing wallpaper, there is plenty of magic sprinkled throughout this novel.

This is a very fast, light read. It's very similar to Garden Spells by the same author, but even lighter and fluffier. I preferred Garden Spells, but definitely recommend this one as well.

This is an incredibly sweet, quirky story about a girl who comes to live with the grandfather she never knew. After her mother died, Emily is sent to live with her grandfather. Her mother never mentioned the past, so Emily has no idea what to expect when she arrives in town.

Emily soon discovers that Mullaby is a magical place; her grandfather is known as the Mullaby Giant, the wallpaper in her bedroom changes patterns to match her mood, ghostly lights dance in her backyard, and a boy with a mysterious secret promises to tell her why her mother left town so many years ago.

Gave this a 4/5 rating as I really enjoyed everything about the book! Think it's a great light, summer read. The author is incredibly talented, as she made me believe that Mullaby was a magical place. And I so want that wallpaper! *L*

This beautifully written book grabbed me right from the start. When Emily's mother dies she finds herself living with her very tall (8ft) grandfather who she didn't even know she had and trying to learn about the mother that she thought she knew. Throw in a handful of interesting and well developed characters who have their own mysterious ways about them and you've got a recipe for a truly delightful read. The author has a gift for weaving a story with a just enough mystery to make you anxious to turn the pages. The characters are well developed and you can't help but be taken in by their stories. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely seek out the others written by this author. If you're looking for an easy but engaging read then I highly recommend this book - you won't be disappointed.

This may not be the place for this question, but I need some help. I was at a yard sale today, saw a book which looked interesting, put it down--and five minutes later, it was gone. Here is some information I can give you about it and I hope someone will recognize it. (Yeah, I remember all of the following details, but not the title or author!)

The book was about three sisters who, when each turns thirteen, discovers that she has some sort of psychic power. Once can see into the future, one can see dreams, and I forget what the other one can do. One of the sisters is named Eugenie. I think the estate where they live is called Sparrowhead or Sparrowstead. The book may encompass three generations of families. I remember one line where the sister says something to a woman about the fact that she just met the man she will marry.

The copyright might have been 2008 and the book was "recommended" by Oprah. Cover information said it was a bestseller and the author had about twenty other titles to her name as well as some books for young people or children. The format was a trade paperback and Ballantine might have been the publisher.

If anyone can help me or tell me how to find a book when you do not know the title or author, I would be forever grateful. I am kicking myself that I did not pick up this book for fifty cents.

Thank you!

The moon has always had an ethereal draw - even after astronauts proved it was not made of cheese and the man in the moon was made of craters. The glow from the moon can change a mood - wolves howl, lovers connect, the sea shimmers.

In Sarah Addison Allen's latest book, The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Emily Benedict comes to live with her grandfather in the town her mother left and never looked back. She finds lingering suspicions, old loves concealed in the carvings in the surrounding wood, and a chance to redeem her mother's reputation.

More a love story than a mystery, Allen's quirky writing asks you to suspend belief with wallpaper that changes with the mood of the inhabitant, a real giant (eight feet tall), and a genetic disposition in the town's elite family that would make Tinkerbell jealous. Throw in a couple of star-crossed lovers, a baker of aromatic cakes, and a family feud - you have the makings of a good beach read.

Allen's characters follow a familiar formula. The two main characters both have mothers who died when they were teens; both are struggling for acceptance and love in a town with a memory - all's well that ends well.

Allen's Garden Spells, also set in North Carolina about a family with special gifts, was less contrived and more fun to read. The charm of Garden Spells will remind you of another favorite - Laura Esquivel's Like Water for Chocolate - cooking with a touch of magic. If you like the idea using ingredients and attitude to cook up a dish to literally affect others' moods, you will like both of these.

If you only have time for one - go with Garden Spells.
[...]

This is a kind of capricious book. And it's not exactly fantasy, but it has has elements of fantasy as part of it. I liked it okay.

Content: there is scattered language, including names of Deity. There are several references to sex between unmarried people, including teenagers, and a mildly graphic sex scene between unmarried adults.

Quick Thoughts: Magical. Sweet. Spell-binding. Forgiveness.
I read The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen earlier this summer and have had my eye on this book ever since. Ms. Allen really knows how to tell a story that grips the reader from the beginning, introducing characters who are unique and sweet. Strangely, I didn't feel like I was reading at all. I was just "in" the book and was completely unaware of anything around me. This sweet read was too short for me. I felt a bit left out of Julia's ending. Sure I can imagine what happens but I wanted to hear and savor all the sweet goodness of the moments. I've come to realize that Ms. Allen's books have a "vibe" that I can't wait to feel again.

The Girl Who Chased The Moon was a sweet, light read that was definitely enjoyable if you're not looking for a novel with heavier themes. Although it is a light read, this novel does deal with some heavy issues, such as self mutilation, abortion/adoption, and death. However, I felt this was all handled in an easy going manner, not focusing too much on any gory details.

It focuses on the stories of two women, the teenage Emily and the older Julia, both coming to terms with life in the magical and mysterious town of Mullaby. I thought the setting was crucial to this novel and the author used it to her advantage to create a beautiful picture. The author also had delicious descriptions of food - from the sweet scent of the barbecue to the flavors of Julia's various cakes and pastries, I was hungry every time I read this book.

I was more interested in the story between Julia and Sawyer than Emily and Win, but both stories held my attention throughout because there's always something the reader, or another character, has yet to learn. For example I was curious as to what exactly Dulcie did, or what happened between Sawyer and Julia as teenagers, and what the Coffeys big secret was. This book is only predictable in terms of relationships, where it is quite obvious who is going to get together. Otherwise, it kept me guessing. I was disappointed with the Coffey's family secret and thought it was kind of too bizarre, but I suppose it fit in with the rest of the oddities in Mullaby.

All in all, a sweet read, that I would suggest to anyone in the mood for some fluff.

The story is an easy, comforting read about Emily, a young girl who comes to her mother's childhood home of Mullaby, North Carolina to visit her strangely reticent grandfather. The grandfather, a giant of a man is described lovingly, ie: gait like a man on stilts; badly constructed, like a skyscraper made of soft wood instead of concrete; his steps loud in his wondrously large shoes. I thought he'd make a great character in a children's book. She meets Julie a young woman with a pink stripe in her hair, visible and invisible scars, secrets, and a passion for baking cakes. It's all sort of mysterious with ghostly lights, and people who are not all they seem to be. It's a curl up by the fire story. Eunice Boeve author of Ride a Shadowed Trail

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was delightful and heartwarming and I loved the touch of magic. I enjoyed the characters and even though parts of the book were a bit predictable, it's such a nice story that it didn't bother me. I couldn't wait to read on, every chance I was free. I liked that the love parts of the story were not in your face and sappy. The characters developed through the book nicely and the ending, I thought, was perfect. I definitely plan to read more books by this author. And an exceptionally good read during the holiday, quiet time or on vacation.

I was excited to ready this book. I'm not sorry I read it and I enjoyed the story, but I do wish she'd done more with it. From the bookflap, "Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Unexplained lights skip across the yard at midnight. And a neighbor bakes hope in the form of cakes." Doesn't that sound interesting?

I have to say I think I felt the same way after Allen's Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen. There's something magical happening in the story, but it's not something we really ever get to know or understand.

An easy read, a good story, but I just wish there was more to it. I'll check out Allen's future releases, but may not rush to buy.

I just love this author. Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen were very well written and I just loved the characters in them. Wouldn't we all love to live in towns like these?

But I do have to say that I was a bit disappointed with The Girl Who Chased The Moon. The ending was way too abrupt. Talk about unfinished business! It felt like it should have been a two parter.

The author could have made this book twice it's length and been just fine. My only complaint is the ending, otherwise, this is a wonderful book. Be prepared though for when it does end because it will surprise you. I literally said "Are you kidding me?" when I was done.

So how about it Miss Allen? Can we have a part two? Please???

I'll start with the good first. It's a charming story. The main character is likeable enough. The grandfather was my favorite character. The setting is a charming, southern BBQ town that has a certain mystery and magic about it. Really, the word "charming" is the best word to describe it. I wanted a quick, light read to close out Summer. This filled that slot. But maybe I'll go for something a little heavier next time, because this one was maybe TOO light.

So...onto the storyline. It's a pretty cliche and shallow. Not much depth, although it did has some redeeming parts. I was pretty much able to guess the ending within the first 50 pages, and that's irritating to me as a reader. I felt like I was reading Twilight all over again. But with less...I don't know, oomph.

There was 1 racy scene that I didn't much care for. It wasn't terribly raunchy, but I wouldn't recommend handing this book to your teenage daughter. I really don't enjoy romance scenes at all, so take that for what it's worth.

...I still don't get the changing wallpaper thing, though. I was looking forward to an explanation on that...

"The Girl Who Chased the Moon" is now ranked among my favorite books. I just loved everything about it. The mystery and magic jump off the page and pulled my right into the story. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. In fact had to stay up till 2 am the second night of reading it to find out what would happen to these wonderful characters. What would happen with Julia and Sawyer? Would they overcome past pain to find true happiness? Would Emily find out about her mother and the reasons she never told Emily about her life in Mullaby?

Everything in this story rung pitch perfect for me. I couldn't wait to finish and then was so sorry it was over. I cared what happened to each of the characters and the magic of Mullaby definitely cast a spell over me.

I'm always excited to find a new to me author and Sarah Addison Allen is a wonderful, enchanting find for me. She is ranking up there with my favorite authors Adriana Trigiani, Fannie Flagg, and Lucy Maud Montgomery. I've added the rest of her books to my "to be read" stack" and, with apologizes to the other authors in my stack, Ms. Allen's books have been moved to the top.

I couldn't put this down! An old southern feel with deep roots of doing things a certain way because that's how they've always been done. The younger generation has a much more honest approach to putting the past to rest. And the ending...is there a second book in this story or do we smile with satisfaction that good things are to come? ?

I bought this book, thinking it would be as charming and magical as Garden Spells, but I never finished it, because it was so disjointed at the beginning. We are placed into a very confusing world without very many clues to help us make sense of it. I realize this is what the character was feeling, but I was frustrated reading about various odd things without being given any insight into them. Perhaps there is character development as the book progresses, but in the beginning, it's just too bare to catch my interest. The characters did not engage me.

I was totally charmed by this book! I had never read anything by Allen before so I didn't know what to expect, but I really, really enjoyed this one. Julia was a great character, and I found myself rooting her on. I loved the way she settled into the town without even realizing it. She had depth and interest to her story, but it didn't feel oppressive. Her interactions with Sawyer were great. He too had more depth than I thought he would when he was first introduced! The magic in the story added a lightness and mystery rather than being silly and overdone. In my opinion, the book manages to be fun and sweet without being ridiculous, not an easy task!

In a small North Carolina town several personalities come together to create a rich story that for me ended way too soon. I would like to know more about Julia meeting her daughter. What was Julia's reaction at seeing her daughter after all of these years? What happened to Julia and Sawyer and Emily and Win. I think this book ended way to soon so I was so surprised when I came to the end. This is well written, though, and I loved the story line.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I was looking for something light and whimsical, but well-done, and this fit the bill. The main characters are all struggling with coming to terms with their home town, and through it their own difficult personal history. The town itself has several 'misfits' and magical happenings, and this adds a level of whimsy and fantasy to what is essentially a set of personal healing and love stories. I couldn't personally give it five stars because it didn't blow me away - at times I felt the characters or certain dialogue scenes were a little 'thin', not quite fleshed out. But otherwise, I really enjoyed it.

This is the first book of this author's that I am reading and I really enjoyed it.
what did i like?
- Suspense as to why everyone hated Emily's mom
- The end as to why she left home and the secrets she guarded
- Vance and Lily's sweet story
- Julia's story interposed with Emily's

Not like?
- Very reminiscent of the Twilight, Win's secret, Win entering Emily's room at night, Emily and Win's inexplicable attraction and Emily being sensitive to Win.
- Why did the room change to match mood randomly?
- Julia's daughter's story was abrupt, a little more of their reunion would have been good

If the details of Julia and Sawyer's night is removed, this is an ideal young adult fiction.

It would have helped the character development to go a little deeper into the background of the families. Without giving away the ending, I thought that it ended abruptly and would have like to see some more interaction between the characters after all that led up to the ending. It was left with the feeling that there would be a Part II, which there isn't.

I quite enjoyed this simple romance, set in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina, with its secrets and its plentiful barbecue. The writing is inviting, and yet lyrical and sophisticated. It has two separate threads, one with a recently orphaned teenager coming to live with a grandfather she's never met, another who returned to her hometown to set her father's affairs in order and found it wasn't so simple. There's a nice mystery, as the secrets about the town are teased and finally revealed, but no one is in mortal jeopardy, nor is there clumsy amateur sleuthing. The romance is light and more focused on the relationships than on physical activity. It's a deeply engaging and pleasurable read that I never wanted to put down, perfect for those occasions like long plane rides where you not only want but need a reason to devour a novel in one sitting.

Like many Southern tales, motherless Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina to live with a grandfather she knows nothing about. Mullaby is where her mother grew up, raised a ruckus and never looked back. The novel's other heroine, Julia Winterson, has returned after her father's death, baking sweet smelling cakes while trying to revive his heavily mortgaged BBQ place. This wouldn't be an Allen novel without well-dressed, quirky townspeople, ghostly lights and even a Mullaby giant. I really enjoyed this return to a mystical place, where food (mostly dessert) reigns supreme and both characters learn how to grow within this tight knit community.

This book was a quick and easy read. It is full of fantastical special "powers" so you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the story. Overall it is a story of redemption with happy endings. I am not sure if I will read more books by Sarah Addison Allen or not.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon takes place in a present day, small North Carolina town and paints a beautiful picture of what most people expect a cute Southern town to look like. Although the book doesn't tell much about what life is really like in North Carolina, the reader does get some small insights. The book centers around five main characters: Emily, Vance, Julia, Sawyer and Win. Emily's mother has just passed away the summer before Emily's senior year of high school. She arrives in North Carolina to live with her Grandpa Vance, whom she has never met before. Vance, referred to as "the giant of Mullaby," stands at about eight feet tall and has lived by himself for many years previous to Emily's arrival. Julia is Vance's neighbor who left Mullaby as a teenager, but is back to pay off her recently deceased father's debt. Sawyer, who has lived in Mullaby his whole life, is trying very hard to befriend Julia. Win is part of a family who has many secrets they are trying to hide and takes an interest in Emily when she arrives.
I am not an avid reader and I would say the book is an easy read. The sentences aren't complicated and the vocabulary is manageable. The story moves in mostly a straight line and is easy to follow. There are some flashbacks, which are usually made clear, but for the most part the story is continuous. The story is pretty light, but entertaining. I feel the target audience is teenage girls and women. I would definitely classify this book as a "chick flick" novel.
One aspect of the book I found interesting is that the chapters are narrated by different characters. Most of the story is told from Emily's and Julia's point of view. However, some are told from Sawyer and Win, and one is told from the perspective of Vance. The narrators are not retelling the same events over and over again. In a way there are two different story lines, Emily's and Julia's, which weave into each other. The stories continue through the chapters, but the reader sees them through different people's eyes.
Another part of the book I really liked was the mystery and magic. The "strange and wondrous" secrets made me want to keep reading to find the answers. And the magic was fun and enchanting, but not overwhelming. It seemed like ordinary life with just hints of magic. The "wallpaper [in Emily's room] was usually some reflection of her mood or situation (page 257)," and Sawyer saw "silver glitter undulating out of house windows (page 156)" when there is a cake baking in the house. The tone of the book was upbeat, and the magic helped add a bit of "sparkle."
I really enjoyed reading this book. I grew attached to all the characters and was sad when I was finished. I would recommend this book if you enjoy happy magical love stories. If you are more one who like a good cry or a thriller, this is definitely not the book for you.

slipped into another magical world created by one of the best writers of our time. I felt like I indeed had gone swimming out at Piney Woods Lake, so enticing and captivating.

Our main character, Emily, comes to a small town where she knows no one. Her mother never spoke of where she came from, or of her grandfather, who is a dear giant. Emily is in for a treat though with a room that changes with your moods, lights flickering around your backyard in the night and the many questions that will develop over time.

This story is another brilliant one, well worth the wait. I still have to say that Garden Spells is my favorite, but this one is not to be snubbed.

You will find out why Emily's mother, Dulcie left Mullaby the way she did and never came back. You will find out why Julia is the way she is and you can almost see the flour and sugar dancing around her in your mind. Allen's writing is so vivid and she has a true way with words. I will anxiously await the next book!

I really enjoyed this book. It is a light easy read but is so charming to read with a hint of fairytale and supernatural without being to much. The story intertwines history and families and new and old friends; a nice mix of ages and people. I normally don't read a lot of the same author but I really love Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are addictive and fun to read. She says in her discussion at the end of her book, if her books keep her readers smiling after the end then she knows she did a good job writing them. I agree Sarah!

I've read all of Ms. Allen's books and this one is my favorite so far. It's a feast for the senses: from the luscious descriptions of Mullaby, North Carolina's beautiful landscapes to the mouth-watering smells coming from the local barbeque joint, you'll find yourself salivating for more after you read the last page. Ms. Allen's writing has always reminded me of Alice Hoffman's early books. If your life needs a little magical escapism, then this is the book for you. The plot was tight and the town's carefully guarded secrets kept me guessing until the satisfying ending. I'll definitely be telling all of my friends to buy this book.

Sarah Addison Allen (Garden Spells) has another winner on her hands with The Girl who Chased the Moon. After the wildly successful debut Garden Spells, readers everywhere were anxious to see if she could keep up the momentum with subsequent books. Whereas the Sugar Queen didn't quite deliver the same punch as Garden Spells, The Girl who Chased the Moon will not disappoint those who loved Garden Spells. Allen's books are a bit quirky. filled with magical realism, a perfect book to take the reader into another world for a wonderful break from the "real" world. Expect the unexpected. Highly recommended.

Emily Bennedict, just 17 years old finds herself moving to Mullaby North Carolina to live her with Grandfather following her mothers death. Emily only knew her mother, nothing of her mother's years growing up in Mullaby. Her Grandfather is an awkward, shy 8 foot tall gentle Giant. She feels out of place until she meets her neighbor Julia Winterson and a boy her age Win Crawford. Problem is everyone wants her stay away from Win. Her mothers childhood has left Emily an outcast in this little town where BBQ rules and tradition holds stronger than friendship. There are many mysteries such as the Mullaby Lights, the estranged relationship between Julia and Sawyer and a little bit of magic twisted in the pages.

As I closed the book I felt myself wondering if their is a sequel in the works. It left me feeling a little unfinished. Personally I felt so much with Garden Spells that this one fell a little short. However, It was a quick, light read - it is a book I could read a second time and therefore it is a good book

I love the way this woman writes! When people ask me what my favorite book is, I always say it's "Garden Spells".
So far, this is my second favorite book of Sarah's. The cadence of her writing just lulls you and you find yourself reading differently. Her books are just...magical.

I truly loved this book. The only thing I would have liked was one more chapter to finish off Julia's story. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is the first book of this author's that I am reading and I really enjoyed it.
what did i like?
- Suspense as to why everyone hated Emily's mom
- The end as to why she left home and the secrets she guarded
- Vance and Lily's sweet story
- Julia's story interposed with Emily's

Not like?
- Very reminiscent of the Twilight, Win's secret, Win entering Emily's room at night, Emily and Win's inexplicable attraction and Emily being sensitive to Win.
- Why did the room change to match mood randomly?
- Julia's daughter's story was abrupt, a little more of their reunion would have been good

If the details of Julia and Sawyer's night is removed, this is an ideal young adult fiction.

It would have helped the character development to go a little deeper into the background of the families. Without giving away the ending, I thought that it ended abruptly and would have like to see some more interaction between the characters after all that led up to the ending. It was left with the feeling that there would be a Part II, which there isn't.

I quite enjoyed this simple romance, set in the small town of Mullaby, North Carolina, with its secrets and its plentiful barbecue. The writing is inviting, and yet lyrical and sophisticated. It has two separate threads, one with a recently orphaned teenager coming to live with a grandfather she's never met, another who returned to her hometown to set her father's affairs in order and found it wasn't so simple. There's a nice mystery, as the secrets about the town are teased and finally revealed, but no one is in mortal jeopardy, nor is there clumsy amateur sleuthing. The romance is light and more focused on the relationships than on physical activity. It's a deeply engaging and pleasurable read that I never wanted to put down, perfect for those occasions like long plane rides where you not only want but need a reason to devour a novel in one sitting.

Like many Southern tales, motherless Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina to live with a grandfather she knows nothing about. Mullaby is where her mother grew up, raised a ruckus and never looked back. The novel's other heroine, Julia Winterson, has returned after her father's death, baking sweet smelling cakes while trying to revive his heavily mortgaged BBQ place. This wouldn't be an Allen novel without well-dressed, quirky townspeople, ghostly lights and even a Mullaby giant. I really enjoyed this return to a mystical place, where food (mostly dessert) reigns supreme and both characters learn how to grow within this tight knit community.

This book was a quick and easy read. It is full of fantastical special "powers" so you have to suspend disbelief to enjoy the story. Overall it is a story of redemption with happy endings. I am not sure if I will read more books by Sarah Addison Allen or not.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon takes place in a present day, small North Carolina town and paints a beautiful picture of what most people expect a cute Southern town to look like. Although the book doesn't tell much about what life is really like in North Carolina, the reader does get some small insights. The book centers around five main characters: Emily, Vance, Julia, Sawyer and Win. Emily's mother has just passed away the summer before Emily's senior year of high school. She arrives in North Carolina to live with her Grandpa Vance, whom she has never met before. Vance, referred to as "the giant of Mullaby," stands at about eight feet tall and has lived by himself for many years previous to Emily's arrival. Julia is Vance's neighbor who left Mullaby as a teenager, but is back to pay off her recently deceased father's debt. Sawyer, who has lived in Mullaby his whole life, is trying very hard to befriend Julia. Win is part of a family who has many secrets they are trying to hide and takes an interest in Emily when she arrives.
I am not an avid reader and I would say the book is an easy read. The sentences aren't complicated and the vocabulary is manageable. The story moves in mostly a straight line and is easy to follow. There are some flashbacks, which are usually made clear, but for the most part the story is continuous. The story is pretty light, but entertaining. I feel the target audience is teenage girls and women. I would definitely classify this book as a "chick flick" novel.
One aspect of the book I found interesting is that the chapters are narrated by different characters. Most of the story is told from Emily's and Julia's point of view. However, some are told from Sawyer and Win, and one is told from the perspective of Vance. The narrators are not retelling the same events over and over again. In a way there are two different story lines, Emily's and Julia's, which weave into each other. The stories continue through the chapters, but the reader sees them through different people's eyes.
Another part of the book I really liked was the mystery and magic. The "strange and wondrous" secrets made me want to keep reading to find the answers. And the magic was fun and enchanting, but not overwhelming. It seemed like ordinary life with just hints of magic. The "wallpaper [in Emily's room] was usually some reflection of her mood or situation (page 257)," and Sawyer saw "silver glitter undulating out of house windows (page 156)" when there is a cake baking in the house. The tone of the book was upbeat, and the magic helped add a bit of "sparkle."
I really enjoyed reading this book. I grew attached to all the characters and was sad when I was finished. I would recommend this book if you enjoy happy magical love stories. If you are more one who like a good cry or a thriller, this is definitely not the book for you.

slipped into another magical world created by one of the best writers of our time. I felt like I indeed had gone swimming out at Piney Woods Lake, so enticing and captivating.

Our main character, Emily, comes to a small town where she knows no one. Her mother never spoke of where she came from, or of her grandfather, who is a dear giant. Emily is in for a treat though with a room that changes with your moods, lights flickering around your backyard in the night and the many questions that will develop over time.

This story is another brilliant one, well worth the wait. I still have to say that Garden Spells is my favorite, but this one is not to be snubbed.

You will find out why Emily's mother, Dulcie left Mullaby the way she did and never came back. You will find out why Julia is the way she is and you can almost see the flour and sugar dancing around her in your mind. Allen's writing is so vivid and she has a true way with words. I will anxiously await the next book!

I really enjoyed this book. It is a light easy read but is so charming to read with a hint of fairytale and supernatural without being to much. The story intertwines history and families and new and old friends; a nice mix of ages and people. I normally don't read a lot of the same author but I really love Sarah Addison Allen. Her books are addictive and fun to read. She says in her discussion at the end of her book, if her books keep her readers smiling after the end then she knows she did a good job writing them. I agree Sarah!

I've read all of Ms. Allen's books and this one is my favorite so far. It's a feast for the senses: from the luscious descriptions of Mullaby, North Carolina's beautiful landscapes to the mouth-watering smells coming from the local barbeque joint, you'll find yourself salivating for more after you read the last page. Ms. Allen's writing has always reminded me of Alice Hoffman's early books. If your life needs a little magical escapism, then this is the book for you. The plot was tight and the town's carefully guarded secrets kept me guessing until the satisfying ending. I'll definitely be telling all of my friends to buy this book.

Sarah Addison Allen (Garden Spells) has another winner on her hands with The Girl who Chased the Moon. After the wildly successful debut Garden Spells, readers everywhere were anxious to see if she could keep up the momentum with subsequent books. Whereas the Sugar Queen didn't quite deliver the same punch as Garden Spells, The Girl who Chased the Moon will not disappoint those who loved Garden Spells. Allen's books are a bit quirky. filled with magical realism, a perfect book to take the reader into another world for a wonderful break from the "real" world. Expect the unexpected. Highly recommended.

Emily Bennedict, just 17 years old finds herself moving to Mullaby North Carolina to live her with Grandfather following her mothers death. Emily only knew her mother, nothing of her mother's years growing up in Mullaby. Her Grandfather is an awkward, shy 8 foot tall gentle Giant. She feels out of place until she meets her neighbor Julia Winterson and a boy her age Win Crawford. Problem is everyone wants her stay away from Win. Her mothers childhood has left Emily an outcast in this little town where BBQ rules and tradition holds stronger than friendship. There are many mysteries such as the Mullaby Lights, the estranged relationship between Julia and Sawyer and a little bit of magic twisted in the pages.

As I closed the book I felt myself wondering if their is a sequel in the works. It left me feeling a little unfinished. Personally I felt so much with Garden Spells that this one fell a little short. However, It was a quick, light read - it is a book I could read a second time and therefore it is a good book

I love the way this woman writes! When people ask me what my favorite book is, I always say it's "Garden Spells".
So far, this is my second favorite book of Sarah's. The cadence of her writing just lulls you and you find yourself reading differently. Her books are just...magical.

I truly loved this book. The only thing I would have liked was one more chapter to finish off Julia's story. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Beautiful story of a small town in the South. Well written so that you fall in love with the characters and you feel what they're feeling. I wish it was longer though, as it would have ended with more of a sense of fullmillment.

Having read a few of Sarah's books, I have come to love the gentle magic that easily flows through her books and the predictability of a happy ending. Having said that, this is by far one of my more favorite books by this author. She spins a captivating tale of an orphan girl, a giant of a man and a misfit pink haired teen who all find closure and peace with their respective past and their promising futures. If you have trouble suspending your belief and indulging in the fairy tale aspects this author loves to employee, I suggest moving on to dryer, more mundane work. However, if you want a feel good, make you smile, close the book at the end feel with a ...ahhhhh, that was satisfying and delightful feeling, then please pick this one up.

I was very excited to read this latest book by Sarah Addison, and held off buying it for the longest time (because I'm cheap!). It's an easy, light read and still has the magic realism that has endeared me to Addison's other novels. However, it felt like it was missing something. The other books she wrote left me wanting the book to never end, and this book just never got me hooked to the characters. I still believe that more great work is yet to come from this author, so I look forward to the next novel.

If you have read and liked Allen's previous two novels, you'll probably like this one too. It's basically the same story with a few tweaks. I found this one to be a bit more interesting than The Sugar Queen

Cute, fun, enjoyable, if predictable. A quick read, good for a Sunday on the couch. This one has sort of an Edward/Bella component to it.

Allen is a decent writer, this is above average chick lit, but I can't see myself rushing out for the next one. I think that's a risk you take when you are a formula writer. At some point, "been there done that" is going to set in and while I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure a 4th one could hold my attention.

If you've not read the previous books, this one is as good a place to start as any.

I really enjoyed this book. It was hard to put down. Being a single mom to two very young girls, I read it in two days. I consider that no small feat lol. I did find it very similar to Twilight though. Which I had no problem with. It was good. But I felt it kind of cut off short at the end. Like she suddenly remembered she had to do something and finished the ending quickly. I wished that I had learned more. But nonetheless, it was a good book. I think anyone who enjoys reading, would enjoy reading this. Not one of my top 10, but definitely on my list of favorites!

Sixteen-year-old Emily Benedict arrives in Mullaby, North Carolina grieving the recent death of her mother, and shocked to learn she has a grandfather. Her mother never mentioned him. Her only living relative, Vance Shelby, is a giant of a man. Literally. Standing over eight feet tall and accustom to making people uncomfortable, Vance is grieving his own set of losses and failures, and is well-aware of his inadequacies in regard to raising a young girl. He failed with his daughter and is certain he will not be enough for Emily.

Eager to prove herself adequate in her mother's hometown in a way she had never been able to in her mother's shadow, Emily finds that while she could never live up to her mother's name in Boston, she can not live it down in Mullaby. Secrets haunt her mother's memory--secrets that threaten to throw Emily's already unsteady balance completely off kilter.

Befriended by her neighbor, Julia Winterson, who bakes hope in the form of cakes, Emily begins to understand that mysteries aren't solved in Mullaby, they're a way of life. Here are rooms where the wallpaper changes to suit your mood. Mysterious ghost lights haunt the yard at midnight. And Emily's attraction to a boy with his own set of secrets, could send the entire town spiraling back into a dark past her mother is somehow responsible for.

Laced with the sweetness of summer sugar in North Carolina, tied together with the tang of barbeque and the ache of histories that none of us ever really escape, THE GIRL WHO CHASED THE MOON, by Sarah Addison Allen is lightly frosted with magical realism and southern charm. Delicious and enchanting, I stayed up till 3am finishing this one, and then proceeded to try out a few of the beautiful cake recipes the following day.

As one reviewer has so aptly said, "This story is dusted with magic, the aroma of sugary cakes swirls through the breeze, and grounded by a girl who unwittingly brings change to a town of misfits. It makes for a sweet summer story filled with hope and forgiveness."

There are few authors I anticipate getting a new title from and Sarah Addison Allen is one of them. I think she could take any kind of story and inject some magic into it. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is just that: magical. The stories Allen writes aren't paranormal but just have a twist in them that makes them a little bit abnormal and she has a delightful way with words. I really wish that she had include some recipes with this book as the story centers around cakes and a little bit of barbeque that are so descriptive you can smell them.

I love all of Sarah Addison Allen's books, but this one has a special poignancy. It is a beautiful, rather haunting story of many imperfect beings making their gentle ways through the world. I heard Sarah A.A. describe her writing as "magical realism" during a book signing, and it's phrase that has stayed with me. Wouldn't we all love a bit of that in our lives?

I give this book 3 1/2 stars. I enjoyed reading this book a lot and couldn't put it down! It was a quick, easy and uplifiting read! It is a really cute story! This book is a perfect quick summer/beach read if you are looking for one.

The reason I only gave it 3 1/2 stars is because I knew EXACTLY what was going to happen about halfway through the book and the second half of the book just wasn't as good knowing that. I also think the end should have been a little different *Spoiler* I really wanted to see Julia meet her daughter!

This book was beautiful and fun to read. The magic is not always explained but I feel like that is part of the beauty of the book. Not everything is as we always see it, and we don't always get answers in real life. I loved the two tales that were intertwined and would recommend this book to anyone looking for something light and whimsical.

Sara Addison Allen knows how to write. Her stories are woven with love humor, grace and something a little magical in them. They are comforting to read, sometimes funny, lots of beautiful descriptions and remind me of books like the Divine Secrets of the YaYa Sisterhood or Fried Green Tomatoes.

Not chick lit exactly but definitely feelings that most women empathize with. They are quick reads, but they leave you wanting more.

I really enjoy this author but this particular novel about loss, love redemption and what it means to be home, moved me.

Allen is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I devoured this book in a day and loved every minute that I spent in Mullaby, North Carolina. I did however, find myself drawn more to Julia's story rather than Emily's. I could relate to Julia's heartbreak and feelings of unworthiness. I found myself getting a bit emotional when it came to Julia and her need to bake......loved the connection between food and love. The magic in the story was a little on the cheesy side, but not enough for me to not love this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the world Allen creates. The whimsical nature of her characters and the magical quality is simple, unique, and beautiful. I find I cannot put her books down. I read this book ravenously and found that whenever I read her novels I must have some sweet treats at hand since food is such a strong undercurrent of her books. A wonderful story that brings pain, depression, and isolation to light. I felt a strong connection to these characters. I cannot wait to dive into the next book!

I really enjoyed this novel, I thought it was very creative and entertaining .The characters were developed enough that you cared about them and the story was engaging. I would have liked it to be longer in fact, I will look forward to reading her other books.

I really enjoyed Garden Spells and The Sugar Queen. I was not dissappointed in The Girl Who Chased the Moon. There is just enough magic to make the story line believable. I like the way she devlops her characters and plot. Other reviewers go into detail about the premise of the book, so I do not need to. I have found a kind of comfort in reading all of Sarah Addison Allen's books. I read for escape and enjoyment and I found both of those in this book. I look forward to her next one!

Magic pours out of the first pages of every Addison book. And this story is no exception. She vividly describes details with such whimsy I can almost see it. Her characters are always well developed. Addison also has an interesting way of making relationships unfold. You can't help but fall in love as well. I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. I have read all of Addison's book and this is my favorite.

This story was so quirky and so not what I expected that I couldn't put it down! I admit to being slightly disappointed when all Win did was glow--I was kind of prepared for a werewolf thing--and I think the family was a little too freaking about it.

I've been a fan of Sarah Addison Allen since her first book Garden Spells, and each book she has written has been better than the last. Reading her books is like eating one of the delicious pastries she always writes about. They are sweet, magical, and comforting and The Girl Who Chased the Moon is all of these things! There is a bit more mystery in this novel than her previous ones. Emily must figure out why the whole town seems to be angry at her and what part her mother played in this. And why is she inexplicably drawn to the son of Mullaby's most powerful family? Julia is another interesting and troubled character. It's her job to come to terms with a difficult past and try to heal those wounds. I really came to care about both Emily and Julia and it was great to see their friendship blossom and see how they helped one another deal with all of those questions. And I've always been impressed with how Allen can create an atmosphere so expertly that you can see the locations clearly and almost smell the sweetness and magic in the air. She has such a skill for creating such strange but believable characters that you could be certain this town really exists, with it's giants, and ghost lights, and endless mysteries just waiting to be explored.

Sarah Addison Allen writes southern stories that feel very contemporary with a touch of magic. We see the magic immediately when Emily meets her Grandfather, who is called the Mullaby Giant for a reason. Everyone seems to have something unusual going on in Mullaby.

I thought the book was fun, sweet and romantic.

It was a bonus that the flirty, Southern sounding character was named Sawyer and I spent the whole book picturing Josh Holloway.

and caught it.

Garden Spells made me dream of pleasant magic. The Sugar Queen left me watching for a new novel to satisfy the magical cravings. The Girl Who Chased the Moon? Heaven. I would like for Sarah Addison Allen to move into my house and live the rest of her life writing charming tales to enchant me.

I am amazed by the author's ability to weave these bits of magic into reality and come up with a story that both thrills and comforts.

THis was another super story from this author, who has fast become one of my favorites. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I've been enjoying reading her books because they make their point and tell a good story without the graphic angst fests that everyone else seems to be writing.
Thank you and please keep writing in this style. It proves to me that there are authors out there that can actually still be storytellers.

I really enjoy anything by Sarah Addison Allen, and this was no exception. The story was fun to read and progressed nicely. It had a fun twist at the end, that didn't entirely escape me, but was still fun to read about. I always love the hint of magic in these stories, and I thought the magic in this one was very endearing. Great read.

This book was one of my featured titles in a book club, and I figured what the heck. It might be a nice surprise. I got lost in this book so easily. I fell in love with all the characters, I cried at some points. When I was down to the last few pages, I dreaded it ending. For all I cared, it could have gone on forever. Started reading Garden Spells by the same author, and I don't think I'll be disappointed. So glad I was introduced to this author.

Easy to suspend belief which is one of the hardest things for a writer to make us, the readers do. Loved the characters, the conflict, the dual stories. Read it within 24 hours and want to read more of her books. Could almost smell the cakes. If you loved Chocolat the film or book and Like Water for Chocolate you will love this. Easy but heartwarming read. Doesn't conform to any particular genre which is refreshing.

Allen's fluid writing, unique quips, "men of thoughtless actions are always surprised by consequences," and charmingly flawed characters make for a quick and filling read. The author draws you into the novel with spunk and ambiguity; she sprinkles in local folklore and leaves you with a glimpse of the future. Rarely do I find an author whose writing taps many genres and appeals to so many readers/friends.

I read Garden Spells when it first came out, and loved it. I was quite excited to see another book by Allen, but this one just fell flat for me.

This book doesn't seem to know its audience. Although it is marketed for adults, the protagonist is a teenager. I was charmed by the phenomenon of the wallpaper, but groaned when I realized what the mystery lights were. I thought the Coffey's secret was beyond ridiculous, so I guess she lost me at that point.

It's an okay beach read.

Wallpaper that changes to match your mood, dancing glowing lights at night, a gentle giant, small town quirks, BBQ, and cakes...So far, I have read three novels by Sarah Addison Allen and I have enjoyed every one. Full of whimsy, quirkiness, and Southern flavors, I always get a kick out of the tales; perfect for summer or beach reading!

After working for a large book store for many years and reading hundreds of books, I was happily suprised when i came across Sarah Addision Allen. Her writing is for lack of a better word... magical. Her books draw you in and dont let you go long after you have finished reading them. Each book gets better and better and the girl who chased the moon is by far my favorite. I was left hopelessly in love with her characters and enthralled with the journeys they take. This book has moved to the top of my must read list. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as i have.

I really enjoyed this book. It was really hard to put down once I started it (I read it in 2 nights!). It had many elements that worked well together...even the supernatural aspect did not feel contrived, it all fit. The "sweet tooth" of Sawyer and his ability to "see the scent of a cake baking" and the legend of the Mullaby lights all add to the charm of the town, and add to the depth of the character development. You really feel as if these people are your neighbors by the end of the story. You don't feel like an outsider and many of the characters do. You see how the town is central to their lives, and in most cases, is the only constant.

This book has a little for everybody: love, teenage angst, family secrets, and an enchanting world known to the townspeople of Mullaby, North Carolina. Oh, and it has cake recipes at the end! Sweet!

I was introduced to this author last year and have read and loved all of her books. She does a great job of making the reader accept a giant, the magical lure of baked good and changing wallpaper as things that are, or could be part of our world, no questions asked. Like her other books i became engrossed in her world and left wanting more.

Books by Sarah Addison Allen are always on my summer reading list. Of course I read others, but her stories are always full of love, friendship, mystery and magic. This one is no let down, either. I loved the story and characters, they are interesting and delightful. This light read is just my style for balmy summer nights.

I read this book after reading "The Peach Keeper", and enjoyed this one just as much, if not more. The author has a way of drawing the reader in through wonderful character development. I wanted to figure out the mystery surrounding the characters so badly, that I finished the book in a day. I highly recommend this book.

Emily returns to Mullaby, NC after her mother dies. Emily is 17 and has to build a life with her giant grandfather Vance. She encounters many mysteries and secrets during the early months of her stay. Also figuring into the plot is Julie and Sawyer. There are paranormal happenings which make this a very enjoyable book.

It ended interestingly enough, but considering that the story only got moving at the halfway point, that's just too late except for diehard fans. SAA is one of the queen's of magical realism. I hope some of her newer books are more like her older books.

I enjoy this author's books because they are sweet, magical stories about what is important in life. They are "Bon bons" to sweeten the heavier books I read. For teens or adults, this story is about personal integrity, change, truth telling, hope, and acceptance.

I read it in a day. I love this book, it's magical and it's romantic and it deals with redemption and new starts. I couldn't stop reading this book, it really makes you believe in magic, it takes you into another world. I love Sarah Addison Allen's books.

This book is a delightful read. The magic is fun and not over-the-top unbelievable. I love the town. I love the people. I was sad when the book ended -- not because of a sad ending, but because there weren't any more pages. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Read it, you won't be disappointed!

A book that is realistic enough to see yourself in, but has just enough magic to to bring out the dreamer in all of us. Allen's imagery is incredible. I read this book in 3 days and was disappointed when it ended.

I got lost in this book. Such a sweet and beautiful story. I recently discovered this author and have become such a fan of her whimsical writing style. Great tale about love and forgiveness with a sprinkle of magic. Inspires you to think about who you are and who you want to become. Lovely.

Like all of SAA's books that I've read so far, this was sensual and delightful, infused with just the right amount of magic and whimsy to keep it interesting without being over the top. Compelling, but uncomplicated story line filled with endearing characters and ideas. Will make you want to bake a cake with your kitchen windows wide open. A quick read. Pure pleasure.

The Girl Who Chased The Moon is a "sweet" book. It is a light and quick read with a magical touch, just as Ms. Allen's other books. I enjoyed reading this book, and looked forward to it, but in the end, I don't think I got much out of it. I dreaded writing this review because I really loved her first novel, Garden Spells. But, after thinking about it long and hard, I am just a different reader now than I was then. This was a nice story, but for most of it I felt like I was reading an episode of Wizards of Waverly Place. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think I am the target audience. This would make a great young adult read (although there is some romantic scenes in there towards the end).

I know that this is a wishy washy review..... I liked it but I didn't love it, even though I felt I should love it and I wanted to love it. However, I would recommend it to those of you who want a light and sweet, feel-good read.

I love the way the author draws you in by giving you just a bit more information about the town's past. The history of Mullaby feels so crucial to the story, yet like Emily (the teenager who is sent there after her mother dies to live with a grandfather she never knew she had), you feel in the dark. I was bummed every time I had to stop reading because I wanted to find out more!

Her books are terribly magical. I usually just listen to books but I own all of hers to read again when I want to not really get away but to imagine a life just a magical twist more interesting and beautiful than my own.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were very compelling. After struggling with another book I was reading I decided I needed a lighter book to read and picked this book, it was the perfect choice. I would recommend to someone who is looking for a light read.

As with her first two books, I simply could not put this one down. Her characters are highly entertaining and easy to identify with. She also manages to capture a deep fundamental sense of magic about food that that so many of us "foodies" know to be true but lack the ability to put into words. I would have devoured this book in one sitting but a busy schedule made me savor it instead. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a great book, a fast read and highly recommendable. It will make you smile and, more than likely, inspire you to bake a cake!

When I think of the attributes that make up a good vacation book - this story serves as the model. Perhaps it's the light, fairy-tale vibe that I so appreciate as a nice break from the business and crime stories I typically grab. This story made me happy from beginning to end with a strong desire to bake and eat cake. I can't wait to read other stories from Sarah Addison Allen. Thank you!

I love the way the author draws you in by giving you just a bit more information about the town's past. The history of Mullaby feels so crucial to the story, yet like Emily (the teenager who is sent there after her mother dies to live with a grandfather she never knew she had), you feel in the dark. I was bummed every time I had to stop reading because I wanted to find out more!

Her books are terribly magical. I usually just listen to books but I own all of hers to read again when I want to not really get away but to imagine a life just a magical twist more interesting and beautiful than my own.

I really enjoyed this book. All of the characters were very compelling. After struggling with another book I was reading I decided I needed a lighter book to read and picked this book, it was the perfect choice. I would recommend to someone who is looking for a light read.

As with her first two books, I simply could not put this one down. Her characters are highly entertaining and easy to identify with. She also manages to capture a deep fundamental sense of magic about food that that so many of us "foodies" know to be true but lack the ability to put into words. I would have devoured this book in one sitting but a busy schedule made me savor it instead. The Girl Who Chased the Moon is a great book, a fast read and highly recommendable. It will make you smile and, more than likely, inspire you to bake a cake!

This book was a lovely read for many reasons but I love the way SAA weaves stories that let the everyday common things become magical and purposeful. This tale hints at southern charm and BBQ as a southern staple quite well but, I think it misses the mark when it comes to southern witticism. Her novels eloquently take you though subplots, twists and turns with characters that are robustly flawed. I like that she explores the complexity of her characters and that they are not all perfect, cute or popular. If you are looking for a beach read this is the one and it will leave you happy and seeking cake!

When I think of the attributes that make up a good vacation book - this story serves as the model. Perhaps it's the light, fairy-tale vibe that I so appreciate as a nice break from the business and crime stories I typically grab. This story made me happy from beginning to end with a strong desire to bake and eat cake. I can't wait to read other stories from Sarah Addison Allen. Thank you!

To understand the unknown and embrace it. The unknown
Can make love stronger and the need to move toward the
Perfection of relationships.. what is what sarah allen has
Captured in this book..

This book lends a beautiful and magical storyline , different fom the two earlier books. Very enjoyable and with plots that twist just right to promote intrigue. Reading her books makes me crave for desserts.

I read this book cover to cover in a weekend and I'm sad to leave this charming world. I think I would love to live in a town like Mullaby, where there is a local giant and unexplained but strangely accepted ghost lights. I think it was a lovely story and a wonderful place to escape for the weekend without having to leave my house....but I really do wish I could visit ;)!

A lovely story that I have recommended to lots of my friends ( and the ones that read it enjoyed it as well). Her books are quick reads, and I always find myself wanting more of her magical stories. Must read.

This is a sweet story about a young woman trying to find herself and meeting family she didn't know existed. She is forced into a new situation; town, family, school, home, etc., after the death of her mother. Of course there is the magical element. It is a cute, quick read.

I highly recommend this to everyone who reads!!
I think Sarah Addison Allen is one of the best authors. I own most of her books, and I hope that she continues to write more of her wonderful stories.
This book is like all her books wonderful and quirky.

Absolutley an enchanting and magical tale.This book is a complete page turner! Sarah is such a wonderfull writer. I have read all of her books and am anxiously waiting for her next! This book just swept me away every time I picked it up and I never wanted to put it down as with all her her books.

I don't have time to read novels these days, but I HAD to make time for Sarah Addison Allen's latest book. As with the others, I only wish it hadn't ended so soon, bringing me back from her magical world to my everyday chores. Sigh.

Entertaining and thought provoking as always. The characters are always mysterious and he touch of magic in these novels is just that, a touch. I couldn't put this book down and ignored my race training just to finish this book. If you like Sarah Allen-Addison, you won't be disappointed.

i wish i had never read any of Sarah Addison Allen's books so i could have the pleasue of reading them for the first time again. IMO she has never written a less than perfect book. your simply must read them all.

I don't have time to read novels these days, but I HAD to make time for Sarah Addison Allen's latest book. As with the others, I only wish it hadn't ended so soon, bringing me back from her magical world to my everyday chores. Sigh.

Entertaining and thought provoking as always. The characters are always mysterious and he touch of magic in these novels is just that, a touch. I couldn't put this book down and ignored my race training just to finish this book. If you like Sarah Allen-Addison, you won't be disappointed.

i wish i had never read any of Sarah Addison Allen's books so i could have the pleasue of reading them for the first time again. IMO she has never written a less than perfect book. your simply must read them all.

i agree this is definately for a teenager. i liked the book until the last few chapters and there was no closure. every relationship was left for the reader to conclude. im gonna try another book by this author.

This would have been a great book if it had been written by Pat Conroy, but unfortunately, the author's heavy-handed, juvenile style makes it a real chore to slog through and find out what happens in the story. This is a case (as with In Her Shoes) where a good screenwriter could take the ideas in this book and create a truly memorable movie, but as reading material, this book is woefully lacking.

I enjoyed this book and enjoy the magical qualities in all of Sarah Addison Allen's books. At first I was hesitant, but the magical elements add a nice twist to the story. This is a sweet, easy read. A great, light book with a little mystery.

This book made me feel like a little girl who believed in fairy tales, again. ;) It was a book that made you feel cozy when reading it. Had a great story line and plenty of mystery to keep you intrigued.

I very rarely find a book that gets me so wrapped up within the 1st few pages. I started the book last night and I am already half way through with it. The characters are all very believable, and the chapters arent too long which makes this an easy read. I cant wait to finish it, and find out what made Emilys mother change the way she did and what Wins family secret is.

I got this title off a recommended reading list which is surprising in retrospect as I found it to be an un satisfying read. The plot is very simplistic, there are disjointed elements and the end is too convenient.

I received the book yesterday while having lunch at my desk and had it finished shortly after dinner...I inhaled it like a Hummingbird Cake! I wish her stories were longer...I enjoy her characters and her sense of place so much and then wham! The book's over! But it's an enjoyable read, in much the same style as her previous two offerings. There's an element of the fairy tale in her writing, and yet she manages to tackle some pretty significant issues in this story. The story follows much the same formula as her other two novels. It's a formula I enjoy though, so that's not necessarily a problem. In this third offering, Addison creates sympathetic characters and an enchanting sense of place. That the sugar sparkles and the wallpaper morphs, only serves to highlight the emotional journey of the characters. If you enjoyed the first two, you'll enjoy this one too.

A cute story. More of a Young Adult though there was a slight amount of sex in it and they followed some older people too but I would still classify it as YA. It was predictable but had some nice magical ideas that made it different.

This book is truely special. Sarah Addison Allen has the gift of weaving stories together, and connecting them in a way that reminds me a big, giant, magical quilt! There are no awkward moments between shifting from one character to another, and the connections between them are almost breath-taking. I love the way she writes! I've read Garden Spells, the Sugar Queen, and now this book, and she has done nothing less than enchant me with her foodie tales of magic, love, and life. I can't wait until her next novel in 2011!

This book was a lovely read for many reasons but I love the way SAA weaves stories that let the everyday common things become magical and purposeful. This tale hints at southern charm and BBQ as a southern staple quite well but, I think it misses the mark when it comes to southern witticism. Her novels eloquently take you though subplots, twists and turns with characters that are robustly flawed. I like that she explores the complexity of her characters and that they are not all perfect, cute or popular. If you are looking for a beach read this is the one and it will leave you happy and seeking cake!

While checking the New York Times besteller list a few weeks back, I ran across an intriguing title. "The Girl Who Chased the Moon" sounded like something Alice Hoffman would dream up, so I ordered it.

I wish I had realized no one writes as well as Alice Hoffman (Turtle Moon, Practical Magic, Second Nature, The Ice Queen and the Oprah selection Here On Earth). It would have saved me an evening of frustration.

Teenager Emily Benedict comes to live with her grandfather, a giant among men, literally, after her mother dies unexpectedly.

She takes her mother's room, a place where the wallpaper changes to match her mood, meets a strange young man with a mysterious secret and makes friends with neighbor Julia Winterson, a woman compelled to bake cakes - a lot of cakes.

The stereotypical characters, hidden secrets and eventual "sifting out" of the book's plots left me relieved it was finally over. I'll stick with Hoffman, who gives her readers moondust magic every time.

Warm remembrances of first loves, great descriptions of a small town, the rigours of being different in a small town high school, and a series of hidden secrets past and present created a page turner for me. I felt I was reading a novel for teens because of the youthfulness of the characters. But I still enjoyed the freshness and the fantasy throughout the novel.

I love the way this author writes and this was another book I simply enjoyed. I snugggled in on a rainy day and was so happy as this was perfect for a day like that. Sarah hits a home run with this wonderful book!

WANT THE SEQUEL "FAST"!!!!!!! I really enjoyed this book the Characters with their special magic sprinkled throughout was an awesome enjoyable read. How past hurts can influence so much and make you hopefully stronger later. Your gift of writing is so special for us readers

Another wonderful read by this author. So far I have loved all of her books. She works magic or mysticism or whatever you choose to call it into her novels seamlessly. I will admit I started craving cake!

With the ending of the novel left as it was, I'm hopeful there may be a sequel to this one....maybe?

Good solid, likeable characters and people that fill the pages and pull you into the story right away are all trademarks of Sarah Addison Allen's writing and this book was no exception.

I liked that the storyline was slow but suspenseful, and not a boring-slow. More like the slow of relaxing on the porch drinking tea and watching dust float, that kind of slow verses waiting room slow. It fit the setting. The characters were intriguing and the mystery of the story, the magical realism, kept me reading.