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Book Review: The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen

March 23, 2010 by Darlene


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!


I read The Girl Who Chased the Moon for Sarah Addison Allen’s blog tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Be sure to visit Sarah Addison Allen’s website and you can purchase The Girl Who Chased the Moon here in the US and here in Canada. This is one I’d definitely recommend!


My review copy of The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen was received from Pump Up Your Book Promotion and the publisher.

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Filed Under: 2010 ARC Challenge, 2010 Book Reviews, 2010-100+ Challenge

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Staci says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:02 am

    I loved your review on this one Dar. The greatest thing is that I know it is waiting for me on my shelves upstairs!!

  2. Vivienne says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:07 am

    I am absolutely gutted this has not been released in England yet. I just can't wait to read it.

  3. Veens says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:42 am

    I so so so so want to read this one! I love books involving MAGIC 🙂

  4. Melody says

    March 23, 2010 at 10:49 am

    I enjoyed Garden Spells but yet to read The Sugar Queen. This book is definitely onto my wishlist! 🙂

  5. Marg says

    March 23, 2010 at 11:40 am

    I am so jealous of the people who already have this book! I want it right now! Hopefully it won't be too much longer until I have it!

  6. Mary says

    March 23, 2010 at 12:36 pm

    Dar, I absolutely agree with your review. I loved this book and wished it was longer!

  7. Andreea says

    March 23, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Great review, Darlene! This one is on my wish list!

  8. Serena says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:16 pm

    I've heard great things about Sarah's writing, but have yet to pick up one of her books…Hmmm…perhaps I better start.

  9. rhapsodyinbooks says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:23 pm

    This sounds just lovely. And I hate to say it, but I would probably pick up the book anyway because I love the cover!

  10. Janel says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Sounds like a beautiful, magical book. Thanks for the review!

  11. Lauren says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:36 pm

    Sounds like a good read. I've never read any of Allen's books before so I'll have to check them out sometime.

  12. Sandy Nawrot says

    March 23, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    I love a little whimsy…just to make sure we aren't taking ourselves too seriously! I was first attracted to this book simply by its beautiful cover, but your review has compelled me to seek it out. Maybe a Kindle purchase! Thank you for such a wonderful review!

  13. Cheryl says

    March 23, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Thanks for the wonderful review of Sarah's latest book. So many people love her work. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

    Cheryl

  14. Blodeuedd says

    March 23, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    Lovely review. It sounds like a good book. I must keep it in mind

  15. Gwendolyn B. says

    March 23, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    I'm so happy to read such a terrific and positive review for this book. I'm not going to rush out and read it, though. I'm going to save it for a time when I need the author's special blend of literary magic!

  16. carla says

    March 23, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    It must be a very good book if you wished it were longer!
    Sounds really intriguing.

  17. Diane says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm

    High praises Dar. I did enjoy this book as well (also the previous 2).

  18. bermudaonion says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:44 pm

    I'm dying to read this book! Just the fact that it has a character named Vance in it makes me want to read it and I'd love to know why the author chose that name.

  19. Wanda says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    I just read a review for this one a little while ago … I do love that wallpaper idea! It sounds like it has just the right amount of magic to add that special something without getting too out there.

  20. Zibilee says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    I have not yet read any of Addison's books, but I have heard such great things about all of them! I am glad that you fell in love with this book. I love it when that happens! Great review, Dar!

  21. softdrink says

    March 24, 2010 at 3:38 am

    Yay! I can't wait to read this one!

  22. Alyce says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:32 am

    I'm so glad to see that this one is a good read! I was really hoping it would live up to her earlier books.

  23. Alice Teh says

    March 24, 2010 at 7:29 am

    Great review, Dar! I haven't read the other two books and I know I need to very soon. This book is already in my wish list. 🙂

  24. Kaye says

    March 24, 2010 at 10:52 am

    I just got this one and hope to get to it soon so I sort of skimmed your review. It sounds like I am in for a real treat. I loved her Garden Spells too. Such a fun story with the little bit of fantasy thrown in. It would be nice to have one of those apple trees!

  25. Bonnie says

    March 24, 2010 at 6:24 pm

    I felt the same way about this book and didn't want it to end. I can't wait for her next book!

  26. Lisa says

    March 24, 2010 at 7:46 pm

    Don't you just love it when an author you love doesn't disappoint? You come to have such high expectations after a couple of good reads–it's almost impossible to live up to. Glad Allen did!

  27. Luanne says

    March 26, 2010 at 8:53 pm

    I loved The Sugar Queen – I'll be adding this one to my list!

  28. Darlene says

    March 28, 2010 at 4:40 pm

    Staci, I can't wait to see what you think of it.

    Viv, I posted a worldwide giveaway for it just the other day.

    Veens, I'm pretty sure you'd love this one.

    Melody, I didn't find The Sugar Queen as good as these other two but still really good. For you too, I posted a giveaway that's open to you too.

    Jill, that cover is gorgeous isn't it! I would just sit and stare at it for a few minutes in between reading. lol. I am such a sucker for a nice cover.

  29. Darlene says

    March 28, 2010 at 4:43 pm

    Sandy, totally agree on the cover! It's fantastic. You're right, a little whimsy once in a while in our reading is great – a good escape from real life.

    Kathy, I noticed she had named someone Vance too. It's not a common name for sure. I wonder why you picked it too. I'm not sure you've ever told us.

    Wanda, I'd love the wallpaper and no, her books don't seem out there to me. Just enough magic to make them interesting plus it's always some kind of magic that's out of the ordinary – not run of the mill kind of stuff.

  30. Darlene says

    March 28, 2010 at 5:04 pm

    Kaye, I'll be watching for your review. I can't wait to see if you loved it as well.

    Bonnie, she can't put books out fast enough I say. lol.

    Lisa, it's true. You expect so much from your favorite authors. I think we end up being harder on them too.

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