Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen

February 19th, 2014 Kimberly Review 84 Comments

19th Feb
Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen
Lost Lake
by Sarah Addison Allen
Genres: Magical Realism, Women's Fiction
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

Suley, Georgia, is home to Lost Lake Cottages and not much else. Which is why it's the perfect place for newly-widowed Kate and her eccentric eight-year-old daughter Devin to heal. Kate spent one memorable childhood summer at Lost Lake, had her first almost-kiss at Lost Lake, and met a boy named Wes at Lost Lake. It was a place for dreaming. But Kate doesn't believe in dreams anymore, and her Aunt Eby, Lost Lake's owner, wants to sell the place and move on. Lost Lake's magic is gone. As Kate discovers that time has a way of standing still at Lost Lake can she bring the cottages—and her heart—back to life? Because sometimes the things you love have a funny way of turning up again. And sometimes you never even know they were lost . . . until they are found.

I adore Sarah Addison Allen and was excited to be given a copy of Lost Lake. Allen tells tales with a small-town feel and wraps them in magical realism. I found myself enchanted by her misfit characters and the magical secrets of Lost Lake. Mini review: A tale of second chances, hope and forgiveness. Allen held me spellbound as she led me to Lost Lake.

Kate’s husband died a year ago, and she has spent the last year in a fog, blindly agreeing to everything her controlling mother-in-law Cricket wants, especially in regard to Kate’s whimsical daughter Devin. Today she woke up and discovered she has agreed to move in with Cricket. As she and Devin look through the trunks in the attic one last time, they find an old postcard from Kate’s Aunt Eby. Kate’s Aunt owns Lost Lake, a lakeside resort of summer cabin rentals. Kate remembers the last summer she spent there and the magic she felt. Just reawakening, she decides to take Devin to Lost Lake before moving into the big house with Cricket. The tale that unfolds introduces us to colorful characters, as we share their secrets, love, and loss. Together we discover the magic of Lost Lake as Kate rediscover’s life.

Lost Lake provides an array of characters some we adore instantly and others slowly capture our hearts. Allen also gives us characters to loath like Uncle. I pictured him as Boss Hogg from Dukes of Hazzard. *grins* Kate has been through a lot, and I loved watching the lake heal her and help her find her center. Eby, Kate’s great-aunt is such a free spirit and Lisette with her quirky mannerisms and ghostly memories immediately captured my attention. Devin is a delightful from her free spirit to her tutus. Bulahdeen and Selma regular summer customers have come to spend one last summer. They were fascinating and helped create the small-town feel I love while adding a little mystery and suspense. Townsfolk like Wes a childhood friend from Kate’s past added to the tale keeping me enthralled.

Allen has a way of weaving memorable tales with strong characters. Lost Lake is character driven but Allen brings the magic of Lost Lake to us from the pitted gravel roads to the trees roots and their secrets. I could almost smell the musty cabins and see the fireflies dancing in the grass. The magical elements are subtle and yet powerful. I believed and they had me enthralled. Allen’s characters are all unique and like them, or love them; you connect. She shares their past and present with you slowly showing you their quirks, humor and souls. Eby’s decision to sell the resort creates a stir, brings back memories and forcing decisions. We witness a few romances some new and some old.  I found myself caught up and searching for their HEA. The pacing is wonderfully done, from the flash-backs to the slow romance. The ending sees resolution to key threads and leaves some open with hope. I love this type of ending because it allows me to imagine my own.

Lost Lake is a wonderful character driven tale with characters that stick with you. Fans of small-town stories, second chances and a little magical realism will enjoy Sarah Addison Allen’s writings.

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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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84 Responses to “Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen”

  2. Jess

    I love this cover and the books sounds great. I especially enjoyed the quotes you shared. Can’t wait to read this one! Thanks for sharing.

  4. Trish

    I haven’t read anything by this author yet but I have had a few people recommend Garden of Spells to me. I love the sound of the magic realism and I really love that you believed! That is a great sign, I hope to pick up something by this author soon.

  5. Lexxie

    Even just the cover is so captivating it begs us to pick up Lost Lake and check it out! And the story sounds like it is even more captivating, with wonderful fleshed out characters, and how to deal with becoming whole again after losing someone important.
    I’m picking this up! Your review is beautiful and heartfelt!

  6. Candace

    I read Garden Spells WAY back when it first came out and I really enjoyed it. I have a couple of her other books and I just need to read them! I love the small town settings and magical realism!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Naomi, you know how I love to mix my genres and this was perfect

  8. Michelle

    You are great at picking quotes from the book! I love the meaning behind the quotes you chose. I read Garden Spells by the same author and quite like her writing style. Will probably add this to my TBR. Thanks for sharing your review!

  9. Lauren

    I love small town stories and magical realism and this sounds absolutely charming! I love the quotes you shared. I really need to grab a copy of this one. Thank you for your lovely, thoughtful review!

  10. Lark

    Lovely review, Kimba! This has been on my TBR list, but you’ve caused me to bump it a bit higher. I hope my hold copy comes in during the March TBR Pile Challenge!

  11. Jackie

    Great review! I’ve never read anything by Allen before, and I’m not too sure how I feel about magical realism, but I’m a sucker for novels about second chances. 🙂

  12. Rashika

    I have yet to jump on the Allen bandwagon and I really wish I would stop standing at the sidelines. Seriously. I’ve heard WONDERFUL things about her books.

    This one in particular seems so heartbreaking :/ I have a thing about reading books that involve ‘spouse deaths’ so I am not sure this would be the best place to start for me (even though I am really tempted).

    I am glad you enjoyed this one!

    Great Review! 🙂

  13. Jessica

    I’ve had Garden Spells on a book shelf for years. YEARS. I really need to read this author–she sounds amazing. Great review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      that is one of my favorites by her! Go dig it out Jessica 🙂

  15. Christy

    Dukes of Hazard! Woohoo! Haha – anyway, this book sounds wonderful, but I know it’s one that I’d have to be in a specific mood to read it.

  16. Pamela D

    I am glad to hear that you enjoyed this book! I have been in love with the cover when it was on everyone’s WoW posts. I am happy to hear that this book is actually lovely. 🙂

  17. Henrietta

    I really like the sound of this one! A charming, small town setting sounds like a wonderful place for the characters to reflect upon life and heal. Thanks for sharing!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Agreed Melissa she can spin a tale and her characters are always so memorable.

  19. Giselle

    Oh I like the sounds of this! Magical realism has been in a lot of my favorite books in the last year, too. And this one sounds like she incorporated it really well in the story. Not in your face or cheesy. And you know I adore small town stories! 🙂

  20. Heidi

    I liked this one a lot too but it was missing just a bit of something I cant’ put my finger on it?? I think that it ended too quickly and I wanted more. Still Sarah always manages to make me smile and I love that about her books.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      Yes, I loved some of her other books more, but still an enchanting read, and I do love her story-telling.

  21. Sophia

    The cover looks so pretty! ^_^

    I think I’ve seen it before, but maybe I should go check it out (sees it’s not YA. NUUU)??? O_o

    • kimbacaffeinate

      No it is woman’s fiction or chick-lit but clean as a whistle

    • kimbacaffeinate

      thanks Angela, appreciate the feedback. Have you read any of Allen’s works?

  24. Lily B

    I love that this author weaved magic into a small town story! It sounds so fascinating. I heard that this book is kind of beautiful from a lot of people and I do enjoy character driven books.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It is, the characters are rich, unique and the setting is a backwater town complete with alligators.

  25. Michelle

    I’ve been super curious about this one because that cover is stunning! I’m not really sure how I feel about magical realism since my past experiences with have been odd, lol. It definitely sounds like it’s worth a try though.

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I have loved every book Allen has written, my favorite was and is Garden Spell.

  26. Amanda

    I am in LOVE with magical realism as a genre, and can’t wait to check this out. Great review!

  27. Dre

    I just bought this book. And I’m glad your review made is like the others I’ve read. I do like Magical Realism, like A.S. King’s Everybody Sees The Ants, so I am sure I will like this, too. Awesome review, Kimba!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      So glad you picked it up, I love Allen and will check out A.S. King 🙂 thanks Dre

  28. Braine Talk Supe

    Oh I love her books! It’s women’s fiction with a dash of whimsy. She always gives these wonderful escapes it makes me think of old houses, cobblestoned paths, pie and spanish moss. I know it doesn’t make sense but those things gives me the fuzzies and I love it!

    I’m sure our library will get this soon, I better be one of the first people in line.

  30. Christa

    I love magical realism. And coming from a small town I’m interested to see how this author approaches it.

  31. Debbie Haupt

    Kimba, what a great review, thanks. I love Sarah’s work she has such a unique voice and I’m so glad she’s back after her courageous battle.
    Deb

  33. Jenny

    I don’t know that I’ve ever read anything that could be classified as magical realism, and now I’m all curious. I’ve seen this one around a bit lately, and every review for it has been glowing, so I’m obviously missing out on a great story! I love that there’s a large cast of really memorable characters, nothing makes me happier than equally strong protagonists and secondary characters. Lovely review Kim!

  34. Felicia the Geeky Blogger

    I will be starting this one next week. I am interested to see what my reaction will be since it is a little out of my reading comfort zone. Yet all of you that have read it make me think that I will enjoy it 🙂

    • kimbacaffeinate

      I think you will do find, since 1. you like small-town stories and 2. you like paranormal. I am excited to hear your thoughts 🙂

  35. Christine

    I love character-driven stories & magical tales, so I will definitely need to try this one out. I have a few of Allen’s other books neglected on my shelves 🙁 I really must remedy that!

  36. kindlemom1

    It has been awhile since I have read one of Addison’s books but I do remember really liking it.

    You had me with this one line “A tale of second chances, hope and forgiveness.”

    I love these types of books!

  37. Mary

    I haven’t read anything by this author but it sounds like I should check her out. I’m not always the biggest fan of this type of story, though I do like the small town setting.

  38. Jenea

    I enjoy reading second chances stories, and this one sounds like an emotional one. Wonderful review.

  42. Melliane

    I really love the cover it’s really magical. One again I didn’t know the author I confess but I’m curious about this little town and the characters. But I confess your ‘I love this type of ending because it allows me to imagine my own’ makes me anxious… I really have a problem with stories with no end in fact, I’m always quite frustrated. I need my end lol. But it sounds like a wonderful story. Great review!

    • kimbacaffeinate

      It has closure, but not so solid that it doesn’t allow you to create more stories in your mind.