I’ve said it before, some books just show up in your life at the right time. Such is the case with Secret of the Sassafras, by Olivia Sparrow, a debut novel I only learned of two days ago.
I discovered this book and its author on TikTok as I’ve tried to (cautiously) enhance my social media presence this past week. In doing so, I saw a clip of someone lauding this book and saying she wished more people knew about it. I was curious about the plot, the title and gorgeous cover grabbed my attention, so I decided to push it to the top of my reading list.
The book is, in a word, lovely. The story of “twinless twin,” Gemma Ellsworth, it takes us on an emotional journey of loss, healing, friendship, forgiveness, and learning to trust in love and happiness once more. It is one of those stories with a quiet power, one you do not realize while you’re reading it, but feel deeply as everything weaves together in its conclusion.
If I had one criticism to make, I would say that the ending is a bit abrupt and left me wanting more. But, perhaps, that is what the author wanted and she is setting us up for a sequel. Whether or not that is true and, despite the abrupt ending, this is a story worth reading. It will leave you with a warm blanket wrapped around your heart and a desire to tell the most important people in your life how much you love them.
An excellent book and an impressive debut.
9/10 Stars
(Available on Hoopla and on Amazon)
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