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‘Caramel and Magnolias’ Captured Me

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‘Caramel and Magnolias’ Captured MeCaramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson
Published by Booktrope Editions on February 1, 2013
Genres/Lists: Fiction
Pages: 246
Read synopsis on Goodreads
Buy the book: Amazon/Audible (this post includes affiliate links) three-stars


I won Caramel and Magnolias by Tess Thompson From Isi, one of my favorite book bloggers who lives across the globe. I had a feeling I would like it because I trust her judgment, and I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed. Told from the viewpoints of three different characters, Caramel and Magnolias is not the simple love story that I expected it to be based on the title. While the book does emphasize loss and renewed love, the driving force behind the story is the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a young girl and the butterfly effect that results.

The main character, Cleo, is recovering from a brutal loss, while her best friend, Sylvia, battles infertility issues. Toss in a few good looking men and the disappearance of a young girl, and you have the main plot of this riveting book.

One of the reasons I was so drawn into this book was that it was filled with random little details that I could relate to. There are references to Law & Order (my favorite show), the brothers have the same names as some brothers in my family, I love the name Madison, there’s an Allison, and one of the character’s favorite driving snacks is cheddar popcorn (I’m a big SmartFood popcorn fan). I know the author wrote these details with absolutely no intent of speaking to me directly, but the number of similarities drew me in.

It is for these reasons that I am able to overlook some of the cheesier portions of the love story and the rose-colored glasses that the reader looked through. What could have been a very dark read was, in fact, a lighter read and easy to get through. I’m not a big mystery fan, so I’m not sure that I would have enjoyed the book better if it was heavier on the doom and gloom, but there were some parts that were so unrealistically optimistic that I unconsciously scoffed (or so my husband says).

Regardless, I really enjoyed the book. What could have been a very heavy novel was transformed into a light page turner with a dash of mystery. As the weather warms up, I recommend this as a weekend beach read!

Question for readers: Have you ever related to a book because of its similarities to your own life?

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Caramel and Magnolias

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  • I think that’s what good writers do: they find ways to relate to their readers’ lives!

    • The Book Wheel

      Agreed!

  • Thanks for bringing to my a book that sounds worthy of an upcoming train trip across the country in a few weeks. What caught my eye was the word “magnolias” in the title. Growing in the south magnolias were a big part of my life.

    • The Book Wheel

      I hope you like it! The first three chapters were harder because there were so many characters, but the author went full steam ahead after them. Where are you going by train? Anywhere fun?

      • We’re taking the train from OR to TN for our grandson’s high school graduation. The train is our preferred method of travel lately — we find it relaxing and providing lots of reading time, something we both enjoy.

        • The Book Wheel

          That sounds great! I would love to take a train from coast to coast one day!

  • Yes! That is the whole reason I turned my blog from writing to more of books/reading. I find a way to relate to something in most every book I read! Hence the little opening under my blog’s title.

    • The Book Wheel

      Good point! I usually can relate to most books, but this one was just SO similar that it felt like destiny that I read it. Is there a bookish destiny? If not, I will coin a term for it.

  • Glad you enjoyed the book. I could relate most to Persuasion by Jane Austen. The love story was very similar to mine and I found myself laughing out loud in parts and telling my non-reader husband the quotes because I found them funny and relevant.

    • The Book Wheel

      You know what? I’ve never read Persuasion. Now I need to read it so that I can grab a glimpse into your life 😉

  • I haven’t yet (related to a book because of its similarities to my own life)
    I’m glad you mentioned that this one is not just a simple love story, I tend to steer away from love stories & romance novels. I do love mystery though, but only a little bit of it. I guess thats why I like Morton, CRZ etc…

    • The Book Wheel

      I used to read a lot of Nora Roberts and chick lit, but it isn’t the same when you get married. I want to shake the characters and tell them to snap out of it! My husband also tells me that I have unrealistic expectation of romance because I want big speeches every other day about his undying love for me 😉

      I feel a blog post idea forming…..

      • I also used to like chick lit – I think that I’m over it. I use to have unrealistic expectations too, but not anymore. Even now my sometimes realistic expectations aren’t met so for now I just can’t read romance novels, it reminds me too much of what i dont have (ok lets not get heavy)

        Do that post ! 😉

        • The Book Wheel

          I know what you mean! I think that chick lit is most popular in the mid-twenties when you’re old enough to appreciate it but not old enough to know it’s unrealistic!

  • Isi

    Ohh I have never thought about similarities with my life, even when the names are the same as my family memeber’s names!
    I think that the book is similar to Riversong: a little bit of mystery or thriller mixed with a love story and a happy end, but it works very well – a light reading! The book was for free for 2 days and one of my Spanish blogger friend purchased and read it and she says more or less the same as you.
    And well, you know I’m glad you liked it since it was the first time I raffled a book I haven’t read, and all because I misunderstood “the rules” of the tour. I thought that they were going to send us the book to get a review too, but this wasn’t the point!
    Anyway, I think I will read it soon, perhaps in the beach, as you have said!

    • The Book Wheel

      Luckily, it was a great book! As for the mix-up, it happens! Oh, and check your email 😉

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