from Lorinda:

Quick read and never a dull moment. Kate and her daughter Devin are dealing with the loss of their husband and father when Kate comes across an old letter sent by her great Aunt Eby telling about her resort camp that she owns in the southern Georgia swamplands. Kate and Devin decide to pack up and go for a visit to see if aunt Eby’s resort, aka, Lost Lake is still around. What they find is an almost abandoned struggling summer camp and their great aunt who has decided to sell out.

Kate and her daughter meet up with a whole cast of misfit characters who all have their own stories of love and loss but in the end they will find that with the help of each other they can find their way back to happiness. This story is not depressing but magical and heartwarming with a little touch of a supernatural alligator! I have read all of Allen’s books so far and haven’t found a one that I didn’t enjoy.

from Laura:

Sarah Addison Allen is so good at atmospheric descriptions. They often involve food: “The bell over the restaurant door rang, and yellow light from inside melted into the fog like butter.” While I enjoyed Allen’s Garden Spells a little better, I liked Lost Lake too. Taking place in Georgia near the beginning of summer, it was a nice escape from our still-hanging-on Ohio winter. ( )

One of my favorite authors. ( )

4 1/2 stars
A book of love, loss, and growth. The magical knowledge of oneself. Where misfits connect at Georgia swamp campsite. It has very diverse characters. Excellent writing. A keeper. ( )

Kate and her daughter, Devin take a road trip to Lost Lake, Georgia, where Kate spent the most memorable summer of her life. Kate needs to escape from her life since her husband passed away. Kate's great aunt, Eby runs the place, but is thinking of selling the lake and the cabins. Kate's mother and Eby had falling out the last summer Kate visited when she was twelve. She has not been back since. Kate runs in the boy, she spent time with her twelfth summer. He runs a pizza place. Devin has an active imagination and claims there is an alligator in the lake. This book is full of magical realism and quirky characters. If you want a magical ride this book is a good one. ( )

Oh, how I loved this book! Sarah Addison Allen's writing has deepened and developed in the most beautiful, rich ways since her debut, and I am delighted. This was very fun, and had lots more to it. ( )

Not my favourite Sarah Addison Allen but a good one all the same. ( )

This book was predictable from beginning to end. There were no surprising plot twists or unique character developments. Yet without a doubt I'd read another of Sarah Addison Allen's books. This wasn't my favorite of hers that I read. It really was the most predicable of them all but like I've said before they are just comfortable reads that I don't feel bad about reading. I like the magical elements she always throws in. It lets each book float somewhere past the ordinary and walk the edge of fairytale. It was a simple, sweet, predicable, but good read. ( )

Appreciated how atmospheric this one felt without going overboard on description, the swampy environment, the dinners outdoors and the warm small town vibes, made this an ideal match for reading outside during the muggy days of late August.

While I wasn’t a fan of the husband stealing character (aside from very brief moments of a friendship that reminded me of one of my favorite Steel Magnolias friendships), I did enjoy the other sprinklings of magic realism throughout, especially the alligator and its emotional connection to another character.

I loved that this included a wide variety of ages, and respect for each stage of life, the kid wasn’t cloying and the senior citizens weren’t doddering. Even though the size of the cast made it somewhat impossible to delve as deep on some of the characters as I may have wanted without turning this into a doorstopper of a novel, this still managed to do each of them justice and give me a strong sense of who they are. I was particularly fond of the section on Buhladeen’s backstory and I really liked how the little girl, Devin, is depicted, not only her whimsical fashion sense, but also how intuitive she is, I really liked that the author didn’t dumb her down because she’s a child.

The ending wasn’t quite as satisfying as maybe it could have been, I was pleased with the directions the characters went in, I just would have liked a bit more of a glimpse of each of them living out those new futures. Maybe in a sort of roundabout way that says something good about the novel though, that it left me wanting more rather than less. ( )

good summer read with a little magic/mystery mixed in... ( )

3.5 stars ( )

A little silly, but mostly charming. Quick, light, feels-like-a-movie kind of book. ( )

Received from NetGalley.

Sarah Addison Allen writes books that make me want to dive in the pages and not come out ever. I'm pretty sure she can't write a bad book. I devoured this book and was sad when it was over because I wasn't ready for it to end. It had everything. A little romance, a little magic, a little mystery, a lot of eccentric and loveable characters and a lot of people figuring out who they are/want to be. So so much love for this book. ( )

Do I ever love magical realism! Sarah Addison Allen is such a purveyor of magic. I’ll read anything she writes because her character creation and storytelling is so damn good.

I cared about the characters 10 minutes into the book. That’s magic.

There’s several twists here that I didn’t see coming. Wow.

Selma is one of the most interesting and complex characters. She is unexpected.

I get mild Big Fish (the movie) vibes from this... mostly in the magical realism aspect.

Lost Lake is about the past, the present, the future... what it means to deeply love someone, what it means to deeply love a place, the sacrifices and decisions we willingly make for love, chosen family vs. biological family, the walls people put up, the power of female friendships.

It would make a great book to discuss with friends or your book club. Or just read it yourself, let it stay with you like letting chocolate melt in your mouth and appreciate the magic of it all. ( )

Highly engaging and warm novel, but it took a tad long for the magic to start. ( )

I read and previously loved Sarah Addison Allen's Garden Spells, The Sugar Queen, and The Girl Who Chased the Moon: A Novel. I read The Peach Keeper: A Novel (Random House Reader's Circle) and found it to be lacking in the same magical realism that I loved about her older novels. There was a lot going on in that novel and not all of it gelled together naturally. Unfortunately when I finished with Lost Lake I had that same feeling.

The novel is about lakeside cabins called Lost Lake. Eby Pim and her deceased husband George saw a postcard with the cabins and bought and restored them. Living out there for decades Eby is starting to feel as if it may be time to move on from Lost Lake and see the world again like she was planning on doing when she was a newlywed. Eby's niece Kate comes to Lost Lake with her young daughter Devin to re-visit a time in Kate's life when she was happy. We have Kate dealing with the loss of her husband and finally coming back to herself after a year where she was "sleeping".

One of the best things about Sarah Addison Allen's novels is that she always interweaves a sense of magic in her books. The way her novels are written she can have a person believing that yes these things/events could happen. However, this novel is missing that feeling of wonder that I had when I read her other novels. I just felt that a lot of the writing and events that happened were flat. It felt to me like well of course this is the way that it happened and that was about it.

I ended up giving this novel just three stars because of the lack of development of the two leads, way too many plot lines, and a cliched and rushed ending.

I thought that Eby was an interesting character I wish we had delved more into her life back when she was married to George and what about him made him wonderful besides a few stories thrown out about him here and there. Also the character of Kate suddenly reversing herself about what her marriage was about I thought did not really work. There is nothing wrong with a character having been married before and finding love again. I don't like it when you read novels that somehow have the widow or widower somehow finding some random flaws in their former spouse that then allows them to move on easy peasy.

There was the plot-lines of Eby selling Lost Lake and Kate dealing with her grief over the loss of her husband. Frankly that is honestly all this novel really needed. Then we started to include so many other side plots that just did not work in this novel from other characters such as Lisette, Bulahdeen, and Selma. We also throw in the character of Wes and his issues and everything got to be too much.

The ending in my opinion was just one cliche after another. I think that since we have so many characters in this novel Ms. Allen made sure that all of the plot-lines were wrapped up though some of the wrap up felt really rushed to me while I was reading. Also certain things did not make a lot of sense (such as Kate's mother in law's complete transformation at the end). Also it was telegraphed pretty early how the novel would end so it was not a big surprise to me when everything was wrapped up in a nice neat bow. ( )

Just love Allen's stories, SO MUCH. ( )

*I received this Ebook from St. Martin's Press, via NetGalley, as an un-corrected digital copy, in return for an honest review.



I cannot recommend this novel, Lost Lake, highly enough. If this is all you take away from this review, then I am happy.

Yes, It's true that i love Sarah Addison Allen's writing style. I love the voice she gives to her stories, the way her characters are crafted and, and the way she creates the most vividly real worlds. They are wonderful places, with just a tiny, little bit of magic in them - but not enough to change their genre. (Thank goodness.)

But it's also true that Addison's main talent in writing is she can paint with words. She may use mostly earth tones, but then suddenly she sprinkles her canvas with fairy dust... and we find ourselves in front of a totally different work, filled enchanting elements that just leaves us well and truly hooked.

This novel was no exception...although it's definitely more melancholic, quieter and, some-what more grounded in the everyday life than some of her previous works. This is a story about grief. Or about grieving. How it can take over your life, if you let it. The Morris women know all about it. Apparently it's their curse. The book mentions this, and then suddenly, Kate "wakes up". After that, it's Kate and her daughter Devin, trying to find another place for them in the world, but don't really know this, at first.

The grief in this book is the type that almost makes people stop living.... But that's not all that this story deals with. There's also people haunted by their past mistakes, & that won't let go of their ghosts. Characters as only the author knows how to write, determined to never let go, no matter what. People who insist on not being happy, for whatever reason. And a boy and a girl who may even be perfect for one another... and a lot more.

I loved the multi-generational tie in between the different ages of the women, all with baggage and a past, making them hide behind others, and those that are controlling their lives. They all have given up on their dreams for other people. It takes a little girl, some magical past moments, a sacrifice, and facing the truth in order to bring new relationships to fruition. This book will make you smile and maybe even cry at the same time.

I have a passion for mountain and lake cabins (and when I travel, I always choose quaint cabins), as they offer privacy, solace, and they bring you closer to nature. The mystical place called Lost Lake sounds like some place that I would love to visit. And probably fall in love with. Possibly, never want to leave, as well.

Sarah Addison Allen, thank you for believing in magic after all you’ve been through in your personal life, and for sharing this magic with your readers. We all believe in miracles; however, we sometimes get lost in the process and boringness of everyday life. It's so very kind of you to remind us this way, with this beautifully wrought novel, and it's a nice way to remind us that with friends and family we can survive anything.

I highly recommend this novel to all my friends, for it's beauty, it's magic, and it's utter wonder.... In life, in love, and in living. I also wanted to tell you, Ms. Allen, personally, that your hard work has not gone unnoticed. I do so love you. This novel spoke to me on such a personal level, so much so that all my notes on/in it were full of exclamation points, lol.

I really do love this novel. Thank you, Ms. Allen, from the bottom of my heart, for this treasure. Thank you Netgalley, for letting me read an un- corrected proof, before he novel actually came out; I could not have been more happy, or excited to read a novel if a family member had written it themselves. her forced hiatus for a couple years brought a new depth and maturity to her writing. Allen's latest novel, Lost Lake, is as haunting and magical as the location of Lost Lake itself. And Allen writes novels that when you're finished, you want to keep them, so you can read them again and again. ( )

Light, fluffy, nicely written story. Rather predictable, but still nice. ( )

I don't really read much "chick-lit" (ugh, that term), but I really liked Lost Lake.

Magical realism is one of my favorite themes in a book and the author pulled it off very well. The characters were fleshed out, the scene of Lost Lake was enchanting, and I loved Devin's character. Sort of reminded me of me when I was a child.

Was an easy read, but it was very narrative and prose-y, giving it more substance. ( )

Ah, Sarah Addison Allen. She was my first glimpse into the world of magical realism and, so far, the best I've read in the genre. Her ability to seamlessly weave real life situations with magical undertones is something beautiful! I've yet to find a book of hers that I didn't love at least a little bit. True to form, Lost Lake was perfectly gorgeous.

Allen transports the reader to a hidden gem. A place set apart from the busy day to day workings in the city. A place untouched by time and technology. Lost Lake was a haven that I was more than happy to get lost in. I loved that it was a place for misfits. I'll get to the characters themselves in a minute, but I'll assure you that this setting couldn't have been more for fitting for them. What better place for magic to happen than a place that already feels magical on its own? I adored Lost Lake. I actually found myself wishing it were a real place.

On to the characters, in all their misfit glory. The underlying theme here is one of loss and moving on. Eby, Kate, Devin, Wes, and all the rest of these wonderful characters, were each a puzzle piece in the overall theme. I was impressed at how well they all came to life, despite the fact that there were so many. I found myself quickly caught up in the mini background stories of each character, secretly hoping that things would work out for them. It's hard work enough to write one character who the reader can connect with. To write a large cast, and write them well enough that I loved each one of them in turn? Well, you have this reader's heart.

I can't say too much more, because then I'd be treading into spoiler territory, but trust me when I say that there's a lot to love between these pages. We chose this for our first book club pick of the year, and I'm thrilled that we did. Each chapter is a treasure trove of discussion points, and the story is brilliant. To previous fans of SAA, I think this is something you'll enjoy! To new readers, don't be afraid to start here. Lost Lake is well worth your time. ( )

I loved it. Just a good, satisfying, uncomplicated story. ( )

This is the second book I've read by Sarah Addison Allen and I loved it just as much as the first one. I'm glad to see that this is a series, and can't wait to see what happens to these characters next.

Full review to come. ( )

Awww, it's corny, comforting magical realism/Southern Gothic "women's literature"! I enjoyed the daylights out of this, it was like a pleasant tea cookie, the kind of thing you read on a lazy afternoon with a favorite drink and some nibbles and smile at the end of it.

I have a designation for media like this: "Good for what it is". The formula is clear, there are certain cliches, and while transcendent individual entries can be universally good books, they usually are not. On the other hand, if you LIKE the formula and genre, lots of individual entries are great. Superhero movies fit into this designation, crap fantasy, War Books for grandpas, and dad rock bands all do too. Lost Lake is good to great for what it is: magical realist chick lit. It reminds me somewhat of [b:The Memory Garden|18601927|The Memory Garden|Mary Rickert|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1395619133s/18601927.jpg|26372429], which I also loved.

Don't think "good for what it is" is damning something with faint praise, either. It's more that much like not everyone will find Civil War books interesting but a Civil War book can be essential for Civil War buffs, Lost Lake is a great read if you like this type of book, but not everyone likes the genre. ( )

Kate has lost her husband, Devin her father, and her mother to a year of grief. On the day Kate and Devin were to move into Kate's mother-in-law's home, they impulsively plan a trip to Kate's Great-Aunt Eby's lakeside resort, a place where Kate fondly remembers one magical, childhood Summer. Waiting for them there is Eby, tired of struggling and finally willing to sell the resort, Wes, Kate's childhood friend, and a bunch of resort regulars and townspeople who want to make this last Summer the best of them all. This is a lovely, soft story about dreaming, healing, and magic--the kind that waits for decades and the kind that's always inside you. (Provided by publisher) ( )

Ms. Allen does not disappoint again! I loved this book! You need to read this book!
The characters, the story, everything was great! ( )