MIDNIGHT AT THE BLACKBIRD CAFE Book Review

Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe¹ by Heather Webber, audiobook, 11h 46m

Synopsis from Audible: Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe is a captivating blend of magical realism, heartwarming romance, and small-town Southern charm. Nestled in the mountain shadows of Alabama lies the little town of Wicklow. It is here that Anna Kate has returned to bury her beloved Granny Zee, owner of the Blackbird Café.

It was supposed to be a quick trip to close the café and settle her grandmother’s estate, but despite her best intentions to avoid forming ties or even getting to know her father’s side of the family, Anna Kate finds herself inexplicably drawn to the quirky Southern town her mother ran away from so many years ago, and the mysterious blackbird pie everybody can’t stop talking about. As the truth about her past slowly becomes clear, Anna Kate will need to decide if this lone blackbird will finally be able to take her broken wings and fly.

BOOK REVIEW: This story is told from two perspectives with a third sprinkled throughout. Anna Kate and Natalie are the two main narrators with a journalist interviewing various people throughout the story. We don't know who the journalist is but his interviews with the towns people occur when needed.

Anna Kate is certain that she is going to be in Wicklow for 2 months until she can legally sell the café and move north to go to medical school, just like her father had planned to. Natalie's older brother AJ died in a car accident when she was 3 years old. AJ was in the car with his girlfriend, who survived. Natalie always felt like she was living in the shadow of her big brother while her mother blamed AJ's girlfriend for purposely getting in the accident. AJ's girlfriend left town and 20 something years later, Natalie finds out she has a niece, Anna Kate.

This review is for the audiobook only. I give this 4.75 out of 5 stars. This book had two narrators (Stephanie Willis is one of the narrators and also narrates a few of the author's other audiobooks) which is great in determining if we're listening to Anna Kate or Natalie. I loved listening to each character as they grew. It was a short summer but both women grew up so much. It was mentioned in our discussion that it seemed unrealistic that so much could happen in the course of 2 months and I would have to agree to a degree. Yes it is the south and it is hot and gross and tempers can flair at a moments notice, not necessarily simmer down however ladies in the south don't like to stay angry whether they want to admit it or not. Heather Webber has quite a list of books that I eventually want to get through. Definitely a new favorite author!

4.75/5 Stars

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