The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison AllenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the fourth book I’ve read by Sarah Addison Allen and it did not disappoint. I could tell from the description that it was a bit different from her other novels, as magic played less of a role. It wasn’t as obvious as in other stories, but it was there in the background.
This is a novel of friendship and somewhat of family as well as moving forward with life. The main character is Willa, but other characters play a prominent role - Paxton, her twin brother Colin, Sebastion, and Willa and Paxton’s grandmothers, Georgie and Agatha. The house, the Blue Ridge Madam, is also a presence of it’s own in the story.
Willa and Paxton aren’t friends. They are two different people, each trying to find her spot in life and to move forward. Paxton is re-doing Willa’s family’s old home, one that hasn’t been in her family for years. During the renovations, a skeleton is found. By visiting their grandmothers and digging out old photo albums and a little bit of investigation, Willa and Paxton learn the story of the skeleton and in so doing, they learn about friendship, namely that shared by their grandmothers. And, they find out they aren’t so different and a friendship of sorts develop.
But, it’s not just about Willa and Paxton. It’s also about Sebastion and Colin. It’s about friendships that last a lifetime. They are all looking for something and in the end, it turns out that what they are looking for might just be right in front of them.
The mystery didn’t take center stage in this story, it was the catalyst for the relationships, both for family and new and old friends. As with her other books, this one left me wishing for just a bit more. It’s hard to describe everything. It isn’t a “deep” book, but it’s a highly enjoyable read. Definitely recommended.
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