Delia had left behind her childhood in Opal and vowed to never look back. She loved the big city life and being able to blend into the world around her. Growing up she had found abandonment and heartache in the small town she once called home. The only ones who had always stood beside her were her three closest friends since Kindergarten and the adopted grandmother who never gave up on her. Now tragedy has struck one of those friends, and Delia must come home to Opal to find her way again. As she starts to find her path, the man who destroyed her heart has found himself coming home for a new start as well. From starting a mystical bookshop to finding a chance at second love, Delia is finding the silver lining she never expected to happen.

My Review

I love the friendship that Delia has with Josephine, Sarah, and Ella. Of course, she fell for her best friend’s brother, and their relationship had a very rocky end just as their lives were beginning. Then we jump seven years into the future. Their pact brings them back together, and we get more information about Sarah and the tragedy that rocked her life. Their friendship, their love for each other like sisters more than just friends, and the pact will rip your heart out in the prologue.

Okay, I feel like I should have read this book first because it answers so many questions I have, but yeah, I’m already teary eyed. Oh, so that’s how the multiple  bookstores started! I kind of love that each one has a different vibe, just like the owner.

This story is perfect for the beginning of autumn with the small town cozy vibes and, of course, the flirting that Delia and Dustin can’t help but take part in. But really, I’m loving the fall festival at the farm. Pumpkins, apples, and cider? Yes, please.

This small town and found family of friends and lovers is heartwarming. It’s the kind of escape where you can get wrapped up in their issues instead of your own. It has this incredibly cozy feeling. I love that each woman has her own bookstore and that they are all different while still complimenting their personalities. This may be Delia and Dustin’s story, but there is no shortage of secondary characters.

This story reminds me of a childhood movie I watched with four strong women helping each other, the flashbacks to childhood, and the connections between them all. Now and Then might have been a favorite of mine as a child, but seeing the characters in this story as those actresses is amazing and heartwarming.

Okay, I get the trust issues and both of them battling their own demons throughout the book, but the repeated need to fight one-sided for this relationship and always needing another explanation is a little much. Yes, this is a second chance romance, and Dustin may not be perfect, but why does every chapter feel like a courtroom scene where he has to prove his dedication? I understood it at first, but toward the end, really?

Okay, I was expecting the last act drama, but I seriously love how the story ended. I also love that it wasn’t just a second-chance romance for two characters. Other romances start too, and all of these characters are interesting and need their own stories. This book is a journey through so many seasons, holidays, grief, loss, and hope.

Sarah’s story is heartbreaking. Ella’s story, which I’ve read, made this part especially harrowing to get through. Jo is the right kind of no nonsense in the group and pretty much holds them all together, while Delia had to learn what love really means.

There are so many life lessons woven throughout these stories. They aren’t just cute romances. They feel like lived experiences that can relate to so many people who have dealt with loss of a loved one, trust issues, drinking problems, starting over, self-confidence, and so much more. I find this writer’s stories to be so encompassing, like a really good comfort show you can escape into while still finding pieces of real life woven into the story.

Thank you so much Christina Bunner for sending me a paperback copy of this book to read and review. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

If you would like to read Traversing the Waters Mystical Bookshop by Christina Bunner you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases. 

If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Found Family, Second Chance Romance and Autumn.