The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone

Impressive debut novel that will appeal to fans of [a:Alice Hoffman 3502 Alice Hoffman https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590599928p2/3502.jpg] and [a:Sarah Addison Allen 566874 Sarah Addison Allen https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1646846141p2/566874.jpg]. Myra Malone is a recluse whose blog about the beautiful miniature mansion (do NOT call it a dollhouse) that she furnishes and decorates is her only connection to the outside world, other than her BFF Gwen. When Myra experiences a financial crisis, Gwen suggests setting up a contest on the blog and raffling off a chance to decorate a room of the winner's choice. They are not expecting to get a response from a totally confused, somewhat perturbed man named Alex who says Myra's mansion is an exact replica of the home that has been in his family for generations. The link between the miniscule and life-sized mansions goes back almost 100 years, and involves romance, magic, trauma, anger, and forgiveness. The book alternates between chapters set at key moments in the past with chapters set in the present as Myra and Alex's email correspondence brings them closer together. Even if you're a fan of magical realism you will have to suspend disbelief a few times (including the fact that agoraphobia can be cured by true love). Burges is a talented storyteller with a distinctive voice who offers a compelling plot, but her characters feel more like symbols than living, breathing people. Still, this was a pleasant surprise, and I will definitely keep the author on my watch list for her next release.