I mentioned in my post Vacation Book List that one of my favorite summer authors is Kristin Hannah. I just finished another one of her excellent books: Magic Hour.

I’m not sure how appropriate the title itself is, because it only clicks in the last few sentences of the book, but there certainly is something magical about the story. The relationship between Julia and Alice in particular is incredibly beautiful and heartwarming. The two characters draw each other out in a way that’s methodical in terms of child development and yet perfectly paced for storytelling. Then there’s the mystery that surrounds Alice’s appearance, which builds in tension throughout the book, even as the relationships between the characters are building, making the stakes even higher. In short, it’s a very well-crafted story, and I admire Kristin Hannah for that. But mostly it’s just a great book to sink into, and I highly recommend it, especially as a can’t-put-this-down summer read.

I’m actually about two books behind in my posting- I finished two more fantastic ones this weekend, so stay tuned for The Castaways and The Power of Habit!