#annemariemclemore

[thebookishaustin]

Backlist Review: Wild Beauty

Photo from Macmillan Publishers website

Wild Beauty

Author: Anna-Marie McLemore

Release: October 3, 2017

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Imagine five cousins giving birth to one daughter each, then those cousins growing up to eventually give birth to one daughter each, and so on and so forth. Now imagine five grandmothers, five mothers, and five daughters all living together in a giant garden - created by the hands of the women themselves. Imagine these women supporting, nurturing, and caring for each other as they fall deeply in love with their soul mates. Now imagine the love surrounded with fear as a curse from the land takes these lovers from them once the love runs too deeply. Now you have Wild Beauty by Anna-Marie McLemore.

I’ve had this book on my “To-Read Pile” for awhile (a bit over a year to be exact) but I’m glad that I finally got around to reading it! Wild Beauty follows Estrella Nomeolvides as she navigates relationships with her four cousins, her mother and four aunts, and her grandmother and four great aunts. Each has the unique ability to grow flowers (this book has all sorts of magical realism ya’ll) and each is cursed by the land they cultivate - whenever they fall too deeply in love with a romantic partner, the land takes them away. Estrella’s life is upturned one day when a boy appears - Fel - with no memory of his past. Estrella and her relatives try to piece together Fel’s past while fighting the curse that no Nomeolvides has ever been able to escape.

I am incredibly biased when it comes to magical realism - I almost always love it. I am also incredibly biased when it comes to romance - I’m super picky about it. McLemore’s first book The Weight of Feathers (2015; a Romeo & Juliet story between some mermaid- and bird-like folk) intrigued me with their use of magical realism in such a way that I didn’t mind the romance, so I just had to pick up Wild Beauty eventually.

McLemore weaves their words in a way that makes a simple plot line seem very deep by connecting to characters while manifesting emotions into reality with magic. Estrella is upset? Starflowers bloom grow and bloom in rapid fire time. Estrella is calm and sentimental? She coaxes plants and flowers from the earth with tender care. McLemore is a master of showing without telling.

Overall I’d give Wild Beauty 4 out of 5 Awesome Austin Points (I did REALLY like this book but I reserve 5 stars for those books that I know I’ll read again and again; this one I’ll definitely be recommending to people but may not pick up again). The writing and imagery are beautiful in their simplicity but the emotional depth is phenomenal. Plus, who doesn’t love a good story with a curse in it?

[chronicbooker]

Hey everyone! Just some of my favourite hardback covers 📚 Does anyone read manga or watch anime? Could you recommend me some? I havent read any manga but am looking to start. I watch some anime anything thats simular to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood or One Punch Man would be great! 😊 . . . . . . . . . #bookstagram #books #booknerd #booklover #bookphoto #bookstack #toalltheboysivelovedbefore #jennyhan #thealchemistofloom #elisekova #wildbeauty #annemariemclemore #reignofthefallen #sarahglennmarsh

[bohemiancostarica]

"You took the truth and you made it into flowers." Anne-Marie McLemore #annemariemclemore #cottagecoreaesthetic Zarcero, Costa Rica. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #bohemiancostarica #zarcero #zarcerocostarica #costarica🇨🇷 #costaricagram #instacostarica #ig_costarica #cottagecoretheme #cottagecorecommunity #cottagecoredream #rusticlife #boholife #bohoasthetic #boholove #bohemianlife #bohemianliving #bohemianvibes #bohemianlifestyle #cottagecoreaesthetics (at Zarcero) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVENOYDra8m/?utm_medium=tumblr

[emmareadsforfun]

“You two never could follow rules, could you?” -Anna-Marie McLemore, Blanca & Roja 🦊 ➡️QOTD: What 3 people (real/fictional, alive/dead) would be in your dream squad? 🍄 🍁 Today is the first day of winter and in true Virginia fashion it’s 67 degrees outside. It was snowing and 20-40 degrees all last week. I think it’s safe to say that Va has some of the most inconsistent weather on the east coast 😂 BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, I have a special November ‘Sibling Rivalries’ @shelflovecrate unboxing 😊 Here’s what we got this time: ☕️BOTM: Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore ☕️Sisters in Wonderland pouch by LeysaBlackbird ☕️Three Dark Crowns inspired keychain ☕️ Loki/Thor double sided bookmark by @dianadworak ☕️ Honor Above Life candle by @mlc_co ☕️ Wolf Trading Card (final in the Lunar Chronicles trading card series) by @kat_adara ☕️ Monthly cover & bookmark art also by @kat_adara 🌨 Remember to use my code EMMA10 for 10% off a new monthly subscription (or a new book-only monthly sub) at ShelfLoveCrate! December’s theme will be ‘Feats of Illusions’ featuring items inspired by The Belles, The Night Circus and ACOMAF (shipping out as we speak) and January’s theme will be ‘Squad Goals’ which you can also use my code on because it’s on sale now! I say this all too often but I’ve been subscribed to @shelflovecrate for over a year now and I’ve never been disappointed ❤️ ☁️ 🍂 #shelflovecrate #unboxing #blancaandroja #annemariemclemore #subscriptionbox #bookishbox #shelflove #thor #aliceinwonderland #skyinthedeep #book #fiction #fantasy #youngadultbooks #youngadultfiction #youngadultfantasy #bookish #bibliophile #booklover #booknerd #bookcover #bookworm #bookaddict #bookporn #autumn #fall #bookblogger #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #emmareadsforfun (at Richmond, Virginia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrqcgIInskF/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oixwafkqh8cn

[studyburd]

🗡Kiss Marry Kill: Kaz, Rowan, Kell🗡 . . . Okay.. here we go. 💋Kiss Kell 💍Marry Kaz 🗡Kill Rowan . I thought first to marry Kell and kiss Kaz, but then I realised that if Kaz has problems with touching other people then he certainly won't kiss me 😂 So we'll just get married instead 🤣💍 He would steal the prettiest ring to propose with so it's an easy pick 😂 Sorry not sorry about Rowan though 😂🗡 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #bookstagram #bookstawhapp #fantasy #fantasybooks #booklove #booksofinstagram #booksandflowers #coverlove #bookseries #mybookfeatures #wildbeauty #annemariemclemore #flowers #floral #roses #rose #nature #cosy #cozy #bibliophile #fiction

[justbreathee2295]

📖• #currentlyreading #wildbeauty #bookstagram #annemariemclemore #bookworm #bookholic

[sdiaz101]

Day 39: #wildbeauty by #annemariemclemore—another book that I hope gets some love this week—one of my personal favs from 2017. Love, the special bond between cousins, history, and lots of magic. #yalit #365books #bookstagram #alamw18 #alayma