Small Miracles

Maybe more of a 4.5, but willingly rounded up for just how sweet the story is.

I would like to preface by saying that this is not the sort of book I would have ever chosen for myself. And I would have missed out, because it is such a genuinely nice book.

It's funny and cute and there's a nice little mystery holding the first part together to keep my attention as I start to care about these people. And care I did - I wanted things to turn out well for them, even if I never really thought it wouldn't because this book is soft and sweet and it's just a very calming, relaxing read. And the humor worked so well for me.

(Side note: Barry and Gabe's siblinghood really steals the show for me.)

(There is some romance to the story and while it was also cute and sweet, thankfully, that was never given the full focus, instead allowing more platonic bonds to shine. (While the romance didn't totally work for me, it detracted not at all from the story, so, it's all good here.))

(I would like to mention that this book was recommended to me as being similar to Good Omens and, well, the authors were certainly drinking from the same jug of Kool-Aid, I think.)

What pure joy. So much heart in this story, I'm a sucker for ones around grief, familial love and healing, so I repeatedly teared up and the humor was spot on for me. I had no idea this was inspired by Good Omens when I started (went in blind), though I was curious throughout. I've only seen the show, and this felt similar but different. It focused more on a fallen angel's relationship with others and their relationships than an angel-fallen angel friendship. I loved all of it. I think fans of TJ Klune's The House in the Cerulean Sea or In the Lives of Puppets might like this one too.

Audio note: it was EXACTLY the audio experience I was seeking. Great narration, but there is an angelic-sounding ping-ping-ping for every footnote, and this greatly irked me in the very beginning. My brain did adjust to it at some point.

I was looking for cozy vibes and this definitely delivered. Now I need to read more from this author. I had a great time with this one.

The premise is cute and interesting. An angel falls because they question whether all the rules in heaven are truly the right way to live. Another angel contracts them to tempt a human woman who never sins into small temptations. I loved that the fallen angel ended up as a high school therapist, I wish that would've been a larger focus of the plot. The actual execution was slow and repetitive. There are only so many times that I can watch a problem be solved with chocolate. The romance felt forced and lacked chemistry. Also, I know the teenage niece was being constantly tempted by a demon meant to bring about the apocalypse so I'll give her slack, but even with that factor did she have to be so unlikable?

It is a very very good blend between a cozy, sweet and hilarious book. All and all really enjoyed it! It didn't massively change my life, but I am honestly happier now than before reading this, so maybe give it a try ✨

It is a very very good blend between a cozy, sweet and hilarious book. All and all really enjoyed it! It didn't massively change my life, but I am honestly happier now than before reading this, so maybe give it a try ✨

Yay, this was fun! Atwater truly channels Good Omens with a dash of Screwtape Letters, but with lower stakes. A masterful take on cozy religious satire. Cozy Fantasy is very much in vogue and it is easy to see why. Comforting but fun.

Small Miracles follows the attempts of the ‘Fallen Angel of Petty Temptations' to tempt Holly Harker as a way of paying off his gambling debts to a former angelic comrade. There is a wonderful gentle humour to this, the silly score keeping, the petty interactions between different celestial beings, the day to day mundanity of school life. Everything plays off each other in a delightful manner with Gadriel's cynicism forming the root of it all.

This was definitely a worthy winner of SPFBO 8 and I am glad I discovered it through this competition.

Definitely a 4.5 and I'm rounding up.

I neglected writing this review for more than a month, so I don't have the words or energy to write now. But I thoroughly enjoyed this mostly cozy, cute romance and family story about finding love, grieving your losses, and still moving on. Totally worth winning the SPFBO award this year.