The Firefly Jar (Crickley Creek 1), by Laurie Beach

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The Firefly Jar, by debut author Laurie Beach, is the first in the Crickley Creek series. This is not a cozy mystery series, but it has a cozy vibe.  It falls under the category of contemporary women's fiction, with a little closed-door southern romance.

Charlotte Sinclair is grieving the death of her mother. To feel closer to her and find closure, Charlotte decides to move from California to to her mother's small hometown in South Carolina. Although Charlotte successfully opens her own coffee shop in South Carolina and finds a potential love interest, she struggles to fit in. Charlotte embarks on an emotional journey where shocking secrets are revealed as she attempts to start a new life.

Ever since I heard Laurie Beach talk about The Firefly Jar, I knew I wanted to read this book. I will admit, I was also intrigued by the title and book cover. It seemed like something I would enjoy, so I asked my library to purchase it. I was so excited when it finally was ready for me to pick up.

I really enjoyed it. The author's description of the characters and their dialogue made me feel like I got to know them very well. It was like I was one of their neighbors, living in the same small town. The only thing that surprised me was that there was a moderate amount of cursing. I understand this was done to give us a good idea of those characters who used such language (not all characters did) but it always makes me uncomfortable when I read it in books.

Other than that, there isn't anything I didn't love about The Firefly Jar. It was emotional in the best way. There were surprising twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which made me keep wanting to turn the pages. I was sad when it ended because although I wanted to see a resolution, I did not want to leave this charming town where I felt like I made friends with the main characters.

The good news is that since it is a series, there is more to come! I definitely want to read book 2, Blink Twice If You Love Me. I have asked my library to purchase it, so hopefully they will get it in soon. I'm really looking forward to visiting Crickley Creek again and perhaps meet more friends!

If you like contemporary women's fiction, with a bit of southern romance and you don't mind some cursing, I recommend reading The Firefly Jar, by Laurie Beach. It's perfect for spring, summer, or whenever you want to feel warm vibes.

Does this sound like a book you might enjoy? Can you recommend any others like this one?