Published by: Ingrid King. Last Updated on: February 1, 2023 by Crystal Uys
The publicist’s e-mail asking me whether I’d be interested in reviewing Enchanting Lily read “Anjali Banerjee’s charming and whimsical women’s fiction novel is the story of a young widow whose eyes are opened to the magic and fortune all around her by the arrival of a special white cat.” I was hooked before I even had the book in my hands!
I enjoy well-written womens’ fiction, and of course, I love it even more when there’s a cat prominently featured as part of the story. In Enchanting Lily, we meet Lily Byrne, a young widow who is leaving Seattle and the memories of her life with her husband there to start over in a small town on an island in Puget Sound. Almost on a whim, she buys a charming cottage and decides to open a vintage clothing boutique. When a white cat arrives on her doorsteop, she has no intentions of keeping her. But the cat, and the universe, have other plans for Lily. The story follows Lily’s healing journey, which is intricately linked to the cat and the human inhabitants of this small community.
Told from both Lily’s and the cat’s perspective, the reader meets some of the island’s residents, including a handsome veterinarian who carries his own set of emotional baggage. This is a wonderful story filled with unique and likeable characters. Banerjee’s colorful and at times almost lyrical writing, along with some elements of magical realism, enhances the reading experience.
Charming, lovely, poignant, filled with hope, delightful, and – well, echanting:Â I just can’t praise Enchanting Lily enough. This book is going on my list of all time favorite cat books.
Enchanting Lily will release on August 7 and is available for preorder on Amazon.
Anjali Banerjee was born in India, raised in Canada and California and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She has written five novels for children and four novels for adults. Anjali lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and four crazy cats. Please visit AnjaliBanerjee.com for more information.
***This giveaway is closed***
The publisher has generously offered to give two copies of this book to two lucky readers! To enter the giveaway, tell me in a comment why you’d like to win Enchanting Lily. For an additional chance to win, tweet about this giveaway or share on Facebook, and post the link in a separate comment. This giveaway is open to US readers only and ends Friday, July 27.
I received this book from the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.
I would love to read this book as I am crazy about cats!
And here’s my tweet about the Enchanting Lily contest! *crossesfingers* https://twitter.com/LinBenson/status/228994782486216705
I’d love to win a copy of this book. I entered a giveaway on Goodreads and did not win, so I’m happy to have a second chance. Love the NW setting (since I live there also) and cats are my very favorite animal (and my constant companions.) I’ll tweet about this contest right now.
I LOVE cat stories, usually memoirs, but I’d be very interested in trying some fiction too. Yes, please! I love to read and I love cats, this would be great for me. And, I’d be happy to review it for you (or the publisher), too, if you like. Thanks!
I would love to win this book because I love to read, and I love cats. At the moment I have 5 adopted kitties and if I could win the lotto Id build a bigger house and adopt more lol.
I have a Lily cat, and I would love to read this book and learn about another great Lily : ).
I shared on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/MsCarolsueA/posts/320739361353363
Anything about cats I ABSOLUTELY LOVE! This sounds like a charming book and I really would love to win it.
I am always looking for more books about cats and one of my kitty’s names is Lily! 🙂 Can’t go wrong!
This book looks like a lovely treat for a human who likes to read. I guess my human will check it out!
Thanks for the review.
Purrs
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fconsciouscat.net%2F2012%2F07%2F20%2Freview-and-giveaway-enchanting-lily-by-anjali-banerjee%2F%3Ffb_ref%3Daddtoany%26fb_source%3Dtimeline&h=yAQGrBKrO&enc=AZMuiUF4KwvziiRCTbo0Os90DzxD6HcrSQsAcH7hXSlSL5x440jhpiFp2uzVV876WlHrigfdgHItTwzSbqFps31bAGo-jJLiu4YwLT–gW3Izg (FB link as Summer S Black)
I would love to win Enchanted Lily. I also recently read Buckley’s Story for the first time, and I was so inspired by it, as I recently lost my 13 y.o. cat and have found new meaning in so many aspects of my life since then. Anyone who shares their life with cats is a winner to me! 🙂
https://twitter.com/barkergirl33/status/226697552236527616 @barkergirl33
This book sounds like a real winner and Banerjee sounds like a writer to watch!
I cannot wait to read this, my fiancee/boyfriend of 11 years died in 2003, and I’ve since suffered from panic, depression, & much more. My pets, especially my cats I bonded with raising them, have been my saving grace. I’ve had days/weeks when the only reason i get out of bed is to take care of them & they calm me during a panic attack better than any medicine. I’ve often said that I didn’t rescue my cats-they rescued me.
Thank you for this lovely review! I’m happy to answer questions and send autographed stickers to put inside the book covers.
How cool that there’s a real Lily Byrne!
All my best,
Anjali
My pleasure, Anjali – it’s a wonderful book.
Ingrid, your review has me impatiently awaiting the August 7 release date! I, too, enjoy well-written women’s fiction and/or stories about cats, so having them combined in one book is a win-win for me.
The cat featured on the cover reminds me so much of my beloved Annabelle, who was 18 when I had to have her put to sleep in June. Unlike the cover cat, her eyes were a gorgeous gold color.
Thank you for bringing my attention to a book I’m sure I will enjoy!
Two of my most favorite things…cats and books!
I also shared your link on Facebook!!!
I am an avid reader and like nothing better than curling up with a good book and a cat or two. I am working on my master’s degree and yesterday was the last day of my summer semester. For the next five weeks I plan to devote lots of time to recreational reading and spending quality time with Pepper and Dublin. This book would help me accomplish my plan!!~
The book sounds, well, enchanting! A fun-sounding read to quiet my mind is exactly what I need right now. I’m always looking for a good book and this sounds like one I would enjoy. Thank you for the giveaway.
Sounds like a great book, since I love both cats and the books I’ve read by Indian authors!
Sounds like a wonderful book!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
Looks like I’d better have a copy of this book as its my name! 😉
I would love to be entered for this give-away because it sounds “enchanting”, love the premise, the cat is exquisite and if it is about cats, I’m all over it!
Thank you for such a great give-away!
I’m sold based on the review. Though I live in Maryland I have spent a lot of time in the Pacific Northwest and I love the area. It would be great to read a woman-cat-NW area book.
I would love to win a copy of Enchanting Lily. I am an avid reader (and aspiring novelist), and recently organized a book club. This would be a great book for it, because I, for one, have never read a cat-oriented book before, despite being a lifelong animal lover.
Shared on Facebook!
I would love to win a copy! The book sounds wonderful.
There’s nothing more enjoyable then reading and cats! This book sounds like a great read for those afternoons at the pool!
Sounds like a wonderful book!
My 8yr old god-daughter wants to read this book and hence I would love to win a copy. Afterall, that’s what the God mother is for, right ?
I love reading books with a cat as one of the characters. Right now, I am reading A Street Cat Named Bob, and can hardly put it down. It is so interesting and uplifting.
I have shared this website link on FB as well.
I would be so delighted to win this book. I discovered Anjali Banerjee exactly a year ago and got hooked with Haunting Jasmine and Maya Running. I’d like to win this book as we have a common bond of having grown up within miles of each other in Manitoba, though we did not know it!
Great review, Ingrid. I have heard of this book but didn’t know much about it, including and especially its magical-realism aspect. Your review brought that out.
I would love to read this book. It is right up my alley as far as a cat or many cats in my world, save me every day. Sounds like a good one. Have a great Friday and a better week end.
Even before I became disabled, book were a major source of joy for me. As a military brat my cats and my books were my best friends who loved and accepted me as a was. They never cared if my clothes were the most stylish or if my accent was different. Many nights I fell asleep dreaming of a far away place that I’d learned about Ina book. Always in my dreams my animals were my traveling companion. Even though I knew during the day that I’d never see some of these places, and my sweet Buckwheat wouldn’t enjoy the trip if I did, my dreams kept me alive. Now that I think of it, give this to a young person who needs the dream. We lose them to soon.
I would love to win this book. I am an avid reader and volunteer at a local cat shelter. Once I read this book, I will pass it to other readers who volunteer at the shelter as well. Stories like this give us bursts of energy and faith in the work we do and the kitties we share our lives with 🙂
I would love to have a copy of “Enchanting Lily”. I love cats and know from personal experience that cats can heal your heart. My life has been enriched by every cat I have known.
ENCHANTING LILY sounds like a lovely read and I would love to win a copy of it. I’ve never been widowed nor had a white cat, but have had plenty of furry pals of other colors who have been a great source of comfort and I’m sure I will relate to the story and the power of feline love. Will share on FB as well…Thank You!!
Nice review. Have a great weekend.
hugs, Max, Bugsy, and Knuckles
I would love to win a copy of Enchanting Lily as it sounds like a heartwarming story. It tells how cats are there for you when you need them most. The female star of this book is adopted by a white cat after being widowed. I can relate to this as I was widowed in 1999 and my cat, Puff, was my dearest and sweetest companion. She comforted me every day until I remarried. Puff passed away in 2005 and I still miss my beloved cat. I will share about this contest on Twitter and Facebook too. Thanks for offering two of these books to your readers Ingrid.