Sarah Addison Allen’s latest book, “Paper Ghosts,” was published Sept. 1. This is her first novel since 2022’s “Other Birds,” and to say I have been counting the days is hardly an understatement.
Allen is my favorite author and introduced me to magical realism. I started with her 2008 book “Sugar Queen,” which I picked up around 14 years ago in a used bookstore in Boca Raton, Fla. The cover drew me in, and when I read the back, I was hooked.
I quickly read through her whole body of work—enraptured by her descriptions of food, the people in North Carolina and her complicated characters.
It doesn’t make sense to me that her gorgeous, atmospheric books have not been adapted. Ever.
However, there has been interest, according to a post on Allen’s Facebook page in 2013. She said: “It’s been months since this announcement came out, but I was in a hole, writing, so I didn’t get around to posting about it. My book THE SUGAR QUEEN has been optioned for film! These options happen all the time, (Garden Spells has been optioned several times) and the films rarely get made. Still, it made for a happy moment!”
The interest was there, but the adaptations never materialized.
I could honestly argue that each one would make a great series or film, but two books really are begging for it—2007’s “Garden Spells” and its 2015 follow-up “First Frost.”
“Garden Spells” follows the estranged Waverley sisters, Claire and Sydney. Claire, who has never left their childhood home, expresses her magic through food: her cooking influences emotions, relationships and decisions. Sydney fled years earlier, trying to outrun both the family legacy and her own turbulent past, only to return to the small North Carolina town with her young daughter Bay.
That return sets up a natural first-season arc: reconciliation, redefinition and the question of whether people can truly change without abandoning who they are.
Television thrives on this kind of character-driven tension. Claire’s guarded nature and cautious romance with lovable Tyler Hughes, a newcomer who is also wary of roots, offer a slow-burn love story built on trust rather than spectacle.
Sydney reunites with her childhood bestie, Henry, who has always secretly had a thing for her. Dependable Henry isn’t her usual type, as Sydney is typically attracted to dangerous men. Watching the sisters’ relationships slowly unfold across a season would be very satisfying.
The story’s magical realism is subtle. Claire’s enchanted dishes, the Waverley apple tree that reveals truths and the house itself require no explanation.
The entrancing romances, the old wounds, the meals that Claire makes and the magic Sydney finds in herself would really shine on screen. And watching Bay begin to understand the strange, magical family she belongs to would add another layer to the story.
The small Southern town setting with its complicated loyalties naturally supports an ensemble format. The fascinating side characters and town dynamics would be a world viewers want to return to. “Gilmore Girls,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Virgin River” and “Sweet Magnolias” show that viewers have an appetite for small towns filled with memorable inhabitants and unique traditions.
“First Frost,” would make a natural second season. The story takes place 10 years after the events of “Garden Spells.” It shows Claire and Sydney finding themselves unsettled in the weeks leading up to the first frost. Claire is struggling with the success of her candy business. At the same time, Sydney longs for another child, and a mysterious stranger arrives in town with information that could shake Claire’s understanding of her family. It also follows Bay Waverley, now 15, as her magical abilities begin to emerge.
Food is a central storytelling device throughout. A tie-in cookbook could be a great fit for the series I am imagining.
And don’t get me started on the outfits. Claire is described as looking like an old movie star and is even compared to Sophia Loren in a scene. She favors a vintage look—some pearls, a tailored dress and ballet flats. Sydney’s look is edgier—she’s left the small town, traveled and seen things. Think denim, perfectly worn-in ankle boots and a cool, slightly boho vibe. And let’s not forget my book-boyfriend Tyler. He is an art teacher and a talented artist. He has messy hair and a rugged vibe. He is a true romantic.
These books could create the perfect comfort watch and would appeal to a wide age range. This would be family viewing, with a little edge.
About the writer
S. Lynn Bonanno’s love of Sarah Addison Allen’s stories led her to other Southern books filled with complicated women, small towns, food, romance and a smidge of magic, including Beth Hoffman’s “Saving CeeCee Honeycutt” and Heather Webber’s “Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe.” She is also a fan of the aforementioned small-town worlds of “Gilmore Girls,” “Hart of Dixie,” “Virgin River” and “Sweet Magnolias.” She hopes someone will finally put the Waverley sisters on screen and has thoughts on the casting.
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