Born to a family touched by the uncanny, a girl with wings seeks to understand love, longing, and the stories that define us. In shimmering, lyrical snapshots of a peculiar neighborhood, The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender explores magic, myth, and the tender ache of growing up.
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t) and get personalized recommendations.
Start or resume Shelf TalkThese picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Possible spoilers below.
In The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, did you enjoy the sweeping family saga and magical realism?
If you were captivated by the generations of the Roux family and the way magic subtly suffuses everyday life in Ava Lavender, you'll find yourself immersed in The House of the Spirits. Allende’s novel tracks the Trueba family across decades, weaving together love, tragedy, and the supernatural in a richly evocative style that echoes Ava’s world of winged girls and mystical occurrences.
In The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, did you enjoy loose, mysterious magic interwoven with reality?
If you loved how Ava Lavender blurs the line between the mundane and the magical—like Ava’s wings existing in an otherwise ordinary world—The Ocean at the End of the Lane will enchant you. Gaiman’s story is soaked in myth and memory, with supernatural events that feel as natural as childhood fears and family secrets.
In The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, did you enjoy the intimate, psychologically rich exploration of family and isolation?
If you were drawn to Ava’s inner world and the psychological depth of her family’s tragedies, We Have Always Lived in the Castle offers a mesmerizing and haunting portrait of two sisters living in seclusion. Jackson’s prose delves deeply into Merricat’s mind, unraveling the complexities of grief, love, and belonging in a tightly focused setting.
In The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, did you enjoy the poetic, ornate language and narrative style?
If you were swept away by Leslye Walton’s lyrical, emotionally charged prose in Ava Lavender, you’ll appreciate the lush, metaphor-laden narration of The Book Thief. Zusak’s novel, narrated by Death, uses vivid imagery and poetic turns of phrase to bring Liesel’s world and struggles vividly to life.
In The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender, did you enjoy the coming-of-age journey through magical adversity?
If you resonated with Ava’s bittersweet transition from innocence to experience, especially as she confronts her family’s legacy and her own identity, September’s fantastical journey in Valente’s novel will charm you. Both stories follow young women navigating magical worlds as they grow into themselves, facing love, loss, and wonder.
