The Sarah Addison Allen Fan Group discussion

In Chapter 5, we arrive at the Matteson's party. Emma's mother has arranged everything to be just-so to flaunt the Matteson's passion and wealth. I almost feel bad for Emma -- everything in her life has always been so superficial, so based on appearances, that she has nothing to hold on to and no sense of security.

"Parties made Emma feel enchanted, like she was a little girl playing dress up and this was a world all of her own making. Her mother had been the same way. 'Leave the magic to the Waverleys,' she used to say when Emma was little and she would watch her mother try on dress after dress before parties. 'We have something better. We have fantasy.'"

At the party, Sydney (who hadn't realized that "the Mattesons" are not Mr. and Mrs. Matteson but Hunter John and Emma) is met with humiliation and calls Tyler to pick her up. Claire, in an effort to repair the situation, also calls Tyler and asks him to bring her some ingredients from the garden.

"They wanted roses tonight to represent their love, but when you added sadness to love it caused regret. They wanted nutmeg because it represented their wealth, but when you added guilt to wealth is caused embarrassment."

When Claire returns home from the party, Sydney is grateful for what she did and the sisters begin to open up to each other. What do you think of how the sisters' relationship is changing?

In Chapter 6, Claire tries to ward off Tyler with a casserole that will rid him of her influence (Verdict? Unsuccessful. He asks her on a date.), and Sydney gets a job at the White Door salon. Sydney is having a hard time bringing in clients and is starting to get discouraged. On the other side of town, Fred moves in with Evanelle for a while due to his relationship problems. As Evanelle says, it's the perfect relationship because she's old and he's gay, but Fred is hoping that she will give him something that can fix his relationship.

After a few days, Sydney reveals that she is being snubbed at the hair salon after she received visits there from Ariel Clark (Emma's mother) and Hunter John. No one in town wants to have her cut their hair. Claire takes matters into her own hands and has Sydney give her a new hairstyle -- that's when we realize that this is Sydney's Waverley magic.

In these chapters, you can really see Claire stepping into her big sister role for the first time, and Sydney starting to accept her place in the Waverley clan and in Bascom. What do you think of Sydney's transformation since she returned to Bascom? What about Claire's?

Claire needed someone in her life, not only to push her out of her comfort zone but to hold onto as well. Without Sydney coming back, she would have totally snubbed Tyler.

Poor Emma, still stuck on that dance with her mother. I think Claire did what she knew how to make up for how her sister was treated. And I love that she does it without a care about her own career.

The sisters needed this, so they could finally mend all the pain from their childhood.

As for Sydney, I think she finally realized if she just embraces who she is, she can live a happy life. Most of her issue with being a Waverley came from her. Yeah the town has its issues, but if she had let it go others would have followed suit.

BTW finished this last night. I just couldn't stop myself.