"That tree was probably fed on dreams, water and soil. I wonder if that tree misses her like we do."

Rating Willowmere is difficult for me because I appreciate the heart and emotion that was certainly poured into this story, but there was just something that kept me from enjoying it to the extent that I expected to. Looking at the story as a whole, it's very sweet, nostalgic, and adventurous. It has vibes that remind me of Alice in Wonderland in some ways, but also a very fresh storyline that makes it stand out.

The things that just didn't do it for me were the dialogue and the way Pea acted throughout most of the story. I understand a lot of her actions are typical of 12-year-olds going through traumatic circumstances (like the loss of a mother), but it was still very difficult for me to sympathize with her and like her as a character (especially since this is fiction). The way she treated those around her was often out of line and she rarely apologized for it, instead justifying it in her thoughts. I actually sympathized with Laur more than Pea because I felt that Laur at least tried to be friendly; Pea was downright mean to Laur, very often, before she even had reason to be. So, that made it really difficult for me to root for her.

The other thing was the dialogue, which I really feel is going to be a personal preference. Renault annoyed me. Every time there was dialogue from Renault, I cringed, and again, that's a personal preference. Some middle graders might laugh at it, other readers might find it cute and endearing, but I struggled with it. I read a lot of middle grade books with the silly and charming side-characters so I'm not unfamiliar with this type of character (think Bing Bong from the movie Inside Out or Dobby from Harry Potter), but I just never could get myself to find him "cute".

Overall, Willowmere has a sweet message of overcoming the sadness of loss, mending broken relationships, and exploring the world within the Willow Tree. I'd recommend it to readers who love unique characters and books where the main character has a lot of flaws to overcome.

I received this book from the author/publisher for free. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and this review is voluntary.