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The Simplicity of Cider

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Fall in love with The Simplicity of Cider, the charming new novel about a prickly but gifted cider-maker whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a handsome man and his young son at her family’s careworn orchard by the author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake and Luck, Love & Lemon Pie.

Focused and unassuming fifth generation cider-maker Sanna Lund has one desire: to live a simple, quiet life on her family’s apple orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. Although her business is struggling, Sanna remains fiercely devoted to the orchard, despite her brother’s attempts to convince their aging father to sell the land.

Single dad Isaac Banks has spent years trying to shield his son Sebastian from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac packed up their lives and the two headed out on an adventure, driving across the country. Chance—or fate—led them straight to Sanna’s orchard.

Isaac’s helping hands are much appreciated at the apple farm, even more when Sanna’s father is injured in an accident. As Sanna’s formerly simple life becomes increasingly complicated, she finds solace in unexpected places—friendship with young Sebastian and something more deliciously complex with Isaac—until an outside threat infiltrates the farm.

From the warm and funny Amy E. Reichert, The Simplicity of Cider is a charming love story with a touch of magic, perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen and Gayle Forman.

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2017

About the author

Amy E. Reichert

6 books1,835 followers
Amy Reichert honed her writing and editing skills as a technical writer (which is exactly as exciting as it sounds). As a member of the local library board, she loves helping readers find new books to love. She’s a life-long Wisconsin resident with (allegedly) a very noticeable accent, a patient husband, and two too-smart-for-their-own-good kids. When time allows, she loves to read, collect more cookbooks than she could possibly use.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 948 reviews
Profile Image for Julie .
4,168 reviews38.2k followers
June 28, 2017
The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert is a 2017 Gallery books publication.


‘Happiness is always worth remembering, even if it’s temporary”

Sanna Lund loves her quiet, simple life, working on her family’s apple orchard. It’s the only life she has ever known, and she has no desire to give it up to see what else might be out there, like her brother, Anders. But, her father is getting older and is unable to do as much, and the orchard is not making a profit. Not only that, someone wants to buy the land and use it to build a water park.

Anders is all for it, but Sanna simply can’t let it go.

Enter Isaac and his son, Bass. Isaac has simply walked away from his life, taking his young son along for a summer adventure before he must pass along some life altering information that will shatter Bass’s innocence forever, which is how they came to be in Wisconsin and how they landed a job working in the orchard.

Sanna is very slow to warm up to their new summer workers, but when her father has an accident, she is grateful for the extra hands.

What ensues from here is a funny, poignant, and heartwarming story about life, love, family, betrayals, and forgiveness, all of which sparks a time of awakening for Sanna and brings long overdue happiness back to her family.


‘Could a person have whiplash of the heart?’

I love Amy E. Reichert’s writing!!

I give you fair warning- Bass is going to melt and then steal your heart. I loved his banter with Sanna, who is not- I repeat- not- fond of kids.

The story has so much charm mixed with bittersweet emotions, I wanted to savor every moment. This story employs a mild bit of magical realism, which a new tact by Reichert, and I have to say that while I’ve become a bit of a hard sale on that front, in this context it added the cherry on the cake.


I enjoyed reading about the ‘Looms’, the cider, and the process of making it, and loved seeing Sanna come out of the fog she wasn’t even aware she was in. There are also some surprising twists and stunning developments along the way, and my emotions got a real workout in the process.

But, overall, I could not have asked for a better conclusion! Sometimes, especially when times are trying, I need a book like this one, that reminds me of the important things in life. But, it’s not enough to just prioritize, you must remember to enjoy living, to be willing to compromise, to forgive, and to let people in so you can live a fuller and happier life.

Whenever I close a book with a full heart and a smile on my face, then I know the author has not only done their job, but it was a job well done!!
Profile Image for Dorie  - Cats&Books :) .
1,095 reviews3,529 followers
May 2, 2018
This is an engaging audiobook about one of my favorite places, Door County Wisconsin. The novel is about an IT expert who loses his wife and has a 10 year old son, he puts off telling him about the death of his mother (she had been institutionalized for drug addiction). His plan is for a long summer of travel ultimately landing in Door County. The story of the beautiful apple orchard and the father and daughter who lived there and tended it is great and the characters interesting. As I have visited Door County many, many times I found that the descriptions rang true and also brought out some of the special attractions there such as the fish boils, beautiful Peninsula State Park and the Eagle tower and Al Johnson's famous ice cream and eatery. You will find yourself wanting to head there this summer!

Though somewhat predictable I still found it to be a good, light book to listen too while going about my day. I would recommend it.
July 10, 2017
Escape to Door County, WI this summer for a delightful, light-hearted romance with a little touch of magical realism. The setting is Idun's Apple Orchard, owned by the same family since 1870. Currently it is being operated by 70-year-old Einars Lund and his daughter, Sanna, who is determined to craft a line of delicious hard ciders. Sanna sees flavors as colors and loves experimenting to get the right 'shade.' Dad has gone way into debt buying new equipment for the processing but so far it hasn't paid off.

The vultures are hovering in the form of rich developers who want to buy the property and turn it into a theme park, Wild Water Works. Einars' son Anders is pushing him to accept their multimillion-dollar offer. But sell their home, their family legacy and see some of the ancient trees plowed under? Unthinkable!

But for now, Einars has hired some summer help in the form of Isaac Banks, a handsome man from California, traveling with his 10-year-old son, Sebastian (Bass). Isaac has a secret he is trying to keep from his son that may explode in his face.

As a web designer, can Isaac come up with a way to increase Idun's business, enough to keep them afloat? And who is trying to sabotage things in the orchard?

The Lunds and friends are interesting characters you'll enjoy getting to know. The touch of magical realism adds an interesting element to the story. I just wish I could taste some of Sanna's craft cider; it sounds so intriguing and delicious! I'll just have to be satisfied with the recipe for Caramel Apple Bread Pudding which is included--I cannot wait to try it come fall.

I was thrilled to win a paperback copy of this book in a giveaway from the publisher. Many thanks to them!
Profile Image for Yodamom.
2,085 reviews210 followers
April 19, 2017
Reading this book will leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.The beautiful smells if the orchard, the colors, the tastes, even the roughness of the bark. It is like going on vacation without leaving the pages. You get that happy after glow just from the words. Pick up a nice glass of cider curl up under a beautiful tree and enjoy this beautiful book. This author has such a talent for spreading simple joy with her words.
The story is about family, one family with a strong history to the land and trees. One family set a drift by a terrible death. Both families have skeletons that are pulled out and dusted off leaving that closest a cleaner happier place. The romance is slow and gentle, patient and just right for the characters. The drama is light, never so tense that you feel uncomfortable or stressed. Strong good people, doing their best, living the best way they know.
Great relaxing read
Profile Image for Mo.
1,388 reviews2 followers
May 31, 2017

Single dad Isaac Banks has spent years trying to shield his son Sebastian from his troubled mother. Fleeing heartbreak at home, Isaac packed up their lives and the two headed out on an adventure, driving across the country. Chance—or fate—led them straight to Sanna’s orchard.



"Happiness is always worth remembering,
even when it was temporary,"


Sanna is used to a solitary life, living with her Pa at the orchard, rarely venturing into town and she likes it like that. But all that changes one summer when Isaac and his young son arrive and help out at the orchard.


"Dad always says that when a lady says she's fine, she's really just angry at you that you don't know the real reason she's angry."



"You found me."


I think Sanna might have blonde hair in the book but couldn't find a picture that I liked with a blonde ...

Profile Image for Chris  C - A Midlife Wife.
1,690 reviews354 followers
May 11, 2017
Awesome story!!! 4.5 Stars!

The author really took this new book to new heights. The Simplicity of Cider is extremely well written. Her characters are interesting and unique and she captured them perfectly.

You can just feel the uncomfortableness in Sanna. The strain of family, finances, and not knowing anything about feelings, let alone how to deal with the newcomer, Isaac and his son.

Set in a beautiful countryside, the descriptions and details in this book suck you in and make you feel like you are right there watching everything unfold.

I don't know what it is about this specific book but it is my favorite of hers so far. You can feel the characters passion for the farm and business as well as the developing feelings between the two main characters.

The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert is a heartwarming and wholesome book that you will fall in love with. It is Americana at it's best. This story will reach into your soul and remain there for a long time to come.
Profile Image for ✨ A ✨ .
442 reviews2,259 followers
July 14, 2019
This book was just so good, I cannot express how much I loved it.
Amy Reichert is such a good writer and I adore her books.

Sanna and Isaac's story is one that I'd recommend anyone to read.

I found it really hilarious how determined Sanna was not to fall for Isaac.

Aaaah it was so great, that's all I can say. I felt like hugging this when I got to the last page.
Profile Image for Bren fall in love with the sea..
1,759 reviews372 followers
February 15, 2020
"As she sipped each one, an unmistakable color came to mind-different for each juice-and she finally understood the watercolor apple portraits above the fireplace".
― Amy E. Reichert, The Simplicity of Cider

3.5 stars.

Who doesn't love Cider? And that is what this book is all about!

I enjoyed this sweet story about a young woman struggling to keep her family's cider farm in business while falling in love with the new guy in town who lends a helping hand.

This isn't my usual sort of book but there is a sweetness here that just calls out to you. And through the book there is a yearning quality that frankly kind of brought me back to childhood. It is not my favorite book in the world but it is a sweetly told nostalgic read.

I also happen to love Cider and Cider Farms. I am from New England and Cider is a big deal here. I would say this is a good "in between" book. If one is sick of all the dark reads..and in my case there are many of those...this is a sweet read that will transport you to the cider farm which in this book's case is actually in Wisconsin.

I think I have used the word sweet three times! But that is seriously what comes to mind in regards to this book. That is not to imply there are not some sad and tragic happenings..there are.

But it is a warm and uncomplicated book and you will most likely fall in love with these fun characters as well as learning quite alot about what goes into cider making. 3.5 stars and I'd recommend.
Profile Image for Vanessa S..
346 reviews114 followers
August 30, 2017
This was my first Amy E. Reichert novel, and I am already looking forward to reading her others. Everything about this story just oozes charm: Door County, Idun's Orchard, the Looms, the town locals, the home-cooked meals, and the list goes on.

I liked most of the characters, and even though the main characters are flawed and unlikable at times, they are good people deep down, and Reichert really showcased how normal and human they are. I really enjoyed reading the banter and conversations between Sanna and Bass, as well as the romantic tension between Isaac and Sanna.

Overall, this was a speedy read and one for those looking for a little comfort, warmth, and soul. Go ahead and cozy up with this one (and its gorgeous, green cover).
Profile Image for Kalyn Nicholson.
Author 3 books9,792 followers
October 4, 2022
3.5/5

This story was very cute and an enjoyable, light read. I found the pace to be a little slow and think the characters could have had a bit more complexity and personality but nevertheless it was an endearing read to start off the autumn with.
Profile Image for Lindsey.
591 reviews850 followers
August 15, 2018
If you are looking for a light easy love story - pick this one up. I fell in love with this family!
Profile Image for Sheyla ✎.
1,925 reviews598 followers
June 10, 2017


"Happiness is always worth remembering, even when it was temporary."


The Simplicity of Cider is a story about family, loss, and love.

Sanna Lund lives in an apple orchard with her aging father Einar. The land has been part of their family for multiple generations. Sanna's family has been part of the cider business. To Sanna, nothing is more important than the apple orchard. She can't see herself going anywhere else and she doesn't want to. Her brother is another story. He's ready to sell. He wants to convince their father to sell. Sanna knows the debts are accumulating but she still has hope she can come up with a new cider to bring business back their way.

Isaac Banks needs a few weeks away with his son Bass before facing reality. A big change in their lives has occurred and Isaac is not ready to let Bass know about it. When Einar proposes a job helping around the orchard, Isaac believes it is the perfect distraction. He also can't seem to stay away from Sanna. Same goes for Bass. He becomes Sanna's little helper despite Sanna not wanting the company. She knows nothing about kids and she prefers them away from her but the more time she spends with Bass, the more she starts liking him.

Sanna and Isaac will have to work together to try to find a solution to save the orchard. It doesn't help that someone is trying to cause trouble and prevent Sanna from succeeding.

I had a couple of issues with the story. First, Sanna was mostly grumpy. It was hard to like her. She was rude to both Isaac and Bass. I could understand her desire to save the land but I also wanted her to face reality. At times, she came out as immature. The other issue I had was with the lack of concern by Sanna when she realized someone was trying to damage her trees. It never occurs to her to call the police and report it or even put some new securities around her property to prevent anyone else from entering again without an invitation.

I did like Isaac and Bass. Isaac made mistakes with Bass but I could feel how much he cared for Bass and he was just trying to protect him. Bass was adorable and he behaved just like a kid. He was curious and sweet. He tried hard to gain Sanna's approval.

Overall, the story was enjoyable with a good set of characters.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Gallery Books in exchange for an honest review.

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Profile Image for Karma.
Author 11 books1,273 followers
March 2, 2017
Like her previous books--THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE and LUCK, LOVE & LEMON PIE--Amy E. Reichert has masterfully mixed food (in this case, cider making) with complex characters and a great love story. Sweet, heartfelt and with a touch of magic, this novel was a delight to read. I loved it!
Profile Image for Lolly K Dandeneau.
1,901 reviews248 followers
February 27, 2017
via my blog https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
Sanna had always appreciated the sanctuary of the orchard, and this revelation bonded Sanna like another root digging into the soil, finding nourishment. She’d never leave.

An apple orchard has been in Sanna Lund’s family for five generations. Much like the apple trees, she is rooted, nourished by the family land. There is a magic in her blood and there is no way she can give up and let her brother force her father’s hand in selling it. Time is against her, they are losing money and try as she might, she can’t get the cider just right. Cider that could be their salvation. This is her refuge, but when her father hires help her life is filled with more complications, especially her heart. A single father Isaac and his son Bass seem to worm their way into the core of her being. Sara has so much to focus on in order to save the orchard, the last thing she needs is a kid getting in the way. All she wants out of life is the orchard, hard work, the ‘simplicity of cider’ and certainly not a single dad no matter how much she is attracted to him. So what if his son’s goofy side is growing on her! Anyone can see Isaac is an attractive man, but so what? Who needs a man stealing time from her failing orchard?

Isaac and Bass have left their own painful lives behind in California, this is meant to be a reprieve from their own problems, certainly not meant to be a permanent stay. Against her better judgement and desires to keep her life contained, Sanna is losing pieces of herself to the two. Sanna keeps her distance from people for a reason, but hiding won’t fix the land nor heal her heart. She may have a special gift but sometimes what you need is to open yourself to others, even those you’ve spent time denying, because that is the true magic. It may take love to nourish the land. Bass has his own difficulties with his mother, in this he and Sanna are the same. Long ago, her own mother left, and she hasn’t dealt with the rupture in her life.

It’s a love story at heart, but not just romantic love. It’s about family, traditions and the running of an apple orchard. It’s fighting to keep a family business alive and how sometimes you have to learn to accept that you can’t do everything on your own and that maybe the changes fate brings are a new way of seeing. Sometimes change can be a gift. This novel was a nice break from heavy reading, a sweet love story. This is an advanced arc, and the novel will not be released until May.

Publication Date: May 16 2017

Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books
Profile Image for Heidi.
1,395 reviews163 followers
May 9, 2017
Three and a half stars: A sweet story with a touch of magical realism but the main character is very prickly.

Sanna loves to spend her afternoons in the barn quietly crafting apple ciders with her unique gift. Her whole life is the orchard with its heirloom trees and rustic charm. Sanna's father, Einar, helps her oversee the orchard. Things change when Isaac and his ten year old son, Sebastian, arrive on the farm. Her father hires them to help around the farm, though Sanna doesn't know why he hired help so early in the season, not to mention the fact that she doesn't like kids. Things quickly become complicated when Einar has an unexpected accident. Sanna finds herself depending on Isaac and Sebastian. Worse she is feeling an attraction to Issac, though she tries to deny those sparks. Things grow dire when her brother forces her to look at the books, and she realizes her orchard is near bankruptcy. Will Sanna be forced to sell her beloved orchard or will a stranger perhaps be able to help her save her legacy?
What I Liked:
*The Simplicity of Apple Cider is a book I absolutely wanted to fall in love with, and though, I didn't fall head over heels, I did love so many things about this book. I liked the setting, the characters, the story and best of all, the small touches of magical realism. If you like stories with cozy settings and a touch of magic, this is one to try.
*The orchard was the highlight of the book for me. I loved learning about the family orchard with its heirloom trees, and loads of apples. It was one of those settings that I enjoyed because it was simple, yet so warm and inviting.
*I adored the small hints of magic. I am a big fan of magical realism, and this book has just a few pinches of magic here and there such as the way things reacted when Isaac and Sanna touched from the old rusty truck to the trees. These small pinches of magic weren't over the top, they were just right. Enough to make you wonder and to believe in the possibility of magic.
*I liked the eclectic cast of characters. Einar at seventy, the aging patriarch of the family and the current owner of the orchard, is kind hearted, understanding and a tower of strength, he was easy to love. Isaac and his son, Bass, were charming. I loved the father son relationship, and how Isaac desperately wanted to protect his son from the world for just one more summer. Bass was a funny, smart ten year old who loves the things that boys love, he made me giggle a time or two. Issac is dedicated, sweet, and patient, a truly nice guy. Even the trees had their own personalities.
*The romance is lovely. It is one of those slow burners that starts with an unexpected attraction. It is a relationship that relies on the simple things like a heated look or a small touch, or a dance under an old apple tree on a summer night. I loved that this romance was more than passion and sex, it was quiet and charming.
*The ending was nice and neat. Everything ends on a positive note, no cliffhangers or unanswered questions, making this a nice book for summer reading.
And The Not So Much:
*The big thing that held this book back for me was Sanna. The synopsis describes her as prickly, and that is indeed the case. I just couldn't connect with her or feel affection toward her because she was moody, immature and often times behaved like a teenager. I especially didn't like her whole attitude toward her mother, she referred to her as "The Donor". Yes, I understood why she acted the way she did once her layers were peeled back, but she doesn't really grow up and change. Thus, I felt a strong disconnect throughout the story.
*The other issue I had with the book was that there were many plot lines that meandered and didn't tighten in to the story, and several things were ridiculous and others unfinished. For instance, the orchard is being vandalized, and Sanna doesn't really try to figure out who is damaging her farm. You would think after the first couple of times, the police would be called or security steps taken, but nothing happens. It bothered me that Bass knew things but he never mentioned them. What was the point of having him in the right place two times to see things that were critical if they were never acted on? Then when the culprit behind the crimes was revealed, it was ridiculous. Why wasn't this person investigated before hand? Who was involved in the plot with him? I could go on with other story lines, but this review would get lengthy. This book needed further edits and tightening of the plot.
*This is a minor niggle but it bothered me. There are numerous instances in the book where characters get upset and refereed to other people as dicks. To me it seems silly to tarnish a cozy, charming story with crass, immature slang. It felt so out of place.
*I never understood the point of having the investor's daughter's view point included in the story. It added nothing and it ended up irritating me.

The Simplicity of Cider is a book I wanted to be charmed by, but it fell flat. There were things that I loved about this book such as the orchard, the characters and the hints of magical realism. However, the plot suffered from too many story lines wandering, and the overall plot needed to be tightened up to make for a smoother read. I also never connected with Sanna, the main character, she remained too prickly throughout for my liking. Still if you want a nice story with a charming setting, this is one to take a chance on. I know many other readers are loving it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Profile Image for Holly's Little Book Reviews.
185 reviews28 followers
March 25, 2017
This book was exactly what I needed. It was such a heartwarming story filled with hope and a wonderful cast of characters. Each character was struggling with something that readers can relate to (in one way or another), and I found myself rooting for them throughout the entire book. The setting (Door County, WI) was absolutely perfect and added to the story's charm.

I cannot recommend The Simplicity of Cider (or really all of Amy Reichert's novels) enough! If you're looking for the perfect read to curl up with and get lost in... this is it.
Profile Image for Kim Noggle.
67 reviews8 followers
May 9, 2018
A beautiful story that brought a smile to my face, joy and sadness to my heart at times, and even tears. Truly a great story, don’t miss reading it.
Profile Image for Amy.
2,217 reviews1,945 followers
May 14, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

I have to start by giving credit to that cover, it’s gorgeous and something about it speaks to my soul! I also just realized how much I’m adoring books from the imprint of Gallery Books, they publish strong, fresh, unique novels and I’ve especially loved their women’s fiction. If you haven’t checked them out yet I can highly recommend this book and I haven’t read any books by them that I haven’t really enjoyed.

This was my first Reichert book, but it most certainly will not be my last! She combined a modern day, swoon worthy romance with an incredible setting and she totally captured my heart with her lovely writing style. Sanna has a simple, quiet life but she’s content. Her whole life revolves around her families orchard and she especially enjoys making cider. Issac and Bass show up at the farm looking for a place to spend the summer and she’s not exactly pleased when her father hires them.

I loved Sanna’s cantankerous personality because I just knew underneath her prickly exterior there was a heart of gold. Isaac was hot AND an amazing father, this is where I swoon. His son, Bass is one of those kids that wiggle their way into your life whether you want them to or not and the blossoming relationship between him and Sanna was one of my favorite things about this book.

Besides the lovely romance you have an idyllic setting, it was so enchanting. Learning about cider making was surprisingly fascinating and had me wanting to book a trip to an orchard in the fall. There was also just a hint of magic to the plot that added something truly special, who doesn’t like a little magic in their everyday life? I recommend this one to anyone wanting to make an escape from reality and enter a charming, quaint new place.
Profile Image for Sherri Thacker.
1,481 reviews324 followers
October 1, 2017
What a wonderful story this was!! I loved the whole story line this book brought to the surface. And I love the author's writing style too! I had no idea so much work went into APPLES!! I loved this book and I have The Coincidence of Coconut Cake to read in my pile soon!
Profile Image for ☕️Kimberly  (Caffeinated Reviewer).
3,292 reviews734 followers
July 12, 2017
I loved the way in which the author allowed this tale to unfold. Each of the characters we encounter experience growth and it made spending the apple season with them heartfelt. This tale takes us to rural Wisconsin and will soon have you hankering for apple cider and warm apple pie.

Isaac and his son Sebastian (Bass) are spending a carefree summer traveling. Isaac wants to shelter Bass and give him one more idyllic summer, before sharing news about the young boy's troubled mother. Their journey leads them to Door County, Wisconsin.  Issac and Sebastian take a temporary job with lodging at the apple orchid Sanna and her father Einar own.

Sanna was not at all welcoming of Issac and Bass. She isn't a fan of change and feels threatened by it but slowly that begins to change. As it does we begin to see Sanna bloom. While I am not sure I would befriend Sanna, I can say I understood her passion and fears.

The story had many threads, but it revolves mostly around Sanna Lund and her beloved trees. Sanna loves her orchid especially the old heirloom apple trees. From them, she creates amazing ciders. She has what her father refers to as the Lund gift. She is able to create different flavors of cider in a unique way.  Sanna is young, but she acts like a prickly old woman. She is focused on her apples and is a bit of a recluse.  She carries around an awful anger and fears change. It wasn't easy to like Sanna, but it was moments with Bass that I saw the six-year-old girl Sanna. It had me holding out hope she was still in there.

These quirky, genuine characters and the apple orchids had me wanting to move to Wisconsin. We have prickly Sanna, her aging father, a bright and inquisitive young boy and a father fearful for his son all working side by side on the farm.  Reichart shares a little of each of their pasts allowing us insight into the characters. She then weaves a wonderful tale about the struggles of life on the farm, from the beautiful heirloom trees to dealing with modern day changes. I appreciated all of the little details from grafting the trees to creating the Cider.

Reichart introduced family tension, troubles with the farm and outside pressures including threats.  These elements pulled characters together and created a memorable tale.  The writing had a wonderful flow, as the author shared details about farm life and meals around the table. Her writing wraps around you and pulls you in. 

Magical Realism is a subtle element in this story and I loved this aspect. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will want to add this to their list. I love how Reichart describes it particularly the way she tied it to the land and its owners.

The romance was subtle, with stolen glances, quiet moments and slow dancing. While it stayed in the background love was at the heart of this story. For life and love to bloom it must be nurtured.

My only complaint was that a few threads seemed to go nowhere and I felt some weren't properly addressed. While it frustrated me as I waited for reactions and details upon reflection these did not deter my enjoyment.

Copy provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
June 5, 2017
5 REASONS TO PICK UP THE SIMPLICITY OF CIDER

1. You love books with Magical Realism like those of Sarah Addison Allen, Ellen Herrick, Alice Hoffman and Moïra Fowley-Doyle.

2. You don’t mind slightly prickly main characters who develop as the story progresses. Sanna definitely takes a little getting used to she is very rough around the edges and standoffish at the beginning of the novel but we quickly see her character development and evolution as she gets to know Isaac and Sebastian.

3. You are a fan of books that include food or drink. This book is set in the most beautiful apple orchard. And is filled with mouthwatering scenes of apple desserts and cider brewing.

4. You love Wisconsin. I haven’t seen many books set in Wisconsin which I’ve visited only wants. After reading The Simplicity of Cider, I definitely want to go back and visit this region.

5. You’re looking for a sweet quick read that will leave you feeling warm, cozy, and in search of some good apple cider.


Final Thoughts – The Simplicity of Cider was an almost perfect read. I love stories that pull me in from the first page and just feel like a big hug. I wanted to live inside this book and it was bittersweet when it ended.
Profile Image for Mo.
1,754 reviews176 followers
October 4, 2023
THANK GOODNESS this was a library book, and not one of my purchases. Otherwise I may still be staring at it, riddled with guilt because I knew that I was never going to finish it.

I found it completely boring.
Profile Image for Becca Noggle.
168 reviews31 followers
April 28, 2018
High 4 star rating, enjoyed the book more and more as it went on. Makes me want to go to an apple orchard, drink cider and dance in front of lighted up apple trees!
Profile Image for Bonnie.
1,419 reviews1,091 followers
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 21, 2017
DNF @ 20%

I adore Magical Realism and I adored Reichert’s debut The Coincidence of Coconut Cake but this one just didn’t do it for me. I’ve had a rollercoaster of a reading year and being very much a mood reader it seemed like every time I picked this one up, it never felt like the right time. Alas, I’m making this my last attempt (my fifth attempt, for the record) and calling it quits. This book possessed a lovely, heartwarming feel to it as you learn about the orchard and see all these special touches of magic throughout but as the summary states, Sanna is most prickly indeed. Her character was so completely off-putting to me that it lessened my interest in everything else. Did she redeem herself in the end? Possibly. But if I’ve restarted a book five times in a single year and still can’t get through it, honestly, that was more time spent trying than should be necessary.

I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Profile Image for Stacee.
2,872 reviews747 followers
May 22, 2017
3.5 stars

I wasn't 100% sure about this synopsis, but I really enjoyed Coconut Cake, so I was intrigued.

I liked Sanna and Isaac. They're both good people and each has something they're dealing with. She makes him focused and he makes her relaxed. The few scenes with them together were sweet with filled with tension.

Plot wise, it was a bit slow. There were a lot of aspects being dealt with and while they were all needed as part of the story, it made everything happen at a snail's pace. I wanted more of Sanna and Isaac together. I wanted more happiness and lightness. And I absolutely wanted more at the end.

Overall, it was a good story with characters I really liked. I will definitely read future titles from Amy.

**Huge thanks to Gallery Books for providing the arc free of charge**
787 reviews121 followers
October 17, 2017
At the beginning I really enjoyed this book. I especially liked-- no maybe admired Sanna because she was true to herself and honest with all she said. But unfortunately it seemed like the last 1/4 was rushed to come to a happy conclusion. Sanna changed too much, much too quickly. I felt that she was no longer true to herself. I am not criticizing the end of the story, but the fact that there was a big chunk missing making the end sound false and not of the quality and care that was put into the begin.
Profile Image for Linda.
516 reviews49 followers
April 7, 2020
3 1/2 stars. Sweet, romantic novel set in Wisconsin apple country, about a California man and his young son who set out on a summer road trip to escape a sad event back home, and who discover a new life at a rustic apple orchard, after meeting the owner and his quirky, cider-making daughter. A charming, easy read, a step above a romance novel.
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Profile Image for Marla.
1,271 reviews237 followers
May 12, 2018
My first introduction to Amy Reichert was The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. My copy was such an early proof that the spine was taped together. I loved that book. It made me laugh out loud, there were so many funny moments. Then I received The Simplicity of Cider. I think Reichert's writing is even better in this book. What a great love story. Sanna and her father live on their apple orchard that has been handed down generation after generation. They are financially struggling and you can feel that struggle. You can also feel the father (Einars) love for his daughter and the support he gives her with her talents at cider making. She can see "colors" and know exactly how the cider is going to taste when she gets the color she wants. Then enter Isaac and his son Bass. They are on a trip for the summer so Isaac can tell Bass his Mom is dead. Bass is a 10-year-old who is all boy, bumping into things, having a fun time outside yet wants to learn grown-up things. I loved the story about the trees. There are trees that go way back to the first owners. These trees don't produce as much and are not thriving. Reichert brings in subtle folklore to the story about trees and if they respond to what is happening around them. Do they flourish when there is love, and do they whither away when there is heartache. It made me think about the article I recently read where scientists have discovered trees bend their branches to the ground at night like they are at rest and then lift them when the sun comes up. It is subtle but makes you wonder just how alive trees and plants may be. I enjoyed this story so much and had a hard time putting it down. The cider part of the story made me curious and today I purchased a 6 pack of apple cider rose. I was sad when this story ended. I wanted to continue in the lives of all the characters. I grew to care for all of them.
Profile Image for Debbie.
1,751 reviews104 followers
May 17, 2017
I had a really hard time adjusting to the prickliness of the main character of this book, Sanna. She wore anger like her favorite outfit. She was not approachable, and believe me, no one wanted to. That is until Isaac and his son, Bass show up at her family's orchard.

Thankfully Sanna starts to soften and seems to become human again. And lo and behold, she can be and is a nice person. I have no idea how Isaac saw this at the beginning when he met her, but he was stricken with her. SMH.

This was a very enjoyable read after I got through these quirky character's different emotions and personalities. It's a story about family, about finding love and there is even a mystery involved. Simply put, you will need tissues in order to finish this book, but it is worth it. An interesting story with an interesting ensemble. Truly entertaining and enjoyable.

Thanks to Gallery, Threshold and Pocket Books for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
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