Charlie Quinn Lets Go by Jamie Varon
A Soul-Soothing, Heart-Stirring Masterpiece
I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of Charlie Quinn Lets Go by my favorite author, Jamie Varon, and let me tell you—this book was magic. Not just reading magic, but the kind of magic that feels like it was whispered into your ear from the universe itself. The kind that mirrors your own thoughts, aches, dreams, & creative sparks back to you. Big Magic kind of magic.
From the moment I opened it, I felt like I found my people. Charlie’s family believes the Universe has their back, consults the tarot, & reads astrology like scripture. I mean… hello?! Where are my Pasta Tarot Cards for proof?! I found my spiritual soul family on the page.
So many lines in this book felt like they were plucked from my own journals:
“My accomplishments never felt like enough.”
“Don’t you ever wonder what we’re all working so hard for?”
“I think I’m hard to love.”
These written words were a gut-punch and a hug, all at once.
Charlie herself felt like a parallel-universe version of me. A September birthday girl who must have Capricorn somewhere in her big three (because this woman is Work Ethic personified). Her struggles with opening up in love, going through the motions of life after heartbreak, and using food—like baking bread—as a soothing ritual? All of it resonated so deeply that I joked, if she learns to make pasta, I’ll legally change my name to Charlie Quinn.
The synchronicities didn’t stop. My own novel-in-progress (Penny’s From Heaven) features a character named Charlie, and at one point, she literally says a line to my protagonist about losing herself at a crosswalk that is eerily similar to a moment in Charlie Quinn Lets Go. It was like this book showed up to nudge me to keep going with my own writing. Driftwood, as I like to call it.
And the romance? Lord help me.
There’s a scene where a character whispers something to Charlie (no spoilers, I promise!), and I had to pause and write that down in my manifestation journal. Not only because it was swoon-worthy, but because it modeled such deeply respectful, emotionally attuned intimacy. The kind of want that’s undeniable but still soft. I melted to the point where a giant spatula was needed to scrape me off the floor.
The food, the flashbacks, the bangs, the gas station back-and-forths, the grief, the Magic House, the tarot cards (of course The Tower was pulled!), and the recurring theme of choosing love even when it’s scary—it all wove together into a story that I didn’t just read, I felt. Deep in my bones.
There’s a line that says:
“There is so much unspent love inside you…You just use so much energy trying not to feel it.”
Yeah. That one broke me open.
And the ending… I won't spoil it, but just know that it’s bold. Unexpected. And yet, perfect.
I gave Charlie Quinn Lets Go 5 stars. But really, it deserves a whole constellation!
This book reminded me that writing from your heart will always find the people who need your words. And it reminded me that sometimes, the perfect bite—whether it's bread, pasta, or a sentence—can feed your soul in the exact way you needed.
Thank you, Jamie Varon, for writing a book that felt like a mirror & a roadmap all at once. I’m more inspired than ever to keep writing Penny’s From Heaven.
And yes, I just prepped a sourdough loaf because I had to feel like I was part of the final scene.
Buckle up, babes—this one’s a keeper. 💫
The Perfect Bite Rosemary Sourdough Loaf
Ingredients:
2/3 cup active starter
1 1/3 cup warm water
2 teaspoons salt
3 ½ cups bread flour
Directions:
1. The evening before baking, mix active starter, warm water & salt, then add the flour. Knead well, stretch and pull to the center of the dough. Add to a bowl and cover.
Optional: Add chopped herbs, seasonings or cheese to the dough when doing your stretch & folds.
2. Stretch every 30 minutes then place it in the fridge before you go to bed.
3. Take the dough out of the fridge the next morning and let it come to room temperature.
4. Stretch and shape it into a ball. Add to a floured proofing bowl or just regular large bowl. Make sure its dusted well with flour. Cover and let rise until it doubles in size.
5. Preheat oven to 450 with dutch oven inside. Drop dough onto parchment paper, score, and place paper/dough into preheated dutch oven. Cover and baked for 35 minutes.
6. Reduce the heat to 415 and baked uncovered for 10 to 15 more minutes.
Love & Pasta (& any other delectable carb)
-JS
Love this review and what a treat a bread recipe!!!