The brief summary could be: The life and loves of a bookseller on a small Massachusetts island. The expanded summary includes the tragic death of his beloved wife that plunges him into lethargy and depression followed by the adoption of an abandoned toddler who brings him back to life so that he can find love again. Zevin’s writing creates an effortless read that yields a book to be read by all literature enthusiasts. The characters, the storytelling, and the mild twists and turns make this quick read so enjoyable. I feel this author has an old soul twice her age replete with wisdom and grace. The bookseller’s comments about authors and genres are amusing and the author even pokes fun at her own best-selling young adult genre. So many poignant musings are worth quoting. My favorite quote:

“We read to know we’re not alone. We read because we are alone. We read and we are not alone. We are not alone.”

There is more, so much more, that this novel could be read again and again, with different insights gleamed each time. Marketed for adults, there is a bit of language but should be fine for mature teens that have an avid love of literature. Highly recommend.

NetGalley review   Publication date 4.1.14