People tell boring lies about politics, God, and love. You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question: What is your favorite book?
A.J. Fikry is a grumpy, irritable bookstore owner. His wife has died in a tragic accident, he’s become very bitter, and he spends most of his nights getting drunk and angry. On one such night, he finds that someone has stolen his copy of Tamerlane, a rare collection of short stories written by Poe and valued at approximately $400,000. Shortly after, he finds that someone has left a baby in his bookstore, seemingly with the understanding that he will raise the child.
And thus begins the gradual melting of A.J.’s heart. And yours, too, most likely. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is not what I expected – it was so much more. It’s incredibly well-developed, with beautiful characters and an engaging plot. It has twists that you’ll probably see coming, but that doesn’t ruin anything. It has an ending that’s both sad and hopeful at the same time. And throughout the book, A.J. makes book recommendations!
I adored this book and read it from the second I got home from work until I had to go to bed, only to repeat again the next day. Highly recommended for any book lovers, and anyone who enjoys a good story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the free copy.
Final rating: ★★★★☆
[also posted here]
The Bibliophagist 