Will I love The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry?

This is an enjoyable story with quirky but lovable characters who live on an island. It centres around A.J. Fikry, a somewhat jaded bookstore owner wth discerning tastes in books. A surprising discovery in his store turns his life around. I loved that many familiar books are mentioned and how they tie into the story. The writing is refreshing with clever lines, some quite amusing, others poignant. Some of my favourites:

"Despite the fact that he loves books and owns a bookstore, A. J. does not particularly care for writers."

"The most annoying thing about it is that… show more.

Sometimes, a book comes into your life at a time you precisely need it. For me, this was The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.

This book captured my attention for many reasons: it’s set in a bookstore, in a remote location and involves the power of books to change lives. Yet as it evolves, it also reminds us that we never know fully what our story really is.

I loved how the main character discovers life through the eyes of a child abandoned in his store, and the child in turn uncovers life through books. It’s an uplifting, heartfelt,… show more.

In The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, the runaway mom is a secondary character, but the “package” she leaves Fikry, a grieving bookstore owner, is what sets the plot in motion.

The novel is filled with charming, quirky characters, but what I loved most was the combination of Zevin’s witty dialogue with her handling of serious life issues. This book is both humorous and heartwarming and I adore its central theme about the vital importance of stories in our lives.