The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry - Gabrielle Zevin

A.J. Fikry, the grumpy owner of Island Books, is going through a hard time: his bookshop is failing, he has lost his beloved wife, and his prized possession - a rare first edition book has been stolen. Over time, he has given up on people, and even the books in his store, instead of offering solace, are yet another reminder of a world that is changing too rapidly.But one day A.J. finds two-year-old Maya sitting on the bookshop floor, with a note attached to her asking the owner to look after her. His life - and Maya's - is changed forever.Gabrielle Zevin's enchanting novel is a love letter to the world of books - an irresistible affirmation of why we read, and why we love.

Review
Zevin has done something old-fashioned and fairly rare these days. She has written an entertaining novel, modest in its scope, engaging and funny without being cloying or sentimental. On top of all that, it is marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both ― Washington PostPacked with the love of a life lived around books ― MetroThis wonderful, funny, uplifting homage to bookshops is an absolute treat. I've bought it for everyone I know ― Huffington PostDelightful! I read [it] in one sitting. This novel has humor, romance, a touch of suspense, but most of all love--love of books and bookish people and, really, all of humanity in its imperfect gloryI read this book in one big greedy gulp. A charming and funny love letter to the written word - it will leave you smiling and with a large lump in your throatReminds us what saves us all from a life of loneliness and isolation: our sense of empathy; our ability to love and be loved; our willingness to care and be cared for. Gabrielle Zevin has written a wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long timeReaders who delighted in Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows's The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Jessica Brockmole's Letters from Skye will be equally captivated by this adult novel by a popular YA author about a life of books, redemption, and second chances. Funny, tender, and moving, it reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love ― Library JournalIn this sweet, uplifting homage to bookstores, Zevin perfectly captures the joy of connecting people and books . . . Filled with interesting characters, a deep knowledge of bookselling, wonderful critiques of classic titles, and very funny depictions of book clubs and author events, this will prove irresistible to book lovers everywhere ― BooklistA breezy, big-hearted treat, especially if you've ever wondered about the inner workings of America's national treasures--neighborhood bookstoresZevin is a deft writer, clever and witty, and her affection for the book business is obvious ― Publishers Weekly

About the Author
GABRIELLE ZEVIN's internationally bestselling and critically acclaimed books include the novel The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and the prizewinning children's book, Elsewhere. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is being developed into a feature film by Temple Hill and Paramount Studios, and production for the movie version of A.J. Fikry, for which Zevin wrote the adaptation, has recently finished. Zevin was born in New York and is the daughter of a Korean mother and a Jewish-American father, who both spent their careers working in computers. Zevin is a screenwriter, an occasional critic and a graduate of Harvard University. She currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Stardew Valley.