I don’t even know where to begin with this review considering the beauty that was this read! It was a five star read for me and if I could give it 10 out of 10 as well, I would! The characters have crawled into my heart forever…I won’t forget this novel….please everyone READ THIS NOVEL ASAP!!! Lastly, Thank you NetGalley for this ebook ARC! #forevergratefultonetgalley

Such an enjoyable, touching book! I'm so glad I finally read this one. It has been on my TBR a long time. I loved Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and this had similar emotional resonance. AJ Fikry is mired in the despair of his wife's passing the year before. He's only in his early 40s, but feels his life is over. He's shaken out of his depression when a young girl is left at the bookstore he owns on an island off the coast of Massachusetts. AJ ends up adopting her and opening himself up to other people in his community and enjoying life again. On his journey to healing, we meet Amelia, who is a publishing rep. who visits the bookstore quarterly. She was such a wonderful character. I loved AJ's growth and the full cast of characters. What a wonderful story!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

This debut being published in 2014 and having more than 250.000 ratings on Goodreads, I'm rather late to the party.
However, in 2022 it was adapted to the screen and the book was available with a new cover based on the motion picture: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10643926/

A book about a book shop and its owner.
That can't go wrong, can it?

Well, the opinions of my friends were quite varied and this seems to be a typical 'love it or hate it' kind of book.
Based on my 4* you immediately see on which side I belong.

Some of the more negative reviews mention the overuse of clichés and sentimentalism.
None of these bothered me. On the contrary, I thought the story had some original takes on several aspects, which gave it more depth than several other books I've read in the genre.
Does that mean that everything was entirely realistic? No, but I did enjoy it nevertheless.

The structure of this book was also to my taste.
Every chapter is introduced by a reference to another book or short story, most of which can be read online.
It isn't necessary to read them beforehand, but it adds a nice touch to the whole.

As this introduction to author Gabrielle Zevin suited me really well, her book 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' already figures on my physical book shelf.
Looking forward to read more from this author!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Algonquin Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY started out really good, and then, unfortunately, my love for the main character fizzled out along the way.

I think part of loving this book came from knowing practically nothing about it. It was full of so many surprises along the way . THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY is a story of love, loss, and second chances. I cannot recommend this one enough!!

3.5 stars.

It was a nice story that I really enjoyed despite its shortcomings that I'm now looking back on. It had the trope of grumpy old man whose life changes after someone enters it a la A Man Called Ove. But somehow, at the end of the book, I'm left asking the question, "What?" It doesn't do the grumpy bookseller bit particularly convincingly or maybe that's just part of the character arc. Plus, every character seems unconvincing, something that's made even more stark because of the jumping between points. There are huge blanks in the timeline that the author leaves for the reader to imagine until the point where the explanation comes about. I also understand that ending is to show how the bookseller's life has come full circle but it somehow sticks out as eh. I don't even know how to explain that!

Still, overall, it was a quick, engaging read, especially because there's so much literature in there. Given, I haven't read a majority of the books mentioned, but they were familiar enough to make me smile at the glint in Fikry's eyes or narrow my own at some people's irreverence to it. Like I mentioned at the beginning, I did enjoy it and I see why people are attracted to Gabrielle Zevin's writing.

Liked this book a lot. A little slow at times, but enjoyed the writing and characters. Looking forward to more books from this author.

A.J. Fikry has been waiting for retirement. After his wife passed, he maintained their bookstore, but always knew he could stop any time he wanted by selling his rare collection of Poe poems… until they were stolen. A.J. begins to isolate himself from friends and the town, but when a toddler is left in his shop, mother nowhere to be found, A.J. feels compelled to care for the girl. And in doing so, he remakes his life.

This book was one of those heartwarming stories that you don’t see coming. When I picked up this book it was honestly more of an easy read to check off of my NetGalley backlist. It seemed like it should be short and sweet. But I discovered along the way the joys of community, reading, and choosing to take care of someone else for no personal gain.

A.J. was a character I couldn’t help but root for. He’s a grumpy character that has sunshine thrown at him from every angle. Watching him grow was a real pleasure. I think there’s something so satisfying about watching a character finding hope and love after tragedy. It’s hard to not love a book like that.

In the end, this book was a solid 4 star read for me. My only regret is that it felt a little short. I would have loved to drift in this world a little longer, but also I can see how there wasn’t too much plot left to share by the end. This will definitely be a book I come back to again someday.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for a gifted copy prior to the paperback and movie adaptation releases. I’m seriously regretting having pushed it so far down the TBR list!

Loved reading this book! Especially Loved how all the characters' stories were woven together. I felt like a knew these characters and loved watching them grow throughout the book.

Outstanding! I will read and enjoy anything Gabrielle Kevin writes! She is top notch!
This book is one that any book lover would automatically enjoy!

This is the first time I'm reading Gabrielle Zevin's work and I wasn't disappointed. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry has so many bookish themes that the nerd in me was ready for it. A bookseller on a small island who is a E. A. Poe scholar - yes, please! At first this was all I knew about the book. I didn't read any reviews, summaries, or watch the movie, and I was delightfully surprised. This story has comedy, romance, mystery, and wholesomeness. The characters are heartwarming and you get a slice of life when reading this. They are the focus of the book and they are charming. Zevin's writing is beautiful and there's an ease that allows you to get lost in the story. The pacing is more like mini episodes or stories that are stringed together so at times it may seem slow, but sticking with it to the end is worth it. The pace increases in the second half of the book and that it took me by surprise because then it was done. I was heartbroken.

Overall this was story was like a comforting hug - warm, cozy, and full of love. I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy quirky, charming characters in a slice of ordinary life story. Thank you to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to pick this one up. It was beautiful, charming, wholesome and I loved the quirkiness of the characters. Book lovers will relate and enjoy following the life of A.J. - our grumpy bookseller, as he experiences life in so many different ways- the good, the bad and the ugly. You're rooting for him all the way through, once you understand him and what shaped him into the testy man he is when you initially meet him.

A book about a bookstore owner and a book rep and BOOKS. It's a sweet story, maybe a little too sweet and predictable and wrapped up with a bow, but still mostly fun to read. I enjoyed the letters and I adored Lambiase.

This was a great book to listen to. The book is 5 stars. The audio is 5 stars. The story of AJ, Amelia, Maya, and the other characters is easy to follow, with plot twists. It kept me interested from start to finish.

I read and reviewed this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser, author, publisher and NetGalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: mention of dead wife, child abandonment, suicide, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, vomit, losing a loved one, car accident.

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a contemporary literary fiction book about books and the power of words and love. It is a book I don’t think I would ever have picked up or even heard about had it not been for the email from Algonquin Books inviting me to be part of the tour, so thank you so much!

To start off, this is definitely not the kind of book that I usually pick up, as I’m not a fan of literary fiction or even contemporary fiction, I much prefer genre fiction such as fantasy or historical fiction. However, I was intrigued by the blurb and the praise this book received and it very pleasantly surprised me and I found myself reading it in a very short time. The thing that really sold it for me is that it is a book about books, about the love of the written word, how books help and heal and how they help us to love. There were some great literary references that also made me smile. I mean if you are a book lover, you can’t dislike this book for the simple reason that it’s about the love of books!!

I would say this is more of a character-driven book because even though there is a plot, about how A.J. grows throughout the book and with the people around him, but it’s a lot more character-driven in my opinion. I do prefer books to be plot-driven, but the way it was written was done really well here. Which brings me to the writing style. It was beautiful. Truly mesmerising and this is what kept me turning the pages. It was a really effortless style that made me want to know more right then and there, but also the kind of book you wish you had savoured a little longer, or want to read for the first time again.

In my opinion, this is a light “feel-good” book that you can curl up with in front of the fire, under a blanket, with a cup of something warm and something sweet to eat during the cold winter months. It feels like a very comforting read and that makes it perfect for this time of year, or if you’re in a reading slump. It’s also the kind of book that makes you feel a bit lost when you’ve finished it and I’m not ashamed to say that it was a very emotional read for me at the end and made me shed some tears — which is a true feat to accomplish when I’m the reader!

One small negative thing I will say is that I found the middle (about 150 pages in, to about 250 pages) quite slow and just something felt a bit off about the narrative. I can’t put my finger on it, but it might have been the “romantic” parts that felt way too rushed or not detailed enough. I can’t seem to find the words I need and even my brain won’t cooperate, but I suppose it was a bit slower and draggy in between those pages, but that’s only my personal opinion and could be just a “reader’s personal taste” kind of thing, so I wouldn’t let it bother you too much! Definitely give this one a shot for yourself!

Overall, I enjoyed this book and was surprised by it. I was kind of hoping that it would be a cute easy read, and the movie trailer definitely gave off those vibes.

I loved that most of this book took part in Island Books, the bookstore owned by the main character and that his daughter got to grow up there, surrounded by hundreds of amazing books. I think that’s the life all bookworms dream of, so it’s a beautiful thing to read about.

It was a really sweet, beautifully-written heartwarming story with a touch of bitterness at the end that makes you appreciate the whole story, because I won’t hide it from you, the ending is sad, but also uplifting.It definitely deserved the tears I shed about it.

I gave The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 4 stars, and I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to read it for the Algonquin Books blog tour! I’m now going to be picking up her next book that is very much hyped at the moment: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. I need more beautiful writing from this author.

If you love light, feel-good, heartwarming stories, books about books and the power of words and love, you love beautiful writing that sweeps you up and makes you cry (but in a happy/sad way!), this is 100% the book for you. I highly recommend it and hope you love it!

Only my 3rd book of the year and I think I already found my favorite! A warm, cozy blanket in book form! I urge you to read this if you haven’t! It’s fast paced and has a little bit of everything: romance, mystery, humor. The characters are flawed but endearing. The love for books and bookish people is evident and makes for a delightful and captivating read.

Gabrielle Zevin does it again. After reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow and being blown away, I was excited to read some of her backlist. This book gave me the same general vibe of relationship dynamics with a hint of humor and a lot of heart. It is short and sweet and one of the few books that I wish was longer. As with TomorrowX3, there are some poignant character arcs which added to the whole experience. The characters paired with the setting largely being at a bookstore, this novel is a book worm's dream.

Up until a few nights ago, I felt as though I was the only book lover who had not read The Storied Life of A.J. Fickry by Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. \I am happy to report that I read The Storied Life of A.J. Fickry in one sitting, by a cozy fire on a rainy night and it was such a delightful reading experience. This is a fast-paced read for book lovers with lots of heart and so many great novel and short story references.
A.J. Fickry owns Island Books, the only bookstore in town. Widowed and a bit of a curmudgeon with a very particular taste in books, he’s not interested in what book recommendations Amelia Loman, a recently hired publishing rep, has to offer. Without saying too much, something mysterious arrives at Island Books that opens up his heart to the world again.
My favorite quote from the book is, “You know everything you need to know about a person from the answer to the question, what is your favorite book?”
And it’s been turned into a movie, which I am excited to see! I highly recommend this novel for lovers of books about books. Thank you to Algonquin Books and to NetGalley for the advanced review copy.

This was a quick and thoughtful read. While deep and poignant, the story is also light and fun, full of characters that are lovable, complex and bring heart to this story.

AJ Fikry is left to run the bookstore he and his wife built, after she passes away unexpectedly. While he figures out how best to continue the business, an unexpected bundle of a child is left in the bookstore aisle, with a request for him to take care of her forever. AJ's love of books is woven through his book reviews, between each chapter. It's ultimately his love of books and what he's able to bring to the members of his community that keeps the store going and is entwined in the life and future of the child, the town and his second chance at love and life.

This is a great book club book, with many points of discussion to keep your conversations flowing. It took me awhile to pick this book off my shelf and read the story, but as expressed in the pages, a book will find you at just the right time.

3.5 stars rounded up. After reading Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow I was excited to read another novel by Gabrielle Zevin. Like Tomorrow x3, this is a very character-driven story and I think Zevin did a fantastic job developing engaging characters and building out their various arcs throughout the course of the story. That said, I felt the plot fell into some cliches/almost veered into YA territory at certain points. All in all, this was a cute and heartwarming story but probably not one I'll re-read.