A story about Goodnight, Kansas, where the town is small, and the potential is huge.

I was hesitant at first with the format of the story, especially as an audiobook with saying the emails aloud, but it really wasn't distracted after the first few chapters. I loved how quirky the town was, how the story came together, and the overall hopeful feeling I weas left with as I finished it!

Scarlet Solvang left Goodnight, Kansas 20 years ago and never looked back. When her father leaves his house to her instead of her sisters who stayed behind, Scarlet and her husband Sid see this as their chance to fix things, especially with Sid having lost his restaurant and the rising cost of rent in Brooklyn. They pack up their home, their daughter, and make for Kansas.

Of course, after all these years, Goodnight is not exactly how Scarlet left it, and there are more than a few hiccups (llama drama anyone?). The Solvangs must find a way to make Goodnight their home.

I thought Getz did a great job immersing the reader in the zany, small town of Goodnight. I think perhaps the characters could have done with a bit more polishing in terms of how they were written. Altogether this was a fun, promising story told in a unique way.

I was fortunate to receive both the print and audio versions of this book and I really enjoyed the audio production. It made the epistolary format really pop.

Reading the epistolary novel in audio format was definitely a bad idea. It was confusing, and although I love listening to audiobooks when I'm doing something, I found myself avoiding this book at any cost. A cute, heartwarming story about family trying to fit in the small city was what I expected. All I heard for the first quarter of the book were endless whines and complains. Every family member felt like a spoiled child, and I couldn't take it any more. I do DNF the book and give it two stars

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the publisher and the audio narrator for providing me with the arc copy. I hope your efforts and hard work will reach the right people. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them.

Sid Solvang has to leave NYC with his tail between his legs and his wife and daughter, Scarlett & Harlem, in tow. Their destination? Goodnight, Kansas, the town Scarlett grew up in but hasn’t returned to in decades.

with some of the heart of Schitt’s Creek and a touch of the southern humour of Steel Magnolias, we follow the Solvangs as they settle into Scarlett‘s recently inherited childhood home and as they try to find their place in Goodnight. Sid purchases the local May Day diner on a well intentioned whim in an effort to save the iconic town favourite from being destroyed or turned into a chain restaurant.

we follow the story through emails, articles in the Goodnight Star paper and the occasional entry from Sid’s journal. i will admit that at times i found the repetition of email addresses to be a little bit tedious, but the further i got into the book, the more i realized the repetition is necessary as more characters are introduced. i did listen to the book so it might be a little easier to follow in an ebook/physical book.

my favorite character by far was Bailey, the waitress in the May Day. with lines like; “i lowered my bi-focals so he’d know i meant business” and “if i weren’t on probation, i might’ve slapped him just for looking stupid but [Bailey’s probation officer] says i can’t hit no body til July”, Bailey quickly became a firm favourite of mine.

A Town with Half the Lights on is a heartwarming, funny and clever story about found family and the ups & downs of small town life through the lens of both locals & blow ins. i really enjoyed the story and could absolutely see it translating well on the big screen. hopefulcly this isn’t the last we see of Goodnight, Kansas!

Great narrator but hard to listen to as a story. The reading of email addresses was a little distracting. The story had a great small town vibe with fun quirky characters. I loved the style of writing but might be better to read than listen to.

Wow! This book was not on my radar at all, but after seeing a rave review on Instagram of A Town With Half the Lights On, I went over to NetGalley and requested it. I was so excited that the eARC happened to be Read Now and I was approved for the ALC. I started listening to it immediately and loved it. I finished the second half the next day, reading with my eyes. And really, just Wow! The narrator did a fantastic job - I only wish it had been narrated by a full cast - that would have been amazing! I loved the epistolary format. The characters were quirky and oh so lovable (except for the ones that weren’t at all lovable). The writing was beautiful. The story, about a town coming together and people taking care of each other, was a little bit heartbreaking but mostly heartwarming. And even the names were amazing - a town called Goodnight, girls named Disco and Harlem, a hotel called the Hallelujah and a diner called the May Day. The best! This book is definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year and I’m telling everyone to read it. I might even need to buy a trophy copy to live forever on my bookshelf.

While there are so many wonderful reviews for this book, and I wanted to love it so much, I just don’t think it was for me. I love a quirky story, but I’m sorry to say I was just not able to connect with this one.

I tried pairing the print and audio and struggled with the narration as well.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I need the physical book for this one so will give my final goodreads rating once I get the ebook/physical copy. With the multiple POVs, it was a bit hard to follow via audiobook!

This was a very American focused book. Some of the topics and themes were a bit lots on me, coming from the uk.
It was very current, and discussed many issues people from this area would get.
Lots of fun and active characters - very quirky.

This ended up being a DNF for me. While the story is generally interesting and the small town setting with lots of eccentric characters kept me engaged at first, at 50% I realized I didn't want to continue on. I think what didn't work for me was the epistolary format where the story was told entirely through letters, emails, news articles, etc. With all the interesting characters I was craving hearing the course of events through their POVs. I'm still giving this 3 stars though, because I think the format may really work in book form rather than audiobook. While the narrator did a fine job, it was always jarring and awkward jumping from document to document and I never really got used to it. I'm putting the book on my TBR to read when it comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Page Getz for the opportunity to listen to the ARC of this audiobook.

This was a really good comfort-type books that had a bit of a softer Erin Brockovich vibe. The constant POV change was a little harder to navigate via audiobook than I would have chosen but I think that the book was easy enough to follow that it wasn't really a problem.

The book took a couple of different turns with the multiple viewpoints but it tells the story of the town, through residents that have issues, grievances, and histories with one another, it makes you feel like the gossip you would hear moving to a small town where everyone knows each other and will trash talk but defend one another.

Great audio narrator, great pacing. A very soft, comfy read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review an audio version. Releases 4/22/2025

How have I not seen this book all over Instagram?! I was not prepared for just how clever this book was nor the joy of wishing I could stay in the lives of these characters forever. To be completely honest, I requested it strictly because I liked the cover and genre and feel delighted to have randomly found such a gem of a story! But in case you prefer knowing just a bit about the book…
It’s a story of new and old residents, their struggles and triumphs, and navigating life in a tiny town in Kansas.

If you’re like me and love Gilmore Girls then you should add this to your list. Why? Because in Goodnight (love the towns name!) there are some wonderfully quirky characters, intelligent and funny teens, a diner reminiscent of Luke’s, and creative ingenuity with food similar to Sookie St James! The characters are very different with their own unique voices but it gave me all the vibes I love from GG. I can’t even tell you how many times I chuckled while reading this, it’s funny and thoughtful and everything I didn’t know I needed!

I started out by listening to this audio but I’m so glad I had the ebook to switch to because the format of this is epistolary, with emails, newspaper articles, and journal entries. I actually didn’t mind too much but having an epistolary novel with email or text read aloud can be difficult to listen to. If you don’t enjoy hearing email addresses read over and over I suggest the print or e-book version.

Thank you Tantor Audio for the opportunity to read and give my honest opinion

The Solvang family of Brooklyn finds themselves in Goodnight, Kansas due to a series of circumstances. They hope it is temporary- they plan on returning to Brooklyn as soon as they are financially able. Jobs are hard to find and they find themselves purchasing the May Day Diner. As they entrench themselves in Goodnight, they find they are less eager to return to Brooklyn.

Audiobooks for epistolary novels can be hit or miss. This started out rough for me- the letters/emails/articles are very short and a lot of characters are immediately introduced. It made it very hard to follow at first. So much so that I considered DNFing. But I persevered- and I am so glad that I did.

Goodnight is full of some crazy characters, and I loved them all. Disco is my favorite character in a really long time! Behind the craziness, you find a family that arrived out of obligation and became a pillar of the community in a short time.

Because of the beginning, I'd recommend the print version over the audiobook. It did get better, but it was a lot at first.

Hillary Huber narrates. Her actual narration is great. It is just the quick blurbs from a large amount of characters in the beginning that makes it overwhelming.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

📚A Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz

Okay, real talk—I went in blind with this one and had zero idea what to expect. The storytelling structure? Definitely different. It took me a minute to settle into it, but once I did? Goodnight, Kansas, wrapped me up in its small-town charm and didn’t let go.

This book doesn’t follow one neat arc. Instead, it delivers the story through the people—residents of a town who are flawed, funny, stubborn, sweet, grieving, and growing. It’s the kind of book that reminds you that community isn’t about liking everyone. It’s about knowing them. Sharing history. Feeling tied together by something invisible but undeniable.

Reading this felt like sitting at a local diner eavesdropping on conversations, then suddenly realizing every one of them connects. It’s quirky and heartfelt, and by the end, you realize the town itself is the main character—and it’s a good one.

Audiobook lovers, Hillary Huber did a phenomenal job bringing this book to life through her beautiful narration. I highly recommend enjoying this audiobook if you have the opportunity.

Small-town slice of life
Tropes:
Found family (but it's a whole dang town)
Grief and healing
Everyday magic in ordinary lives
Unlikely connections

Would I Recommend This Book? Absolutely. It might start quiet, but it ends with a full heart.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

his is such a lovely story, of finding family and home where you least expect it. After leaving New York, the Solvang family relocates to the small town of Goodnight, Kansas where things are completely different to what they are used to. The people in the town do not like strangers, and the people now living in the old Victorian house are strangers to them. But after the dad of the family purchases the diner in the town, they become part of it, and understand more about the people and the town; they now face the same problems. There are also alpacas, adventures, and eventually a town that becomes home. I loved the way the story was told. Through emails, letters, newspaper articles, you can see stories develop from different perspectives, and the characters develop and their unique backstories, and authenticity shines through. I'd definitely recommend this! For the audiobook, the narration does take a while to get used to, especially if you are not aware how the book is organised and written, but the narrator does a great job of distinguishing between characters, and also forms of communication. I enjoyed it very much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved the unique format of this book, told entirely through written communications (letters, newspapers, etc.). The quirky characters added to the fun and cozy vibes. The ending was predictable, but I still enjoyed the whole journey to get there. 4 out of 5 stars!

3.75 stars

I took some time to adjust to the writing style. Once that happened, I enjoyed it. We follow the journey of three New Yorkers moving to a small town. Throughout the book, we get to see how they went from feeling that this move was temporary to not seeing themselves living anywhere else. We also got the POV of other townsmen who either agreed or disagreed with the changes the newcomers were implementing. I feel the narrator, Hillary Huber, did an amazing job of distinguishing the voices of each character. Without those changes, I would have struggled to keep the characters straight. This is a book that I would recommend for immersive reading. I feel I would have benefited from seeing the text while listening.

“I think we drove through the whole town in five minutes” - Harlem Solvang

I first came across this story from GR friend, MonReads, and her lovely 5star review about the story of the Solvang family’s arrival in "Goodnight, Kansas, where there are no strangers." It sounded like my kind of story and I knew I had to have it.

The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline for this epistolary story told through a series of emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and even a will along with anything else written by the Solvang family and/or the residents of Goodnight, KS regarding the plight of their town and the May Day Diner. The May Day Diner has been a beloved and historic establishment of Goodnight for decades, but with the declining population of Goodnight, the elderly owners want out. A local real estate developer wants to buy it cheap and turn it into a Taco Bell or a Burger King.

Sid Solvang, a failed chef, fled Brooklyn, NY after bankrupting the family deli that had been in his family for three generations. Sid’s wife, Scarlet, who is also a chef, was the youngest daughter of Alpaca farmer Pops Bannister. Scarlet left Goodnight 20+yrs ago and fled to NY to become a chef and never looked back. After she and Sid failed miserably in NY, broke with nowhere else to go, Scarlet drags her family back to Goodnight after learning she was the sole beneficiary of the family farm after her father’s death. Needless to say, this did not go over well with her three older sisters who didn’t leave KS and stayed to take care of their Pops before he died of cancer.

There is also a secondary storyline of Harlem Solvang believing that her grandfather has left some treasure somewhere on the property and she is determined to find it and use it to get her family back to Brooklyn asap. Through all the emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and secret notes between the Solvang family and their loved ones back home in Brooklyn and their new friends and neighbors in Goodnight, the reader learns about the history of Goodnight as well as the current state of the residents and business owners.

Among the residents there is poverty and hardship at the mercy of corporate corruption, fraud and greed. There was a divided town because of their loyalties to those modern-day robber barons and eventually community pride and advocacy from the residents that stood together for their survival and eventually bring down those same robber barons.

“It’s contrary to every instinct of self-preservation to share a dream with a world that doesn’t need another dream and one so hostile to dreamers.” - Sid Solvang

For the Solvang family, there were failed dreams and the development of new dreams as well as loss of family and the creation of new family relationships. There was the reality of discovering that “home” doesn’t always have to be the place where you were born and raised, but rather that place that you find where you feel loved, seen and heard and where you want to be more than anywhere else. At this moment, I am reminded of a distinction I learned a long time ago. I can’t remember where I learned it, I am tempted to say my Gramy Jules (she was infamous for her sayings) because she didn’t believe in luck – good or bad, which is something that I definitely learned from her.

”Fate is what happens to you and destiny is what you make happen”

Anyway, I loved the development of so many of the characters, especially the Solvangs. The pacing was steady and the storyline very interesting. The writing was wonderful and I loved all the different types of mediums that were included in telling the story. I especially loved the ending! Please Ms Getz!!! More Goodnight, KS!!! I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and as much as I enjoy audiobooks, I think I liked the ebook better for this story. I think for stories like this, listening to the narrator rattle off email addresses, oh idk, about a gazillion times , got kind of annoying. I’m not marking the audiobook down for that, I just wanted to mention it. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #TantorAudio #ATownwithHalftheLightsOn

This was a DNF for me. I did not enjoy the strange format of the book and it made it hard to listen to and follow.
Maybe others will enjoy it but this wasn’t for me.

Cozy heartwarming story with a unique take on storytelling using several forms of media. Audiobook was excellent. Enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.