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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER BY THE AUTHOR OF TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING LUCY HALE & KUNAL NAYYAR

“A fun, page-turning delight.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love.” —Library Journal (starred review)

A. J. Fikry’s life is not at all what he expected it to be. He lives alone, his bookstore is experiencing the worst sales in its history, and now his prized possession, a rare collection of Poe poems, has been stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, its unexpected arrival gives Fikry the chance to make his life over—and see everything anew.   

“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 glory.” —Eowyn Ivey, author of The Snow Child

 “Marvelously optimistic about the future of books and bookstores and the people who love both.”—The Washington Post

“You won’t want it to end.” —Family Circle

“A natural for book groups.” —Richmond Times-Dispatch

“A reader’s paradise of the first order.” —The Buffalo News

“Captures the joy of connecting people and books . . . Irresistible.” —Booklist

“A wonderful, moving, endearing story of redemption and transformation that will sing in your heart for a very, very long time.” —Garth Stein, author of The Art of Racing in the Rain

“Readers who delighted in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society,  The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, and Letters from Skye will be equally  captivated by this novel.” —Library Journal, starred review

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Also by Gabrielle Zevin
“Brilliant and hilarious.” —Chicago Tribune A New York Times Bestseller | “Entertaining . . . Engaging and funny . . . Marvelously optimistic.” —The Washington Post

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00GU2RLMC
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books (April 1, 2014)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 1, 2014
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3380 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 273 pages
Reviewer: Sarah's Bookshelves
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Snarky, delightful, and witty - one of my favorites of the year!
Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry was a common presence on book blogs a few months ago and I finally got around to reading it! And, in this case, definitely better late than never because I am unabashedly hopping on the A.J. Fikry bandwagon…I absolutely adored this book!I’m not even sure what type of book to say this is…it has great characters, gorgeous writing, and a twisty story…it has it all! I literally loved every single thing about it. It’s a sweet book that simultaneously manages to be witty and snarky, especially when it comes to A.J.A.J. is a book lover at heart and gives you his unbridled opinion of all things books throughout the story…his opinions are often snobbish and cutting, but they’re hilarious and generally right on target! As a fellow book nerd, I obviously loved reading A.J.’s opinions about books and I would love to read a book blog written by him…although I’m sure he would refuse to write one out of principle because “you’re supposed to come into a bookstore and talk to a ‘bookseller’ about what you might want to read next”! When I reviewed my notes, I found there were so many great quotes that I wanted to share that I decided they deserved their very own post! So keep an eye out tomorrow for my “Best of A.J. Fikry” post with my favorite quotes from this book!Despite the fact that A.J. is a virtual recluse at the beginning of the story, he struck me as a delightful character. How one character can be snarky, snobby, irritable, and reclusive while simultaneously striking me as delightful is beyond me! A.J. is extremely self-aware and provides funny, self-deprecating observations of his personal life. He also has the capacity to be caring and nurturing in a begrudging kind of way.And, while we’re talking about the characters, Island Books is almost a character in and of itself…sort of like New York City was a “character” in “Sex and the City”. Despite the fact that I have migrated to reading solely e-books (for convenience), Fikry made me want to pay my local bookstore a visit immediately. It reminded me of the value of an independent bookstore (and its proprietor)…the sense of community it fosters and how the proprietor can be instrumental in getting people to like reading (and to grow as readers).My one complaint about this book is that it’s too short…I didn’t want it to end and was sad when it did! It would be a great book club selection and is one of my favorite books of the year so far.For more reviews, check out my blog, Sarah's Book Shelves.

Reviewer: JP
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: “A place ain’t a place without a bookstore." And perhaps, neither is a cozy read!
Review: All towns should have a bookstore, don’t you think?Island bookstore owner A.J. Fikry is definitely not having the time of his life. Grieving the loss of his wife, struggling to keep his bookstore afloat, self-medicating, bereft of passion and connection. However — hooray! — everything begins changing when a toddler is left in his bookstore. What follows are not thunderous events but a soft, deliberate opening of life.This is a novel about a community only as flawed and fragile as the people within it, and A.J.’s bookstore becomes the fulcrum for everything: grief, love, indiscretions, second chances. It’s life, piece by tangled piece.Perhaps by dint of being set in a bookstore, the book celebrates not just the joy of reading but the necessity of it. This sweet novel is a love letter to books, bookstores, and the communities that form around them. It’s well-paced, though it takes a few big leaps in time that might make you a little woozy. Still, the storytelling works beautifully. Zevin is deeply respectful of and never underestimates her audience, a skill also showcased in her Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Zevin’s storytelling is tight and purposeful — there’s not a wasted word or superfluous scene. Every moment builds A.J.’s world and relationships, while also pulling the reader into the life of the bookstore and town, stitched together by books.The quirky main and secondary characters feel like they’ve stepped out of an exceptionally good sitcom — believable, loveable, and tinged with just enough sorrow to avoid being treacly. Literary references throughout the novel are sweet treats, and A.J.’s book notes are lovely touches. It eventually is made clear who these notes are for and how they tie into the plot, which made me hug the book to my chest. Yes, I’m weird. It’s fine.Ultimately, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is a love story. I’ve said before that all stories are love stories. This one isn’t sappy, disappointing, or cynical. Neither are real jaw-dropping twists here; instead, the story unfolds in small, quiet ways. This book may not cause you to bolt upright, but little moments you enjoyed will stay with you long after you’ve finished.Zevin’s writing is self-assured, and she trusts the reader to keep up and fill in the gaps. It’s zippy. It’s wackadoo. And it’s a reminder that sometimes, a good book — and a good life — are about those quiet, small moments that happen when you crack things open.It’s hygge at its finest.All stories should come with a bookstore, don’t you think? After all, “a place ain’t a place without a bookstore.”

Reviewer: Camp Runamok
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A super fun book, about an unlikely man who finds love 3 times in one lifetime.
Review: This was a super fun book, about an unlikely man who finds love 3 times in one life. The basic premise of the book is that an owner of a small bookshop, on a small island off the Boston coastline, hits rock bottom after a major life tragedy, until he finds himself an unlikely father, when a small child is left in his shop.What makes this book so special are the characters and especially the dialog, which is honest, funny, and very vivid. I really loved the writing style, making the book hard to put down. My only criticism is the end, which felt a bit like a rock song that just fades away, instead of coming to a more satisfying conclusion. But overall, I would give this a very big thumbs up for a little romantic fun.

Reviewer: verónica
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Me gustó muchísimo la forma en la que está escrito, algunos capítulos son un tanto graciosos y otros muy conmovedores y profundos. Deja grandes lecciones de vida. Lo recomiendo mucho. El final me rompió y la verdad me sacó lágrimas, pero es muy bonita lectura.

Reviewer: Berg Delores
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I thought this book was worth the time it took to read it, and I liked the characters in the story. I seem to always enjoy books set in a bookstore, and this was certainly another one that is a keeper.

Reviewer: Nandini pareek
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: There are so many emotions running in my head when I think about this book. The story, the characters, the books and the whole atmosphere was so real and beautifully written.I agree the ending was supposed to be more but nothing is perfect. Might be my all time favourite

Reviewer: Kindle-Kunde
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This is a heart warming book. It talks about the lonely and dull life can turn into something hopeful and loving . How humans can change little by little without dening yourself.

Reviewer: Paul
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I enjoyed this book. The author has the ability to really paint a picture with words. I found it easy to follow the story as if a film was playing out in my head. Characters were well developed and not predictable. Although the time-lines seem to be inconsistent to some extent, it does not interfere at all. Highly recommended.