goodreads | The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry

Title: The Collected Works of A.J. Fikry
Author: Gabrielle Zevin
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 5/5
# pages: 243
Date read: January 2015

AJ Fikry owns a failing bookshop. His wife has just died, in tragic circumstances. His rare and valuable first edition has been stolen. His life is a wreck. Amelia is a book rep, with a big heart, and a lonely life. Maya is the baby who ends up on AJ's bookshop floor with a note. What happens in the bookshop that changes the lives of these seemingly normal but extraordinary characters? This is the story of how unexpected love can rescue you and bring you back to real life, in a world that you won't want to leave, with characters that you will come to love.

I love it when the first new book of the year is a clear five star book. Always makes me think it's a good omen for my reading year ;)

"The Collected Works of A. J. Fikry" (also published as "The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry") is a lovely unassuming book. The plot hardly matters at all - what's important is the various characters and their interactions. It's probably much too slow-moving for some people, but it was just right for a cozy winter read, and stands a good chance of being an instant favourite.

I especially loved all the bookish details throughout, and the small descriptions A.J. wrote about some of his favourite short stories.

It is not a literary masterpiece, but it is a solid comfort read, and I have a feeling I will love it for it.