Book Description:
When preserving precious memories means welcoming unexpected changes, Riva finds that her heart has room for so much more than she imagined.
Widowed empty nester Riva Owen lives in the Victorian house that’s been in her family for three generations, but finances have become a challenge she can no longer ignore. Her daughter is pushing her to move, and after considering all her options, Riva knows selling would be the smartest course. But she just can’t bring herself to leave decades of memories–and her cherished library filled with hundreds of books.
When she pursues an alternative–opening her home to women like her who need a room to rent–Riva is unprepared for the mix of personalities and peculiarities of her new housemates. She is even more unprepared for Marcus, the handsome and handy older brother of one of her new tenants. The possibility of finding love again feels overwhelming, even as her tenants seem to have romantic schemes of their own.
Warm your heart with a story of found family, book lovers, and a second chance at love.
A heartwarming contemporary romance featuring a bookish widow finding a second chance at love. This small-town rom-com about new beginnings makes a perfect read for your book club.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading All Booked Up, a delightful midlife friendship story set in a small Oregon town. Riva is a widow who’s reluctant to sell the beautiful Victorian house that was owned by her grandparents. Lifelong memories fill the house and the collection of books in the magnificent library are like Riva’s old friends. Riva can’t afford to continue living there on her own. Her solution is to take in boarders who can help her pay the bills.
A quirky group of women move into Riva’s home and bring with them a unique set of issues and challenges. They’re all dealing with loss in some way and they need to learn to get along with each other. Riva is on a grief journey as she moves into this new stage of life.
The story has many lighthearted moments, including a ridiculous and hilarious love triangle situation that creates tension among the housemates. A charming low key romance develops during the story. A secret is revealed that impacts the housemates and challenges them to forgive and help each other.
I recommend All Booked Up to contemporary fiction readers who like small town women’s fiction with second chances, found family, bookish characters, romance, and relevant faith elements in the story.
Many thanks to Revell and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
