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lola_rocha's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thebookishlibrarian's review
1.0
Sara and Amy have been pen pals for a while, sharing their love for books. When Sara finally arrives in Broken Wheel, Iowa all the way from Sweden to meet Amy, however, she finds out that Amy’s funeral has just ended. Sara feels lost, but the people of Broken Wheel take her under their wing as she shares her love of books and reading with them.
mooskimoo's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
manoeklambregts's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
karenholmes's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of those feel good books that can be a part of one's library to read and reread from time to time. This is a book about the love of books, and about sharing this love. It's also a book about love and about embracing it no matter the fear you experiment before.
In a way, it reminds me of [b:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|2728527|The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|Mary Ann Shaffer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351979318s/2728527.jpg|2754161] in both its love of books and the exchange of letters. In the discovery of a new and small society through books and in the joy of sharing the love of books.
There are lots of highlighted parts in my book, and I know I will read and reread these sentences and paragraphs every so often, just to feel I can share this love with someone else, someone who maybe lives in the other end of the world.
In a way, it reminds me of [b:The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|2728527|The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society|Mary Ann Shaffer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1351979318s/2728527.jpg|2754161] in both its love of books and the exchange of letters. In the discovery of a new and small society through books and in the joy of sharing the love of books.
There are lots of highlighted parts in my book, and I know I will read and reread these sentences and paragraphs every so often, just to feel I can share this love with someone else, someone who maybe lives in the other end of the world.
museumeg's review
4.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I love books about books. I love the idea that books bring people together and that there is at least one book out there for every person. feel sad when someone says they don’t like to read because it means they just haven’t found the right book yet. I love how books help transform the town and change the townspeople’s lives. And I love how the town proposes to Sara. But I just didn’t feel the main love story. I kept wondering whether Sara and Tom even liked each other or just tolerated each other. You don’t find out Tom’s feelings for Sara until the very end of the book. I’m sure that’s what the author intended but I like a little more information along the way when I’m reading.
kimreadz's review
3.0
This was the book club selection for our January meeting. I was a little disappointed in the book — I think I expected a little more depth and discussion value because this is also a pick by several of the book groups hosted at our local library. The book was a quick read, lighthearted and fun at times, but not a book that will stick with me for any lenght of time.
I never really grew attached to any of the characters and often did not understand their motivations. It seemed a little unrealistic that Sara would just pick up and come to a foreign town for several months without having met anyone in person. It also seemed a little realistic that once she got there and learned that Amy, her pen pal, had died, that she would just stay in Amy’s house alone for this time. While I enjoyed the book as a change of pace, I’m pretty sure that six months from now I won’t remember that characters names, let alone the plot line!
My book club rated the book much higher than I did — I gave it 3 Stars and overall our club rated it 4 Stars. I’m not convinced it was because they enjoyed the book more or thought it was a better book than I did. I think in general that my rating scale is a bit ‘harsher’ than many readers use. My ‘3’ means that I think it is a pretty good book and worth reading, but I also expect that the average book is pretty good and worth reading. I guess my expectations are high because I expect the average book I pick up to meet those marks.
This is a fun book for an individual to read, but it doesn’t have much discussion value. I would not recommend this one as a book club pick. Book clubs who choose to read the book can find discussion questions online at LitLovers.
I never really grew attached to any of the characters and often did not understand their motivations. It seemed a little unrealistic that Sara would just pick up and come to a foreign town for several months without having met anyone in person. It also seemed a little realistic that once she got there and learned that Amy, her pen pal, had died, that she would just stay in Amy’s house alone for this time. While I enjoyed the book as a change of pace, I’m pretty sure that six months from now I won’t remember that characters names, let alone the plot line!
My book club rated the book much higher than I did — I gave it 3 Stars and overall our club rated it 4 Stars. I’m not convinced it was because they enjoyed the book more or thought it was a better book than I did. I think in general that my rating scale is a bit ‘harsher’ than many readers use. My ‘3’ means that I think it is a pretty good book and worth reading, but I also expect that the average book is pretty good and worth reading. I guess my expectations are high because I expect the average book I pick up to meet those marks.
This is a fun book for an individual to read, but it doesn’t have much discussion value. I would not recommend this one as a book club pick. Book clubs who choose to read the book can find discussion questions online at LitLovers.
brandidean's review
3.0
Not quite 3, but 2.5 seems a little severe.
Not bad, but not very good. There were some genuinely funny bits, but lots of boring bits. There just wasn’t much to it. Trying a little too hard to be cute and quaint. A Mitford wannabe. But nothing to seriously dislike, either.
Not bad, but not very good. There were some genuinely funny bits, but lots of boring bits. There just wasn’t much to it. Trying a little too hard to be cute and quaint. A Mitford wannabe. But nothing to seriously dislike, either.