The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry: A Novel

Don't miss Gabrielle Zevin's new novel, Young Jane Young, coming in August 2017.

"Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love."*

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

"A fun, page-turning delight." --Minneapolis Star Tribune

"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

BUY THE BOOK

Published Dec 2, 2014

288 pages

Average rating: 7.66

733 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Jul 05, 2024
8/10 stars
Sweet story about a bookshop owner on the fictional Alice Island of Massachusetts.
juleskshi
May 22, 2025
10/10 stars
wow i’m sobbing. this was probably one of the best books i’ve read in a while. this book felt like a warm hug. i think i have to read all of gabrielle zevins books now.
AnnaKata
Mar 14, 2025
4/10 stars
This was a cute fast read. I picked this book up because it was cheap. The ending was cute and despite it being only about 150 pages it was fair. This is the kind of book you read on a vacation to keep you relaxed.
Kanake7
Feb 04, 2025
4/10 stars
I felt like this story was on the verge of going somewhere but it never really did. The characters were surface level and bland. Overall a depressing read.
Klabardee
Jan 03, 2025
6/10 stars
This is a charming book about a man who at first take is as lonely and isolated as the island he lives on. As the story unfolds, however, so does Mr. Fikry and the journey he is on.

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