Content Warnings: Grief, Drug Abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Suicide, Death, Gun Violence (there was a singular incident but no one got hurt)

 

Summary: Five New Yorkers receive an invitation to the mysterious Fifth Avenue Story Society. They do not know who sent the invitation and why they were chosen. Lexa is an executive assistant that is ready to move up in the company but her boss wants to keep her where she is at. Jett is a heart broken literature professor that is dealing with the suspicion that his favorite author might be a fraud. Divorced Uber driver Chuck is desperate to be reunited with his children. Widower Ed is determined to write the love story of his marriage. Cosmetics Queen Coral is recovering from a broken engagement and trying to keep her great grandmother’s multi-million dollar company afloat. As they begin to meet at this mysterious society, they form a friendship and family that they didn’t know that they needed.

 

Review: This is my first book with this concept. The idea of five strangers being brought together by mysterious circumstances never interested me. However, I ended up loving this book more than I thought. Maybe it was the fact that this book took place in an old New York library that drew me in. I’m sure I am not the only one who would love to spend hours in an old library. Touching the books that were previously loved, finding the treasures buried in their depths. While I do wish that the author put more focus on the books in the library, I thought that it was clever that she had them meet up there. What better place to have people tell their stories than in a library?

While they were getting to know each other, the reader was doing the same. The book was told from all of their perspectives and I believe it gave the reader the chance to connect with them. Even though they came from different walks of life, somehow their struggles complimented each other. As a result, they were able to encourage each other to forgive those who wronged them, let go of past mistakes and confront the truth. While it was not completely obvious, there were elements of faith on the pages. One of the characters was new to Christianity. They weren’t trying to force their newfound beliefs on the others but was willing to share their journey and was open to invite them to church. Another character went through a situation that reminded me of the verse Matthew 16:26 which says: “What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?”(NIV). The way that the author incorporated Christianity into the book, I thought that it was done in a way that was authentic and approachable.

Overall, I think that this book was well written and relatable. The found family elements were funny and heartfelt and I think that it could reach many people with its message.

 

Rating: 3.75/5

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