The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

"No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World" is the slogan written on the worn Island Books sign that is hanging above the Victorian cottage's porch. The irascible owner, A. J. Fikry, is about to find out just what that means.

The life of A. J. Fikry is nothing like he had anticipated. His wife passed away, his bookshop is having its worst sales ever, and now his most valuable asset—a rare collection of Poe poems—has been taken. He is slowly but surely cutting himself off from everyone on Alice Island: Amelia, the charming and idealistic (if eccentric) sales representative for Knightley Press who keeps taking the ferry to Alice Island despite A.J.'s negative attitude; Lambiase, the kind-hearted police officer who has always felt kindly toward Fikry; and Ismay, his sister-in-law who is determined to save him from his gloomy self. He no longer finds joy in the books in his shop. These days, all A.J. can see in them is evidence of a world shifting too quickly.

Then at the bookshop, an enigmatic parcel shows up. Though it weighs little, the packaging is substantial. The chance to start over and observe everything for the first time comes from that unexpected arrival for A. J. Fikry. The locals quickly notice A.J.'s transformation, Amelia, the tenacious sales representative, sees her stern client in a different light, the wisdom of all those books resurrects as the lifeblood of A.J.'s world, and everything turns into a version of his life that he never would have predicted. The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry is an enduring story of redemption and rebirth that is both unexpected and profoundly touching. It is an enticing reminder of the reasons we read and fall in love.