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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER BY THE AUTHOR OF TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING LUCY HALE & KUNAL NAYYAR
“A fun, page-turning delight.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love.” —Library Journal (starred review)
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
“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
NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING LUCY HALE & KUNAL NAYYAR
“A fun, page-turning delight.” —Minneapolis Star-Tribune
“Funny, tender, and moving, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry reminds us all exactly why we read and why we love.” —Library Journal (starred review)
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
“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
15359 Reviews
4.0
Stephanie
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CJ Neal
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V
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“Alright, so giving The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry five stars is totally justified because it’s one of those books that sneaks up on you with its warmth, humor, and emotional depth.
At first, A.J. seemed like your classic grumpy bookstore owner but as the story unfolded I realized he’s way more than that—his journey was full of love, loss, and second chances and the people around him shaped that journey in such meaningful ways.
Maya was probably the heart of the book. She changed A.J.’s entire outlook on life. The father-daughter bond between them was so touching and it never felt forced or overly sentimental.
Then there’s Amelia who brought romance and second chances into A.J.’s life in a very charming and heartfelt way. Their relationship was built on books, and understanding which made it all the more special.
I found Ismay to be a fascinating character because she’s kind of a mess but she’s also deeply human. Her complicated relationship with her husband, Daniel, and her guilt over past choices made her a character you can’t help but feel for.
Speaking of Daniel—he’s a side character, but his presence loomed large. His flaws and actions directly impacted A.J.'s life which made him a key piece of the puzzle. Even Marian, who barely appeared played an important role in shaping both Ismay and Daniel’s choices.
And then we had Chief Lambiase, who might be one of the best characters and probably my favourite in the book. He started as just a local cop but ended up becoming one of A.J.'s closest friends. His journey from a guy who didn’t really read to someone who genuinely started loving books (and even took over the store!) is so satisfying. He’s proof that books can change lives in unexpected ways.
The beauty of this book is how all these characters affected A.J.'s life in some way. It’s not just about one man’s life but about how community, love, and literature shape who we are.
The real main character of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry though, wasn’t A.J.—it was the bookstore. That little shop on Alice Island wasn't just a setting, It's the soul of the story. A.J. started off by using it as a fortress but as Maya, then the Chief, then Amelia and later the community started weaving into his life, the store became something bigger—a place of love and connections. Even after A.J. was gone, the bookstore lived on, just like stories do.
And speaking of stories, the books mentioned throughout? Absolute magic. They weren’t just background references—they shaped the plot and the characters’ journeys. A.J.'s notes on short stories reflected his emotional state and books like 'Lamb to the Slaughter' and 'The Tell-Tale Heart' parallel his life in poetic ways.
This novel is a love letter to literature showing how books connect people in the most unexpected ways. A.J. may run the store at first but by the end it belongs to everyone. Like great books, great bookstores never really die—they live on in the people who love them.”Revan Cyrus
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“I read this book in a single day, and even though it was one that came highly recommended by other readers whose opinions and tastes I almost always agree with…I somehow didn’t expect this book to be THIS good and to hit me THAT hard.
A. J. Fikry is not the kind of character everyone will like, and that’s okay, because he’s the kind of character I absolutely adore. I LOVE characters that are cranky and antisocial and who almost never think they’re wrong, but who keep their opinions to themselves (for the most part). They tend to, in my experience, have the most interesting “voice,” and the most room for growth. Which holds true here; if you can get past A. J.’s poor attitude, the payoff is more than worth it.
Overall, the story was cozy and slice-of-life, and I grew to love all of the characters. I wasn’t expecting the ending to be what it was, and I wasn’t expecting to cry as hard as I did. I don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling anything, but suffice to say that this book will forever hold a special place in my heart. 💙”
Roz Kirkelie-Kim
Created about 11 hours agoShare
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About Gabrielle Zevin
Gabrielle Zevin is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than thirty languages. Her eighth novel, The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry, spent more than four months on the New York Times Bestseller list, reached #1 on the National Indie Bestseller list, and has been a bestseller all around the world. The recently published Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, is also a NYT bestseller. She has also written books for children and young adults, including the award-winning Elsewhere.
Other books by Gabrielle Zevin
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