Stephanie Verni

It was an evening in December when the city of Annapolis, Maryland, celebrated "Midnight Madness," an annual holiday event. The night was not one of good cheer for everyone. There are reasons to dine alone in a restaurant. Eva Levoni, Lily Webster, Reid Jones, and Dimitri Vassos should know. They each had their reason–a different reason. They never imagined their individual visits to Brodie’s Books after dinner might impact their futures.

Meg Ellis is the owner of Brodie’s Books, and each day Meg takes 10 letters to the bookstore that she has written. When Meg opens the bookstore in the morning, she doesn’t know who will receive a letter. She makes spontaneous decisions during the day. On leaving the store, the 10 customers will remain unaware until the purchased book is opened at home.

This novel is a beautifully written story. In many ways, it is a letter in itself. A love letter to the joy of books, the joy of letter writing, the joy of a random act of kindness, the joy of new beginnings, the joy of friendship, and all the possibilities that open with a fresh perspective and new collaborations.

Readers may not be bookstore owners, but it does give thoughts of the possibilities of tucking a letter inside a book returned to the library, tucking a letter inside a book given to the library for a used bookshop or donated to a used bookstore, or tucked inside a book placed inside a Little Library. Possibilities. Random Act of Kindness (RAOK). Think of the possibilities this holiday season after reading this extraordinary novel.

Oh, you’re not a letter writer? Perhaps you’ll purchase more copies of the book and tuck a book in a Little Library* near your home or on your way home from work. RAOK. Kindness. Caring. Thoughtfulness. A heartwarming novel comforted me this holiday season and sparked ideas. It can do the same for you. The possibilities are endless.

Book Club Questions are provided at the end of the novel.

*The Little Library website and mobile app have a World Map that is easy to search. Have fun! https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/… (plus d'informations)