NB. This book is titled The Collected Works of AJ Fikry in some territories.
AJ Fikry is the grumpy owner of Island Books, a bookstore on a fictional touristy island, not far from Boston.
AJ is 39 and grieving the premature death of his wife – he’s drinking too much, living on bad frozen meals and his bookstore is not doing well. Along comes a publishing sales rep called Amelia who tries to sell him the Knightley Press winter list. AJ is horribly rude to her, but she leaves him her favourite book from the winter list, a story about finding love later in life called The Late Bloomer. AJ ignores the book, ignores Amelia and goes on with his very mediocre life.
But then one day a 2-year-old girl, Maya, is left on the bookshop floor with a note attached to her, asking AJ to look after her. Out of necessity, AJ cleans up his act to care for Maya. Years later, he picks up the book Amelia left for him, and loves it. AJ starts a long-distance conversation with her over email – mostly about books – that eventually blossoms into a romantic relationship.
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry is a book about books for people who love them. It’s also been made into a movie recently. But don’t be fooled into thinking it’s a predictable rom-com. This book has some great little twists and turns you don’t see coming, sprinkled with dark humour that never gets too dark. Overall, it’s a lot of fun with some bittersweet moments. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
-Katrina Roe, RRL
