#REVIEW: THE READERS OF BROKEN WHEEL RECOMMEND by Katarina Bivald (translated by Alice Menzies)

AND/OR - YEP! You guessed it! There are two different covers for this book depending on which type you buy, either print or ebook. I thought I would post both of them for you so you don't get confused!

This book is pictured as the first book now because when I first came upon this book, I found it with the book cover #2. The publisher has since changed the cover, which is not uncommon, especially when it is going 'to' or coming 'from' different countries. We now have this book here in the US as the FIRST cover.
I was, and did pick this book up based upon the Description AND the cover, but now I think the cover we have now does fit this quirky book MUCH, and I would now be LESS apt to have requested it to review. Sorry, just giving my opinion. The cover and the Description would not have matched, and they don't, at least I don't believe they do. I LOVE the "Warning", though!!


DESCRIPTION:

The International Bestseller

Warning: once you let books into your life, the most unexpected things can happen…

This is a book about books. All sorts of books, from Little Women and Harry Potter to Jodi Picoult and Jane Austen, from to Stieg Larsson to Joyce Carol Oates to Proust. It’s about the joy and pleasure of books, about learning from and escaping into them, and possibly even hiding behind them. It’s about whether or not books are better than real life.

It’s also a book about a Swedish girl called Sara, her elderly American penfriend Amy and what happens when you land a very different kind of bookshop in the middle of a town so broken it’s almost beyond repair.

Or is it?

The Readers of Broken Wheel has touches of 84 Charing Cross Road, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Chocolat, but adds an off-beat originality and intelligence all its own.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katrina Bivald

(9781492623441; January 19, 2016; $16.99; Trade Paper Original)

#1 INDIE NEXT GREAT READ January 2016

#2 LibraryReads Picks

Midwest Connections Pick February 2016

“Touching and lively, Bivald’s genuine homage to the power of books vibrates with fondness for small-town life and fascination with its indelible connections.”  

— Booklist

“[A] heartwarming and utterly charming debut novel by Swedish author Bivald…. This gentle, intelligent Midwestern tale will captivate fans of Antoine Laurain’s The Red Notebook, Nina George’s The Little Paris Bookshop, and Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. ­Fikry. An ideal book group selection, it reminds us why we are book lovers and why it’s nice to read a few happy endings.”

— Library Journal (STARRED)

“Between the book references and the idyllic setting, readers won't want to leave Broken Wheel, either.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“Bivald's The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is perfection. Every word on every page is sheer perfection. I haven't been this in love with a book in ages! Sara has traveled all the way from Sweden to meet her pen pal Amy in Broken Wheel, Iowa, only to discover Amy has recently passed away. The townspeople of Broken Wheel quickly adopt Sara as one of their own and what follows is one of the loveliest and endearing books I've encountered in ages! I'll carry this book in my heart for years to come.”—Bess Bleyaert, McLean & Eakin (Petoskey, MI)

“This heartwarming story is the answer for those who loved The Storied Life of AJ Fikry.  Book lovers will applaud Sara and her love of books.  Book clubs will delight in this delightful caper through book-loving middle America. Read this and smile!”

—Nancy Simpson-Brice, Book Vault (Oskaloosa, IA)

“LOVED IT!  Readers will cheer for Sara and all the residents of Broken Wheel as a friendship that began with An Old Fashioned Girl renews and offers hope to an entire town.”

—Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library (Flemington, NJ)

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading [this book]. The descriptive language was wonderful.”

—Lesley Marshall, Perry Branch Library (Gilbert, AZ)

MY TAKE:

4 STARS!

A quirky little book that takes place in a quirky little town, Broken Wheel, Iowa, full of quirky people which all started with a quirky friendship between two women who wrote letters to each other about books. One is from Sweden, Sara, and the other one is Amy, from Broken Wheel, Iowa, who has now been found dead just before Sara got here. Yes, dead. Of all quirky little things? This is a very odd quirky part.
So while Sara is here visiting Amy, she is not getting to visit her at all. She is getting to visit the people of the town, though, and Amy had spoken quite nicely of them, giving Sara expectations of very good people she would be getting to know, and it was exactly that! The people took Amy in under their arms and really helped her out!
This book was so much fun because the author throws all types of references, such as one to the movie 'Green Card' (I think that was a movie!) and several books and authors, too! It's not often that happens! That made this book all the more special to read it! This truly was a fun book to read, and I think you'll enjoy it, too. Personally, I don't want to give away too much about the plot because you will get to figure out too much about the book. We can't have that or else it completely spoils reading the book for you! Trust me, if you LOVE to read, LOVE to hear references to other books and authors, LOVE truly good-hearted people, you're going to LOVE this book, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend! Next thing you'll know is YOU will start your own Book Club where you live! I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley in exchange to read and write a review about it. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to do so, but just to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it and giving my own honest opinion no matter whether it is positive or negative. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the law set here: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html The Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, 16 CFR 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising Federal Acquisition Regulation.

A Note From the Publisher

• The literary focus and bookstore angle will appeal to readers and bibliophiles

• The charming premise combined with the perennially popular small-town setting and absorbing characters make this perfect for book clubs

This book also won 2 awards for January 2016, and they are:

January 2016 LibraryReads selection

January 2016 Indie Next selection