Library Journal

A starred review. A STARRED REVIEW!!!

DeFino, Terri-Lynne. The Bar Harbor Retirement Home for Famous Writers (and Their Muses). Morrow Paperbacks. Jun. 2018. 336p. ISBN 9780062742674. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9780062742698. F
The premise and characters of DeFino’s (“Bitterly Suite” series) latest novel will draw in all those who quiver when spotting a bookish title. Literary figures who wowed the masses and whose books are included in college curricula are awaiting one last friend, the great Alfonse Carducci, to join their circle in the stately and quiet home dedicated to retired authors. Cecibel, a young female orderly with a damaged face, evokes an impulse to write again in the moribund Alfonse. As his renewed writing sparks Alfonse’s joy, a second writer is inspired to add a segment with equal pleasure. Soon other residents pick up their pens, and their happiness is restored as they reignite their talents.
Verdict A solid hit, perfect for book clubs and readers who love to read about writers, writing, and books; why we love them; and how they make life worth living.—Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Chicago

Coming June 12, 2018