They are not always neat: The Messy Lives of Book People

by Phaedra Patrick

I so enjoyed this author’s last book, The Secrets of Love Story Bridge, and I was very eager to read The Messy Lives of Book People. This latest book is at least as good as that one was.

This is a kind of fairy tale story for those who love books and book references. I enjoyed meeting the famous, if autocratic author, Essie and her cleaner Liv.

Essie is the author of a very popular book series. It is one that Liv has enjoyed since childhood. Liv is thrilled to work as Essie’s cleaner and to spend time with her favorite writer. Readers discover that Live adores books and would have studied English at university had that been possible. It was not. So, Liv married, had two children, put her dreams of writing away, and keeps busy earning money as a cleaner.

The story is predicated on an unexpected request that Essie makes of Liv. Can Live do what she is asked? Readers will surely hope so as they turn the pages of this novel.

I was charmed by this book. All credit to the author She has a wonderful talent for creating characters for whom readers will care.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this title. All opinions are my own.

Pub Date 31 May 2022

From the Publisher