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A Town with Half the Lights On: A Novel
THE INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX's The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about a family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected the legendary May Day Diner.
Welcome to Goodnight, Kansas.
Many Kansans, three New Yorkers, and one chance to save the place they love most
With more wind chimes than residents, folks don't move to Goodnight when their lives are going well. That's why all eyes are on chef Sid Solvang and his family from the moment they turn down Emporia Road to the dilapidated Victorian they inherited.
While Sid searches for work and a way back to Brooklyn, his daughter searches for answers to the cryptic messages her grandfather left behind to save both her family and the town. But then Sid makes an impulsive the fledgling May Day Diner, an iconic eatery under the threat of the wrecking ball.
As the Solvangs search for their ticket out, they discover the truth of one of heart and tradition, of exploitation and greed, and neighbors you would do anything to save. And the Solvangs must navigate all of it—plus a wayward girl named Disco, a host of rambunctious alpacas, and the corrupt factory sustaining the town—in order to find their way back home...wherever that may be.
Told through diary entries, emails, school notes, and an anonymous town paper of the Lady Whistledown variety, A Town with Half the Lights On is a tender testament to the notions that home isn't just the place you live, family isn't just your relatives, and it's almost never easy to find the courage to do what's right.
For readers of J. Ryan Stradal and The Music of Bees (with a dash of FX's The Bear) comes a quirky and refreshing epistolary novel about a family of culture-shocked Brooklynites transplanted to Goodnight, Kansas and their fight for their unexpected the legendary May Day Diner.
Welcome to Goodnight, Kansas.
Many Kansans, three New Yorkers, and one chance to save the place they love most
With more wind chimes than residents, folks don't move to Goodnight when their lives are going well. That's why all eyes are on chef Sid Solvang and his family from the moment they turn down Emporia Road to the dilapidated Victorian they inherited.
While Sid searches for work and a way back to Brooklyn, his daughter searches for answers to the cryptic messages her grandfather left behind to save both her family and the town. But then Sid makes an impulsive the fledgling May Day Diner, an iconic eatery under the threat of the wrecking ball.
As the Solvangs search for their ticket out, they discover the truth of one of heart and tradition, of exploitation and greed, and neighbors you would do anything to save. And the Solvangs must navigate all of it—plus a wayward girl named Disco, a host of rambunctious alpacas, and the corrupt factory sustaining the town—in order to find their way back home...wherever that may be.
Told through diary entries, emails, school notes, and an anonymous town paper of the Lady Whistledown variety, A Town with Half the Lights On is a tender testament to the notions that home isn't just the place you live, family isn't just your relatives, and it's almost never easy to find the courage to do what's right.
377 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2025
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April 22, 2025*DNF at 25%* No Rating on Goodreads
I thought I would love this epistolary novel about three Brooklynites in need of a fresh start who move to Goodnight, Kansas after inheriting a dilapidated Victorian home (And a few Alpacas). Especially when I read that the family purchases the May Day Diner, an iconic eatery under the threat of the wrecking ball.
Told through diary entries, emails, school notes, an anonymous town paper and a few messages in a bottle, I hoped to find the story to be as charming as just about EVERY other reviewer has, but found that I just can’t relate to the town or its quirky residents.
No book is for every reader, and sadly, this one isn’t for me. BE SURE to read other reviews! There are MANY praising this debut offering!
Now available
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an early copy provided through NetGalley.
I thought I would love this epistolary novel about three Brooklynites in need of a fresh start who move to Goodnight, Kansas after inheriting a dilapidated Victorian home (And a few Alpacas). Especially when I read that the family purchases the May Day Diner, an iconic eatery under the threat of the wrecking ball.
Told through diary entries, emails, school notes, an anonymous town paper and a few messages in a bottle, I hoped to find the story to be as charming as just about EVERY other reviewer has, but found that I just can’t relate to the town or its quirky residents.
No book is for every reader, and sadly, this one isn’t for me. BE SURE to read other reviews! There are MANY praising this debut offering!
Now available
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read an early copy provided through NetGalley.
May 8, 2025
3 Stars
One Liner: Interesting but drags on forever!
Goodnight, Kansas
People don’t move to goodnight when everything in their lives is going well. No wonder the entry of Chef Sid Solvang and his family creates curiosity. Sid may not want to cook again ever, but he also doesn’t want to stay in his wife’s childhood hometown. He would find a way to go back to Brooklyn. However, with the local May Day Diner under the threat of being torn down, the citizens will have to work together to save their town.
The story comes in a series of clippings, diary entries, notes, emails, etc.
My Thoughts:
This was an interesting premise, and the epistolary format tempted me. With emails, handwritten notes, journal entries, text messages, and newspaper reports, there is enough variety to mix and match the presentation.
The book starts with the Solvang family entering Goodnight, a remote town in Kansas that relies on the tire factory to provide livelihood and keep the place alive. Right here, you can guess what’s coming.
Of course, there are other items on the checklist – small-town bigotry & bigheartedness, family feud, secrets, Christian zealousness, capitalism/ communism/ socialism drama, conspiracy theories, odd-one-out, down-on-the-luck guy saving a town, spunky teenagers, etc.
While there’s no denying the scattered bits of humor and entertainment, as a package, the book feels underwhelming, like a collection of social topics one has to tick off a list.
My favorite character is Disco, hands down. No one else can take her place at the top. She made the book a lot more enjoyable. Also, whatever emotions I felt were limited to her.
I didn’t expect the book to be so slow. By the time I reached 30%, I was tired and like I had read more than half the book, only to realize otherwise. The middle dragged even more. By the last 30%, I was more than ready to skim and finish it as soon as possible. It’s not really hard to guess most of the twists and reveals. They were very much apparent.
At the end, there’s an interview with the author. Here, she says she could ‘describe a raindrop for three pages’ but... I think this answers why the book feels heavier than it is. It is bloated. Also, the voices aren’t always distinct, and we have many since everyone communicates through emails or notes.
The ending is open and more like a slice-of-life story, so we don’t get answers to all the questions. This is a bit annoying after having to read so much. I’d have preferred a rounded ending with a little happy development, at least for my favorite character.
There are a few quirky or experimental recipes mentioned, and quite a bit of food given, as it is one of the central themes. I don’t care for the other experiments, but tamosa… well, it sounds interesting, though I won’t be first in line to taste it.
To summarize, A Town with Half the Lights On sounds intriguing but doesn’t actually present anything new. It’s a decent read if you enjoy such themes, but the writing style can be a hit or a miss.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: Interesting but drags on forever!
Goodnight, Kansas
People don’t move to goodnight when everything in their lives is going well. No wonder the entry of Chef Sid Solvang and his family creates curiosity. Sid may not want to cook again ever, but he also doesn’t want to stay in his wife’s childhood hometown. He would find a way to go back to Brooklyn. However, with the local May Day Diner under the threat of being torn down, the citizens will have to work together to save their town.
The story comes in a series of clippings, diary entries, notes, emails, etc.
My Thoughts:
This was an interesting premise, and the epistolary format tempted me. With emails, handwritten notes, journal entries, text messages, and newspaper reports, there is enough variety to mix and match the presentation.
The book starts with the Solvang family entering Goodnight, a remote town in Kansas that relies on the tire factory to provide livelihood and keep the place alive. Right here, you can guess what’s coming.
Of course, there are other items on the checklist – small-town bigotry & bigheartedness, family feud, secrets, Christian zealousness, capitalism/ communism/ socialism drama, conspiracy theories, odd-one-out, down-on-the-luck guy saving a town, spunky teenagers, etc.
While there’s no denying the scattered bits of humor and entertainment, as a package, the book feels underwhelming, like a collection of social topics one has to tick off a list.
My favorite character is Disco, hands down. No one else can take her place at the top. She made the book a lot more enjoyable. Also, whatever emotions I felt were limited to her.
I didn’t expect the book to be so slow. By the time I reached 30%, I was tired and like I had read more than half the book, only to realize otherwise. The middle dragged even more. By the last 30%, I was more than ready to skim and finish it as soon as possible. It’s not really hard to guess most of the twists and reveals. They were very much apparent.
At the end, there’s an interview with the author. Here, she says she could ‘describe a raindrop for three pages’ but... I think this answers why the book feels heavier than it is. It is bloated. Also, the voices aren’t always distinct, and we have many since everyone communicates through emails or notes.
The ending is open and more like a slice-of-life story, so we don’t get answers to all the questions. This is a bit annoying after having to read so much. I’d have preferred a rounded ending with a little happy development, at least for my favorite character.
There are a few quirky or experimental recipes mentioned, and quite a bit of food given, as it is one of the central themes. I don’t care for the other experiments, but tamosa… well, it sounds interesting, though I won’t be first in line to taste it.
To summarize, A Town with Half the Lights On sounds intriguing but doesn’t actually present anything new. It’s a decent read if you enjoy such themes, but the writing style can be a hit or a miss.
Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
April 8, 2025
“I think we drove through the whole town in five minutes”
- Harlem Solvang
I first came across this story from GR friend, MonReads, and her lovely 5star review about the story of the Solvang family’s arrival in "Goodnight, Kansas, where there are no strangers." It sounded like my kind of story and I knew I had to have it.
The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline for this epistolary story told through a series of emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and even a will along with anything else written by the Solvang family and/or the residents of Goodnight, KS regarding the plight of their town and the May Day Diner. The May Day Diner has been a beloved and historic establishment of Goodnight for decades, but with the declining population of Goodnight, the elderly owners want out. A local real estate developer wants to buy it cheap and turn it into a Taco Bell or a Burger King.
Sid Solvang, a failed chef, fled Brooklyn, NY after bankrupting the family deli that had been in his family for three generations. Sid’s wife, Scarlet, who is also a chef, was the youngest daughter of Alpaca farmer Pops Bannister. Scarlet left Goodnight 20+yrs ago and fled to NY to become a chef and never looked back. After she and Sid failed miserably in NY, broke with nowhere else to go, Scarlet drags her family back to Goodnight after learning she was the sole beneficiary of the family farm after her father’s death. Needless to say, this did not go over well with her three older sisters who didn’t leave KS and stayed to take care of their Pops before he died of cancer.
There is also a secondary storyline of Harlem Solvang believing that her grandfather has left some treasure somewhere on the property and she is determined to find it and use it to get her family back to Brooklyn asap. Through all the emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and secret notes between the Solvang family and their loved ones back home in Brooklyn and their new friends and neighbors in Goodnight, the reader learns about the history of Goodnight as well as the current state of the residents and business owners.
Among the residents there is poverty and hardship at the mercy of corporate corruption, fraud and greed. There was a divided town because of their loyalties to those modern-day robber barons and eventually community pride and advocacy from the residents that stood together for their survival and eventually bring down those same robber barons.
“It’s contrary to every instinct of self-preservation to share a dream with a world that doesn’t need another dream and one so hostile to dreamers.” - Sid Solvang
For the Solvang family, there were failed dreams and the development of new dreams as well as loss of family and the creation of new family relationships. There was the reality of discovering that “home” doesn’t always have to be the place where you were born and raised, but rather that place that you find where you feel loved, seen and heard and where you want to be more than anywhere else. At this moment, I am reminded of a distinction I learned a long time ago. I can’t remember where I learned it, I am tempted to say my Gramy Jules (she was infamous for her sayings) because she didn’t believe in luck – good or bad, which is something that I definitely learned from her.
”Fate is what happens to you and destiny is what you make happen”
Anyway, I loved the development of so many of the characters, especially the Solvangs. The pacing was steady and the storyline very interesting. The writing was wonderful and I loved all the different types of mediums that were included in telling the story. I especially loved the ending! Please Ms Getz!!! More Goodnight, KS!!! I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and as much as I enjoy audiobooks, I think I liked the ebook better for this story. I think for stories like this, listening to the narrator rattle off email addresses, oh idk, about a gazillion times , got kind of annoying. I’m not marking the audiobook down for that, I just wanted to mention it. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #TantorAudio #ATownwithHalftheLightsOn
I first came across this story from GR friend, MonReads, and her lovely 5star review about the story of the Solvang family’s arrival in "Goodnight, Kansas, where there are no strangers." It sounded like my kind of story and I knew I had to have it.
The book summary basically introduces the primary storyline for this epistolary story told through a series of emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and even a will along with anything else written by the Solvang family and/or the residents of Goodnight, KS regarding the plight of their town and the May Day Diner. The May Day Diner has been a beloved and historic establishment of Goodnight for decades, but with the declining population of Goodnight, the elderly owners want out. A local real estate developer wants to buy it cheap and turn it into a Taco Bell or a Burger King.
Sid Solvang, a failed chef, fled Brooklyn, NY after bankrupting the family deli that had been in his family for three generations. Sid’s wife, Scarlet, who is also a chef, was the youngest daughter of Alpaca farmer Pops Bannister. Scarlet left Goodnight 20+yrs ago and fled to NY to become a chef and never looked back. After she and Sid failed miserably in NY, broke with nowhere else to go, Scarlet drags her family back to Goodnight after learning she was the sole beneficiary of the family farm after her father’s death. Needless to say, this did not go over well with her three older sisters who didn’t leave KS and stayed to take care of their Pops before he died of cancer.
There is also a secondary storyline of Harlem Solvang believing that her grandfather has left some treasure somewhere on the property and she is determined to find it and use it to get her family back to Brooklyn asap. Through all the emails, local newspaper articles, journal entries, prayers and secret notes between the Solvang family and their loved ones back home in Brooklyn and their new friends and neighbors in Goodnight, the reader learns about the history of Goodnight as well as the current state of the residents and business owners.
Among the residents there is poverty and hardship at the mercy of corporate corruption, fraud and greed. There was a divided town because of their loyalties to those modern-day robber barons and eventually community pride and advocacy from the residents that stood together for their survival and eventually bring down those same robber barons.
“It’s contrary to every instinct of self-preservation to share a dream with a world that doesn’t need another dream and one so hostile to dreamers.” - Sid Solvang
For the Solvang family, there were failed dreams and the development of new dreams as well as loss of family and the creation of new family relationships. There was the reality of discovering that “home” doesn’t always have to be the place where you were born and raised, but rather that place that you find where you feel loved, seen and heard and where you want to be more than anywhere else. At this moment, I am reminded of a distinction I learned a long time ago. I can’t remember where I learned it, I am tempted to say my Gramy Jules (she was infamous for her sayings) because she didn’t believe in luck – good or bad, which is something that I definitely learned from her.
”Fate is what happens to you and destiny is what you make happen”
Anyway, I loved the development of so many of the characters, especially the Solvangs. The pacing was steady and the storyline very interesting. The writing was wonderful and I loved all the different types of mediums that were included in telling the story. I especially loved the ending! Please Ms Getz!!! More Goodnight, KS!!! I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook and as much as I enjoy audiobooks, I think I liked the ebook better for this story. I think for stories like this, listening to the narrator rattle off email addresses, oh idk, about a gazillion times , got kind of annoying. I’m not marking the audiobook down for that, I just wanted to mention it. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.5 that I will be rounding up to a 5star review. I want to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Tantor Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark #TantorAudio #ATownwithHalftheLightsOn
dnf
April 11, 2025DNF at 14%
This definitely has bold and intriguing choices, but the style -a group of letters, emails, magazine clippings- made it hard for me to follow, get invested, understand who the characters are, and see where the story is going.
The blurb does mention that this is the storytelling method used, and this is probably as much a me-problem as it is additional things I needed from the clippings.
The email addresses were confusing. Maybe if the domains were all the same, it would have helped to keep track and not get confused.
It was not clear who is related to whom, their ages, how their relationships are happening. The dates were also confusing because I couldn't keep a track of time (maybe if we had the date + hour the email was sent it would be easier?)
It also felt like the emails really wanted to have an informal and friendly tone, but for the sake of writing a better piece, the author had to make certain choices in the style that made it feel odd for me. Like not quite an email between siblings or aunt-niece, but also not quite a proper English written email.
The magazine clippings and shorter letters were easier to track and get into because of their style.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC. I'm actually sad this one didn't quite work for me.
--
Pre-read:
Been in my library for a couple of months so I guess it's time!!
This definitely has bold and intriguing choices, but the style -a group of letters, emails, magazine clippings- made it hard for me to follow, get invested, understand who the characters are, and see where the story is going.
The blurb does mention that this is the storytelling method used, and this is probably as much a me-problem as it is additional things I needed from the clippings.
The email addresses were confusing. Maybe if the domains were all the same, it would have helped to keep track and not get confused.
It was not clear who is related to whom, their ages, how their relationships are happening. The dates were also confusing because I couldn't keep a track of time (maybe if we had the date + hour the email was sent it would be easier?)
It also felt like the emails really wanted to have an informal and friendly tone, but for the sake of writing a better piece, the author had to make certain choices in the style that made it feel odd for me. Like not quite an email between siblings or aunt-niece, but also not quite a proper English written email.
The magazine clippings and shorter letters were easier to track and get into because of their style.
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eARC. I'm actually sad this one didn't quite work for me.
--
Pre-read:
Been in my library for a couple of months so I guess it's time!!
June 10, 2025
(3.75 stars)
A Town With Half The Lights On is a charming fish-out-of-water story that takes place in very small town, down-on-its-luck Goodnight, Kansas, somewhere near the Missouri border.
The Solvang family needed to get away from Brooklyn, New York, after a disaster created by chef dad, Sid, at his family’s decades-old delicatessen. They wind up moving to Goodnight where mom Scarlet grew up, a place she thought she’d never return to (she’s also a chef, concentrating on baking). Scarlet inherited her father’s home in this dying town. It comes complete with a few alpacas. Their daughter Harlem struggles to fit in but eventually becomes friends with another teen girl, Disco, who also definitely doesn’t fit in with the very traditional and very Christian population. (The Solvang family is Jewish but only in a very surface way. I was actually a bit surprised that the locals referred to them simply as the New Yorkers or the outsiders; I was prepared for much worse.)
The book is a patchwork narratively. It’s basically an epistolary novel. There are lots of emails, articles in the local newspaper (gossip rag!), letters to that newspaper, notes passed in class between the two girls, and more. This led to a lot of repetition of email addresses, for example. The email addresses were pretty funny/characteristic of the person though, which made it easier to remember who was emailing who. Examples: Sid is “BrooklynCalling@Zoomail.com”, the local pastor is “HumbleServant@GoodShepard9street.com”, the feisty waitress at the diner, Bailey, is “HellRazor@Shotmail.com”, Harlem is “TorturedSol@Zoomail.com”, and another townsperson is “HolyRoller316@prairienet.com.”
While I really enjoyed the story, some of the plot was pretty predictable. Outsider saves the town diner and rundown hotel, local factory owners don’t care about their workers or the town’s environment, and so forth.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
A Town With Half The Lights On is a charming fish-out-of-water story that takes place in very small town, down-on-its-luck Goodnight, Kansas, somewhere near the Missouri border.
The Solvang family needed to get away from Brooklyn, New York, after a disaster created by chef dad, Sid, at his family’s decades-old delicatessen. They wind up moving to Goodnight where mom Scarlet grew up, a place she thought she’d never return to (she’s also a chef, concentrating on baking). Scarlet inherited her father’s home in this dying town. It comes complete with a few alpacas. Their daughter Harlem struggles to fit in but eventually becomes friends with another teen girl, Disco, who also definitely doesn’t fit in with the very traditional and very Christian population. (The Solvang family is Jewish but only in a very surface way. I was actually a bit surprised that the locals referred to them simply as the New Yorkers or the outsiders; I was prepared for much worse.)
The book is a patchwork narratively. It’s basically an epistolary novel. There are lots of emails, articles in the local newspaper (gossip rag!), letters to that newspaper, notes passed in class between the two girls, and more. This led to a lot of repetition of email addresses, for example. The email addresses were pretty funny/characteristic of the person though, which made it easier to remember who was emailing who. Examples: Sid is “BrooklynCalling@Zoomail.com”, the local pastor is “HumbleServant@GoodShepard9street.com”, the feisty waitress at the diner, Bailey, is “HellRazor@Shotmail.com”, Harlem is “TorturedSol@Zoomail.com”, and another townsperson is “HolyRoller316@prairienet.com.”
While I really enjoyed the story, some of the plot was pretty predictable. Outsider saves the town diner and rundown hotel, local factory owners don’t care about their workers or the town’s environment, and so forth.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 25, 2024
Such a cute comfort read for anyone who loves a good small town story with cooking and laughs
April 6, 2025
I’ll start off by saying that I am a fan of anything that gives Stars Hollow/ Gilmore Girls vibes. This did exactly that in all the best ways. I love all the quirky characters and the added aspect of the town being extremely religious. The story was cute and the twist at the end with the editor was predictable yet charming.
The style of this book is very different than what I’d normally read, but I actually enjoyed it. It was a cool way to really get to know all the characters and see things from so many different point of views. The problem I had with the audio was that when it came to reading the emails, the constant saying of the email addresses got extremely annoying. I felt like every other word was @ .com at one point. I feel like if I read this book instead, I would have enjoyed it much more. Still though, I will be recommending this to anyone who likes Gilmore Girls.
Story 4/5
Audio 2/5
The style of this book is very different than what I’d normally read, but I actually enjoyed it. It was a cool way to really get to know all the characters and see things from so many different point of views. The problem I had with the audio was that when it came to reading the emails, the constant saying of the email addresses got extremely annoying. I felt like every other word was @ .com at one point. I feel like if I read this book instead, I would have enjoyed it much more. Still though, I will be recommending this to anyone who likes Gilmore Girls.
Story 4/5
Audio 2/5
April 22, 2025
Happy publication day 🥳🎉🎧
It’s quite rare for me to find a book that I feel would work so much better in physical format, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this title. Infact I found it funny sweet and endearing. I did struggle to get up and running with it though.
I loved the cozy small town vibe, the sniping back and forth and the gossip that travelled via email, the town paper and passed notes. What I loved even more was when the whole town eventually rally together and learn to love one another, differences and all.
I enjoyed the narration a lot, Hilary Huber done a great job, but as I mentioned I did find it jarring for around the first 30% and definitely feel I’d have been able to rate a print copy higher, had that been a possibility.
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley fir the opportunity to review the ALC 🎧
Special mention to the indigestion that has me awake at 3am writing this review 😨
It’s quite rare for me to find a book that I feel would work so much better in physical format, that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy this title. Infact I found it funny sweet and endearing. I did struggle to get up and running with it though.
I loved the cozy small town vibe, the sniping back and forth and the gossip that travelled via email, the town paper and passed notes. What I loved even more was when the whole town eventually rally together and learn to love one another, differences and all.
I enjoyed the narration a lot, Hilary Huber done a great job, but as I mentioned I did find it jarring for around the first 30% and definitely feel I’d have been able to rate a print copy higher, had that been a possibility.
Huge thanks to Tantor Audio via NetGalley fir the opportunity to review the ALC 🎧
Special mention to the indigestion that has me awake at 3am writing this review 😨
December 5, 2025
A Town with Half the Lights On
, by Page Getz reminds me in some ways of my favorite Christmas movie - It’s a Wonderful Life. . .as I read Sid Solvang and his family looked a lot like Jimmy Stewart's. . .they save the whole town with the flawed-yet-somehow-perfect-for-that-place intentions of their hearts.
First to understand is that this is a story told by ephemera, diary pages, tickets, notes, letters, scraps of maps, notes slipped under doors. Oh and recipes. An old painted lady (Victorian House) is saved, a restaurant revived, goats shamed, alpacas revived, dna discovered, lakes uncovered, music written, guitars and accordions played, tomatoes praised, glitter sprinkled.
Second, we (the readers) are in Goodnight, Kansas brought in with the luggage of the Solvangs who are escaping from New York on the wings of a questionable inheritance of Mrs. Solvang, nee Bannister. They plan on fighting their way back to NY after a financial upturn in the midwest – without a workable idea among them for making that upturn occur. Much of the town is out of work, looking for work, or underemployed. The rest are getting ready to decamp in hopes of greener pastures.
There’s a little bit of everything here. Buckle up, Buttercup. . . .it’s a worthy, quirky ride.
*A sincere thank you to Page Getz, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #ATownwithHalftheLightsOn #NetGalley 25|52:32e
First to understand is that this is a story told by ephemera, diary pages, tickets, notes, letters, scraps of maps, notes slipped under doors. Oh and recipes. An old painted lady (Victorian House) is saved, a restaurant revived, goats shamed, alpacas revived, dna discovered, lakes uncovered, music written, guitars and accordions played, tomatoes praised, glitter sprinkled.
Second, we (the readers) are in Goodnight, Kansas brought in with the luggage of the Solvangs who are escaping from New York on the wings of a questionable inheritance of Mrs. Solvang, nee Bannister. They plan on fighting their way back to NY after a financial upturn in the midwest – without a workable idea among them for making that upturn occur. Much of the town is out of work, looking for work, or underemployed. The rest are getting ready to decamp in hopes of greener pastures.
There’s a little bit of everything here. Buckle up, Buttercup. . . .it’s a worthy, quirky ride.
*A sincere thank you to Page Getz, Tantor Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #ATownwithHalftheLightsOn #NetGalley 25|52:32e
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April 21, 2025A Town With Half The Lights On by Paige Getts is a great novel told through emails the local paper and other missives and it begins with Sydney Charlotte and Harlan all moving to good night Kentucky from Brooklyn New York. Her daddy recently died and instead of giving it to her three older sisters he gives it to Charlotte who left 20 years before and hasn’t looked back. In the beginning all you read is complaints and whining about their move from the big city to a place they could see children of the corn part two happening. Instead of traffic and busy people they hear church bells and birds, namely of the emu variety and Shelby isn’t down with it. not that mom Charlotte and daughter Harlan want this to be permanent either. yes before Charlotte left for cooking school and upon her return the skills she’s learned will have a big thing to do with the towns recovery. This book was not only funny but heartwarming as well. I love that even when the restaurant got up and going and everyone loved it they still every now and then spoke of going back to Brooklyn so halfheartedly. I did get tired of hearing the.com at the beginning of each email but ultimately it is a small price to pay to read such an entertaining funny heartwarming story. There was so much greatness about this book and the only negative I have is the.com reoccurrence but I loved Bailey’s logic and philosophy I wish I could taste Melba‘s tomatoes lol and eat at the Mayday, while staying at the hallelujah Inn. Such a great awesome read. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,#PageGets, #ATownWithHalfTheLightsOn,
November 2, 2025
This novel was a delightful surprise—I didn’t expect to like the format. It totally works. Nor did I expect so much substance—so many interesting takeaways and such positive impact on my emotions. I won’t offer a synopsis as so many others have done. But I will call this one out as a must read of the year—because it will fill all the places in you that you didn’t even know needed filling up. Want to laugh? Want to cry? Want to be entertained and amused? Want to be intelligently piqued? Want to be nourished in multiple ways? READ THIS. Perfect book club selection. Thank you to the gifted author, Page Getz.
December 2, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the eARC! I was intrigued by the premise but reeled in by the epistolary novel aspect - I’m a sucker for an epistolary novel. This book was so well-done. All of the characters were fully developed and the letters, emails, and newspaper excerpts were so satisfying in terms of pulling the story together. This small town story feels timeless and yet modern, unfortunately, struggle is universal and much of the divide here mirrors what we see today. Although some of the themes aren’t comforting, this book truly was. I absolutely loved it! The food descriptions were also so interesting! I would have loved recipes!
April 14, 2025
I absolutely love an epistolary novel, I feel like I rarely come across one, so I was super excited to get my hands on this one. I think they can be difficult to pull off, but the author did an amazing job tying everything together here and I know it couldn’t have been easy. There are so many characters and so many pieces of them throughout, whether it’s from their journal entries or emails, or even a note passed during math class and this gave the whole book such a fly on the wall feeling. The town of Goodnight is super quirky and charming in its own way and the residents match that as well, so lots of fun and cute moments but there was also a lot of depth here as well. Each character was fully fleshed out and I felt like I truly knew them by the end and the plot was fun and unique. Overall a really sweet and heartwarming read that I enjoyed so much.
April 21, 2025
A Town with Half the Lights On by Page Getz. Thanks to @bookmarked for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Solvangs move from New York City to Goodnight, Kansas after their restaurant failed. Now they take up a local iconic diner to try to bring it to success.
This story really captures small time life, the good and bad, as well as all its quirky characters. The style is unique, as it’s an epistolary novel told in letters, articles, and emails. It’s a very cozy tale and has is a feel good story, which is sometimes just what you need. Parts in the middle were slow at times but then it would pick up.
“I’m pretty sure a town like this would’ve burned people like us at the stake 300 years ago.”
A Town with Half the Lights On comes out 4/22.
The Solvangs move from New York City to Goodnight, Kansas after their restaurant failed. Now they take up a local iconic diner to try to bring it to success.
This story really captures small time life, the good and bad, as well as all its quirky characters. The style is unique, as it’s an epistolary novel told in letters, articles, and emails. It’s a very cozy tale and has is a feel good story, which is sometimes just what you need. Parts in the middle were slow at times but then it would pick up.
“I’m pretty sure a town like this would’ve burned people like us at the stake 300 years ago.”
A Town with Half the Lights On comes out 4/22.
December 22, 2025
3.5
This was not among my favorite epistolary novels. It felt like two competing stories with no clear focus. In one, a family from NYC moves to small-town Kansas after the father fails at running a restaurant. Alongside that story, the town undergoes a large labor strike at its largest employer after the company is exposed for fraud and environmental violations. The two storylines intersected but, for me, each one was a distraction from the other.
This was not among my favorite epistolary novels. It felt like two competing stories with no clear focus. In one, a family from NYC moves to small-town Kansas after the father fails at running a restaurant. Alongside that story, the town undergoes a large labor strike at its largest employer after the company is exposed for fraud and environmental violations. The two storylines intersected but, for me, each one was a distraction from the other.
September 26, 2024
My very first ARC! I really, really enjoyed this book. I love an epistolary novel, because it keeps things interesting with the constant pov change. I really loved the characters and the short chapter about Jewish deli food. I thought about kugel and knishes for hours afterwards. Overall just a very heartwarming book and soothing pre-election. Very humanizing. I loved it when the republicans hypocrisy is unveiled!
I think this will be a great book club read, and there are already questions in the back.
I think this will be a great book club read, and there are already questions in the back.
September 11, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Told in emails, notes, letters, and newspaper articles, this story was very cute. Small town vibes with a lovely diner and lots of cooking is a theme I love so I was attracted to it and I really enjoyed Sid’s character as well as the Reverend’s.
Some parts I didnt really enjoy, like the yodeling. But it was so wholesome that I don’t care. So many little passages and expressions made me laugh.
In the conversation with the author at the end, when asked what she wanted readers to get from this book, the author said comfort and that’s exactly what I got.
Told in emails, notes, letters, and newspaper articles, this story was very cute. Small town vibes with a lovely diner and lots of cooking is a theme I love so I was attracted to it and I really enjoyed Sid’s character as well as the Reverend’s.
Some parts I didnt really enjoy, like the yodeling. But it was so wholesome that I don’t care. So many little passages and expressions made me laugh.
In the conversation with the author at the end, when asked what she wanted readers to get from this book, the author said comfort and that’s exactly what I got.
July 27, 2025
I was so so skeptical of this book when I first cracked it open—not a reader who usually enjoys this type of format. But I fell in love with Goodnight just as quickly as the Solvang's did.
This book was exactly what I needed.
This book was exactly what I needed.
April 29, 2025
thank you to sourcebooks landmark for sending me a finished copy 🥰
i really enjoyed this book! i’ve never read a fully epistolary novel before and it was super fun and different. it almost made me feel like i was reading faster than usual since the pages are sort of “broken up” by the different formats of communication.
one crazyyyy thing that my life and this book have in common is we both take place in kansas 🤪 i by no means think that you have to be from kansas or the midwest to enjoy this book in its entirety. if you like small town vibes and a sense of community and quirky side characters, you will probably enjoy this book too! i did relate a lot to certain things and chuckled at a few of the references (like the infamous kstate wildcats and ku jayhawks rivalry that was briefly mentioned) which added a level of immersion for me specifically.
the characters in this book really grew on me by the end! i think sid and disco are my favorite characters. the writing, the characters, and even the plot reminded me of fredrik backman’s style sometimes. we have the main character who is down on his luck and is pessimistic about his life, and then he is thrown into circumstances and finds connections with people in his community that ultimately give him a purpose and teaches him important life lessons. it reminded me a little of a man called ove by fredrik backman.
i recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a novel that is written fully in email chains, newspaper clippings, journal entries, and messages in bottles! if you love reading about a small town too. AND there is even a mystery element as well!
i really enjoyed this book! i’ve never read a fully epistolary novel before and it was super fun and different. it almost made me feel like i was reading faster than usual since the pages are sort of “broken up” by the different formats of communication.
one crazyyyy thing that my life and this book have in common is we both take place in kansas 🤪 i by no means think that you have to be from kansas or the midwest to enjoy this book in its entirety. if you like small town vibes and a sense of community and quirky side characters, you will probably enjoy this book too! i did relate a lot to certain things and chuckled at a few of the references (like the infamous kstate wildcats and ku jayhawks rivalry that was briefly mentioned) which added a level of immersion for me specifically.
the characters in this book really grew on me by the end! i think sid and disco are my favorite characters. the writing, the characters, and even the plot reminded me of fredrik backman’s style sometimes. we have the main character who is down on his luck and is pessimistic about his life, and then he is thrown into circumstances and finds connections with people in his community that ultimately give him a purpose and teaches him important life lessons. it reminded me a little of a man called ove by fredrik backman.
i recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a novel that is written fully in email chains, newspaper clippings, journal entries, and messages in bottles! if you love reading about a small town too. AND there is even a mystery element as well!
July 14, 2025
This book is warm and comforting, just like Sid's soup. Go read it. Right now.
April 25, 2025
When Scarlet's father passes away and she inherits his old home and plot of land, her and her family find themselves treking from Brooklyn to a small town called Goodnight, Kansas. Her husband Sid just recently ran the diner his father and grandfather had before him into the ground and is looking for some time to distance himself from that fiasco, while saving up money to begin again in Brooklyn. What the family doesn't expect is for the city and people of Goodnight to change their lives in the way that they do.
A TOWN WITH HALF THE LIGHTS ON by Page Getz is a small town contemporary focused on love, loss, community, and failure.
It's an epistolary novel, meaning it's told entirely through emails, journal entries, newspaper articles, and letters, which I truly loved. It poses quite the challenge for the author when it comes to presenting us with a full story through these pointed views, bur Page did a wonderful job.
I laughed, I cried, I wanted to eat some really good food, and I just really enjoyed my time in Goodnight. The cast of characters was fun and sometimes kooky and I loved seeing them rally around one another when the going got tough.
At this point in writing this review, I'm realizing this is A DEBUT - I can only begin to imagine what Page might have in store for us next!
Thanks to NetGalley Sourcebooks Landmark for an early copy for review - out now!
A TOWN WITH HALF THE LIGHTS ON by Page Getz is a small town contemporary focused on love, loss, community, and failure.
It's an epistolary novel, meaning it's told entirely through emails, journal entries, newspaper articles, and letters, which I truly loved. It poses quite the challenge for the author when it comes to presenting us with a full story through these pointed views, bur Page did a wonderful job.
I laughed, I cried, I wanted to eat some really good food, and I just really enjoyed my time in Goodnight. The cast of characters was fun and sometimes kooky and I loved seeing them rally around one another when the going got tough.
At this point in writing this review, I'm realizing this is A DEBUT - I can only begin to imagine what Page might have in store for us next!
Thanks to NetGalley Sourcebooks Landmark for an early copy for review - out now!
April 26, 2025
It’s been such a long time since I felt so completely invested in a story. My first thought after finishing this book was simply: five stars don't even begin to do it justice.
It combines so many of my favorite elements—an epistolary format + a found family + a charming small-town setting + and a cast of lovable characters. I especially loved how the story gave attention to the main family as well as many of the side characters. I felt so immersed in the story of each individual.
The novel is told entirely through letters, emails, diary entries, local newspaper columns, notes passed between teenagers, school reports, and more. Since I listened to the audiobook version, it was a bit confusing at first to keep track of everything and everyone, but I soon got the hang of it. That said, I do think this is a book that would shine even more if read in physical or ebook format.
At its heart, the story follows the Solvang family, who move from New York to the small town of Goodnight, Kansas, after facing a personal misfortune. Goodnight is a close knit town full of eccentric charm. Together with some of the townsfolk, the Solvangs set out to save the beloved local diner, protect the spirit of their community, and stand against the looming threat of corporate greed from a large tire factory. You will meet their three alpacas, go on a treasure hunt with two teenagers and read the Town's newspaper which is written anonymously by the townsfolk only.
This one is so underrated with only just 138 ratings on Goodreads and I haven’t seen many people talking about it, even though it has only recently been released. It definitely deserves a lot more love and attention!
It was such a wholesome and beautiful read; I loved it to pieces. This book felt like a long comforting hug and one I will come back to again and again.
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @tantoraudio for providing me with a review copy of this beautiful book.
It combines so many of my favorite elements—an epistolary format + a found family + a charming small-town setting + and a cast of lovable characters. I especially loved how the story gave attention to the main family as well as many of the side characters. I felt so immersed in the story of each individual.
The novel is told entirely through letters, emails, diary entries, local newspaper columns, notes passed between teenagers, school reports, and more. Since I listened to the audiobook version, it was a bit confusing at first to keep track of everything and everyone, but I soon got the hang of it. That said, I do think this is a book that would shine even more if read in physical or ebook format.
At its heart, the story follows the Solvang family, who move from New York to the small town of Goodnight, Kansas, after facing a personal misfortune. Goodnight is a close knit town full of eccentric charm. Together with some of the townsfolk, the Solvangs set out to save the beloved local diner, protect the spirit of their community, and stand against the looming threat of corporate greed from a large tire factory. You will meet their three alpacas, go on a treasure hunt with two teenagers and read the Town's newspaper which is written anonymously by the townsfolk only.
This one is so underrated with only just 138 ratings on Goodreads and I haven’t seen many people talking about it, even though it has only recently been released. It definitely deserves a lot more love and attention!
It was such a wholesome and beautiful read; I loved it to pieces. This book felt like a long comforting hug and one I will come back to again and again.
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @tantoraudio for providing me with a review copy of this beautiful book.
April 25, 2025
Page Getz's "A Town with Half the Lights On" is a page-turning story with varied characters and gripping mysteries in a gossip-filled and opinionated small town that feels positively alive, and that you both grow to hate and grow fond of. With sprinkles of wholesomeness and kindness yet also a serving of frustration seasoned with narrow-mindedness, Getz basically shows both the best and the worst in people.
As you might have read, the story is entirely made out of emails (loved the email addresses), newspaper excerpts, notes, and even messages in bottles. This epistolary style was just a tad slow to get into and would probably be better suitable for print rather than audio format, but it was refreshingly creative, felt unique and turned the story into bite-sized pieces of the Goodnight, Kansas puzzle. Slowly unearthing and/or burying the "veritable" skeletons in everyone and everything's closets was satisfying as heck.
Another thing that got me is just how much fun it was to read! The natural, character-driven humour had me chuckling all throughout, characters all had their unique voices - both thanks to the writing and the talented audiobook narrator, Hillary Huber.
Although the characters felt a bit far away from me to relate, Getz did manage to make me believe what these characters are struggling with and why they are struggling through the various points of view. And I did really get quite hungry due to some of the amazing-sounding food descriptions!
Overall, would recommend to pick this book up for a really fun time of New Yorkers moving to a small town in the Midwest with all the quirky characters that come with it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio/Recorded Books for providing this audiobook!
As you might have read, the story is entirely made out of emails (loved the email addresses), newspaper excerpts, notes, and even messages in bottles. This epistolary style was just a tad slow to get into and would probably be better suitable for print rather than audio format, but it was refreshingly creative, felt unique and turned the story into bite-sized pieces of the Goodnight, Kansas puzzle. Slowly unearthing and/or burying the "veritable" skeletons in everyone and everything's closets was satisfying as heck.
Another thing that got me is just how much fun it was to read! The natural, character-driven humour had me chuckling all throughout, characters all had their unique voices - both thanks to the writing and the talented audiobook narrator, Hillary Huber.
Although the characters felt a bit far away from me to relate, Getz did manage to make me believe what these characters are struggling with and why they are struggling through the various points of view. And I did really get quite hungry due to some of the amazing-sounding food descriptions!
Overall, would recommend to pick this book up for a really fun time of New Yorkers moving to a small town in the Midwest with all the quirky characters that come with it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Audio/Recorded Books for providing this audiobook!
April 20, 2025
This will EASILY be a favorite book of 2025 and it’s one I won’t be forgetting any time soon. Bizarrely delightful and delightfully bizarre, A Town With Half the Lights On is a love letter to community, small towns and perseverance. Written entirely through emails, newspaper articles, letters and diary entries, you can’t help but be completely immersed in the tiny town Goodnight, Kansas and all of its residents. There were moments where I laughed out loud at some of the antics and dialogue (in the best way) and moments where I found myself tearing up at how the community rallied around each other. It’s a very timely novel, especially with the theme of standing up to the bad behavior of corporations and the right to protest. I truthfully did not want this book to end. It was just so lovely. It’s a slower burn of a story and very much a character study, but it was right up my alley and I’m so glad I got to read it.
CW: mentions of animal death, bullying, religious bigotry, parental death
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced digital reader’s copy!
CW: mentions of animal death, bullying, religious bigotry, parental death
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced digital reader’s copy!
April 6, 2025
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copy of A Town With Half the Lights On, an unexpected hit! It’s out 4/22.
Normally I’m not the biggest fan of epistolary novels, but this one had me hooked from page one. The format is surprisingly easy to follow (so much so that I might change my stance on the modern epistolary novel!). It features the exact right amount of characters to keep the format fresh and interesting, but not so many that I couldn’t keep track of the important players. The writing also strikes the right balance between reality and storytelling to keep readers engaged.
Beyond the format, I really liked the plot itself! It’s a family “fish out of water” story centered on the Solvang family. After running their Brooklyn deli out of business, they’re forced to relocate to Goodnight, Kansas, where the wife/mom grew up and where her recently deceased father left them his home. What unfolds is a classic “who saves who” story, where the Solvangs need the town, the town needs the Solvangs, and they both save each other.
Told through emails, diary entries, town newspaper clippings, and more, this book captures the magic of small towns and the power of second chances. It’s absolutely heartwarming and not one I’ll forget anytime soon.
Audio: Hillary Huber (LOVE!) narrates, so the audiobook is of course fantastic. I do recognize that epistolary novels can be trickier to follow when listening rather than eye reading, so just make sure to choose the format that will be easiest for you to follow and enjoy!
Normally I’m not the biggest fan of epistolary novels, but this one had me hooked from page one. The format is surprisingly easy to follow (so much so that I might change my stance on the modern epistolary novel!). It features the exact right amount of characters to keep the format fresh and interesting, but not so many that I couldn’t keep track of the important players. The writing also strikes the right balance between reality and storytelling to keep readers engaged.
Beyond the format, I really liked the plot itself! It’s a family “fish out of water” story centered on the Solvang family. After running their Brooklyn deli out of business, they’re forced to relocate to Goodnight, Kansas, where the wife/mom grew up and where her recently deceased father left them his home. What unfolds is a classic “who saves who” story, where the Solvangs need the town, the town needs the Solvangs, and they both save each other.
Told through emails, diary entries, town newspaper clippings, and more, this book captures the magic of small towns and the power of second chances. It’s absolutely heartwarming and not one I’ll forget anytime soon.
Audio: Hillary Huber (LOVE!) narrates, so the audiobook is of course fantastic. I do recognize that epistolary novels can be trickier to follow when listening rather than eye reading, so just make sure to choose the format that will be easiest for you to follow and enjoy!
April 18, 2025
A Town With Half The Lights On by Page Getz ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Publishing April 22, 2025
Told in the literary genre of epistolary (the writing of letters) this town of a small town transformed is told through emails, letters, editorials, journals and newspaper bulletins. This style was very much out of my comfort zone and it did take me a little bit to settle into the sense of disjointedness and to keep track of who the sender and receiver was in relation to the story.
Once I got more comfortable with the epistolary style writing, what I found was such a heartwarming and healing story of a small town and so many of the kind of people we might wish fill the world. I will miss these lovable and quirky characters.
For those who love:
-the small town quirky close knit townspeople of Gilmore girls
-the riches to rags to riches of the heart of Schitts creek
-the storyline of Erin Brockovich
-Coming of age (no matter the age), learning the importance of life and small towns rising together told by funny and quirky loveable characters.
I’m so glad I got out of my comfort zone for this book.
Thank you to the publisher @bookmarked and @page_getz_ @netgalley for my free copy of this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
Told in the literary genre of epistolary (the writing of letters) this town of a small town transformed is told through emails, letters, editorials, journals and newspaper bulletins. This style was very much out of my comfort zone and it did take me a little bit to settle into the sense of disjointedness and to keep track of who the sender and receiver was in relation to the story.
Once I got more comfortable with the epistolary style writing, what I found was such a heartwarming and healing story of a small town and so many of the kind of people we might wish fill the world. I will miss these lovable and quirky characters.
For those who love:
-the small town quirky close knit townspeople of Gilmore girls
-the riches to rags to riches of the heart of Schitts creek
-the storyline of Erin Brockovich
-Coming of age (no matter the age), learning the importance of life and small towns rising together told by funny and quirky loveable characters.
I’m so glad I got out of my comfort zone for this book.
Thank you to the publisher @bookmarked and @page_getz_ @netgalley for my free copy of this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review
August 12, 2025
There are some books that create magical worlds that I feel lucky to have “visited”as an outside observer. Other books show me a side of a city I already know and help me appreciate it in a whole new way. Then there are the rare and miraculous books that create a town I wish I could step into and live among its residents for the rest of my days: Avonlea, Grover’s Corners, and Three Pines come to mind. Goodnight, Kansas, is now firmly in my top three in the wish-I-could-live-there category.
I loved the characters, the town, the hope, the gentle kindness of this story. I wanted to rush through the story to know everyone was going to be okay yet at the same time never wanted it to end!
The writing is a delight and I hope to read more from this author in the future—sooner rather than later, please, and if Disco and Harlem made appearances, I wouldn’t object ;-)
I loved the characters, the town, the hope, the gentle kindness of this story. I wanted to rush through the story to know everyone was going to be okay yet at the same time never wanted it to end!
The writing is a delight and I hope to read more from this author in the future—sooner rather than later, please, and if Disco and Harlem made appearances, I wouldn’t object ;-)
March 19, 2025
Sid Solvang and his family are forced to leave their home in Brooklyn. Sid inherited his father’s deli, and changed the menu to feature molecular gastronomy creations, which did not delight the regulars who just wanted a classic pastrami on rye. The family moves back to his wife, Scarlet’s hometown to the alpaca farm she inherited from her father. Through journal entries, emails, passed notes, newspaper articles and even messages in bottles, the history and secrets of the town of Goodnight, Kansas are revealed. Controversies and conflicts cause the people of Goodnight to disagree and choose sides at times, but they find a way to take care of each other through it all. This book is warm, funny and full of unforgettable characters and small town charm.
April 15, 2025
Reading the epistolary novel in audio format was definitely a bad idea. It was confusing, and although I love listening to audiobooks when I'm doing something, I found myself avoiding this book at any cost. A cute, heartwarming story about family trying to fit in the small city was what I expected. All I heard for the first quarter of the book were endless whines and complains. Every family member felt like a spoiled child, and I couldn't take it any more. I do DNF the book and give it two stars
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the publisher and the audio narrator for providing me with the arc copy. I hope your efforts and hard work will reach the right people. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, the publisher and the audio narrator for providing me with the arc copy. I hope your efforts and hard work will reach the right people. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them.
April 7, 2025
Thank you Sourcebooks for the gifted digital ARC!
This book was SO GOOD and in a way I just wasn't expecting. The synopsis gave me major Schitt's Creek vibes, and when I found out it was written entirely in diary entries, newspaper clippings, emails, etc. I was SOLD.
But this book is just so much more than that. By the end of the book I felt like I was wrapped in a big, warm hug. It's a very uplifting story with funny and quirky characters, including some mildly misbehaving alpacas!
I highly recommend this one for anyone who needs a feel good pick-me-up.
A Town With Half the Lights On pub date is April 22.
This book was SO GOOD and in a way I just wasn't expecting. The synopsis gave me major Schitt's Creek vibes, and when I found out it was written entirely in diary entries, newspaper clippings, emails, etc. I was SOLD.
But this book is just so much more than that. By the end of the book I felt like I was wrapped in a big, warm hug. It's a very uplifting story with funny and quirky characters, including some mildly misbehaving alpacas!
I highly recommend this one for anyone who needs a feel good pick-me-up.
A Town With Half the Lights On pub date is April 22.
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