A Year to Change a Life: a small town romance

by Kitty Arthur

Can finding the right book lead to love?

Trudie works in a beautiful bookshop called The Nook and keeps her world deliberately small and safe after a devastating loss.

But everything changes when a series of handwritten letters from her aunt start to arrive. Trudie is challenged to change the lives of five people within a year - and if she doesn’t succeed her beloved bookshop may not survive.

Her world is about to get bigger… and a lot more interesting. From 90-year-old Arthur to a sausage dog called Bing Crosby, Trudie starts to reconnect with her community and in the process begins to unlock the fascinating story of her aunt’s own love life and mysterious past.

This is a story about the healing power of books, letters, friendship, community and love. Probably the most wonderful things in the world, ever.

235 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2024

Reviews

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what an amazing book I utterly utterly fell in love with this book, just perfect. I really enjoyed the storyline and how everything developed, the main character Trudie, was wonderful working everything out in her life, taking on a bookshop and how lives were changed with her help. I really hope that the author continues to write because she clearly has a gift. I know that my aunt will absolutely love this book so she’ll be passing this on to her. I wasn’t expecting such a treasured read. I really hope that lots more people will find this absolutely delight of a book and enjoy it as much as I have.

[Dr. Malini · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5

This was such a sweet, cosy little read. 🥹📚

A bookshop, handwritten letters, a mysterious aunt, five lives to change, a sausage dog called Bing Crosby and a whole lot of healing… honestly, what more do I need? 😂

Trudie’s journey was my favourite part. She starts off so closed off and stuck in her grief, deliberately keeping her world small and safe. But as she begins helping other people, she slowly realises that maybe she’s the one who needs saving too.

I loved the friendships, the little community, the bookshop atmosphere and the gentle romance. Nothing felt overly dramatic—it’s just one of those stories that quietly sneaks up on you and makes you feel warm and emotional.

And I really liked the message that sometimes we think we’re changing someone else’s life, only to realise they’ve completely changed ours.

A feel-good, comforting read about grief, friendship, love and finding your way back to life. Not groundbreaking, but exactly the kind of cosy book I needed. ❤️

Also… Bing Crosby deserves his own book. 😂🐶

[Amy Schulz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! January Bookclub pick. It was a quick and easy read. Some really nice messages to help deal with grief and loss. Likeable, sweet characters.

The spacing between paragraphs I really disliked and it took me a while to get used to it.

[Joanna Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet book, really easy read but made you smile and empathise with the MFC struggles. A lovely written story of navigating grief and how simple things you do can affect other people. Thoroughly enjoyed 😊

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the best book I have ever read!