Theo of Golden: A Novel

by Allen Levi

One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…

His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.

Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Literary Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Christian, Novels

400 pages, Hardcover

First published October 11, 2023

Reviews

[Kate Carruthers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gonna try not to exaggerate. 5 (one million) stars. I want (need) someone (everyone) to read this book. I caught myself smiling while reading on multiple occasions. I laughed and cried. May we all long for heaven the way Theo does, and in the mean time seek to act and serve “on earth as it is in heaven”.

[Aubri Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful book. I’ll never be over it. A lifetime favorite.

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town, a coffee shop with beautifully displayed portraits and an octogenarian with a purpose.

What an enchanting read. Theo, 86, is visiting Golden, Georgia. He lives in the moment- appreciating nature, art, music and humans. He leads a quiet life. When he drops into a cafe, he is quick to notice the 92 portraits on the wall. He studies each and every one. This is where the story begins.

Every portrait is purchased and bestowed to each person it belongs to. Theo meets each one and they share their story with him. He then shares what he sees the individual in the portrait to be. An act of kindness which is spiritually uplifting.
A story of giving and the joy in receiving.

I, too, “have tasted heaven” reading this.
Magnificent*****
5⭐️
A massive thank you to Tracy who was generous in bestowing this precious story to me. 💕

[Cody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean no disrespect to the author with my review. It takes a hell of a lot of courage, dedication, and hard work to write a novel. Not every book for is for everyone, and I hope one day when I write one there will be people out there who read it and appreciate it enough to provide thoughtful feedback.

Now, onto my review:
There’s a lot to love about this book, but equally as much that didn’t hit the mark for me. I agree that the writing is exquisite and I was moved multiple times, but it wasn’t enough to excuse what I felt was a glaring lack of story. Once it became clear that Theo was an old man with a secret I was intrigued and curious to see where the story would go. The scene where Theo shares a secret with Mr. Ponder that we aren’t privy to heightened this interest. Unfortunately, the topic of Theo’s “plan” was only revisited after the needlessly massive middle section became devoted strictly to Theo’s bestowals and his budding friendships. From a storytelling perspective, it’s presumptuous to assume your readers will remain engaged just because you promised them a secret in the beginning and spend the remaining 350+ pages doting over pretty landscapes, the kindness of humans, and the ability to convey both of those things with beautiful language but never raise the stakes enough to merit such a long wait for the reveal in the first place. At the end of the day, the cardinal rule of storytelling is keep the reader engaged. There was no clear narrative that propelled the story forward in my opinion, just simply the promise that we might eventually figure of what Theo’s big secret is. For me, that wasn’t enough and certainly didn’t justify a 400 page novel. It felt bloated with brilliantly beautiful exposition, but not much more. All that said, the ending STILL had a wonderful emotional payoff, which goes to show how much more wonderful this novel could have been if it were edited down and injected with a bit more plot. That is my opinion and I mean no harm by it. Many people love Theo of Golden. You might too. It’s worth checking out.

[Glenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear with me—

I think the premise is great. I think the imago Dei message embedded in the story is wonderful. I like the idea of this Promenade community.

But, this book needed a lot of editing. I love a doorstop of a book, don't get me wrong, but I felt like parts of it dragged on and it would have been stronger if it was 100 pages shorter. Some of those slow spots in the story had to do with the author telling us everything he knows about art, music, and literature. I felt Theo was too well read, too knowledgable about art, and impossibly knowledgable about music to be a believable character. Few people have mastered so many diverse interests, and it seems to me that the author was trying to prove that he was Theo by including all of these details. (The chapter on Simone's recital...oof.)

For a self-published novel, this book is head and shoulders above its peers. But, I could still tell that it was self-published because it needed so much editing. It's trying so hard to be literary fiction without relying on plot to propel it forward, and yet, I needed more plot points along the way to get to that ending.

When I see all the rave reviews, I wonder how many of those readers are reading a lot of fiction regularly. If you don't cross over into fiction much, I can see the appeal of this book for it is wholesome and warm. There is plenty to enjoy about the characters. (I loved Ellen's story.) But, editing would have put taken this novel from good to great. I hope a publisher will pick up the author's next book because he is a talented writer. But all writers, even the best ones, need a good editor.

[Marquise]

In today's episode of Marquise's Cheery Tales, we have this indie gem recommended by my friend Karen.

She promised:
a. It'll make me smile,
b. It'll make the think,
c. It'll make me smile and think.

(Hey, if you know me at all, you are aware that I don't multitask with these, all right?)

I don't like contemporary fiction, for reasons, and usually am not into indie publishing unless it's in my favourite genres, but I do like the sound of this story. The New York to Georgia setting is also appealing, because silly "city slicker" Yankee-in-the-South comedies were my bread and butter back in the day, though I'm not sure if this is a comedy or not. Promising!

Update November 2025:

Well, 2025 is really invested in becoming my worst year for books, isn't it? Few read, long slump, and I've DNFed books after years without doing that. Must be the 25/25/25 curse or something along those lines!

With much sadness, I have to report that I'm abandoning this book after a couple of chapters, crossing my fingers that the lovely friend who recommended this to me doesn't hate me. 🥹

It's simply not for me, it doesn't stand a chance to be an enjoyable read by the end of the story as things are in the beginning, neither Theo nor the cast of characters seen so far are appealing to me, and I think I've seen the plot before (Where? I'm trying to remember), and at this point in life I prefer not to finish well-recommended books I can see in advance will not get a good reaction from me. I don't think this book deserves one of my rubbishings, either, as it's evidently written for a certain public. I happen to not feel I'm that public, and to retire from the room when the orchestra is still playing is the best for me.

[Anna H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness gracious, what an utter treat this book was! It was the feast for the senses, particularly focusing on light and color and for the heart with the delightful array of characters you get to know better and better. I teared up multiple times being allowed into their stories and bawled like a baby at the last few chapters. Levi has such a warm, kind, and genuine tone and isn't afraid to explore hard situations but makes it alright in the end. Much like the artwork and music and people in the book, this book is a Masterpiece and is one of my top books of the year.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(4.5/5, Fiction)
A heartwarming, incredibly written story about the power of kindness.

This story is about a mysterious older man who moves to the small town Georgia town of Golden from NYC for one year. On his first day in town, he stumbles upon a coffee shop, and while sipping an exquisite cup of espresso, he sees 92 portraits of residents of Golden hanging on the wall. Done by a local artist, Theo is shocked by how incredible they are. He decides the subjects should own the portraits, so he starts the process of buying them and bequeathing them to their rightful owners.

This book is good for the soul. A great way to start the year. It made me want to slow down and savor the little things.

I do not want to take anyone by surprise. There are some religious, specifically Christian, themes in this book. I didn’t find it preachy, but depending on your relationship with religion, I thought it was worth a mention. I will say it seems like the best parts of Theo are the best parts of all religion, spreading kindness, being good to people, etc.

I enjoyed this book. If you read it, I hope you do too! The perfect pairing would be a glass of port from the Douro wine region in northern Portugal or a cup of espresso. Slow down & savor.

[Gabi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. Unfortunately it was a huge disappointment. In spite of the fact that Mr. Levi tried to use every adjective in the English language, the writing was actually incredibly shallow. Way too many characters (none of which were realistic or relatable). Too preachy. Dialogue that was exhausting.

[Margie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Published in 2023, I selected this book due to the average review for it being incredibly high, one of the closest to 5 stars I have seen. Upon finishing it, I wavered on making this a 2 or 3 star review (since can’t give 2.5) and finally dropped it down to 2 as I really just wanted to book to be over almost from the time I started it.

The premise seemed intriguing enough- an old man purchases portraits from a local artist, locates the person depicted, and bequeaths the portrait to them. The tagline for the cover was “Stories are told; friendships are born; and lives are changed.” Given the current atmosphere, I looked forward to a book that was going to focus on generosity and kindness.

But the first portrait that captures Theo’s attention is of a man whose child was injured in a car accident. We later find out it was caused by a driver who fell asleep and who was “an illegal”. The tone of this brief passage made me stop a second and wonder if this was going to be a maga supporter book. As such it made me feel a tad uncomfortable where this story of kindness was headed and exactly whose idea of kindness and Christian-like behavior we were going to witness.

Then the second portrait highlighted was that of a woman who Theo thought seemed sad. When he bequeaths her with the drawing, this woman tells Theo, a total stranger, her whole life history including that her cold, awful dad had “made” her get an abortion as a college student vs bringing disgrace on the family. She was now a successful CPA but was indeed very unhappy. She tells Theo she wants to be “just a housewife”. That would make her so happy. The way this conversation was written gave me pause again on so many levels. It just did not sit well with me at all. And it started to feel a bit preachy.

Soon Theo meets rascally Tony the bookshop owner. He seems like a big joker or clown always teasing others. He ridicules Theo for believing in heaven. It is at this point that I realize the author is indeed a religious man. And while the genre is listed as Literary Fiction, the book is definitely leaning heavily towards being a Christian book. So you know Tony is going to have a come to Jesus moment later in this book (pun intended lol).

Overall I found it tedious and just kept pushing on through the chapters, frequently skimming the flowery,extraneous sections of which there were many. The text felt forced and flat, and just, I don’t know, like the author thought the reader wasn’t that perceptive. I saw another reviewer used the term Pollyannaish to describe this book and that is spot on for me. The scenarios seemed pretty unlikely and many of the conversations were unrealistic IMO. I suppose the premise of the book is that Theo can elicit heartfelt responses from others but to witness so many strangers telling him their deepest darkest secrets and regrets and fears just was way over the top for me.

There were parts I did enjoy such as the empathy and kindnesses that Theo showered on those around him. For example he tells one woman that he picked her portrait as the first to be bequeathed because she looked like the kindest person of all the portraits on the wall, You can feel how that compliment touches her deeply. I also did like the ripple effects from Theo’s words and actions.

The ending felt abrupt but at least tied everything up fairly cleanly.

So while the premise of the story was one i desperately wanted to love and enjoy, the manner in which it was written failed to resonate with me. I don’t think I was the right demographic for it perhaps.

[TracyGH · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars and you know why?

I think I just read my most favorite book ever!!!

“We all walk roads of various descriptions in life. The long and winding road. The road to ruin. Easy street. The road less traveled…. but God in His sublime goodness, has always sent others, mysterious others, to walk with us, - prophets, preachers, friends, teachers, artists, storytellers, wives and husbands, children, songbirds and rivers, even hardship and loss- to help us see clearly. They call us to be fully alive, or at least more alive than before we met them.”

Theo, it was my honour……. 🙏🏻

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a 7-star book, one that had me in tears within the first 50 pages. It’s a book that stays with you, you don’t want to end, and leaves you as a better person. Definitely in my top 3 of all time and will certainly be a yearly reread.

[JanB]

Dnf at 25%

Definitely not for me

I could say a lot more but I won’t because I know many loved it.

Too preachy sweet and eye-rolling circumstances and dialogue. If you read the 1 & 2 star reviews they say everything I would!

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*update- after feeling pressure from the internet to love this book and not rate it low, I’m sticking to my guns. This is a 3 ⭐️ book.

Theo of Golden is one of those books that hooked me right away with its premise. A mysterious stranger shows up in a small Southern town and starts buying up portraits from a local coffee shop. It’s such a cool setup, and the book is at its best when it slows down and lets us sit with those character moments. Some of the little stories behind the portraits are genuinely sweet and thoughtful, and the whole idea of returning them to their “rightful owners” really worked for me.

But overall, it didn’t totally land. The pacing felt slow in places, and some scenes leaned a little more symbolic than grounded, which kept me from fully connecting. I also found myself wanting a bit more development from a few of the characters—and even though Theo is supposed to be mysterious, I sometimes felt more kept at arm’s length than intrigued.

There is a lot to appreciate: the themes of art, generosity, and community are lovely, and the writing has this quiet, gentle quality that I enjoyed. I think readers who love contemplative, reflective stories might connect with it more deeply than I did.

And without giving anything away, I’ll just say the ending definitely affected my overall rating.

[Caroline Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! Wow! It has left me at a loss for words. Theo of Golden is a peaceful respite and a hope-filled story. This book made me want to live a life more like Theo — one focused on generosity, listening intently, being curious, living humbly and others-focused, and slowing down. Theo shows that it is always the right time to be kind and loving towards your neighbor, and that there is a beautiful story behind every face you meet. And each story is worth knowing and each person is worth loving! I couldn’t recommend this book more.

[Katie O · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you're looking for a book that consists entirely of impossibly wholesome characters swapping gratuitous speeches of gratitude over the most inane observations of an unrealistically wholesome life, this is it. Bland.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

All of my Southern friends said this was the best book they've read in a long time. But I found it too much a "good" thing, literally. A man who changes people's lives, sound familiar? I plowed through to the end, but kicking and screaming. So preachy. So Pollyanna. Really????

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theo, 86, originally from Portugal, late of New York, comes to the small town of Golden, Georgia, telling everyone he has some business interests there. He’s in town for just over a year and in that time he touches and changes many of the citizens of Golden forever.

He gets to know many of the residents when he discovers that a local artist has created ninety-two portraits of townspeople that hang, for sale, in the local coffee shop, the Chalice. Theo is taken by these portraits and begins to gift them.

This is a sweet story with a lovely protagonist in Theo, who reminded me a bit of a more perfect Alexander Rostov from A GENTLEMAN IN MOSCOW. There are also a number of other nicely drawn characters in this idyllic town. The story skewed a bit too religious for me, but I was glad to have read it. The former owner of John’s Creek Books and Gifts in John’s Creek, Georgia recommended it.

Edited to add: I just read one review that said this was self published. That is a bit surprising, as it is certainly a good enough book to have found a publisher, IMHO. It certainly would have been picked up by someone who publishes Christian fiction (although maybe there wouldn’t have been ENOUGH religious content for that, I don’t know, but it seems like there wouldn’t have been.) Anyway, congratulations to Mr. Levi for getting this book out there, and if any publishers are reading this, you might take a look at this feel good book that would certainly have an audience.

[Chelsea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I simply do NOT understand the rave reviews. They can’t be real. This book was such a bore. I couldn’t connect to the characters. It was a slog… so much writing about nothing. I skipped the middle and read the end to see what the big deal was. Glad I didn’t waste my time- it wasn’t worth it. DNF at 20%.

[Jeffrey Lee Cummins Jr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made it a quarter of the way through this book completely enamored. It was touching, heartwarming and beautifully written. Then suddenly it went from literary fiction to Christian parable. The highjacking of the narrative by overtly Christian themes was jarring; something I did not sign up for. It ought to come with a warning of some kind.

[Ansley Ewton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly my favorite book. I’ll never recover.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Golden, Georgia, a mysterious man comes to town. He stops in a coffee shop and has a delicious cup of coffee that reminds him of his childhood in Portugal. He notices 92 pencil and paint drawings on the wall. He decides he is going to buy them, one at a time, and bestow them onto the people in the community that had been drawn. And thus starts Theo's journey, one painting at a time, one face at a time, one story at a time, one friendship at a time.... Slowly Theo begins to form a community of people who learn to really "see" one another and form a "found family."

This book was exceptionally beautiful. It was filled with art and music and storytelling, but also humanity, kindness, and the the certainty that being seen, known, and cared for, makes all the difference in the world.... This is a book about humanity, art, and love. I give it all the stars. Its beautifully written too. Long and langorous, and eventually the mystery, story, and the tale of Theo is revealed. This book is something very special.

[Tini · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For anything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it."

A stranger arrives one morning in the small Southern town of Golden. His name is Theo, and no one knows much about him - where he came from (beyond his Portugal origin), why he's here, or why he spends his days buying back pencil portraits from the local coffeehouse and returning them to their subjects, the townspeople of Golden. One by one, as he places each portrait into the hands of its "rightful owner", he leaves behind a ripple of kindness that changes the lives of those around him, and reminds them, and us, of the quiet beauty of being truly seen. Maybe what the world needs most is for someone to see us as we could be.

Allen Levi's "Theo of Golden" is less a novel in the traditional sense and more a collection of interconnected human moments - a meditation on grace, generosity, and the invisible threads that bind a community together. It's a book that invites reflection, not speed; a sweet, if sometimes overly long, look at the connections we form, a love letter community and to life itself, and a much-needed reminder of the goodness that still exists in this world, and in people.

"It's a brave thing to live with your eyes open."

Though the story occasionally lingers too long and the ending feels hurried by comparison, the writing is luminous end enjoyable throughout. And while there are unmistakable Christian undertones, the novel is written with enough compassion and humility to reach readers of any background.

The audiobook, narrated by David Morse, also perfectly conveys the warm and deeply human storytelling. Morse's steady voice perfectly complements the novel's tone, making it a deeply soothing listen.

"Theo of Golden" is a gentle, generous book (and not just because of its considerable length) - one that makes you want to look up from your life, see the people around you, and reach out. A reminder that goodness, though often quiet, can still change everything.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out strong and then bogged down in the middle. I think the author put too many portrait stories into the tale. I almost gave up reading about 2/3 of the way in because it became very Nicholas Sparkish and reminiscent of The Shack (which I did stop reading 1/2 way in). The dialogue became preachy. However, I kept reading primarily because I enjoyed all the information about Portugal and in particular the Douro Valley where we will travel later this year. The plot did pick up finally and I’m glad I finished it. I knew that the reason Theo was in Golden would be revealed and everything get tied up nicely in the end. Recommend if you like Nicholas Spark. Suggest you read Cody’s 3 star review—— he says so perfectly what I’m trying to say in my review.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theo of Golden is one of those books that I didn’t know I needed until I started it. It’s simplistic yet powerfully uplifting and reminds the reader that there is still a lot of good in the world

This poignant and beautiful tale discusses so many things including how the smallest of kind deeds can change someone’s life, the power of helping those in need, and the importance of taking care of those in your community.

I loved everything about Theo of Golden and even though it’s been almost a week since I’ve finished it, I still can’t stop thinking about it. Theo was such a remarkable character and I loved the small town setting. The afterward at the end of the story from the author was just beautiful.

I listened to the audiobook format which is read by the actor David Morse who did a brilliant job bringing the story to life. If you decide to pick this one up, I highly recommend this format.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi was published on October 3 from Atria and the audiobook was released on December 2 from Simon Maverick so both formats are available now. Many thanks to Libro FM for the gifted audiobook!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I say to you, my friends and neighbors, followers of Christ and those not, do good, bestow kindness, strive for beauty, seek and find the river that leads to life everlasting, and draw from the fountain that never runs dry.”

Last night I had the privilege of attending an event and hearing Allen Levi speak. What an amazing experience it was. He is just as lovely, humble, and kind as Theo. He spoke about the inspiration for this book, his faith, shared many stories of those touched by it, tears flowed, and in the end he challenged us to find and live out our inner Theo. All around are folks who can use a good deed, kind word, reliable and trusted friend.

This is truly a special book that is immediately going on my lifetime favorites shelf. I believe it should be required reading for everyone. We’re so quick to focus on how we’re different, but if we’d just take a moment, we would find that we’re a lot more alike than we realize. Many a scripture was referenced throughout the book, but this one was not. I couldn’t help thinking of it as I was reading. It’s one of my favorite and I’ll end with it.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you do for me.” Matthew 25:40

[Alanna Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say enough good things about this book! All the stars!!!! Fantastic! I gushed over it on my socials! I miss Theo already!

[Sarah Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to be able to rate this higher, but honestly I spent most of the book trying to figure out how it was rated as highly as it was. I get people's response, now. The end packs a punch and is powerful, but I'm left wondering if the "end justifies the means." There was a lot of meandering to get to where it got. I like what Levi was trying to do but am not convinced it was executed as effectively as it could've been, and that was disappointing because of what it truly could've been. It felt like it has a strong foundation and potential but needed another round of solid edits.

1. For being so dialogue heavy, the dialogue all sounded the same. It also missed lots of opportunities for descriptive beats, making it feel even more lackluster.
2. I think in part because of that, the characters felt somewhat flat and lacking a voice. Even Theo, who everyone seems to love so much, really didn't feel fleshed out to me. Obviously part of that is the mystery behind him, but even aside from that, it felt like many of the characters were more caricatures.
3. I really didn't get the depth of character relationships that were supposedly developed. Like Theo and Tony were supposed to have become super tight, but all we see is them chatting a few times.
4. There's also redundant dialogue and exposition. A lot of telling when showing would be sufficient. I felt like the author didn't trust me to pick up on things, but would follow up a description with an explanation, like he had to make sure I got it.
5. The POV shifting between around between seemingly limited to omniscient also threw me off a bit. And I don't love the random insert of letters.
6. For most of the story it just didn't feel like anything was at stake. It was nice enough to read the accounts and the personal interest stories, but... there wasn't any threat or concern or worry.
7. Also, Theo didn't have any flaws, other than being mysterious. Like, he's just this nice guy with nothing he's up against, so no way to grow or change.
8. The wasn't a reasonable build-up or foreshadowing for the ending. You don't need to give away your climax, but your climax shouldn't come so far out of left field that it feels like it belongs in another book.
9. Without giving a spoiler - the 3rd incident in the climax really rubs me the wrong way, and not just for the "obvious" reasons. I'm not convinced it had to happen. I don't know why it had to happen. It doesn't feel reasonable, even in its own fictional world, that it happened. In other words, it feels forced for dramatic effect, and while that dramatic effect was powerful, I almost feel like it was a cheat to get that, and that makes me feel taken advantage of as a reader.

All that said, I'd probably read Levi again if he wrote more books (i.e. keep writing, please, as none of the aforementioned critiques are uncorrectable).
The story had an engaging, warm, and thought-provoking spirit that many books are lacking today.

[Becca Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Sneak attack Christian novel. If that’s your jam though then I think you will love it! It’s triggering my religious trauma so I’m out homie. Made it 30% through. Final straw was “I’m not sure I know the answer to that either. But God does.”

[Josh Thomas · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book is undeniably sweet but it needed an editor. A solid 100 pages need to be removed.