Holy Denver: A Novel of Shame and Redemption

by Florence Wetzel

A novel about a young woman's reluctant spiritual awakening, set in a bookstore in Denver, Colorado.

It's 2009, the height of the economic crash, and thirty-six-year-old Elizabeth Zwelland has come down in the world. Due to fallout from Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, she loses her prestigious Manhattan publishing job and is forced to move to Colorado, the home of her Beat-poet father. The only job Elizabeth can find is at an independent bookstore in downtown Denver, where she earns minimum wage and shelves the books she once edited.

Embittered by her many losses, Elizabeth becomes increasingly scornful of her coworkers and the bookstore's customers. Her behavior leads to a shocking confrontation, which forces her on a deep emotional journey that includes entering the Columbine tragedy and the JonBenet Ramsey murder. Elizabeth's awakening occurs not by following a particular religion, but by living through painful events and opening up to life in Denver—or Holy Denver, as Jack Kerouac christened the city in On the Road."

Paperback

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest book, Aspasia: A Novel of Suspense and Secrets, was published in July 2025. Her book Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss, was published in July 2024. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard, the Swedish mystery The Grand Man, and Dashiki: A Cozy Mystery. She has also authored a horror short story collection, a book of poems and memoirs, and co-authored jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson's autobiography.

Reviews

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Denver by Florence Wetzel. Thanks to the author for the gifted copy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After working at a prestigious Manhattan publishing firm, Elizabeth now finds herself at a Colorado bookstore working minimum wage after Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Bitter from this transition, she scorns her fellow coworkers and customers as beneath her. A shocking revelation forces her to take a hard look at herself and those around her.

I really liked this one because it was so real. I also really connected with the main character. There have been times in the past where I’ve gotten myself caught up in other people’s meanness. Sometimes when we are young there’s a comfort to it and it can be a way to bond. That said, like the main character, I have empathy and a good heart and would never purposefully and thoughtfully hurt someone. I liked how they showed the difference between Elizabeth and London along Elizabeth’s redemption story. While the story feels real and like an every day person’s story, it brings several true life cultural tragedies to the plot line; most notable Columbine and Jon Benet. This added an extra level of connection and shows how every day people find emotion within these stories that, while they may not be part of, they are affected by.

Read if you like:
-Stories about redemption
-Books about poetry, books, or bookstores
-First person narration
-Dysfunctional family history

Holy Denver is available now.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'Holy Denver' by Florence Wetzel


WOW!!! Yet another absolutely captivating, thought provoking and addictive page turner from the incredibly talented Florence Wetzel!!! What a rollercoaster ride of a read!!! Fantastically written with vivid descriptions throughout making me feel like I was in the storyline. The synopsis, title and cover suited the plot perfectly.

This is yet another incredible read by the very talented Florence!! I absolutely fell in love with her previous books 'Sara My Sara' and 'Aspasia' would highly recommend you read those books too!! I must admit that I was not quite sure what to expect with this book but as I loved Florence's previous books I just had to give it a read and I am so pleased that I did!! Although I read this book as part of a read along and my plan was to read it in stages I just could not put this book down and absolutely devoured it in one sitting of a few hours!!! It is one of those books that each and every time I said one more chapter and then bed something happened so there was no chance I could put it down so I ended up walking around with my book glued to my hands until I had devoured it in one go!! I am not going to go to deep in to the storyline as the publisher has done a good enough job with that in the synopsis so you will just have to grab your copy and find out more for yourself and I can promise that you will not regret it!! If you have never read a book by Florence Wetzel before then be ready to get hooked and discover a new favourite author and more books to add to your TBR list!! I absolutely LOVED the fact that the storyline is a unique one that I have not come across before. I have read hundreds and hundreds of books so it is getting harder and harder for me to discover a completely different storyline but Florence manages it hook, line and sinker!! It truly is a thought provoking and eye opening book that truly does make you think about how what you say and do could impact others. I could NOT STAND our main protagonist Elizabeth in Part One of this book and it is very, very rare for me to continue reading a book when I don't like the main character. However, she was that much of a horrid person I was hoping that, as this book was made up of two parts, that she would redeem herself. You will have to find out for yourself whether she does or not. I was also extremely invested in the storyline itself as well as the other characters so I just HAD to keep going even when Elizabeth was really annoying me and I was shouting at her through the pages!! The storyline was absolutely addictive and kept me up until the early hours of the morning as I could not put it down!! I absolutely love how intriguing, complex and multi-layered the storyline and characters are with so much going on!!! I was glued to the pages as Florence takes us on a rollercoaster ride of heartache, sorrow, regret, shame, emotions, bullying, family, friendship, and redemption!!! Florence has done a wonderful job of building the emotions and picture with her stunningly atmospheric and evocative descriptions which truly does bring everything to life in front of your eyes as you are flying through the pages. There were points where I was so angry and annoyed at Elizabeth and others where I actually felt my heart go out to her, especially with how her so called "Father" treated her and her sister. I loved that everything was tied up nicely at the end as a pet hate of mine is loose ends and having something mentioned in a book that the author seems to then forget about but absolutely everything was explained by the end of this one. It is rammed with emotions, friendship, family, anger, bitterness and absolutely everything you could ask for in an addictive page turner! It definitely ticked every box for me when it comes to what I am looking for in a book and i cannot wait to read the next book by Florence which is also guaranteed to be a success!! This book would make a fantastic movie and I cannot wait to read more books by this absolutely incredible author!!

WELL DONE FLORENCE on yet another absolutely unique page turner with stunning settings, drama, heartache, emotions and much more!! Another huge success!

Clear your schedules before glancing into this absolutely addictive page turner as once your hooked there's no letting go until the very end!!

The characters were all strong, realistic and very well developed. I was completely invested in each and every one of their stories even when I was not a fan of Elizabeth at all!! They all had such unique personalities and I felt different about each of them, liking them or not for different reasons. The only niggle I had in the book was that Elizabeth and Emma kept calling each other "Sister" and their "father" kept calling them "Daughters" rather than using their actual names but this is just a personal thing and possibly what they do in Denver? Florence brings each of the characters to life with her fantastic writing skills and between the characters and the plot it truly feels like you are standing with Elizabeth throughout!! Regardless of whether you love or hated the characters they all worked perfectly well to make this an unputdownable success! I am absolutely shocked at discovering that your agent didn't want to represent this amazing novel and it is definitely their loss!! I am so pleased that you still went ahead and got it published and brought this beautiful story into the world. Thank You!

I absolutely loved this book Florence and congratulations on yet another HUGE success. I cannot wait to read more of what promises to huge successes and here's to your next one 🥂.

Overall a truly thought provoking, multi-layered, page turning novel filled with emotions, redemption and shame..

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[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Florence Wetzel’s Holy Denver: A Novel of Shame and Redemption, we are introduced to Elizabeth Zwelland, a recent arrival in Colorado’s Mile High City. Zwelland is suffering from the fallout of the 2008 financial disaster. A former employee at Blue Heron, a small Manhattan Publishing firm that puts out high-quality literary fiction, Elizabeth is forced to return to Colorado, to where her father, a towering author and unbelievable blowhard from the Beat Generation, still resides. Utterly down on her luck and soaked to the bone in self-pity, she takes an apartment and manages to find a job in a Denver bookstore called “The Quill and Ink,” or Q&I for short. I’m sure the author picked the blandest and most parochial-sounding name possible, and for good reason.

I have to be honest: it was tough getting through the first half of this novel because of the highly unlikeable main character, but part two made the book well worth the effort. The humor goes a long way, and in fact, the author does telegraph the rude awakening on the horizon for young and oh-so full-of-herself Elizabeth. Her attitude in the beginning is difficult to stand, and because it’s in the first person, it comes off as even more obnoxious. Elizabeth is the product of privilege: that is beyond question. The son of famous writers, she is accepted to Barnard, of course, and with her family connections, she lands herself a cushy gig as a copy editor. I found this scene one of the juiciest because I have worked for the children of famous authors, and no matter what anyone tells you, fame is a commodity. Whether or not Mr. Dove at Blue Heron liked the Beats or not, the story makes it clear that her name most probably had a good deal to do with her getting the job.

After she’s hired at the bookstore, Elizabeth, and occasionally her bestie at Q&I, London, engage in merciless and classist ridicule of the people they deem “hicks.” Her co-workers, genuine and authentic human beings who have probably wound up at the bookstore for the same reason as her, get zero compassion. The woman who receives the worst hazing is Ruby, who is suffering from alcoholism due to PTSD. To watch her get regularly humiliated by the shallow and bitter Elizabeth is quite an ordeal. And it doesn’t end there. No one can share an opinion without being mocked by “Ms. Manhattan.”

Luckily, we get some foreshadowing letting us know Elizabeth is in for a rude awakening, especially after she waxes poetic about what a great person Simone de Beauvoir is, only to be corrected by a fellow employee who is 100% spot-on: Beauvoir was a manipulative and dishonest human being who was personally responsible for the breakup of Boris Vian’s marriage, regardless of her skill as a writer. I would know – I am the principal translator of Vian’s prose work in the United States. Using Beauvoir this way was an astute literary move by the author.

As I said, there is some great humor in the beginning. This dig was leveled at Hadley, another person she underestimated and treated quite badly:

On a shelf in my dad’s living room, there’s a photo of me as a little girl sitting on Allen Ginsberg’s lap. If Hadley had known that, he probably would have asked me to marry him.

Hadley is another one of the people she ruthlessly mocks, and she comes to feel deep shame for this in the end, thankfully.

Needless to say, the payoff is worth the wait. I had wondered why, at the beginning of the book, the author quoted famed Buddhist scholar Nagarjuna, and now I know. Denver is “Holy” because this is where Elizabeth confronts herself and begins her spiritual growth. This is what makes this book a very worthwhile read. There is nothing more moving and important than redemption, and an author who can show us that this is possible is definitely doing something right. For anyone who knows a person like Elizabeth, Holy Denver may help you remember that we are all dealing with our own pain, and unfortunately, projecting it onto others is something that occurs all too often.

[Diana Jaques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Denver: a Novel of Shame and Redemption by Florence Wetzel introduces you to protagonist, Elizabeth Zwelland and her new found life in Denver.

Elizabeth Zwelland loses her high end Manhatten Publishing job at the height of the economic crash. This leaves her falling down the money ladder, finding herself somewhere close to the bottom, moving away from the Manhatten luxury and back home to Denver, where she begins working at bookshop Quill & Ink.

The transition is no smooth fete, with mocking remarks exchanged at work about coworkers met with an overcoming deep sense of regret, Elizabeth finds herself reflecting not only her present actions but that of the past. In her moments of confrontation she decides to adopt a modicum of kindness into her life, changing it for the better.

The book begins with Elizabeth introducing herself, and her family. A complicated family of poets, from her father and mother to her step mother one and step mother two introduced to the muddle as her flamboyant, self-centered father remarries. Essentially the book itself begins and ends in Denver. At times we see glimpses of Zwelland's old life in New York but we always return to Denver.

I think that the concept of this book is deeply thought through. Elizabeth had to come down in the world to discover who she was as a person, only to rise up to higher places than she had ever been before.

It takes one moment in your life to look in the mirror and to make a change. For some this moment may never come, but for those with kind hearts and empathy deep within, they will undergo the change and adopt that modicum of kindness just as we see Zwelland do.

In my brief synopsis I mentioned mocking. This regards comments within Quill & Ink, exchanged between staff. This whole situation within the book we see Elizabeth, quite frankly, judge a book by its cover, unaware that her coworker is part of 'Colorado heart Colorado' an organisation helping people with trauma get back into employment. The staff at the book shop are diverse, all with their own stories, though sometimes we remain closed books with so much more within the pages than meets the eye.

In the afterword, Florence Wetzel expresses that she hopes that this story may restore some of our hope in human nature and that more people will adopt a modicum of kindness. This novel dedffinetly shows us that we can grow as people and that though it is human to make mistakes its the action of how we move forward and better ourselves that matters.

Wetzel has put together an enlightening, heartwarming and realistic novel. I have read a few books by Florence and have come to love the first person perspective of her novels and the way she writes.

Other than our main character, I have a soft spot for her little sister Emma and step mother two, Jasmine. Many part of this story that had them in brought a smile to my face. The dynamic, within the mis-shapen Zwelland family is complicated, but the way they make it work touches the heart.

The Quill & Ink staff are justg as important to this novel as anyone. As I said, they are diverse, and that diversity is what makes then such a great team. I found it interesting how at the earlier stages of the book we view the characters from Elizabeth's perspective and as she changes we see their descriptions, communication and existence alter to how Zwelland has come to view her coworkers.

The transition from start to finish of Elizabeth's new mindset is fantastic. The whole mood of the narrative alters flawlessly from a sense of moody isolation to enlightened freedom.

This tale is brimming with everything books. From the character's publishing job, to her poet family and her new job at the book shop. This is not to mention the thorough descriptions throughout Holy Denver that bring the experience to life as we slip into Elizabeth's shoes. I recommend reading this book in autumn with a cup of coffee by your side, as this will reflect and immerse you in the book further.

Hats off to Florence Wetzell on another brilliant novel.

[Cait's Reading Nook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the financial crisis in 2008, Elizabeth leaves New York and returns home to Denver. She goes from working at a publishing house in Manhattan to a local bookshop. She feels lost even though it’s a place she has lived before, growing up in Colorado.

The novel explores tough emotions, complex family dynamics, grief, resentment, and frustration that Elizabeth has about her situation. She takes those emotions and in the beginning of the story, rather than trying to work through them, and misplaces them onto others.

Feelings of loss, frustration, shame, and resentment compound, leading to Elizabeth having an awakening, vital for her to begin again. She knows that she mistreated her colleagues and customers at the bookstore. During suspension from her job, she realizes that she must take accountability for her words and actions. She uses time in nature and exploring Denver to help her on her journey.

I thought the structure of the novel (Before and After) amplifies the redemption arc of Elizabeth’s journey. It signifies the start of her rebuilding her life again in Denver. The novel is honest and candid in that this redemption and rebuilding is and will not be an easy and takes continuous work and commitment. We see her make the efforts to amend the dynamics among her colleagues, even when they are hesitant to take the olive branch that Elizabeth offers them. At the same time, however, her arc of redemption is hopeful.

I thought the literary references to authors, such as Kerouac, de Beauvoir, and Austen, also amplifies the themes of the novel and its setting. They connect to Elizabeth’s emotional journey and her character development. The novel incorporates historical events in Colorado and shows the impact they have on the characters and the residents of the state.

Nature serves as a way for Elizabeth to reflect during her awakening and self-realization that she has to change. We see her become more mindful and present, more engaged with others.

The novel is a reflective and internal story. Elizabeth has to face the reality of her behavior and the impact that her actions and words have on others. The novel is not only about beginning again, but also the journey that is needed in order to find a fresh start. The novel takes readers on an emotional journey. There are times that we are frustrated with the protagonist’s behavior, but we see her grow and work on herself through her awakening - to use a blank page and write a new chapter for herself.

Thank you to Love Books Tours and Florence Wetzel for the gifted copy and opportunity to read and review the book! I was provided a copy of this book for free and am leaving an honest review.

[Peggy Rosina Edmondson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a hard read as for the first half of the book I could not stand Elizabeth. She was rude, cruel and judgemental to everyone around her. I understand that she'd had a difficult childhood that hardened her, but she definitely had what she admits to - "a black heart".
I was bullied quite badly as a child, but I don't let that define me. I always try to treat people how I'd like to be treated, sure, I don't always manage and make mistakes, but I will apologise if I do something wrong!

I did connect with her dislike of customers - I worked in retail for 13 years! However, I always put on a brave "fake smile" and helped them as cheerfully as possible. (Maybe Elizabeth needs some of my worry dolls!)

I still found it hard to like Elizabeth even after she started to improve herself, as it felt very forced, more wanting people to like her than wanting to be a better person. There was a slow improvement and she did finally start putting other people's feelings first.

I would definitely get on with Robert, we could talk Lord of the Rings for HOURS! 🤪

The underlying message of the book to me was to be kind, you don't know what other people are going through, hiding behind their smiles. You might not get on with everybody, you don't have to, but you should always be kind!
Another beautifully written book by Florence Wetzel.

[Amanda Felton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you LBT for having me on this read along tour and for my gifted copy of this epub.

I love this author anytime I see her I have to read her work. I feel like you really don’t know what’s coming next and I love that.

This was a good read. I really got into this within the first couple of chapters.

We follow Elizabeth a 34 year old living in Denver who is struggling with losing her job as a Publisher I mean I couldn’t imagine could you ?! I mean she is explaining her life up to the loss of her job and I have to say I really felt for her. She didn’t have it easy at all. She had to deal with her mom’s alcohol addiction and her dad was mainly just self centered and only thought of himself. I know so many people like this it’s really hard to be around them at times.

So a lot of the characters weren’t likable in the least I struggled with a lot of them some I liked oh Emma she was great.

I really liked how Elizabeth grew throughout the book and how in the end she learned about kindness to herself and others which I think is so important I struggle with being kind to my self I wish I was better but I and not it’s something I’m working on though. I feel we are all a work in progress.

Overall a really good read I loved the name of the book store I want to name a book store that like how cool. Quill and Ink!!! Makes me want to get coffee and just go sit relax !!!

[Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Denver by Florence Wetzel was a a wonderfully nostalgic book for me. I grew up in the suburbs of Denver, moved away from Colorado for many years and returned to the mountains in 2002. Denver is familiar. All of the places mentioned on these pages is familiar. And the Colorado culture is certainly found on the pages.

Elizabeth worked at a Manhattan publishing firm, living the life of the rich and spoiled. Unfortunately Bernie Madoff's ponzi scheme left her firm devastated and her without a job. Now she works for minimum wage at a bookstore in Denver. Elizabeth is bitter and it shows. She is scornful of her coworkers. She is rude to the customers. She hates her place in life. But a comment from her boss causes her to take a hard look at herself.

What follows is a story of one woman's journey to become a better, nicer person. We get to see her find her empathy and realize that kindness matters. It is a redemption story and resonates because it is so very realistic. All of us struggle to be our best selves at times. Sadness, grief, frustration and anger can derail us and we lose our goodness temporarily. It isn't purposeful meanness, but it does hurt others nonetheless. Elizabeth is like all of us, and it was easy to connect to her.

I enjoyed this one. Thank you to the author for my #gifted copy!

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a varied tale, but at its heart its a story about relationships and how little we truly know about those people and places around us.
We follow Elizabeth, a 34 year old living in Denver following the loss of her job at a publishers in New York. She explains her life up until this point. Being surrounded by poets full of their own self-importance, dealing with her mothers alcoholism and her father's plain disinterest in anyone but himself. She grows up but manages to forge a life for herself.
There are times that many of the characters feel completely unlikeable, except Emma, she's wonderful, and there are times that I felt desperately sorry for Elizabeth and those around her who were also dealing with tough pasts.
There are a number of real-life tragedies mentioned throughout the book that have impacted some of the characters in various ways. I found these tough, but sensitively handled.
I have no interest in poetry, so I found a lot of information that was completely new to me, regarding the Beats poets. It is obviously a huge part of life in Denver though so it was interesting to learn something.
Ultimately Elizabeth learned a lot about kindness, both to others, and herself, and I thought that was a lovely moral.

[Bekky Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant read. Heart wrenching at times. Emotional and thought provoking, really making you evaluate just how big of an impact you have on the people around you without realising and just really trying to make a different to the world.

So I’ll be honest - Elizabeth really resonated with me so much. In my life I can be easily led, I am very easily influenced and it’s probably my biggest character flaw. The constant need to please people often gets me in situations that can be awkward and that is why seeing Elizabeth struggle to pull away from the negativity - especially with London really hit hard with me. But on the flip side we also get to see the growth and change in character and I felt really proud to se where overcome her challenges.

I think that once you have read a book by this author and you see the amazing style of writing that just keeps you invested in these characters. That keeps you wanting to see how they develop next. That make you want to make a change in your own world with the words used on the page - you realise just how amazing the impact that an authors words can have on you.

I wasn’t sure whether Florence would be able to beat Aspasia as I adored that book - but Holy Denver is a beautifully written masterpiece and I’m very proud to have been able to read this one. I cannot wait to see what comes next as I’m now officially a fan for life!

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I have read by this author and I have enjoyed all of them. I really like her writing style. In this book Elizabeth Zwelland moves from working in publishing in New York City to working in a bookstore in Denver selling published books. I loved the name of the bookstore - Quill and Ink and enjoyed getting to know all of Elizabeth’s co-workers.

Elizabeth feels she has come down in the world. Her Manager tells her she is not a team player and that she looks down on her colleagues with a negative and bitter attitude. She is told to take a break and reflect. She does, carrying out a life review and spending time in nature.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the setting of Quill and Ink, the smell of the books and the coffee, the short concise chapters, the Zwelland poetry links and the characters of Jasmine and Emma. This author’s books always have a moral and some life lessons, leaving me to reflect on these after each book ends. A great read once again.

[Naturalbri (Bri Wignall) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb of this book really grabbed me. With the way of the world, over the last decade, and how the economy has gone, so many of us have had unexpected setbacks and changes that meant we had to look at life new or get bogged down for good. I saw this book was due to capture the essence of that and the journey back after, so had to read it.
The author truly does give you everything you need to be right there with our main character. You feel her loss, her sorrow, as she grieves her past, and look at the what could have beens. Then you feel the turning point hit her like a lorry, and she is looking at things new. All the whole you are easily able to connect with her emotions and understand exactly where she is coming from. It was excellent, as that also meant we got to feel the joy as her journey took a positive turn upward.
This book is really a hit rock bottom and the climb back up read and it is one that will put life into perspective. I really enjoyed it.

[Carol Binkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Zwelland is forced to move to Denver after her employer, a prestigious Manhattan publisher, goes out of business. All at once, she loses her beloved job, friends, city, and lifestyle. Suddenly struggling to make ends meet, she works part-time in a bookstore with its annoying staff, lives in a marginal apartment, and is in uncomfortable proximity to assorted members of her dysfunctional and extended family -- including her father, a famous poet and larger-than-life character. Frustrated and angry, Elizabeth has to come to terms with her life—past and present--her attitudes and behaviors towards co-workers and family and, in the process, reconnect with what’s really important in herself and in others. Hers is a memorable journey and an uplifting one and by the end of this beautiful and poignant story, readers will not only be rooting for Elizabeth but will also feel as if she’s a friend.

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another fantastic novel from Florence. I really enjoyed the story and thought it was a great concept. The cover was lovely. I like the mountains and the skyline. It looks good. The writing is excellent, and the story flows perfectly. The book is from Elizabeth's point of view. The book is split into two sections, which I liked. I thought it worked really well. The Denver setting was idyllic. The Rockies were a beautiful backdrop for the story. The true stories of JonBenét Ramsey and the Columbine High School shooting were absolutely heartbreaking and tragic. I liked the characters. Elizabeth was a great character, and I enjoyed her story immensely. I liked Jasmine and Emma. They were both so sweet. I definitely recommend this book!!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Denver is one of those books that, at first, you don’t even like the main character, and then as times goes on, not only do you like her, you love her! Elizabeth is a very bitter person for much of the book, making her mean at times. Then, something terrible happens, and she has a time of reckoning. A transformation slowly starts to happen, and her life begins to change for the better. I loved being able to watch her growth. I also loved her relationship with her little sister. Even if she was mean to everyone else, she was never mean to Emma. This was such a great book, and I highly recommend it! 5 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tofflan · Rating 5 out of 5]

När boken börjar är Elizabeth ingen trevlig människa. Hon till och med snudd på mobbar vissa arbetskamrater. Men hon är så bitter och förorättad och vill bara ha tillbaka sitt gamla liv. För min del är det rätt hög igenkänningsfaktor där (minus mobbningen)… Livet går emellertid inte att sätta på rewind.
Jag kan inte läsa den här boken alltför långa stunder och kanske är det en idé som författaren har med den. Alltså att man läser en stund, stannar upp och reflekterar.
Läs hela min recension här
https://tofflandel2.com/2026/01/26/re...

[Kate Edmondson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book of shame and redemption. You find yourself shamed that you hated a character as that was the whole point!

You go on a journey with Elizabeth as she starts a new life but still has her opinions and thoughts from her old one.

Her family is complicated and difficult, she’s grown up in a shadow of other people’s importance!

As you go into part two you realise this is her story of redemption

A thought provoking read which is written carefully. It has you thinking all over the place!

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So last fall I was apart of a read along for Florence's book Aspasia and let me tell you that was a book I fell deeply in love with. When the chance to join the read along for this book came up I jumped to the chance to read and share my thoughts and I am so glad that I did. Florence's stories have a very inspirational message to them and they make you realize that while the world can seem big and dark there is still hope out there. Sometimes you just need to find something that makes you happy. I will say if I ever had the opportunity to work around books I would definitely take it.

[Catherine Poe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! You never know what you’re going to get from Florence Whetzel! She can write about anything! I really enjoyed this story about a young woman who loses her job in the publishing industry in New York and ends up in Colorado where her father lives. She is shelving books she once edited by working in a bookstore. A confrontation leads to a suspension and some self reflection. It’s a great story- interesting, intriguing and inspiring!

[Books With Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay so this book?? I have thoughts.
I got so attached to the characters and the emotions felt very real. There were parts that made me pause and just sit with it for a second. I love when a story makes me feel something instead of just moving the plot along.
Not perfect, but definitely memorable. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

[Emily Shackelford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't really get into the book at first, as it starts really slow, but as the plot moved on, the pieces really connected. The story started to make sense, and I found myself hoping that something good would happen to Elizabeth, instead of hating her.

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A subtle, thought-provoking read that rewards patience and reflection.”

How do I even begin to describe this book? The emotions it evokes - and the discussions it invites through its understated writing - are exceptional.

Holy Denver blends personal transformation, social commentary, and memoir-style narration in a really understated way. Florence Wetzel’s writing relies on subtext, small moments, and internal shifts rather than big dramatic scenes.

Elizabeth’s move from a publishing career in New York to working in a Denver bookstore initially feels like a step backwards, but slowly becomes a way of reassessing identity, success, and self-worth. She’s not always a comfortable or particularly likeable narrator, but that feels deliberate - her growth is subtle and unfinished, which made it feel honest.

Although it draws on real-world tragedies like Columbine and 9/11, the novel uses them to capture the uneasy mood of the time, not to exploit them. If you enjoy literary, character-driven fiction that prioritises reflection over action, this is definitely worth picking up.