Stuck in Manistique

by Dennis Cuesta

Near the midpoint of the Upper Peninsula, along a Lake Michigan bend of shore, is the town of Manistique, Michigan. Mark had never heard of Manistique before the death of his estranged aunt, but as sole beneficiary of Vivian’s estate, he travels there to settle her affairs. As Mark tours his aunt’s house for the first time, the doorbell rings.

Days after graduating medical school, Dr. Emily Davis drives north, struggling with her illicit rendezvous on Mackinac Island. She never makes it—on the highway near Manistique, her car collides with a deer, shattering the car’s windshield. Stranded for the night, Emily is directed to a nearby bed and breakfast.

Maybe it’s a heady reaction, the revelation that his aunt, an international aid doctor, ran a bed and breakfast in retirement. Or perhaps he plainly feels pity for the young, helpless doctor. Regardless, Mark decides to play host for one night, telling Emily that he’s merely stepping in temporarily while his aunt is away.

As a one-night stay turns into another and more guests arrive, the ersatz innkeeper steadily loses control of his story. And though Emily opens up to Mark, she has trouble explaining the middle-aged man who unexpectedly arrives at the doorstep looking for her.

Will these two strangers, holding on to unraveling secrets, remain in town long enough to discover the connection between them?

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Audiobook, Contemporary, Book Club, Adult Fiction

335 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2018

About the author

Dennis Cuesta is the author of Many Are Invited and Stuck in Manistique, his debut novel. A native of California, Dennis attended the University of Michigan and remained in the Upper Midwest during his early career.

Dennis now lives in San Jose, California with his wife and son.

Reviews

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Set in the Midway point in the upper peninsula of Michigan, Mark discovers he has inherited an old Victorian house. The aunt who disappeared from his life when he was a young teen, has passed on,
leaving Mark in a quandry as to what to do with the house. His life is in Chicago, but he travels to Manistique, to meet first with the attorney , and then on to the house to see just what he has inherited.

A sweet, rather charming book that is also very humorous at times. Some quirky characters that are easy to like, some also at a crossroads in their own lives. He finds that his aunt had been running a B&B, and when strangers start appearing at his door, he unwillingly is drawn into a veritable comedy of errors. He will eventually find out done secrets kept for she's, in his own family.

Just a quirky, fun read, in a beautiful setting.

ARC from Netgalley.

[Stephanie Romig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, the characters are quirky, the town is charming and the story line keeps the pages turning effortlessly. The ending is perfection. Read this one in one day. This book is what fate is all about, how one event can bring so many other things to light. Five stars!

[Keep Calm Novel On · Rating 5 out of 5]

NetGalley provided a copy of the eBook in exchange for an honest review.

Dennis Cuesta has created a truly original read. Stuck in Manistique draws the reader into Mark’s world immediately. He has gone to Manistique to settle the affairs of his late estranged aunt. Mark had not seen or heard from her in years and nor has he been aware of her life in Manistique as the owner of a bed and breakfast. His journey is a true page-turner. The people that he meets makes this character-driven novel. The primary and secondary characters are well-developed with strong and distinct voices. Stuck in Manistique is a delightful read.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet debut novel about Mark and Emily whose serendipitous meeting in the small town of Manistique engenders change in both of them. Mark is there because he has inherited his estranged aunt's house which she has converted into a Bed and Breakfast. Emily is a young doctor planning to meet up with her married boyfriend when she accidentally hits a deer and needs a place to stay for the night. Coincidentally, other guests show up and soon there is a houseful of oddly eccentric characters.
Having grown up in the Midwest, I appreciated the details at the beginning of the novel--small town charm and quirky, down-to-earth people. As the book went on however, it seemed like I was reading the script of a movie or a play as there was so much dialogue and less description. So while I enjoyed the storyline, I missed the in-depth character development that breathes life into them and makes them real, an element I appreciate in literary fiction. While the characters were likable, I wasn't fully invested in them so the story was just that--a cute story. But if this sounds like a good end-of-the-summer read for you, it just may be your cup of tea!
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is the funniest book I have read. Totally unpredictable, great characters, and I read it in one day. The twists and turns of events had me laughing out loud. A financial planner arrives at a remote town in upper Michigan to check out a house left to him by his aunt. He does not realize it is a Bed and Breakfast until guests start showing up. Although reluctant to be a host, he feels sorry for every guest's situations and becomes the greatest host; going above and beyond the call. The town is charming and easy to picture, given the excellent details of the setting. The characters are unique and lovable. This was a delight to read!

[C. Bloom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this charming and witty novel by Mr. Cuesta. The intriguing historical background and local color will inspire any reader to visit Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to absorb the engaging mores the author has artfully captured.

[Ann T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Celestial Eyes Press and Netgalley for an ARC of this great book in return for my honest review.

This book ticked all the boxes for me, it was a fun, enjoyable read with great humour.. I loved the use of quotes and analogies from Faulty Towers peppered throughout, I could just imagine Mark running around like Basil and it had me laughing out loud at times.

I also appreciated the serious subjects covered in the book, relating to doctors and their struggles in the profession. This has led me to now read another ARC (Only Human), so I thank Netgalley for placing these two books in my lap and giving me the perfect book flight.

I also love any book that takes me to a new geographical location. I had never heard of Manistique before this book and was so excited when a google search gave me an armchair tour of the area. I loved that the author had added facts to his book, such as the service to drive people across the bridge. This fascinated me. I was happy to read that the author had wanted to created this book for 25 years, following a deer and a stay in the area !!

Thank you for this wonderful reading opportunity, it was just what I needed after a fair few non fiction books. I highly recommend it.
4.5 stars

[Alejandro Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book. It had an easy flow to it and the way it is written makes it captivating. Characters are interesting and lovable, with enough complexity to keep you entertained. Nice twists and funny moments abound. Great light novel to enjoy when you have some down time.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just took a trip to Michigan. We wanted to visit Manistique but didn’t make it. We did go across the Mackinac Bridge and visit Mackinac Island. I loved reading about the places I wanted to go visit and visualizing the places I’d been. I had to look up on the map and find the ‘phone box’ for bridge assistance! This was a light hearted and funny book. I liked the characters of Mark and Emily. The other visitors added charm to the story. It was a fairly quick read and I was anxious to see how it ended. I hope that Mark decides to stay in Manistique and run the B&B.

[Tami · Rating 3 out of 5]

The new debut novel by Daniel Cuesta was a delight to read. It’s written with a bit of slapstick and plenty of references to the British sitcom, Fawlty Towers. I’ve never watched that myself, but it did not take away from Cuesta’s story, other than I may not have gotten a joke or two.

When Aunt Vivian dies, her nephew Mark must go to Manistique to settle her affairs. As a child, Mark had been close to his Aunt Vivian, but as he grew older they had lost touch, so Mark enters into the details of her estate with limited information about her life in recent years.

Meanwhile, Emily, a young doctor, has a collision with a deer and ends up in Manistique needing to get her car repaired and needing a place to stay for the night.
As luck would have it, she ends up at the Victorian Manistique, which is the bed and breakfast Mark’s Aunt Vivian owned. He allows her to stay the night out of sympathy, even though he has no plans to run the bed and breakfast and wants to sell it as quickly as possible.

Through the course of a few days, various people come and go and the situation for Mark and Emily undergoes a drastic change. A bit predictable, but also a bit of a surprise, this was one I enjoyed reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

[Melanie McGrade Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I loved the characters, the story, and especially the dry humor! I could envision this being a comedy show on TV, similar to Seinfeld. I love this type of humor and coming from characters such as the ones in this novel is perfect! The characters are so quirky and the cornucopia of personalities just cliques and makes it all flow so much more easily, you never know what it going to come next. What could have been the same old boring storyline that has been told a million times was done with dry humor and wit and oh so memorable characters. I breezed through this book and loved every word!

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet tempered novel that intrigued me more by its depiction of a specific location than it did by its plot or characters. While the latter two were fine, I've been down that road before, but it was the Upper Peninsula and all its depicted quirks that held my interest and made me smile.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author. I enjoyed the style of writing it was like you were there watching the story unfold. Mark inherits a house from his aunt and learns it is a bed and breakfast. He tries to keep people out but they keep showing up looking for a room. These people take you on a wild ride with all the things happening in their lives. There is a connection between Mark and a guest and the twist at the end was such a shock. I want to read more about Mark and the many other characters in the book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great sitcom in a book. The events and characters are tightly woven together to form a very interesting story. There is something important happening all the time which made me want to keep reading and I could have read book this in one sitting. It is hilarious, but in no way stupid. The characters were interesting and there were many surprising twists and turns. The author really transported me to the Upper Peninsula with his descriptions and characters.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick, easy, fun, feel good read. I did expect a little bit more after reading the previous reviews but it held my interest and it had several rather humorous sections I really enjoyed. The character development was good, the plot is light and thin, downside is, the entire story does not bring out a lot of feelings.
I enjoyed the banter between Emily and Mark, and I think the storyline could have been great, it just didn’t quite get there. There were a few twist and turns that were unexpected but the biggest deal breaker was the ending, it just stopped. I had to check my bluetooth speaker to make sure it hadn’t died and nope, the book just ended, right there. Maybe a sequel is in store?
I was given the opportunity to receive this book from Celestial Eyes Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets 4****’s.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever traveled in Northern Michigan, Stuck in Manistique will have you hooked in the first 5 chapters. The descriptions of Northern Michigan, the Straits and heading west on US-2 will feel familiar. I laughed out loud at the description of listening to UP radio. One of my favorite things when driving across the UP is locally hosted radio shows. The description in this book did not disappoint. The lead characters both find themselves 'stuck' in Manistique, he to settle his aunt's estate, she traveling home to Wisconsin for a break in the middle of her medical schooling. A cast of characters also find themselves passing through the B&B that Mark has inherited from his recently deceased aunt. A very fun and entertaining read, especially if you are familiar with Up North Michigan.

I received and advanced reader copy of this novel via NetGalley.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The town's name alone is entrancing. Mark has been left a house by his aunt in her will. She is someone whom he hardly knew, but now he wished he had taken the time to know her better. She did not seem to want to keep in touch and was always serving in remote areas of the world as a doctor.

Coming to her house and slowly unravelling the secrets of her life is more than what he bargained for.

Mark did not even know that she ran a bed and breakfast and having to face upto unexpected guests as well as the rituals involved in the Indian culture following a death was a little hard for him to follow. Getting more and more involved in the personal lives and calamities of the guests was something he never envisaged and he does not know how to get out of it and go back to the peaceful life he led before.

Finding out that even total strangers can be connected to one another seems very strange, and when it seems that some of it connects back to him it is even more difficult to logically explain. Going with the flow Mark discovers a part of him that was hitherto unknown!

[Crystal Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. The name grabbed me right away. My husband grew up in Manistique and I lived there for a year or so. That being said this could have been written about anywhere. I understand changing names and such but I could only picture a few things mentioned about the town. Maybe I knew too much about it and that's why it was hard, I don't know.

It started out slow and didn't pick up until about half way though. I liked the idea behind the story but it was a bit dry, too descriptive, and had way too much going on. There were so many fillers. I think it would have been better if it had been shortened and if the author hadn't tried so hard. It kind of read like King novel, nothing scary or anything like that but anyone who has tried to read King and couldn't would understand.

I would be interested in picking up another story from this author to see if the writing style has grown.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Celestial Eyes Press for this ARC.

I decided to read this book for two reasons...
#1. NetGalley sent me an email saying I was pre-approved.
#2. It took place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Since a large part of my wanting to read this was for the location, I felt a little let down.
There wasn't a lot done with bringing the beauty of that area into the book. I wanted descriptions so vivid that I could practically see myself there with the characters.
The author did include a lot of real life pieces of the areas history into the book which I really enjoyed. I just feel like he missed some opportunities to incorporate the landscape and create more of a connection with the town.
The characters were interesting enough and a lot is packed into the story for only a few days timeline. It did remind me a lot of the TV show Are You Being Served...not as funny as the show...but that kind of flavour and banter.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The gentle story of love and hope kept me connected to the characters while the irreverent wit throughout the book had me laughing out loud. Especially meaningful to me was Cuesta's reminder that love comes in unexpected and varied forms. Cuesta also does a fine job of writing strong female characters. I look forward to reading this author's next release.

[Bonnie G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love reading books set where I am, and I spend a month or so every summer on the beach in lovely Northern Michigan. I am in the Lower Penninsula, and this book is set in Manistique in the Upper Peninsula, several hours from me. We are all in the same area according to Yelp, so I will take it. For the record, I am willing to bet this is the only book ever to be set in Manistique. Given that it is in the neighborhood, it jumped out at me at the library used book sale. Is it a great book? It is not. But it sets the scene beautifully, and introduces the reader to a lot of side characters who add a ton of fun and color to the story. There is also a story within a story where one character is reading a memoir she has found written by the women whose death sets this in motion. The woman was a doctor working with Doctors Without Borders and other aid organizations, and her recollections of working in Sarajevo and other places in crisis were gripping and well written. The story overall is just straight up sweet. I have been trying to read some proper beach reads this summer, and this qualifies. The book brought to mind for me Jonathan Tropper and Matt Haig, but with even more coincidences -- also less elegant and less well edited. Tbat said, there is a lot to enjoy in this book and I recommend it, socially for those readers who live in or at least have spent time in small Midwestern cities -- he gets a lot of that right. A 3.4 perhaps?

[gwen_is_ reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:

          Mark Never meant to stay long in Manistique.  All he needed was to set his aunt's affairs in order and return home.  He didn't know her well, as she was always in far away areas working for Doctors Without Boarders, but how much could she have amassed?  Should be an easy job, a few days tops.  Fate has other ideas.  Aunt Vivian was using her old Victorian (that she left to Mark) as a bed and breakfast.  

          Despite all attempts to cancel reservations and tidy up affairs, rooms keep filling.  A young doctor with a broken windshield and wounded soul, an escapee from a senior's casino tour and an electric car enthusiast.  Add the mysteries of Vivian's life and the eccentricities of the locals, and you've got yourself a bit of splendid chaos.

My thoughts:

    I am a huge fan of books with interesting, well developed characters.  Bonus points if you've got some witty dialogue and play between characters.  Combine all of that with a great plot and engaging story?  You have Stuck in Manistique.  It has a lot of emotions, pain, grief and guilt- but it balances it well with humor, warmth and acceptance.   I absolutely adored this book.  It really did have everything I look for in a literary fiction novel.  The characters are well developed, delightfully odd, and fantastically balanced.  You don't want to let them go, and seeing the end of the novel broke my heart.  I could have stayed in Manistique with these characters for ages!  For me, this is a five star book with an extra one for creativity.  

       On the adult content scale, there's some drinking, mild language and some heavy issues on the doctor's side.... nothing that would keep me from handing this book to a teen if they wanted to read it.  I give it a three.

     I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Celestial Eyes Press in exchange for an honest review.  My thanks!

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a quirky sense of humor and Faulty Towers is a show that makes you laugh, then reading Stuck in Manistique by Dennis Cuesta needs to be on your list of things to do today! This book is funny and full of details about the area in Michigan. I also liked the characters- each one with their own unique story and contribution to the plot. Stuck in Manistique starts off with Mark in the bed and breakfast that his aunt owned. In town to settle her estate, he feels sorry for newcomer Dr. Emily Davis and decides on the spot to rent her a room.

Mark never imagined that renting out a room in his aunt's home would bring so many lively and interesting characters into his life and into the bed and breakfast. After reading this novel, I would really like to try Mark's french toast!

The mysteries that need to be solved are less detective work and more circumstances that are intertwined with a bit of fate. Romances develop, but will they be in the direction that the reader anticipates? (You'll have to read, I will never tell!) The plot directions kept me guessing for most of the book! Funny and yet you can see how sometimes life does work with mystery and fate to provide closure and answers when you least expect them.

I think what I enjoyed more than the humor is that everyone had layers that are slowly uncovered and the truths are laid open for the characters and reader. I also enjoyed the descripotions of the lake and surrournding areas as I have not traveled to Michigan (yet).

Thank you to NetGalley, Dennis Cuesta, and Celestial Eyes Press for this advanced reader copy for me to review. As always my opinions are my own.

[Crystal Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuck in Manistique is a book that found me.

One afternoon I got an email from NetGalley notifying me that I was pre-approved for the title. Despite the fact that I was (am) already buried under a pretty lengthy TBR list (eight from NetGalley alone), I couldn't resist.

I mean, Booklist says Stuck in Manistique is, "Perfect for readers who enjoy quirky characters in small town settings."

And ya know what? They are correct. 

This book is a delight. I enjoyed the setting and really got a feel for the local flavor without it feeling kitschy. And I learned the correct way to pronounce pasty--short A.

I relate more with Mark than with Emily. He's that funny guy who always has a one liner, but will do anything for anyone. I found him to be really down to earth and thought his reactions to everything happening around him were true to life. He is joined by sundry small town folks, none of whom could be accused of being boring.

The story was funny and had me chuckling plenty, but it was also full of really tender moments. 

I think my favorite thing about Stuck in Manistique is that it is quiet book about things that really happen to people. Yes, there are some twists and turns along the way, and there are things that you don't see coming, but so much of it is just ordinary life kind of stuff--and that's what makes it extraordinarily good.

5/5 stars

I received an ARC of this title from Celestial Eyes Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected date of publication is October 29, 2018.

[Anne Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This enchanting first novel is full of surprised. Nothing happens quite like you might expect. The book reminded me of both Fawlty Towers and the British play, Noises Off, in which numerous quirky characters appear and disappear, moving in and out of rooms with much hilarity ensuing. It's an amusing and entertaining book.

Mark, a financial planner, comes to Manistique having been left a Victorian house, a bed and breakfast, in Manistique on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by his Aunt Vivian who has just died. Mark has not been in touch with Vivian for many years as she traveled to war torn countries as a doctor and did not write often.

Emily is a newly minted physician moving to Chicago for her residency when she is hit by a deer (the deer hit her car, she insists) and is forced to stay in Manistique until it is repaired. She becomes a guest of Mark, a most reluctant B&B host, as do a number of other quirky and delightful and not so delightful people. A series of coincidences ensue and if you expect Emily and Mark to end up together as they would in any other rom com, and that is one of the surprises. But there are many others to keep your interest.

This novel is fast-moving and entertaining and I look forward to seeing what Dennis Cuesta writes next.

[J_McA 251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolutely charming book. The author’s love for the setting, the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Lake Michigan, comes through in his descriptions of the sights, the people, and even the lexicon of the area. The characters are memorable, and the plot lines are believable. Even though I guessed at a couple of the resolutions, it was still a nice ride with the characters as they reached their destinations. There were some very funny moments (nice odes to Fawlty Towers), as well as some heart-wrenching ones. All of it was written with care and attention to detail. In all of the noise of everyday life, it was very relaxing to spend some time in Manistique. I sincerely hope the author writes more stories with these characters. Thank you to NetGalley, Celestial Eyes Press, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! This book had me sucked in right from the beginning. A debut novel by Denis Cuesta, this is the story of Mark and Emily,strangers who are brought together under unlikely circumstances. I loved all the characters in this book.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of seemingly average people cross paths in Manistique in the Upper Peninsula area of Michigan. Despite a number of deaths, today and in the past, this comedy of characters is sweet and hopeful.

It reminded me of one of those great screwball film comedies of the 30s, with doors opening and closing, coincidences large and small, and the hand of fate hovering over it all.

What will happen to these people in the future? We don’t know but the author makes us care for them and hope for the best. They deserve it!

[Arlena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Stuck in Manistique
Author: Dennis Cuesta
Publisher: Celestial Eyes Press
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"Stuck in Manistique" by Dennis Cuesta

My Thoughts.....

"Stuck in Manistique" was really a good entertaining read. I found both of the main characters [Mark and Emily] who were strangers that were 'brought together due to some unlikely circumstances' with some amusing as well as endearing moments. What will happen when all of these guest show up at this Bed and Breakfast that Mark had inherited from his estranged aunt that will only to 'add a houseful of oddly eccentric characters?' These characters will take the reader on quite a wide ride as each one having their own story with all of the things that were happening in their lives. Who was this aunt who was a international aid doctor who had ran a bed and breakfast in her retirement and had left this place to Mark? And the mystery continues about this situation is that Mark knows very little about this aunt other than knowing 'she traveled the worked as a humanitarian doctor in war town countries' but the jest to it all he had never met her. Now, to get the rest of this good story you will just have to pick up "Stuck in Manistique" to see how well this author brings it all out to the reader.

Be ready for twist, turns and humours moments that will definitely keep the reader entertained especially about this area in Michigan. I enjoyed how this author was able to give the readers of just how 'one event can bring so many others things to light.' I loved the connection that Mark had with each one of the guest and that twist at the end was quite a good one.

I requested and received a free eBook copy from Celestial Eyes Press courtesy of NetGalley.

[Suzze Tiernan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, light story but I didn’t get much of a feel of Manistique.