Story in Review: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald is a love story, a story about finding your community, and a story about the ways we fall in love with reading.

Sara arrives in Iowa from Switzerland to visit a friend, but discovers that her visit is going to be a much different one than she imagined. The story grows from there, introducing a unique cast of characters and an inevitable love story. It’s just the kind of book to read when the snow falls, curled up in a chair with a mug of something warm – which is perfect, since the book doesn’t release until January 19, 2016.

Favorite Quotes:

“She was standing on one of the most beautiful streets in Cedar County, maybe even the prettiest in east central Iowa, but the only thing she had eyes for was her book.”

“As long as she had books and money, nothing could be a catastrophe.”

“The sign was so small that it almost seemed to be apologizing for intruding.”

“Sara didn’t care. She was going to do this. This town was in desperate need of a bookshop.”

“What, she asked herself, wasn’t possible with a yellow counter?”

“Books that had already been read were the best.”

“Cigarette packets came with warnings, so why not tragic books?”

“… she could smell his aftershave like a third presence in the kitchen.”

“He’s been taking care of people so long that he probably just doesn’t know how to quit.”

“One day, she would find a book for him. There was no rush.”

What made this a good story? I loved how feel-good predictable this novel was. The characters are set up early and then slowly dance toward each other just as expected. It was a fun read, with lovely little snippets about loving books mixed in alongside the love story.

What could have made this a better story? I feel that there are a few chapters of the novel that could be left out entirely. One of the subplots seems a bit forced and derivative, and I felt like those chapters detracted from the overall pacing of the story. I also feel that the novel ends a bit too quickly. There is a lot of build up, a lot of tension, and then a quick resolution in a matter of a few pages. I’m not sure it was quite enough for the reader to gain closure.

Will you read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend when it releases in January? If you describe yourself as a book-lover, I think you should. 

P.S. If you think you’ll like this, I recommend reading The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society, already out and ready to be enjoyed.

I received this advance copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are, of course, my own.

Cover image via the publisher.