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Musical Chairs
Musical Chairs: A Novel | Amy Poeppel
16 posts | 18 read | 30 to read
Poeppel has created a story that is well thought out, well plotted, well written, and fully developed. A delightful novel that celebrates the messiness and joy to be found in real life. Kirkus Reviews (starred review) 100% page-turning delightPull out a lawn chair and prepare to read this gleefully entertaining novel. Stephen McCauley, author of My Ex-Life The quick-witted and razor-sharp (Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six) author of Limelight and Small Admissions returns with a hilarious and heartfelt new novel about a perfectly imperfect summer of love, secrets, and second chances. Bridget and Will have the kind of relationship that people envy: theyre loving, compatible, and completely devoted to each other. The fact that theyre strictly friends seems to get lost on nearly everyone; after all, theyre as good as married in (almost) every way. For three decades, theyve nurtured their baby, the Forsyth Trioa chamber group they created as students with their Juilliard classmate Gavin Glantz. In the intervening years, Gavin has gone on to become one of the classical music worlds reigning stars, while Bridget and Will have learned to embrace the warm reviews and smaller venues that accompany modest success. Bridget has been dreaming of spending the summer at her well-worn Connecticut country home with her boyfriend Sterling. But her plans are upended when Sterling, dutifully following his ex-wifes advice, breaks up with her over email and her twin twenty-somethings arrive unannounced, filling her empty nest with their big dogs, dirty laundry, and respective crises. Bridget has problems of her own: her elderly father announces hes getting married, and the Forsyth Trio is once again missing its violinist. She concocts a plan to host her dads wedding on her ramshackle property, while putting the Forsyth Trio back into the spotlight. But to catch the attention of the music world, she and Will place their bets on luring back Gavin, whom theyve both avoided ever since their stormy parting. With her trademark humor, pitch-perfect voice, and sly perspective on the human heart, Amy Poeppel crafts a love letter to modern family life with all of its discord and harmony. In the tradition of novels by Maria Semple and Stephen McCauley, Musical Chairs is an irresistibly romantic story of role reversals, reinvention, and sweet synchronicity.
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LeslieO
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Thank you so much @Lovesbooks87 ! Love the book and the chocolate. Can‘t wait to dive into both! Merry merry! #Jolabokaflod

Thank you for organizing, @MaleficentBookDragon

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Litsi
Mehso-so

A standard tale that‘s unfortunately too replete with tropes to be a pick. It was enjoyable to read about competitive musicians.

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Well-ReadNeck
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ReadingEnvy
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Mehso-so

One of my goals for the year was to read more music-themed novels and when this started popping up on highly anticipated lists, I added it to mine.

The story centers around Bridget, one member of a long-running piano trio that has rotated through violinists while she and Will have stuck it out, as close friends and musical collaborators. ↘️

ReadingEnvy Bridget is headed to her house in the country for the summer when her boyfriend breaks up with her over email, her adult children decide to join her, and her 90 year old famous father decides to remarry. I suppose this is a summer read but I wanted higher stakes, more hijinks, more heartbreak, something to make me feel more invested as a reader. Love the cover though. 3y
43 likes1 comment
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Erynecki
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Pickpick

A romantic comedy with outrageously believable characters who manage to make a mess of everything and to neatly sort it all out. A crumbling summer home, drunken dinner parties, slobbering dogs, a missing cat, secrets, questions of paternity, a wedding, and a lifetime of music.

12 likes5 stack adds
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Well-ReadNeck
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Pickpick

Completely enjoyed this #audiobook A fun and funny novel which celebrates friends and finding new beginnings in midlife.

67 likes2 stack adds
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Kelly326
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October #bookspinbingo ready!! Still working on my previous lists, some library books, and added a few creepy October reads. Thanks for hosting!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
4 likes1 comment
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

This was a perfectly pleasant “summer reading” type book.it was light and there were funny parts. At times, I didn‘t care as much about the characters as I like to, but by the end, I wanted things to turn out well. Overall it was enjoyable.

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Kelly326
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My September #bookspinbingo. I had a great month, and finished half the books on my list with 2 bingos. Now off to put together October‘s list for tomorrow.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Awesome month!! 4y
2 likes1 comment
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booksaremyfavorite
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Pickpick

Bridget and Will have been friends for many years. As this book takes place over a summer, their characters have big decisions to make.

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amycollard
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Pickpick

Loved this book! Sometimes you need something that‘s not too depressing, but not overly light either, no crazy bizarre thriller twists or gimmicks. Just good contemporary fiction, with good writing, and great cast of characters and a story that puts a smile on your face. This story about Bridget and Will, who have been musicians together in the Forsyth Trio for many years, was the perfect read for me. Every time I picked it up it made me happy.

Thousand-Lives I can‘t wait to read this one! Waiting for my library to have an available copy. Great review! 4y
amycollard @Thousand-Lives Yes I got it from my library too. Such a fun read! 4y
5 likes1 stack add2 comments
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janeycanuck
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Pickpick

Damn, I love a rich-people-problems story. I would have sat and read this in one sitting if life wasn‘t so cruel as to require my attention. I loved all the characters, especially Bridget and thought the story moved along perfectly with laugh-out-loud moments. I need to read Poeppel‘s other works ASAP!

36 likes6 stack adds
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janeycanuck
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Time for some Sunday morning relaxation while I try to hit my #AwesomeAugust goal.

AmyG Lovely picture. Enjoy. Looks divine! 4y
Andrea4 Need this bath set up!! 4y
36 likes2 comments
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Lauren.Archer
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Pickpick

This book was so in my wheelhouse, it was like it was written for me specifically. Taking place over one Summer, Bridget and Will who have been friends forever, have major life decisions to make.

For my full review, please visit my blog at: https://obsessedbookaholic.com/2020/07/29/musical-chairs-book-review/

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for an Advanced Reader‘s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sharpeipup Just requested it from the library. 4y
55 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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suvata
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Mehso-so

Marcy Dermansky, author of VERY NICE:
“Amy Poeppel's charming MUSICAL CHAIRS made me laugh out loud. Poeppel has a remarkable talent for creating the very best kind of mayhem. Drunken dinner parties, a runaway cat, brilliant musicians, a tattooed florist, drop dead gorgeous twins, crumbling old houses, beautiful Connecticut, secrets and lies--and finally--a wedding, the true hallmark of any delicious comedy. Reading this book was such a pleasure."

Megabooks Sold! 4y
suvata @Megabooks 👍🏻 4y
46 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Ang203l
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Pickpick

A fun summer read!