By Allen Levi – Atria, 2025

If you read just one novel from 2025, let it be Theo of Golden. Theo arrives in the small town of Golden as a mysterious, benevolent stranger and is quickly accepted by the locals. In the town café, he lingers over a wall of portraits depicting 92 people he doesn’t know and resolves to purchase and return the artwork to its subjects.

The story follows Theo through moments that appear simple—an unhurried conversation, a small kindness, a friendship that quietly takes hold—but resonate with surprising depth. We know little about him beyond his deep knowledge of the arts, yet through each portrait and its recipient, we see how fully he notices others. Before long, we’re invested in the tender ways people shape one another simply by showing up and being seen.

Reflective and character-driven, this novel offers cozy, small-town charm without veering into sentimentality. Theo of Golden is comforting without being sugary, hopeful without being preachy—a book to linger over and return to when you need reassurance about what matters most: connection, kindness and belonging.

By Lynda Cohen Loigman – St Martin’s Press, 2024

This charming novel intertwines meticulously researched history with endearing characters, resulting in a heartwarming story of second chances, family bonds, wit and a touch of magic. Spanning past and present, it transports readers to 1920s Brooklyn, where young Augusta works alongside her father in his pharmacy—an unconventional role for a woman at the time. Her great-aunt Esther, an immigrant steeped in old-world herbal remedies, infuses the pharmacy with wisdom and warmth, creating a community hub where healing transcends science. Esther’s potions hint at something beyond mere chemistry—is there magic in them after all? And was a love potion to blame when Irving, the pharmacy’s delivery boy, abruptly left town, severing a blossoming relationship with Augusta and leaving her heartbroken and guarded? 

Decades pass. Augusta has built a fulfilling life through career and friendships, yet love remains elusive. At 80, she reluctantly steps into retirement, uncertain of her future—until a stunning reunion with Irving reignites questions of forgiveness and rekindled possibilities. With rich historical details and its exploration of love’s endurance, this novel offers a nostalgic and inspiring read.