Book Synopsis
Empty nester and widow Riva Owen lives in the Victorian house that's been in her family for three generations, but finances have become a challenge she can no longer ignore. Her daughter is pushing her to move, and after considering all her options, Riva knows selling would be the smartest course. But she just can't bring herself to leave years of memories--and her cherished library filled with hundreds of books.
When she pursues an alternative--opening her home to women like her who have been forced to make lifestyle changes and need a room to rent--Riva is unprepared for the mix of personalities and peculiarities of her new housemates. She is even more unprepared for Marcus, the handsome and handy older brother of one of her new tenants. The possibility of finding love again feels overwhelming, even as her tenants seem to have romantic schemes of their own.
Warm your heart with a contemporary romance story of found family, booklovers, new beginnings, and an unexpected second chance at love in Melody Carlson's delightful signature style.
Book Details
- Publisher : Revell
- Publication date : March 17, 2026
- Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance
- Language : English
- Print length : 272 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0800747259
****I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, NetGalley, book tours, and or authors. A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.****
My Review
I recently finished All Booked Up, and it was exactly the kind of story I needed. It is so rare and refreshing to find a novel that focuses on middle-aged women with such honesty and heart. I found myself nodding along to so many of their struggles, feeling like I was sitting right there in the room with them.
The story centers on Riva, a widow who is at a major crossroads with her beautiful, memory-filled home. Instead of taking the predictable path and selling it, she makes the brave (and slightly chaotic!) choice to rent out rooms to other women. This decision sets off a chain reaction that changes everything. Watching her navigate this new chapter was incredibly inspiring; it reminded me that our lives don't have to stop evolving just because we hit a certain age.
The house becomes a melting pot of personalities, and that’s where the magic happens. I went through the whole emotional spectrum:
The Laughs: The banter and unexpected situations were so funny.
The Tears: The moments where the women dealt with grief were handled with such grace.
The "Cringe": There were definitely those awkward, petty jealousies that made the characters feel like real, flawed human beings.
What resonated with me most was the focus on friendship over romance. While society often tells us we need a partner to be "complete," this book argues that a solid group of friends is the most important support system of all. Even the most annoying character in the group, the one I wanted to shake at first, eventually won me over. Seeing her learn to love and forgive herself was a powerful reminder that it is never too late to make a new start.
This novel is a beautiful "second-chance-at-life" story. It’s empowering and hopeful and left me with a huge smile on my face. If you’re looking for a book that celebrates the journeys of women growing together, this is it.
****Meet Author Melody Carlson****
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including Romantic Time's Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/
~*~*~*~*Purchase All Booked Up ~*~*~*~*
HERE:
Paperback-https://a.co/d/03KNMRvt
Kindle-https://a.co/d/0ejU6tPp-
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