A title like How to Read a Book almost feels like it is making a promise. Maybe a little instruction. Maybe a challenge. As a reader, I immediately wondered whether this would be a story about literature itself or whether the title was quietly asking something bigger. How do we read books? More importantly, how do we read people?

This story turns out to be less about reading words on a page and more about understanding the lives unfolding around us. It takes strangers carrying grief, mistakes, and loneliness and places them in the same orbit until something unexpected begins to happen.

*Spoilers will be hidden and labelled so you can choose to read or skip.

The cover of How to Read a Book is neither eye-catching nor memorable. It is, however, simple and tasteful. If I were judging by first impressions alone, I would never have picked up this book based on the cover – except for the clever title.

Color Story

Bold complementary colors make this simple bookstore window front cover a bit more eye-catching.

Typography Notes

The designer has chosen a friendly, semi-modern-looking sans serif. It has nice, thick-thin elements with tilted O characters. This creates dynamism in a rather static image.

Genre Signals

The quaint bookstore window on the front cover of How to Read a Book would initially link to a cozy mystery, but the title sets this in contemporary fiction or women’s fiction.

Hidden Details

Some of our animal friends are featured on the cover of the book. The box on the table may hold knitting supplies, which also makes an appearance in the story.

Mood Check

The cover of How to Read a Book gives little away about whether to expect emotionally. The gentle colors and still imagery suggest placidity, but that’s not entirely accurate.

Beyond the Dust Jacket

The ebook was nicely formatted and easy to read. There were no special design elements.

I think this would be such a great candidate for a section with book club discussion questions, but there were none.

Did the design affect whether I bought the book?

No. I bought How To Read A Book one day when I saw it on sale via one of the many book sale emails I receive daily. It came to my attention when I was researching books to fulfill the reading prompt “Read a book with found family.” My decision to add it to my TBR was based solely on interest in the premise and the knowledge that this prompt was coming.

The POV (point of view) cast, Violet, Harriet, and Frank, present as vastly different people, yet circumstances and books unite them in unexpected and beautiful ways. Each character is soundly human in their flaws and personal histories. They’ve all made mistakes. They’ve all suffered. They’re all trying to do better.

The side characters are equally robust even with less page time. Their voices are unique and clear. Small details make it easy to fill in a mental picture.

There are even some delightful animal friends that add an extra layer of joy to the cast.

How to Read a Book leads with characters. While being quite emotional the writing is clear and crisp. The language is accessible. Pacing remains steady with enough action to remain engaging.

People, especially women, in How to Read a Book connect over shared reading experiences. They read together and talk about the books, but also about their own lived experiences that relate to the themes in the books.

Forgiveness. Full stop. How to Read a Book overflows with forgiveness.

Found family shines against the harsh realities that blood relation presents in How to Read a Book.

What Worked:

• How to Read a Book packs a lot of life into fewer than 300 pages.
• The characters’ personalities are distinct and show each individual as messy and complex.
• How to Read a Book wraps up the story in a way that calls back to book club discussions, which is so lovely.

What Didn’t Fully Click:

• Considering the themes and general strength of the characters, How to Read a Book should have made me cry, but it didn’t. The ol’ heart strings could have been tugged a little harder.

That said, How to Read a Book was fantastic. Overall, a very strong, well-written, thoughtful book.

When I got the prompt to read a book with found family, I had a few options in mind. I was leaning toward another that I thought was in my personal library, but it turned out that it wasn’t. So How to Read a Book got bumped to the top of my list.

I think it was fortunate that this book came into my life right when it did. There have been some recent stresses within the family, and the example of these characters helped me to move through the issues with more grace than I might have otherwise.

How to Read a Book fits reading seasons when you might be having family issues or struggling with forgiveness. It’s a comfort for when you are facing down your own mistakes. It’s hopeful without being naive. This one’ll stick with you.

Read if you like:

• Quiet moving stories that challenge your perspective while still offering comfort and hope.
• Forgiveness and redemption.
• Found family, especially unexpected connections!
• Parrots 🦜

Skip if you dislike:

• Character-driven stories with a unique cast.
• Books about books and reading.
• If you need high drama, fast pacing, or thrills, then How to Read a Book might not be a good fit.

I read How to Read a Book to fulfill the Playing Card Reading Challenge prompt: Read a book with found family. It could also have fulfilled the prompts: Read a book about friendship.

What is the best found family story you’ve read?

May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.

Happy Reading!