Musical Chairs

A Novel

De: Amy Poeppel

Narrado por: Amanda Carlin, Matthew Lloyd Davies, Gibson Frazier, Jackie Sanders, Carly Robins, Fred Sanders

“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 percent page-turning delight.... Pull 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 best-selling 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: They’re loving, compatible, and completely devoted to each other. The fact that they’re strictly friends seems to get lost on nearly everyone. For three decades, they’ve nurtured their baby, the Forsyth Trio - a 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 world’s 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 breaks up with her over email, her twin 20-somethings arrive unexpectedly, and her elderly father announces he’s getting married. She concocts a plan to host her dad’s 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 they’ve both avoided ever since their stormy parting.

“In this funny, profound, and brilliantly alive novel about all the messy, wise, and wonderful chords that love can strike in our lives, Poeppel gathers together fathers and daughters, old flames and new sparks, music, writing and gardening, to explore what it really means to feel at home, and how life can open you up in ways you never saw coming.” (Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author)

©2020 Amy Poeppel (P)2020 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Yes, definitely a good read!

You know a book is good when you start missing the characters after you finishing reading the book. Musical Chairs is like that for me. I am not sure if it is because it is an audio book where you get comfort from someone’s voice or because the story is that good. I think the story is that good! The only downside is that some of the characters either weren’t needed or they weren’t developed enough (Jackie for instance).

I am so used to reading serials that I can’t help wonder of all the characters who would be highlighted next. Come on Amy, do us a favor and have a sequel or two!

Loved It!

I had read this book when it was first released last summer. Amy Poeppel writes such engaging books about real people doing their best to survive / thrive in life. She uses humor very effectively. The audio version was fabulous. I appreciated all the various actors’ voices used for each character. I am already scouting her next book. Keep them coming!

Walk down memory lane

The different narrators brought life to the characters and added to the interactions
The story was moving and a walk down memory lane of western Mass and Conn.

Read this book!

Incredibly written!
Wonderfully entertaining.
Fantastic characters.
Loved everything about this book except that it’s finished.

fun and fabulous characters!

I enjoyed this book a lot! The storyline and characters made for a delightful read!

How fun!

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the reading! I highly recommend this audio book. Good fun!

Really good!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel about an interesting woman in midlife considering making life altering changes. She’s surrounded by clever and accomplished people with struggles of their own and the story is moving and fun. There are a number of narrators, a couple of them mildly annoying.

Wonderfully uplifting and happy !

A great full cast performance of a wonderfully uplifting story !
Midlife crisis, adult kids coming back home, elderly parents, gentrification, the complexities of finding new love ... all packed into a wonderfully uplifting story about change not being failure !
Author Amy Poeppel gives readers a rare occurrence in fiction: a man-woman friendship that stays just that. Readers might be tempted to look for signals that Bridget and Will have begin to fall for one another, but that never happens. It’s a refreshing change from other novels in the genre.
With the absence of the pressure of a looming romance, Bridget and Will have the freedom to support one another and admonish one another as the situation demands. They’re protective of one another, no doubt, and elements of jealousy do creep in but it’s minimal at best. Will and Bridget really do just want the best for one another.
Poeppel has created a cast of characters that will make readers grin, laugh out loud, and shake their heads by turns. Bridget’s famous father is as indulgent of his daughters as he is pompous about his work. The other characters in the book—Jackie, the personal assistant; Marge, the housekeeper; and even Gavin—fill their roles to perfection. They all feel like real people.
Readers looking for a light, easy listen will definitely enjoy this book. I highly recommend the full cast audiobook version !

A lovely book!

I absolutely loved this book! Will recommend for a lovely happy trip listen or just to relax and enjoy any time!

Fair

This book was okay. The narration was good. The story started slowly. It picked up midway.