LoveReading Expert Review of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
One of our Books of the Year 2016.
October 2016 Debut of the Month.
Gosh, this is an absolute treasure of a debut… and it’s full of delightful, delicious quirkiness. 69 year old widower Arthur sets out to find the truth behind a charm bracelet he discovers when sorting through his wife’s wardrobe. Arthur quickly realises that before she met him, his wife had a whole host of experiences, and Arthur knew nothing about them! Phaedra Patrick writes with a beautifully light touch, yet imbues each page with a meaningful eloquence. Arthur is a joy to get to know, you feel his sadness and bewilderment at his loneliness and loss, then as he steps out on his quest, you witness his cloistered heart and mind unfurling towards the possibilities that life can offer. ‘The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper’ fizzes with gentle humour, it encouraged my thoughts to wander in new directions, and charmed the cockles of my heart. This is a beautiful little gem of a read and I highly recommend it.
Explore our '80+ Books That Deliver a Hug' listicle for more feel-good or uplifting books.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Synopsis
When Arthur Pepper discovers a mysterious charm bracelet in his late wife's wardrobe, he sets off on a journey to discover, charm by charm, her secret life before they met. Eccentric, charming and wise, this will illuminate your heart.' -Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop Having been married for over 40 years, 69-year-old Arthur Pepper is mourning the loss of his wife. On the anniversary of her death, he finally musters the courage to go through her possessions, and happens upon a charm bracelet that he has never seen before. What follows is a surprising adventure that takes Arthur from London to Paris and India in an epic quest to find out the truth about his wife's secret life before they met, a journey that leads him to find healing, self-discovery, and love in the most unexpected of places.
About This Edition
| ISBN: | 9781848455016 |
| Publication date: | 22nd September 2016 |
| Author: | Phaedra Patrick |
| Publisher: | Mira an imprint of Harlequin (UK) |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 368 pages |
| Collections: | 80+ Books That Deliver a Hug , 80+ Humorous Novels - from Wry and Sly Observations to Outright Chuckles and Laughter., 40+ Quirky Novels - a little different and totally fabulous., Ten Unforgettable Older Characters in Fiction, |
| Primary Genre | Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
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The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper Reader Reviews
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion some of our Reader Review Panel were also lucky enough to read and review this title. Click here to read the full reviews.
- Sarah Harper - 'A lovely tale with beautifully crafted characters, warmth, humour and poignancy. I romped through this perfectly delightful story.'
- Catherine Bryce - 'A lovely novel which is a sheer delight to read from beginning to end.'
- Sue Pledger - 'Very enjoyable read. A well written and very charming story. It is a feel good read, very satisfying and a lovely ending.'
- Helen Appleby - 'a delightful book and was an absolute joy to read, Phaedra Patrick has created a story that draws the reader in from the first page and evokes feel good emotions from the start.'
- Shriya Khambhaita - 'Funny, warm and loving...I took Arthur Pepper with me everywhere. I smiled a lot and couldn't stop guessing what this secret was?'
- Sophia - 'What a lovely book! Such a wonderful story!'
- Janet Gilliard - 'This book is warm and funny and poignant. Highly recommended.'
- Kerry Bridges - 'An appealing, thoughtful read with the author's interest in people very evident. Certainly to be recommended.'
- Wendy Stubbs - 'Charmed I certainly was, from the first page to the last...This book was so revealing, so beguiling. Tears, laughter and disbelief with every page. A joy to read, one of the best debut books I have read for a long time.'
- Angie Rhodes - 'Are you ready to meet Arthur Pepper? I hope so, because he is going to steal your heart!'
- Phylippa Smithson - 'a powerful, brilliantly written and totally engaging review of love lost and new life found...Totally saddened to have finished this great read. Arthur, I wish I could meet you but I am so very glad you came into my life.'
- Fiona Rothery - 'The story is very heart warming, sometimes sad, often amusing and extremely enjoyable.'
- Lorraine Blencoe - 'I so wanted to love it but there was bit of clumsiness to it that made it lose some of its charm.'
- Andrea Rayner - 'This is a gently humorous book, full of insight and optimism about the nature of human relationships.'
- Lynne Rapson - 'The charm of the title is well-founded. A charming odyssey.'
- Ceri Forster - 'A light hearted easy read, with likeable characters and plenty of humour. However, it's a little forced in places and could have been really moving but somehow misses the mark.'
- Jane Brown - 'Simply charming - excuse the pun- a lovely read and undoubtedly a 2016 best seller.'
Phaedra Patrick Press Reviews
Other editions of this book
ISBN: 9781848455016
Publication date: 22/09/2016
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781848454354
Publication date: 07/04/2016
Format: Hardback
About Phaedra Patrick
Phaedra Patrick studied art and marketing and has worked as a stained glass artist, film festival organiser and communications manager. Her short stories have won competitions run by Penguin and Darley Anderson and she now writes full time. She lives in Saddleworth with her husband and son. The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is her debut novel.
More About Phaedra Patrick
