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Find out moreOne 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.
40 Years of Marriage. 8 Golden Charms. One Man's Journey of Discovery. [A] charming, unforgettable story. - Harper's Bazaar 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.
Closing date: 04/03/2021
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.
'Charming by name, charming by nature, this book is a balm for the soul and the heart.' - The Sun
'We love this sweet story about self-discovery.' - Take A Break
'A gorgeous journey told through charms' - 4 stars - Heat 'If you liked The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, you'll love this'
Townswoman
ISBN: 9781848455016
Publication date: 22/09/2016
Publisher: Mira an imprint of Harlequin (UK)
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781848454354
Publication date: 07/04/2016
Publisher: Mira an imprint of Harlequin (UK)
Format: Hardback
ISBN: | 9781848455016 |
Publication date: | 22nd September 2016 |
Author: | Phaedra Patrick |
Publisher: | Mira an imprint of Harlequin (UK) |
Format: | Paperback |
Pagination: | 368 pages |
Genres: | Book Club Recommendations, Reader Reviewed Books, Debuts of the Month, eBook Favourites, Family Drama, Humour, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, Relationship Stories, |
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., |
Categories: | Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), |
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