Anne Bogel

Were you drawn in by the cover or did you put it down because of the cover?

Some readers love this and some readers are like, what the heck?

I don't think this could be for me.

Oh, okay.

It's kind of you to look out for your fellow readers.

I'm not sure what you gathered from the jacket, but I'll start from scratch.

This book, well, Holland Saltzman of The Novel Neighbor gave me a galley of this a million years ago and said, read it.

I want to know what you think.

And I was like...

What is happening with this cover?

But I did.

And the premise is so audacious.

I thought, like, this is a big swing.

Like, it's a little bit Dickens' A Christmas Carol, but also not at all that audacious.

So in this book, we have this woman in her, I think, early 40s looking back on what her life could have been, reflecting on how she was so in love with the art.

And also she thought so in love with this man who she felt really took advantage of her innocence and love and appreciation for beauty and beautiful things.

And never fully understanding how it wrecked her heart.

or why, and finding guidance in what seems like both a highly unlikely, but ultimately perfect place that feels like it's able to explore themes that are really perfect for right now.

Lots of descriptions of art.

Also, if you're into that, really terrific descriptions of France and food.