Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

General Fiction – Contemporary Fiction – Southern Fiction –

Christian Fiction – Book Club Fiction – Mystery – Art Elements

THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi is described as an endearing story of a curious old man who quietly moves into a southern city and, for reasons unknown to anyone but himself, undertakes a campaign of anonymous generosity.

As popular as THEO OF GOLDEN has been, I probably don’t need to blog about it. It’s been highly publicized, but if this is one of your only sources of book recommendations, it’s possible you haven’t heard of it. Since I only blog about books I love, let me be the one to suggest you get a copy for yourself and one for a friend or relative who hasn’t read it yet. It’s a gentle book about being kind, the type of book we need today.

Book Summary

Eighty-six-year-old Theo arrives in Golden, a small town in Georgia. He has a calming spirit and takes interest in the lives of the people who live there. The walls of the local coffee shop is covered in a local artist’s pencil sketches. He takes time to admire the faces of the café’s patrons in each sketch with admiration and thoughtfulness. He decides to buy them all over time and gift them to the person portrayed in each sketch, no strings attached.

Theo invites them (one at a time) to join him on a bench in the center of town to receive his gift, unsure they will trust his pure intentions enough to meet him. When they arrive, Theo asks them each to tell him about themselves. Surprised that someone is taking an interest in them, most of the recipients feel comfortable enough to open up. They seem glad someone is taking the time to listen and to see them. Some ask him questions, but Theo has a way of turning the conversation away from himself. Through Theo’s interactions, we get small snapshots of everyday people in a small town and gradually learn who Theo is and why he picked Golden, Georgia.

My Thoughts

It’s a formidable task to review THEO OF GOLDEN by Allen Levi because it’s that good. My words cannot do it justice. Although it’s more literary than I usually read, I love this book.

Books don’t often make me emotional, but this one touched my heart in a way other books haven’t. It’s something I felt deep in my soul as I read the last few chapters and closed the book. THEO OF GOLDEN may not be everyone’s cup of tea, no book is, but you should give it a try.

I was curious how characters would respond to Theo when he asks them to share about themselves. My guess is that most people today would clam up, closely guarding the private lives. And yet, the residents of Golden don’t. They don’t assume Theo would use information against them or scam them, like we might believe today. It’s reminiscent of days when people sat on front porches talking with neighbors and didn’t have to question everyone’s intentions. It’s about human connection, about taking time to just sit with someone and discover more about who they are. It’s about kindness and accepting people where they are.

THEO OF GOLDEN is a story about the joy of giving, but also how the receiving can change a person’s heart and view of themselves. I like that Theo chooses to use his wealth to help others. How often do we see that happen? Buying the sketches is only one way he does that.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a fast-pace, action book. It’s slow-paced, like Theo. He takes time to listen to others, and he develops relationships with people in the town. It’s a quiet book, like sitting down with a friend over a cup of coffee. So, if that isn’t your thing, that’s okay. Move on to something else. I found it refreshing.

Theo has a gift to draw people out, to get them to share their hurts, desires, and problems. It’s as if these strangers crave someone who will take time to listen, someone who cares about their stories. Could many of us be in need of that kind of kindness? We wouldn’t expect strangers to open up like that, but perhaps it’s part of a deep human need that isn’t being met today. As we learn the stories of average, everyday people, we anticipate learning Theo’s story. He’s a bit of a mystery until the last part of the book.

I should tell you that Theo is a Christian. (Not knowing that up front put off some readers.) He is trying to do good, Christian acts, but I appreciate that Theo and other Christians in the story aren’t represented as perfect people. Theo is trying to face his regrets and make up for past mistakes. Also, he isn’t at his best when he reacts to a man sitting on “his bench.” On the other hand, when a certain visitor shows up for church service, only Theo and one woman have a Christian response toward her. The rest of the congregation, not so much. It just shows that even people in a church aren’t perfect and make mistakes. They aren’t there because they’re perfect. They’re there because they’re trying to do better.

Some readers have harshly judged some of the author’s choices concerning his characters. The world is so politically charged these days, and people seem to be looking for anything to criticize. Yes, I do believe some authors use their novels to support their opinion and advance an agenda. If Allen Levi has an agenda, it’s to spread kindness. Not much to argue about there. Even with some reader criticism, THEO OF GOLDEN has over 350,000 Goodreads ratings with a 4.5/5 star average. That speaks for itself.

Simon and Schuster published THEO OF GOLDEN after noticing its success in the self-published world. If you’re going to buy a copy, I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org. I am now an affiliate of Bookshop.org because I love their mission to support small, independent bookstores across the country. To be transparent, I may receive a small commission from your order, but it doesn’t increase your cost AND you’re helping small bookstores! Win-win! You can order THEO OF GOLDEN HERE. And check out my Bookshop page with other great recommendations HERE.

About the Author

Allen Levi grew up in Columbus, Georgia. He has degrees in English and Law from the University of Georgia and a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh, and he has worked as an attorney. He now works as a traveling musician, sharing his thought-provoking songwriting and storytelling to audiences across the U.S. With over twenty albums to his credit, Allen also has hundreds of unpublished songs.

Before THEO OF GOLDEN, Allen published a memoir, The Last Sweet Mile, about his close friendship with his brother who died in 2012, and a children’s book, Oliviatown. THEO OF GOLDEN is his first published novel.

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May 28, 2026May 22, 2026

Lost in the Summer of ’69

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2026

General Fiction – Women’s Fiction – Summer Read – ’60s nostalgia – Rock ‘n’ Roll

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight: a grandmother with early Alzheimer’s lives out her dream of being a musician by joining a band in the rock festival circuit while her worried daughter and granddaughter go on a road trip to find her.

If you like books with ’60s nostalgia and rock ‘n’ roll, LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight is for you! It comes out in paperback on June 9, just in time for summer reading. Embark on a road trip across the country to music festivals in the golden era of rock.

Book Summary

Doctors have given Eleanor a diagnosis of early Alzheimer’s. Regretting she never pursued her dream to be a professional musician, she leaves her Atlanta home to go to a California music festival. After performing in an open mic tent, Shep Moon invites her to play on the big stage with his band. Next thing she knows, she’s traveling the country, playing with Shep’s band on the festival circuit.

Straight-laced Leanne always wears pearls and a dress and always has her husband’s dinner on the table when he gets home from work. Lately she’s been longing for more in her marriage and life than the restraints put on 1950s and ’60s housewives. She’s shocked and worried when her mother left home without leaving a note. She asks her daughter, Nora, to ride with her to track down Eleanor. Leanne hopes time together will strengthen their relationship before Nora goes off to college.

Nora wants to hang out with her friends before she faces her freshman year at Yale as one of the first women students. She planned on spending her summer at the lake with friends, but her mom and grandmother need her help. Being trapped in a car all day, day-after-day, with her mom sounds like torture, but she agrees to go.

Eleanor is having the time of her life. She is worried that if her daughter finds her, she’ll spoil all her fun and make her come home. Her daughter and granddaughter are hot on her trail, but every time they arrive at a festival, Eleanor has already moved on to the next one. They continue to track her without any modern technology. No cell phones. No computers. No GPS. Meanwhile, Leanne and Nora are being more adventurous than they’ve ever been. Their fun and troubles bring them closer together as they enjoy a new found freedom on the trip.

And yes! The do get to Woodstock. Is IS the summer of ’69, after all.

My Thoughts

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight is an enjoyable, light-hearted story about Grandma Eleanor being lost (although she knows where she is—most of the time), and her daughter and granddaughter tracking her down.

I love that Eleanor gets a chance to experience the spotlight as an entertainer, a dream she’d given up in her youth to marry and have a family. She gets to prove to herself that she could have done it and that she still has value at her age. She gets to live that life, even if only for a summer. She’s the most interesting character for me. However, Leanne is at the most interesting crossroads, historically.

Leanne has played the dutiful wife with all the restrictions on women in the 1950s-’60s, but she dips a toe in the evolution of women’s rights. She’s the transitional woman, glimpsing future possibilities. Drowning in her marriage and life while dreading becoming an empty-nester, she gets a taste of adventure and freedom while on the road with her daughter. She recognizes she wants more for both of them. She goes from always wearing a dress and her pearls to wearing tie dye shirts and bell bottom jeans. What would the ladies back home think?!

Nora represents the generation that will change societal expectations of women, including being one of the first women to attend Yale. On the verge of adulthood, Nora moves from seeing her mother through a child’s eyes to seeing her from a more adult perspective. She also experiences young love with Joe, a reporter she keeps running into at the festivals.

All three women, three generations, learn about being themselves and about breaking out of the mold the world imposes on them. (Can’t help but think of Jell-o molds from the ’60s!) These women learn they have agency. They discover the joy in getting ‘lost’ on purpose—and, through the process, being found and seen.

Eliza Knight has done her research. She did a fabulous job creating the world of 1969 through many historical touches. She hit right on with sensory details of the hotel rooms, diners, and pay phones, as well as the festivals, from the patchouli to the mud to the tear gas. The only criticism I have is some of the festivals could have been cut out. It began to feel repetitive, even though different experiences happen at each. Perhaps a few could have been combined together.

I really enjoyed taking a road trip with these three ladies. Watching Eleanor get her moment to shine and the transformation of Leanne and Nora, both individually and as mother/daughter, was entertaining. LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 should go on your summer reading list. Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The opinions are my own.

LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight comes out in paperback on June 9, 2026. It’s almost here! Pre-ordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the country. Since it’s a paperback, it’s very affordable. Order here.

About the Author

Eliza Knight, an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author, currently lives in Florida with her knight in shining armor, three princesses, two naughty Newfies, and a turtle names Fish.

Her love of history began as a young girl, traipsing the halls of Versailles and running through the fields in Southern France. Standing before the great golden palace, she imagined what life must have been like. Today she takes readers on historical journeys around the world.

She is the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and hosts the History, Books and Wine podcast.

If You Like…

If you like the description of LOST IN THE SUMMER OF ’69 by Eliza Knight, check out my past reviews on these recommendations: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? by Crystal Smith Paul.

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May 23, 2025June 3, 2025

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

Readers, get ready for a one-two punch with ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, the sequel to EVERY SUMMER AFTER! Put these at the top of your summer romance reading list!

This spring I read EVERY SUMMER AFTER (link to my review) and LOVED it! Carley didn’t disappoint with the follow-up story, her new release, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER.

Although these novels could be read as stand-alones, I would highly suggest reading EVERY SUMMER AFTER first to get the background of the characters. EVERY SUMMER AFTER is the romance between Percy (Persephone) and Sam set at their lake cottages at Barry’s Bay. Carley’s new book, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, returns to the same location, but we get the romance between Alice and Charlie, Sam’s brother.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune – Book Summary

“Good things happen at the lake.” – Nan

Alice spent the summer with her grandmother at the lake when she was seventeen. She watched three teens, two boys and one girl, from a distance, wishing she could be part of their group but being too shy to introduce herself.

Photo of a Nikon camera — Photo by Nick Demou on StockSnap

That summer, Alice got her first camera. One shot, capturing a carefree moment of the three teens speeding across the lake in a yellow boat, started Alice’s path to a photography career. Now in her thirties and unhappy with following someone else’s vision in her commercial photography business, she takes time off to care for Nan after a hip replacement. She also hopes to recapture her joy of photography during her time away from work. Alice arranges for them to spend the summer in the same lake cottage to cheer up her grandma while she recuperates.

Amazingly, the person preparing the cabin for their visit is the neighbor Charlie, one of the boys from the boat photo. Although readers may remember Charlie as the “bad boy” from the first book, he’s now in his thirties. Readers want to see if Charlie can redeem himself.

Adult Alice decides to live this summer doing all the things she was too scared to do when she was seventeen. She creates a summer bucket list to break out of her introverted shell. Charlie seems to have a photogenic memory from the quick glance he sneaks of her list. Throughout the summer, he helps Alice check off the activities.

Alice tries to keep her distance from flirtatious Charlie. They have great banter, and conversation is easy, but she’s getting over a recent break-up. Charlie says he just wants to be friends, even though their chemistry is on fire when they’re around each other.

For the first time, Alice feels like she can totally be herself around a guy and likes that Charlie sees her for who she is. Even though she has always played it safe, and he continues to give her mixed signals, several times she tries to take their relationship to the next level and gets shot down.

With the baggage of deep personal loss, his past actions and a secret he holds, he doesn’t feel he deserves a HEA. He pushes her away, knowing he desires to do the opposite.

My Thoughts

Alice and Nan have a sweet, caring relationship. I like many things about their connection, but especially that they were doing sewing projects together at the cabin. (If my mother-in-law were still with us, that would be her, doing projects with her grandkids!)

The romance is a slow burn, since Alice isn’t sure she’s ready for a new relationship and Charlie insists he wants to just be friends. The push/pull of ‘will they/won’t they’ chemistry makes for great reading. They can fool themselves, but the reader knows where it’s heading! Take note: this book is not a “sweet” romance. It has some heat to it. The build is wonderful with the one step forward, two steps back approach.

Charlie tells Alice she’s trouble, recognizing he has met his match, IF he lets her in. Although Charlie is still a flirt with a huge ego in this book, we get to see the real Charlie that hides behind the mask. Gorgeous Charlie is smart, quick-witted, humorous, charming, and caring. He goes out of his way to help Alice and Nan, even becoming friends with Nan without ulterior motives. Charlie even makes opportunities for Alice to complete her bucket list while he also completes a sweet project for Sam and Percy.

I’ve heard people in the reading community ask, “Who’s your book boyfriend?” I never had an answer. No one stood out. Now I do-Charlie Florek, the same character I didn’t overly like in the first book! I appreciated seeing him mature into an adult. Like most people, he hid his insecurities behind a mask, until he meets Alice who sees right through him.

Even in EVERY SUMMER AFTER, we see hints that adult Charlie has changed. I like that Carley let the “bad boy” mature. He becomes a better person who doesn’t have to suffer his whole life for teenage mistakes.

Consider purchasing EVERY SUMMER AFTER and/or ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune through these links on Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. I like to support MacIntosh Books on Sanibel Island with their recovery after Hurricane Ian. (I don’t receive any commission from this. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Carley Fortune is an award-winning journalist, having worked as an editor at some of Canada’s top publications. Now, she’s a #1 New York Times and #1 Globe and Mail bestselling author, as well.

Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

If You Like…

After devouring EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER by Carley Fortune, you may like these books: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. I’ve included a link to Bookshop.org for both of them as well. Happy reading!

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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May 5, 2025June 3, 2025

Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

Robin’s Rave Reviews 2025

EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune is so good, I can’t get the story and characters out of my mind. It isn’t often I consume a book in 24 hours, but I couldn’t stop reading. My mind is still chilling at the lake in Barry’s Bay.

What luck to have read two contemporary romances that I loved consecutively! I recently blogged about THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME by Denise Hunter, so when you finish that one, jump to this one–EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune. *Note that EVERY SUMMER AFTER is a bit spicier. It has THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY vibes, so if you liked that book series or Amazon Prime show, definitely don’t miss this one. EVERY SUMMER AFTER has also been compared to LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren, although I haven’t read that one.

Book Summary

Six summers to fall in love. One moment to fall apart, A weekend to get it right.

Thirty-year-old Percy (Persephone) tells the story in first person with alternating timelines. I’m estimating that her present would have been around 2010 or slightly earlier, and the past goes back twelve years from then.

When Percy is thirteen, her family buys a vacation lake house in Barry’s Bay (Canada) next door to the Florek family. Percy spends all her teenage summers hanging out with the Florek boys, Charlie and Sam, but especially Sam. Although Percy has trouble socially at school in Toronto, Sam accepts her and loves her for who she is, quirks and all.

Over these summers, Percy and Sam become best friends, and their relationship gradually turns romantic. Readers will realize the present day adult Percy has some qualms about returning to Barry’s Bay and seeing Sam again. Obviously, something happened that has kept them apart all these years.

The story begins in her present with a phone call from Charlie. She’s surprised since she hasn’t had contact with anyone in the Florek family for twelve years. Charlie informs her of his mother’s death and expresses that she should be at the funeral since she was like family.

When Percy returns to the lake, she’s flooded with nostalgic memories. Chapters flash back to simpler days with Sam–enjoying the sun, jumping off the dock into the water, taking the boat out, talking for hours about everything and nothing, dreaming of the future, and watching movies in the basement to cool off.

When Sam and Percy encounter each other on her return, it’s apparent they still have a connection. This weekend is Percy and Sam’s chance to clear the air about past mistakes, to forgive, and to explore if it’s too late to rekindle their relationship.

My Thoughts

I loved the relaxed days of being a teenager at the lake. It’s a story of the awkwardness of the teen years and first love, but also the tidal wave of emotions that comes with it. It’s a second chance story with ‘the one that got away.’ The author spends more time in the past than the present, but I appreciated that. I was more interested in watching the teenage versions of the characters as they grow up.

You will probably see the story’s twist of what separates them coming from a mile away. I did. Although I didn’t want to see it happen, it doesn’t surprise me that an eighteen-year-old would make a stupid choice like this. Some readers who’ve reviewed the book can’t get past it and can’t accept that the action can be forgiven, but this is a romance which means it’s going to have an HEA (happily ever after) ending. I am happy to see that teenage mistakes had consequences, but they didn’t have to be held against them for the rest of their lives.

I didn’t like teenage Charlie much, but readers may catch snippets that point to him maturing as an adult. Even Charlie can become a better person. Let’s see how it goes for him in the sequel, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, coming out soon. I preordered my copy.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER was published in 2022. The sequel, ONE GOLDEN SUMMER, comes out May 6, 2025. Consider purchasing through Bookshop.org to help support independent mom and pop bookstores. (I don’t receive a commission from these links. I simply want to help independent bookstores.)

About the Author

Carley was born in Toronto but lived in the suburbs of Sydney, Australia until age 8. That’s when her family permanently moved to Barry’s Bay, a tiny lakeside town in Ontario, Canada, the setting for both EVERY SUMMER AFTER and ONE GOLDEN SUMMER. She currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two sons.

EVERY SUMMER AFTER was Carley’s debut novel. She is currently working on novel number five.

If You Like…

If you like EVERY SUMMER AFTER by Carley Fortune, check out the books I’ve already mentioned: THE SUMMER I TURNED PRETTY by Jenny Han and LOVE AND OTHER WORDS by Christina Lauren. (Again, I haven’t personally read the second one, but reviewers compare these books.) You can also check out my blog review for this enjoyable contemporary romance: JUST FOR THE SUMMER by Abby Jimenez.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley

February 10, 2025

The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry

Robin’s Reviews 2025

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND by Patti Callahan Henry is a beautifully written novel about an impossible choice made by a mother, the emotional scars left in her daughter’s heart, and a book that might heal her pain decades later.

Summary

As a child prodigy, Bronwyn writes a book that becomes famous. As an adult, she writes the long-awaited sequel. The book is written in a coded language Bronwyn created and is yet unpublished. Under mysterious circumstances in 1927, she leaves her husband and her 8-year-old daughter Clara, and takes the dictionary needed to translate the cipher. The family believes Bronwyn is dead, and the pages are gone forever.

Twenty-five years later, Clara receives a phone call from Charlie, a stranger living in London. He claims her mother’s papers have been discovered. Her mother’s abandonment has haunted Clara and driven her need for answers and resolution. Suspicious but hopeful that the papers are real, Clara travels with her daughter Wynnie from South Carolina to London to retrieve them.

They arrive during The Great Smog of 1952. To escape the toxic air in London, they travel with Charlie to his family’s retreat in the Lake district, near where Beatrix Potter lived. While staying at the country estate, Clara must find the courage to uncover her mother’s secrets and the story she left behind.

My Thoughts

It’s fascinating that the real life and disappearance of author Barbara Newhall Follett inspired Patti’s novel. I had never heard of Barbara Newhall Follett, so of course I looked her up. You should, too! I appreciate that books have the power to bring someone unknown or nearly forgotten back into the spotlight.

Photo of author Patti Callahan Henry — Author Patti Callahan Henry

So many times while reading this novel, I marveled at Patti Callahan Henry’s descriptions. Take time while you’re reading to savor the language she uses.

Clara goes through many trials in the story to get answers, but the ending is satisfying. The Story She Left Behind is filled with discovery, connection, understanding, forgiveness, lost family, and unexpected love.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. The opinion are my own.

THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND’s pub date is March 18, 2025, but preordering is VERY helpful to authors. I suggest ordering through Bookshop.org since they help support small, independent bookstores across the county: order hardback or ebook here.

If You Like…

If you like THE STORY SHE LEFT BEHIND, check out these past recommendations by Patti Callahan Henry: The Secret Life of Flora Lea and Once Upon a Wardrobe.

Drop me a comment below! What are you reading that you’d recommend? Who are your favorite authors? Ask me a question about books and/or writing. I’d love to hear from you!

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@author.robin.shelley