“The Restoration of Celia Fairchild is wise, witty, and utterly compelling.” —Jane Green, New York Times bestselling author of The Friends We Keep
Evvie Drake Starts Over meets The Friday Night Knitting Club in this wise and witty novel about a fired advice columnist who discovers lost and found family members in Charleston, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Second Sister. … family members in Charleston, by the New York Times bestselling author of The Second Sister.
Celia Fairchild, known as advice columnist ‘Dear Calpurnia’, has insight into everybody’s problems – except her own. Still bruised by the end of a marriage she thought was her last chance to create a family, Celia receives an unexpected answer to a “Dear Birthmother” letter. Celia throws herself into proving she’s a perfect adoptive mother material – with a stable home and income – only to lose her job. Her one option: sell the Charleston house left to her by her recently departed, estranged Aunt Calpurnia.
Arriving in Charleston, Celia learns that Calpurnia had become a hoarder, the house is a wreck, and selling it will require a drastic, rapid makeover. The task of renovation seems overwhelming and risky. But with the help of new neighbors, old friends, and an unlikely sisterhood of strong, creative women who need her as much as she needs them, Celia knits together the truth about her estranged family — and about herself.
The Restoration of Celia Fairchild is an unforgettable novel of secrets revealed, laughter released, creativity rediscovered, and waves of wisdom by a writer Robyn Carr calls “my go-to author for feel-good novels.”
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This book touches the reader in so many ways. It is about forgiveness, understanding, family, and friendship. Author Marie Bostwick connects you with her character’s feelings ranging from despair to hope and from loneliness to belonging. For me, references to real locations in this story brought back long-ago memories of time spent in Charleston, South Carolina.
Popular advice columnist Celia Fairchild longs for a child. It is only after she is divorced and no longer working that she learns a pregnant teen is considering her “Dear Birthmother” letter to adopt the unborn child. At the same time Celia is contacted and told that her Aunt Calpernia died and that she has inherited the family home in Charleston. What a surprise it is to find that her aunt had become a hoarder and that the lovely property she remembered was now in deplorable condition.
With encouragement from her best friend, Calvin, it is decided that she will leave New York and remain in Charleston to restore, clean out, and move into the home. Getting the work done before a planned home visit from the adoption attorney is a challenge, but Celia finds unexpected help from her new friends and neighbors.
Every person in this book has a reason for being there. Each has a distinct personality and a role to fill in making The Restoration of Celia Fairchild a complete story.
I won an advance copy through the Early Reviewers at LibraryThing.com with no promise of a positive review. This is the first time I have read one of this author’s books and look forward to reading more of her work.
My goodness! This is a lovely, heart touching novel. The Southern feeling flows from every page. The characters are so excellently written that you feel a part f every chapter as if you were in their presence and not just an observer. It is a truly creative and a stay up late to finish novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Restoration of Celia Fairchild by Marie Bostwick is wonderful contemporary novel set in the historic and beautiful Charleston, South Carolina.
When NYC advice columnist of Dear Calpurnia, Celia, ends up experiencing several life-altering losses and thinks there may not be anything positive in this world, she receives a call that her recently departed Aunt Calpurnia that has not spoken to Celia for decades, has left her a gorgeous house in Charleston. Celia and her bff Calvin travel down to what should be a quick check and sale, but find that the house that ties her to her childhood is run down and packed full of hoarded items.
What we at first feel is Celia’s desperation to create a habitable environment so that she can successfully adopt a baby, actually turns into a quest to find who she truly is, what she truly wants out of life, a place that she can truly fit in, and a place that she can finally call home, with a family of her own.
I loved so much about this book. It is not just about renovating a house, it is about renovating one’s life, soul, and purpose. Through her trials, Celia finds neighbors, long-lost friends, a sense of her past, family, and where she truly belongs.
I loved the imperfect, but intelligent and hilarious, Celia. I enjoyed the full character cast, especially Teddy, Pris, and Trey. So quirky, real, and amazing wit and banter.
I loved the plot, pacing, and I loved, loved, loved the end. It is just perfect, and I would not change a thing.
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and William Morrow for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR, Instagram, and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 3/2/21.