Goodnight June

April 15, 2014
A woman struggling with her past discovers a family connection to a classic children's book. June Andersen's tough, no-nonsense approach has been key to her success working for a major New York City bank. It's also resulted in high blood pressure and stress. When she finds out that her great-aunt Ruby has died and designated her the beneficiary of her estate, June returns to her childhood home in Seattle, Wash., intending to sell the children's bookstore she's inherited. Instead, she reconnects with her past, falls in love and decides to stay. Sorting through her aunt's possessions, June follows a trail of old letters between Ruby and her literary friend, well-known children's author Margaret Wise Brown. That trail leads to several discoveries: Ruby once had a married lover whose prominent family still resides in Seattle; both friends had troubled relationships with their sisters; and Brown not only visited Bluebird Bookstore, but June's great-aunt inspired one of Brown's most popular works, Goodnight Moon. When June receives notice the shop is within days of foreclosure, she sells her possessions and stages a fundraiser to keep Ruby's beloved bookstore open. Thanks to the shop's historic association with Brown and its hallowed status among the readers of Seattle, everyone from celebrities to a major news organization lends a hand. In the process, June learns an important lesson about acceptance and forgiveness, finds the answer to her aunt's greatest secret and receives a helping hand from a surprising source. Readers unfamiliar with Brown's works may not relate to Jio's (Morning Glory, 2013, etc.) many references to book titles, bunnies and the "great green room," but the novel provides an adequate diversion for those who enjoy light romance and mystery. Jio sprinkles her book with sunny messages about being the author of your own life; fans will applaud her optimistic outlook.

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May 15, 2014

June Anderson takes no pleasure in her work as an investment banker who specializes in foreclosing on small businesses that have fallen behind on their loan payments. June learns that her work may be affecting her health at the same time her Great-Aunt Ruby dies, leaving her entire estate, including her beloved bookstore, to her. June leaves New York for Seattle prepared to do what she does best: sell off the assets and close down the store. But the more she delves into her aunt's treasures and learns about Ruby's friendship with famed author Margaret Wise Brown and contribution to Brown's best-selling work, Goodnight Moon, the further removed June feels from her life back in New York. Then she receives notice that the bookstore is in financial trouble and realizes how upset she'll be if she's unable to save it. Jio (The Last Camellia) has a knack for creating parallel story lines that work well together while being strong enough to stand alone. Although we learn about Ruby primarily through her letters, her character is well developed and her story jibes well with present-day June's struggles. VERDICT Readers will be as invested in the outcome of the bookstore as June is and they will be captivated by the imaginative backstory the author creates for one of America's greatest children's authors. Recommended.--Natasha Grant, Lowenstein Sandler PC, NJ

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
At 35, June Anderson is a hard-charging financier, the youngest vice president ever at her international bank, with her own Manhattan apartmentand an anxiety disorder and dangerously high blood pressure. Then her beloved great-aunt, Ruby Crain, bequeaths to her Bluebird Books, the children's bookstore in Seattle that was an important part of June's childhood. Skilled at foreclosing on small, failing businesses, June plans to sell the store to a developer. But then she follows a trail of letters hidden in books and learns that Ruby was a dear friend of author Margaret Wise Brown and inspired the longtime best-seller Goodnight Moon. This discovery, along with a budding friendship with the restaurateur next door, makes June vow to fight to keep the financially fragile bookstore. In unwinding a feel-good plot with a certain amount of predictability, Jio also provides some final twists as she reveals family discord in June's life and long-held secrets in Ruby's. This eminently readable novel with particular appeal for fans of children's literature is a tribute to family and forgiveness.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)