mile in recognition, as that was my very thought. (Although, given that it takes place in New England and a barn plays a major part, maybe it should be called an American Barn Farce?)



You don't need to enjoy classical music to like this book (I am not), but if you are an aficionado, you will get an extra layer of enjoyment out of it. I absolutely adored Musical Chairs, and even thinking about it now brings a smile to my face at a time when we could all use a little joy. This is a book I will return to again and again when I want to forget the troubles of the world. It will make you laugh out loud. I give it my highest recommendation.

Musical Chairs is exactly what I think of when I think of big, rambling Connecticut family summer home. It is busy and messy and filled with family. Bridget may feel like everything is falling apart but it really is just all melding together. I loved the relationships between everyone in this story. They all seemed so natural. Bridget is at a crossroads with her trio, with her love life, with her summer house. She is at that age where she is wondering "what about me"? She is flawed, scared and wonderful. There is nothing to not love about her. There is nothing to not love about every single character.

Everything about this story is just plain fun and eccentric. Everyone is quirky in the very best ways. I did not want to put it down. I want a Connecticut summer house now. I want a big barn and I want to host a wedding. Just call me Veruca Salt but I want it all now!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

This is the best read of 2020. It is so uplifting. The characters are real and remind you of your own family and friends. You will laugh out loud at the awkwardness of family relationships. The laundry list of incidents and discoveries keep you guessing what the true definition of love is- both for people and for pets. And to top it off the background music is hard to beat.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

I've never read anything by Amy Poppel before so I was curious to see if she would be an author to love. I think that either you love her writing style or you're hating it. I'm not.a fan because there were to many POV and honestly, I got bored. I dnf it and realize that she was not for me.

Give me a big family drama and I am here for it. The bigger the family, the better. I loved that this was not just blood relations, but also close friends that were treated like family. What I wouldn't give to go spend a week at this country house and observe.

I absolutely loved all of these characters and seeing how each of them changed over the course of the book. I would enjoy a separate book from each family member's perspective.

I recommend this to anyone longing for a summer getaway.

I became a super fan of the author after I read Limelight and totally fell in love with her writing style so Musical Chairs was definitely one of my most anticipated 2020 reads. I was hoping there would be the same humor, wit, charm, authentic characters and an entreating story and I was not disappointed, I adored this one too!

Bridget has big plans for her summer, she’s heading to her house in Connecticut with her boyfriend and she’s counting on lots of romance and some time spent with Will, her lifelong friend and musical partner. Shit hits the fan almost immediately when her boyfriend dumps her and her two grown children show up unannounced to spend the summer with her. There’s also more chaos and drama but I’ll stop there, suffice it to say it’s funny as hell and I sympathize with poor Bridget. I mean, who’s plan haven’t been ruined this summer? I loved the ensemble cast of characters, you get to hear from people from all walks of life and they all made me laugh. Definitely recommend this as a great summer escapist read!

For those who love the comedy that ensues when family is thrown together across generations, borders, beliefs, and cultures at times such as holidays and weddings, then Amy Poeppel’s book MUSICAL CHAIRS is for you. I’ve lost track of how many movies I’ve seen with this tried and true movie storyline, and they work almost every time to not only bring laughs with their humorous hijinks, but at times nostalgia or tears for the family stories and connections we see that remind of us of our own families.

In this particular novel there are many characters to follow, but it mainly centers around the main characters of Bridget and Will. Bridget is looking forward to a romantic summer with her boyfriend at her second home in Connecticut hopefully ending in an engagement, when to her surprise not only does he break up with her, but both her twin adult children wind up home and she is planning her own father’s wedding instead. As she is trying to figure out a new direction with the classical music trio she plays in with her best friend Will, the twins too are trying to figure out the next steps and paths in their lives. Needless to say that is only the start of the chaos, as paternity questions, possible affairs, new relationships, and old friendships all add to the mix of fun surprises. The author only adds to this chaos by increasing the number of animals involved as the chaos thickens—from sheep to guinea hens to dogs to a parrot to cats. Bridget and Will’s platonic steadfast friendship is also a theme that runs strongly throughout the book, exploring the age old question, ‘Can men and women just be friends?’ in true “When Harry Met Sally” fashion.

Although Poeppel is famous for the humorous nature of her writing whether it be in her newspaper or magazine articles or in the 3 novels that she has penned, she also displays interesting and thoughtful writing techniques. In a recent interview, she revealed just like the famous Forsyth musical trio featured in the book, her book chapters are also written in “trios”. There is a chapter each written in Bridget and Will’s point of views then the third chapter comes from one of the other myriad cast of characters, then the cycle of three repeats again. She is able to weave connections throughout the story that connect all of the book’s characters together, including via her writing techniques. The author also reveals not only a literal but a more symbolic meaning as well behind the title of MUSICAL CHAIRS at the book’s finale, giving a depth and a touch of a serious message amidst the comedy. She also uses her favorite character of the book to write, Jackie, as an outsider to the family clan to poke fun at the characters, not only bringing them down to earth but to add an element of reality that reflects their sometimes absurdly rich ‘first world problems’. However, even though though they may appear perfect to Jackie, in actuality their lives are falling apart with problems of their own. Finally, in a most ironic twist, Poeppel wrote this novel pre-pandemic but aspects of it are coming true and playing out in her own real life as she so humorously points out in her original book trailer made with her family. She is currently holed up in her home in Connecticut, that is also in a state of rundown disrepair, while all of grown adult children have also come home to stay for the summer amidst the pandemic.

This book was not only a welcome easy break from the heavier deep historical fiction I tend to gravitate towards, but also was the appropriate type for a summer read that brought humor and lightness in these pandemic months. The author has also mentioned that this book is a testament to how women have to constantly reinvent themselves. Plus I could easily see this book being made into a movie or precluding a book sequel. If this sounds like a book for you, then look out for it’s upcoming publication release on July 21, 2020 to purchase from your favorite local or regional indie bookstore or library!

I absolutely loved this book. It is full of sharp wit with a banter that reminded me of Gilmore Girls. I loved the quirky cast of characters and the well developed main characters. The descriptions were so thorough that I felt like I was there. The emotions of love and family support were all so realistic. It was messy and endearing and absolutely perfect.

As a jaunty, summer read, Musical Chairs is a delight. The book follows a family/found family through a summer season of disappointments, surprises, and necessary adjustments. The main protagonist, Bridget, has returned to her falling apart summer property where she intends to fall more deeply in love with her current love interest. The best made plans quickly start to shift, and the reader is introduced to a rapidly shifting cast of characters who navigate the summer's unexpected events.
The books reads quickly and with charm. It touches friendship, parenting adult children, adulting aging parents, sisterhood, the pursuit of dreams, paternity and - of course - music.

This easy to read book was just fun. Bridget and her children make a fun family and the relationship between Will and Bridget is wonderful. Bridget's father, the famous Edward Stratton, almost steals the book and is one of my favorite characters. In fact, Marge, Kevin, Gwen and all the other secondary characters are so well written and interesting that they are all favorites. I attended a "virtual book fest" and one 0f the authors recommeded this book,--I wish I could remember who it was as I would send her a big thank you.

This is my second Amy Poeppel book, and her eccentric character development is top notch. I found myself invested in the characters, trying to figure out their next moves. I wasn't sure I would care about members of a classical music chamber group, but it's written in such a way where you simply could not NOT care.

I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Musical Chairs follows a range of characters and their unique relationships, centred around cellist Bridget as she enters the second half of her life, Bridget and Will have been best friends for three decades, the kind of friendship that people always assume is more when seeing them together - even suggesting Will may be the father of Bridget's adult twins. But Isabelle and Oscar have problems of their own, Isabelle with her work in Hong Kong, and Oscar with his newlywed husband. Not to mention the family's patriarch entering a new chapter of his life despite being in his 90's, a surprise regarding the twins donor father, and the childhood house literally giving off sparks.

Poeppel has woven an intricate symphony from well-rounded characters, realistic relationships, and intriguing personal crises, written through changing perspectives as each cast member takes their seat. With laugh-out-loud moments, this modern family is sure to hit a familiar note. Musical Chairs was an enjoyable read from prelude to coda - recommended for fans of The Switch!

I wasn’t expecting such a rich story, full of wonderful characters and moments that will fill your heart with happiness while others break it into pieces.

Let’s talk about the cover, its a uniquely colorful, fun, happy cover. I love analyzing book covers after reading the story behind it, and finding the little details that connect it to the novel. This one just hit a little extra after finishing up the book.

Musical Chairs is written in third person, and from the start we meet Bridget who is on her way to her summer home in Connecticut. She is excited to get away, and spend quality time with her boyfriend. Destiny however, has different plans for Bridget, her boyfriend breaks up with her.. OVER EMAIL?!? Then her adult kids decide to come and be with her, but bring with them their own set of baggage.

For Bridget, this is just the start of more unfortunate events to come. Yet, with every occurrence that takes place, also comes a moment of realization, and growth. In her journey, Will is with her every step of the way. Will is her best friend you see, they have such a bond, even I thought to myself “Why are they NOT together?”. I loved reading their interactions, and conversations. But even, such a wholesome relationship like the one they have, is tested. Challenges are around every corner, but also moments of happiness, family, and special friendship moments. I loved everything about it. There’s so much detail to the story, I found myself using the highlighted text/quote feature on my Kindle a lot more than usual. :)

I really, really enjoyed the character development through it all, and I also loved reading about a strong female lead character over the age of 50. There are many coming of age novels out there to choose from. It’s so comforting and refreshing to read stories about different age groups and their lives.

I 100% recommend this novel, to anyone who enjoys romantic, witty, drama filled, funny, but also sad, that will give you happy tears and will make you wish the story didn’t end there.

This is the first novel I have read from Amy Poeppel, and I enjoyed so much that I am definitely adding her other works to my #TBR

This book was so much fun to read! Amy Poeppel’s Musical Chairs is a delight and I highly recommend adding it to your summer TBR pile.

Fifty-something single mom Bridget Stratton is looking forward to a romantic, sexy summer with her  boyfriend Sterling. She has escaped from NYC and is settling into her ramshackle country home in rural Connecticut when she receives an email from Sterling in which he breaks up with her. He’s talked it over with his ex-wife and decided that he and Bridget are in different phases of their lives:

“I had a hard but good conversation with Mallory, and she agrees that it would be best if you and I take a break...I wish you well, Bridget. Please accept my sincere apology and know how much I’ve enjoyed our time together. Your friend, Sterling.”

Bridget doesn’t have much time to mourn her breakup though because her twenty-something twins - Isabelle and Oscar - are both heading unexpectedly to Connecticut to spend the summer nursing their own wounds. Isabelle has just quit her job in Hong Kong looking for a simpler, less hectic pace of life, and Oscar has left his husband in DC after accusing him of cheating. Luckily for Bridget, her best friend Will is also on the way!

Will and Bridget met at Juilliard and have been two parts of the Forsyth Trio for over three decades - Will on piano, Bridget on ‘cello. They’ve had numerous violin players over the years, but none as talented, or as divisive, as Gavin Glantz - now a world-famous violinist. Bridget and Will need to decide what to do about the trio - are they getting too old for the unsteadiness of life in a chamber ensemble? In the meantime, Bridget’s ninety-year-old father is getting remarried and the Forsyth Trio is scheduled to play. Could Gavin join them or is there too much baggage to make that work? Will and Bridget have a great deal to think about and juggle this summer.

Musical Chairs is like a well-rehearsed orchestra crammed with delightful characters all playing their parts. Each character (and there are many) has a role to play in the novel and Ms. Poeppel does a masterful job pulling all the pieces and people of this story together. The chapters alternate between the PoVs of Bridget and Will and someone else - cleverly mimicking their trio and giving the reader different vantage points from which to view the whole picture.

Bridget is entirely likeable. She’s real - she loves her kids (but is ready to get her space back), has clothes from different decades still jammed in her closet, drinks a little too much wine on occasion, and hopes for a romantic relationship to take her through the second half of her life. When I read the book blurb, I didn’t imagine I would be able to relate to Bridget - she’s a classically trained ‘cellist, a life-long New Yorker, the daughter of a famous, wealthy orchestra conductor, a person who summers in Connecticut. But I did relate to Bridget, and I cared about what happened to her.

Will is also relatable - he worries about money and stability and past relationships - but he is optimistic and open to new adventures that life throws his way. He, too, is looking for a romantic relationship. But please don’t get any ideas about Bridget and Will as a couple. They are perfect as best friends and I’m grateful to Ms. Poeppel for celebrating their friendship and leaving it alone. Will and Bridget will have to find romance elsewhere.

There are loads of other characters and side relationships in Musical Chairs and that might be a negative for some readers. But that’s life - we are rarely given the opportunity to focus on just one issue or one person in our life, and this is a more realistic portrait of love and family. Yes, there is romance but it's not front and center; again it’s just part of everything else happening to Bridget and Will. Romance, especially for a fifty-something mother with a career and an aging father, cannot happen in a vacuum.

Ms. Poeppel weaves the many different stories together into a beautiful tribute to family and friendship. She reminds us that what we are all searching for is love, and while friend and familial love are wonderful, romantic love is something else and finding oneself in romantic love is a spectacular thing. I found myself cheering for Will and Bridget and hoping that they both find the love they are searching for.

Simply put, Musical Chairs is a ‘feel good’ book. There is drama and there are problems to be solved but at heart it’s a celebration of love in all its iterations. Put this book in your TBR pile - you’ll be so glad you did!

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible, or your local independent bookstore
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From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first book I've read by Amy Poeppel, though I do have one of her other books sitting on my shelf. I don't know why I haven't read her before as her writing style is light and humorous, yet still has some substance to it.

This is the type of book I enjoy reading - a book that deals with the messiness of family drama, but never gets too bogged down with any one particular issue. I loved that while Bridget is the main character, we still hear from other characters' points of view. This allowed for a great perspective into each character and what they were really dealing with. This book takes a look at family and what it really means. I loved all the different relationships that we see here - some that were already established and some that develop during the book.

Change is a big theme in this book and I love how it was handled. Let's face it, most people don't deal with chance well and so you can imagine how our characters are going to deal with it. As you might expect, some of the changes are handled well and some not so well, but it was interesting to see how each character does handle things, especially since they are all at different points in their lives and each change affects them differently.

This book was full of quirky, fun, memorable characters, some that are larger than life and others that just hang out in the background. And the witty dialogue and banter keeps the story moving at quite a quick pace.

I highly recommend picking this book up for summer reading - it's really a great escape read and would make a great book club read, too. There's really lots of areas for discussion. In the meantime, I definitely plan on reading Amy's backlist sooner rather than later!

I read Amy Poeppel's first novel Small Admissions a few years ago and loved it. After I finished Musical Chairs I felt exactly the same way. Poeppel has such a distinctive and funny voice, and her characters are eccentric and loveable.

Musical Chairs is about a classical musician named Bridget. She has plans to spend her summer at her country house in Connecticut with her boyfriend Sterling. Instead, he dumps her out of the blue, and she ends up hosting her two adult children, and her longtime music partner and platonic friend Will. Of course right down the road lives her father Edward, a world-renowned composer and musician, her sister Gwen, their housekeeper, and her father's overworked assistant. Each character has their own set of problems they are dealing with: Will and Bridget need to decide the future of their musical trio now that they are missing a third member, Bridget's children are dealing with career and marriage crises, Edward is determined to remarry and jet-set around the world despite his precarious health, and Bridget is trying to fix her severely broken-down house.

If it sounds like there is a lot going on in this book, it's because there is. However, Poeppel does such a great job creating these characters that I was truly interested in each of their storylines. Reading this book felt like watching a sitcom with a really great cast. Classical music is a big theme in the book which also added an interesting element. If you are looking for a highly engaging, somewhat chaotic, hilarious family drama I would recommend checking out Musical Chairs!

It's an excellent, highly enjoyable and entertaining story that made me smile and feel good.
I loved the style of writing, the plot and the well written characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Totally enjoyable novel with a big cast of characters. Not too serious but not chick lit either. I loved the focus on Bridget—a musician with adult children and interesting relationships with several men and a big house full of family and friends. Lots of humor and heart, especially good for music lovers. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Bridget Stratton is single and is enjoying her life as a cellist in Manhattan. She has two adult children who are now involved in their own lives. She has a home in upstate Connecticut and is looking forward to spending time with her boyfriend Sterling. Her plans for the summer quickly change when they break up and her two children arrive in Connecticut seeking refuge from their own problems.

Bridget always leans on her best friend Will for his advice and unwavering support. The two have played together for over thirty years and their friendship has stood the test of time. With Bridget distraught over recent events, Will travels to Connecticut to lend his support. However, their relationship is tested when secrets from the past begin to surface.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel is her third novel. It depicts family and friendships at their best and worst moments. Life is messy so get ready for disagreements, arguments, and plenty of secrets.

DNF at 60 pages. Sadly this book was just not for me. It wasn't a bad book. The writing was great. I just couldn't get into the story. I am so thankful to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the privilege of reading this book prior to its publication.