Amy Poeppel’s latest book was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoyed escaping to the New England countryside with the characters. It was the perfect summer read as the characters themselves escaped the city for more laid back surroundings. The character faced obstacles they were not expecting during their summer stay in the country and dealt with those difficulties with love, compassion and humor. The characters were both well developed and endearing and the writing was smart, witty and entertaining. Thank you to both the author and to NetGalley for the advanced readers copy- I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!

Musical Chairs is a really funny and delightful book, and it's a perfect lightweight summer read.

Bridget Stratton has her summer all planned out. She's spending it at her house in the country, her new boyfriend will be joining her, and she and her best friend and musical partner Will are working on adding a new member to their classic music trio, and she's expecting a delightful summer. But then her boyfriend dumps her, the new member of the trio turns out to be a raging prima donna, her adult children both return home, and her elderly father makes a surprising announcement. Now her perfect summer has blown up in her face.

This book is a perfect beach read (even if you're not going anywhere near the beach this summer because of the coronavirus). It's a really interesting look at the world of classical music. Bridget's father is a very famous composer, and although Bridget is a talented cellist, she's always lived a bit in his shadow. Most musicians don't make much money, but Bridget has a lot of family money, so her career in music hasn't caused her any financial hardship. On the other hand, Will, who doesn't have anything to fall back on, is always strapped for cash, and he's about to lose his cheap Greenwich Village apartment (the Holy Grail of NYC real estate) because the building is being sold.

I loved the relationship between Bridget and Will. They've been best friends since college, and their relationship is completely platonic. Will has stood in as a father figure to Bridget's children (she is a single mother), and she does her best to help him out financially (she's very sensitive to the disparity in their financial situations). Their friendship is really well done, and it's a nice balance to the romantic tribulations in the book.

This book is perfect summer escapism, and it was just what I needed during my quarantine time.

Very well-written story about a woman living an atypical life of cello playing as a job, having enough money, and not being madly in love with her male best friend. There are a lot of characters in the story, but Poeppel manages to pull it off by giving each name enough variety so you can remember them all. The story moseys along with a few surprises and twists here and there to bring it all to a satisfying end. A literary-commercial read.

Adorable and in the best way. The writing was light but had enough depth of character to hold my attention, and the story was fun. I had a bit of a time getting into this book, but once I hit the halfway point, I could not put it down. The author made great choices about what to include, and what could be left out without leaving the story with holes, or the reader disappointed. A great, solid summer read.

The term Musical Chairs refers to an on-line site for musicians to find positions. It also is about the revolving personal, professional and romantic relationships in this breezy novel. As someone with a college degree in classical music performance I understood and enjoyed the references to musical works and professional musicians. Each chapter is told from the point of view of a particular character and the POV changes with each chapter. This is another type of "musical chairs" game.
One minor negative is that there are a LOT of different characters in the book and sometimes it was hard to keep up with all of the names, especially since even the multiple cats and dogs in the book also have human names! Overall I really liked this book and it is great, light read for anyone who enjoys classical music.

I have really enjoyed the author’s previous books so I thought I might enjoy her new book and I did. It was a heartwarming and humorous book that was perfect during this difficult time. This is a great summer read!

Any book that can bring out my emotions is a wonderful book. I laughed and I cried while reading this. The characters are charming and irresistible, and the story is feel good.
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A sentimental and entertaining story about secrets, family drama, friendships, and relationships. This novel had me laughing out loud and shedding some tears and the pace of the story with memorable and likeable characters kept the pages turning. What a fun read that was great for my soul. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Musical Chairs is a story of family, not just the kind you’re born into, but the kind you make. Bridget and Will form two-thirds of the Forsyth Trio, a chamber group they created with their Juilliard classmate Gavin. Keeping a violinist has been a struggle since Gavin left for bigger things twenty-something years ago. This summer, Bridget is at her Connecticut home considering what she should do with the trio, with the upkeep on her property, and with her adult children coming home.
This is a beautiful, sentimental, poignant story filled with really lovely characters. It took me a minute to keep all of them straight, and then I wanted to be one of the family. Amy’s writing completely drew me in with the descriptions of the dilapidated homestead, the music, the art, and especially the family. This was a book I was sorry to see end.

I loved everything about this book - the characters, plot, humor, writing style. It was a slow burn of a novel in that the tension remained at the same level throughout with no major highs and lows, but the pacing was perfect. I felt like a spectator in someone else's very entertaining family and really enjoyed all the side stories, romantic subplots, and multiple POVs. I was so sad to see it end and will miss these characters. I will read anything that Amy Poeppel writes because it is certain to be delightful!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll fall in love with the characters. Such an engrossing book. I can't say enough good things about it. Grab this right away and get ready to fall in love!

This is my first book by Poeppel and it won't be my last. This was a well written, well crafted and a whirlwind of different emotions. It was entertaining, I loved the characters and the sweet plot made for a fantastic read.

In this unprecedented time of covid-19, sheltering in place, rising political and cultural tensions as well as economic woes… sometimes to maintain my sanity I have had to turn off the 24/7 news, put away my cell phone and all avenues to social media and just check out for a little bit. Amy Poeppel has written the funniest, laugh out loud, heart-warming novel that I have read in months and it has been a most welcome diversion! It is a novel that I will read again. I am raving about it to my friends and on social media. And I cannot wait to share it (probably via zoom) with my book club.

Bridget, a single empty nester is the cellist in a well-established and yet struggling trio in NYC. Will, her best friend, her confidant and her musical partner is her rock. Bridget leaves the city for her dilapidated but beloved cottage near her father’s home. Her intentions of spending the summer with her boyfriend are altered when both of her twins and their drama come to stay. And her boyfriend abruptly drops her like a hot potato. With a budding romance, Will starts to visit often.

Bridget’s father, Edward Stratton is a world-famous conductor and though in his twilight years, he opts to marry a recent widow whose heavy-handed son is intent on blocking the marriage. Bridget’s sister, Gwen who has her own show interviewing celebrities is a constant name dropper who endeavors to control all situations.

And then there is Bridget’s secret, the unresolved question about the paternity of kids weighs heavily on her. Is their father the sperm donor or someone else and how does she tell her kids?

The writing and comedic timing of the novel is spot on. I fell in love with these characters and though I will admit that I binge read the novel, I was not ready to say goodbye to these characters when the story ended.

Musical Chairs
Most common party game for children – musical chairs. Music on -you go round and round to sit on a chair whenever the music stops. You do not choose but to survive you sit on whichever chair you get. A survival game of moving in and out constantly, giving your place to other to keep the game going on.

Amy Poeppel writes a beautiful emotional story of family, friendship, motherhood and finding path. This is my very first book of hers and I cannot say enough thanks to Netgalley and Atria/Emily Bestler books for sending me an ARC copy in exchange of an honest review.

Review:
There are so many characters in this book and considering the book size, the writer pulls out almost everybody’s individual tale of passion, messing up, emotions so perfectly. Bridget and Will are the main focus and reading about their friendship is a delight for all the readers I must say. Over the years, they have become each other’s confidence still they do not come in each other’s way. When a friend becomes family, a beautiful story emerges and same happens in this book. In spite of social differences their friendship blooms like flowers in spring. Extra point goes to Amy for not turning this relation to anything other than friendship, for not bringing the clichés in our life.
This book is a beautifully depicted modern family life story which I already can see streaming on any digital service with a brilliant cast. I would give my money to see it on big screen even. The way Amy portrays the relations is so practical and heart warming also very much alive. The dilemmas, the anxiety, the jealousy – all come in this novel are written with such care which gives the picture a realistic touch.
There are characters the writer has touched and let go but still they have so much to tell. Merge is one of them. The nanny and housekeeper was the person who is very observant, work very silently, knows everything about everything in the house and throw you in a clear space with ugly truth when you ask her something. There are beautiful and adorable animals that you want to hug and want them in your house. The dog named Henry makes the book fudgy enough to read it way past my bedtime.
The subtle touch of humour in the writing works great for me. It keeps the story sharp and real. I laugh reading some situations, some character’s thinking process but the humour was just perfect there. It’s like the very delicious tea. Not too milky, not too sweet – delivered with right consistency and right amount of liquor.
There are so many chances to explore the space of the relations and those are undoubtedly what keeps me going. It is a book that I do not want to finish early. I want to savour every chapter with warm delights.
This well developed, warm plotted book will be released in late July. A warm book in warm time indeed.

I liked this book and really enjoyed the characters. I did feel it was a bit too long with some of the characters not being mentioned for extended periods of time and then it was kind of hard to remember who they were and how they were related to the main characters. I think this could have been a great book if it had been streamlined a tiny bit. I did like it though.

Musical Chairs by Amy Poeppel
Source: NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books
Rating: 5 stars

“What kind of life path does one have to be on to end up with a flock of sheep you didn’t ask for?”

Bridget has given her life to her music and her group, the Forsyth Trio. Being the daughter of a world-renowned conductor has always been a bit a pressure, but her skills are excellent and her drive to work and be better has never been questioned. By her side from the very beginning is her best friend, Will, a man who is perfectly content with his life and doesn’t anticipate any changes in the near future. Will and Bridget are both perfectly content with the way things have always been and see no reason for things to change.

Oh, how Fate and the Universe like to laugh at such complacency. . . .

As she does every summer, Bridget packs her bags and looks to spend her time off in her Connecticut summer home. The house is ramshackle, at best, and falling apart at worst, but she loves her home and it will be made all the better once her boyfriend arrives. Unfortunately, Bridget’s boyfriend not only fails to show, but he breaks up with her just as her two grown children, both running from their own lives arrive to lick their wounds. WTH?? As if all this unexpected company and heartbreak weren’t enough, Bridget’s elderly father is up to something and it may turn the entire family on their respective heads.

Neither Bridget nor Will were looking for change but it seems to be coming for both. Confirmed bachelor Will comes to town to support Bridget and meets a woman who throws him for a loop. Bridget is completely thrown off by the presence and pain of her twins, her loss of her boyfriend, and her father’s shenanigans. To occupy herself and keep from worrying about all the little fires cropping up around her, Bridget decides to finally start working on sprucing up her summer home. With contractors afoot, sheep mowing the lawn, and people coming and going at all times of the day and night, Bridget isn’t sure she’s ready for so much change. At least she has the security of the Forsyth Trio and their upcoming fall tour dates.

Unfortunately, Bridget doesn’t have the Forsyth Trio and when she discovers this harsh truth, she about loses her mind and her friendship with Will. Rather than completely melting down, Bridget begins to look to the future in a way she never has before. When she unloads her thoughts and feelings on Will, it alters his life as well and in ways he never could have imagined. As she is dealing with her own issues, Bridget does her best to support her twins, their life choices, and her father and his life choices. It’s a wild summer and certainly nothing like Bridget expected but in the end, it is exactly what she needed.

The Bottom Line: Amy Poeppel has a wonderfully weird sense of humor that really speaks to my own weirdness. Musical Chairs really is a wonderful story that focuses on the changes no one ever expects to come to their lives. Nearly every character in this heartwarming and funny read has a huge life-altering summer that none saw coming. I liked the great sense of support that permeates this read from one moment to the next. Though everyone is thrown for a loop, they are still there for one another and willing to help in any way imaginable. This is a story of kindness, calamity, friendship, love, support, and change; it is a story that has loads of feels and I found myself absolutely enamored with every aspect of this book.

This was a page-turner for me! Such a good story to add to your summer reading list! This is a smart, funny story that is perfect for those that enjoy family dramas.

LOVED it. So well done. Loved how it all came together, the second half is so propulsive. Loved that the author called the epilogue the coda. Loved all the quotations and musical references (added such a nice layer) even though i was unfamiliar with them all ;) . I smiled through the whole second half and could see Nancy Meyers having a field day turning this book into a movie. Oh, how glorious that kitchen would be. I loved all the characters and will miss them. Well done!

I really liked this one. The characters were richly developed and complex, interesting and extremely relatable. The ambience and locations of the book were really nicely rendered and made it easy to get lost in the story. I also really appreciated the themes of life challenges and choices and changes at all ages. This wasn’t my absolute favorite book ever - it wasn’t quite compelling enough for me to devour - but it was a fun and thought-provoking read.

This book was so lovely! We follow two main characters who play in a classical trio (who is missing their 3rd person) through a summer. Add a pretty sweet cast of characters and some romance and you have "Musical Chairs." It was really easy to get invested in the lives of all the characters once I focused and kept all the names straight. I don't usually like any type of fictional family reunion but this one hit the spot. It was breezy, refreshing, and really nice to see the lives of two main characters over 50. I enjoyed the book immensely.