She pulled up to the dilapidated home and wondered how it was still standing. She cautiously stepped inside and looked around and upon further inspection was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as bad as she thought. The surrounding property was overgrown and there were obvious fixes that needed to be done, but she could sense something good brewing as she walked around the space. The sun was steadily rising and the layer of fog coating the fields was dissipating as she took some deep breaths of fresh air. It was going to be a good summer… she could feel it.

Musical Chairs was a well-written family drama that pleasantly surprised me. While the mentions of classical music went a bit over my head and bored me a bit, I did enjoy the family dynamics and getting to know the characters more. I do wish there would have been less chapters about Bridget and more about the other characters, but I understand she was the main focus. It was neat to get some insight into the other characters though when they had chapters of their own.

Overall this was a fairly light-hearted, contemporary family drama with flashbacks into the character’s pasts and if you like that style of book then you’ll probably enjoy this read!

3 1/2 stars.

Amy Poeppel is one of my auto-read authors. and while I enjoyed the book, I didn't find it as compelling as her first two books. The pacing seem slower and the conflict seemed muted.

The characterization was great and is definitely one of Ms. Poeppel's strengths. I am anxiously awaiting her next book.

Thank you so much for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
What can I say about this book-
I didn’t like it.
I DNFd around 20% of the way in.
However I have heard that I need to make another effort to get into it. We shall see!

Musical Chairs is an entertaining family story that kept my interest during a time that I struggled with reading. This was an enjoyable read overall but nothing overly memorable about the story. I would try another book by this author.

Amy Poeppel is a new favorite author! I loved Musical Chairs! Filled with quirky characters, I sped through the book and wanted more. This is another book that I highly recommend and I can definitely see it becoming a hit tv series!

Decided to read this after Annie B. Jones' rave review, and the appealing cover. And I'm so glad I did, it was an absolute delight! This was my first of Poeppel's books, but I immediately purchased a copy of Limelight to read soon. One thing to note: this book is about a white family with a lot of money, so there were definitely some moments where I found myself cringing or rolling my eyes at their first world problems. But it was pure entertainment! I loved the characters and that the story was told from their various perspectives.

I tried - got about 30% through and DNF'd. I love her other books but this one just wasn't for me. I'm sure it will be great for someone else

Quick, witty, and sweetly romantic, Musical Chairs delivered everything I love about an Amy Poeppel book!

My oh my how I absolutely devoured her deliciously wonderful writing style, and add to that her amazing and unique characters. There are quite a few characters to have to keep straight right off the bat, but the reader so quickly becomes fully involved and invested in each of their lives that there is no problem keeping them straight. Definitely a winning point for me! This book is that perfect blend of salty and sweet, with drama and secrets, humor and heart, and a topping of charm. I loved this theme of finding happiness that wound throughout, and the elements of family, friendship, parenting, and relationships in general that created this rich and entertaining story.

All the love and stars for this gem! Read it read it read it!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria for the gifted e-copy!

Musical Chairs is a compulsively readable family drama. I’ll confidently recommend it to those looking for summer reads with a little heft to them.

I should have read this sooner. Bridget plays cello in a trio that is short one member but soon to add a new violinist.. She’s looking forward to to relaxing with her boyfriend at a comfortable country house near her prominent father’s estate. Her children, conceived with donor sperm, are grown and doing okay. So much for plans. Enjoyable summer reading.

Bitty Bites Book Review
My favorite part of this book was the plot. When I saw this book is a friends-to-lovers book I was intrigued. As much as I enjoyed the plot, the characters were a big downfall. Normally, the characters of a book are my favorite part, but with Musical Chairs, I was not in love with any of the characters. The characters sounded as if they were teenagers and lacked maturity.

Amy Poeppel has created delightful characters with a charming story. Kept turning pages wondering what connections would be made and what the next conversation or action might bring.
Both hysterically funny and charming, the author grabs you from the first sentence of the book. I found myself a bit sad when Bridget’s story ended...at least for us readers!
Don’t miss this amazing read! Get your copy now!
Enjoy!!

Set in a country house in CT over the course of the summer, this novel packs a large cast of characters within its pages. This is a realistic novel with complications within friendships, families, and colleagues. The drama is not too much, but it also did not always have me excited to turn pages. I did like the mix of humor sprinkled throughout.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Amy Poeppel’s other novels, you will like this one too.

This was fun! It was a read in just one day title for me which is the best review I can give. I have enjoyed all of Amy’s books and will definitely read anything she writes.

This book was about Bridget and Will - two lifelong friends that make up two of the three members of the Forsyth Trio. The two are spending the summer at Bridget’s county home in Connecticut, and they are having to face facts about the future of their group. Bridget’s family - her elderly father and grown twins - have their own dramas that make up the story.

This was fine - I’m pretty neutral on this. It was fine. I listened to the audiobook version of Musical Chairs, and the full cast did a great job making the characters come alive. The audiobook was great, but I think the story was just okay. I’d maybe pass on this?

Thanks to @NetGalley and Atria Books for my ARC!

A story of friendship and real life issues. I liked it! but I couldn’t fully connect with it at this time!

This was a good read! I enjoy her writing style. The story was a little long but over all I like it. It was more of a family drama, coming together story.

I really enjoyed the author's previous books, so I was excited to pick this one up. And I very much enjoyed this one as well. Bridget, the main character, and William have been friends for decades, partners in their chamber music group, the Forsyth Trio, which they created when they were first at Julliard. They've cycled through thirds in the trio over the years, starting with their former classmate Gavin who went on to become a top music star.

The story begins with Bridget hoping for a quiet summer with her boyfriend -- but things don't go according to plan. Her boyfriend breaks up with her, her 20-year old twins show up instead, William is in a new relationship, and her father (a famous composer) announces he is getting remarried. This leads to a series of funny, and often moving, events as Judy navigates these relationships and professional future.

This is a fun read. Recommended!

Amy's books are absolutely charming. I absolutely adore how she can create a dysfunctional family and make them so well put together at the same time. I'm always in awe of her writing because it is witty and enlightening. This book is something I appreciate because of its message and the drama intertwined in it all.

I had a hard time with this one... didn’t keep my attention.. I loved previous books by this author, and am a huge music nerd but this one just was not what I thought it would be...