This book was just what I needed for pallet cleanser between thrillers. It was sweet and I loved how it incorporated classical music into the picture while showcasing how crazy life can be when balancing life, friendships, relationships, and lovers.

This was my first book by Amy Poeppel and oh my goodness why have I waited so long to experience her talent?!!

I loved this book!! Musical Chairs is a beautiful story full of love, humor, and a ton of secrets. I really adored Amy's writing style and can see why she has so many fans!

Amy truly has written a novel that will grab you from page one and keep your heart in it until you finish. OH my goodness can't wait to see what Amy comes out with next!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars!

Pub date: 7/21/20
Published to GR: 8/5/20

I love Amy Poeppel so much and I loved this book just as much as her others. It was fun and light and easy. I didn’t want it to end. Amy has a way of writing about characters that makes them feel real. Like we know them. Like we could be them.

It's Amy Poepell so you know it's a winner. It deserves more than five stars. It's a mix of family and friends and learning that no matter how hard you plan life will laugh in your face and turn everything topsy turvy. Laugh out loud. Don't read this in public if you don't like weird looks when you laugh out loud. Read this amazing, wonderful and hard to put down book. A must read. Happy reading!

Bridget's life feels a tad chaotic at the moment. Her sexy summer away with her new beau has been cancelled via email. Her chamber group trio of twenty-plus years is on the verge of collapse thanks to it being just a duet. Her fully-grown children wind up on the doorstep of her crumbling house in the country with problems of their own. To top it off her elderly father is up to something, but she doesn't know what. It is sure to be a summer to remember.

What I loved most about this novel is that you can very clearly feel that all of the characters are currently in an in-between moment in their lives. It's something that I think many can relate to in 2020 as we navigate our own states of holding, unable and uncertain how or what to plan for our futures.

Musical Chairs also provides so much comic relief that I found myself actually laughing out loud. This is one of those books that I can very easily picture it being adapted to a film.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy.

Unfortunately, this one was a did-not-finish for me. I got 25% through it and still wasn't connecting with the characters or feeling myself drawn into the story.
It's very disappointing because the premise was so promising.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to review this book. My review will be located on my Goodreads page, at the link given.

3.5 Stars. I liked this book and thought it was really well-written and funny and sad and awkward and very slice of life. It’s hard for me to rate because on the one hand, I do think it’s a good book, on the other hand, it’s not quite to my taste- it’s a little on the “very white, very rich, very privileged, very New York elite” spectrum for my taste and so often reading this, it felt like a good book that wasn’t going to be a good taste match for me. I can see the reason for the comparison to a book like “Where’d You Go Bernadette?” but I don’t quite agree. This is definitely a sweeter, more charming, more real, more self aware, “more acknowledging of its privilege” sort of book and in spite of myself (and my general distaste for unrelenting WASPism), I admit I was charmed and really liked this unexpected story.

The premise is that wealthy but struggling professional cellist, Bridget, is trying to salvage her failing (chamber) musical trio along with her best friend and band mate, struggling pianist, Will. They have one summer together to sort everything out and find a new member but this is complicated by startling news by Bridget’s famous musical genius father and the quarter life crisis- driven descent of her children upon her summer plans. Will thinks he has the perfect solution, but to Bridget, Will’s solution is potentially explosive and could change everything they’ve ever known about themselves.

The premise is a little hard to summarize because this book has a million side stories and even more characters to keep track of. I often had to pause to try to keep track of who was who because there were quite a few people. The character development on all these people was delightful but it was A LOT. Another challenge I had with this was the lack of diversity. Admittedly Bridget’s son is gay and her son-in-law works for a gay, black Congressman- but that’s the only nod to diversity in a whole book of a million characters. That irked me as well as the “rich people’s problems” vibes I got early on in the book. That said, I’m so glad I gave this a chance in the end. Because I will admit, I couldn’t put it down. It’s quietly humorous, and a little wacky and real the way stories of family and home can be, but also really touching. I ended up really liking it and being really charmed by Bridget and her wacky (and privileged) family and friends. I enjoyed this and recommend it if you like fiction featuring upper class, New York/Connecticut-types and if you’re a fan of classical music. This book is a delightful read with lots of unexpected twists. It wasn’t what I expected but I liked what it was in the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is all about relationships - familial, romantic, friendship. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

The main protagonist is Bridget, a mom of 20-something twins, who is in a musical trio. When the book starts, Bridget is getting an escape from New York city life for the summer to her Connecticut country home, where her elderly dad lives. Her trio is down one member and the remaining member, Will, is her lifelong friend. She has a boyfriend, who very early in the book breaks up with her and then the story unfolds.

I really enjoyed the humor in this book and all of the relationships. We see Bridget's relationship with her kids, her friend, her dad, romances as well as various other relationships over the course of the book. At first, there were a lot of characters and it was a bit overwhelming but then as the plot advances, enough time is given to each character and story line that it wasn't anymore.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Musical Chairs author Amy Poeppel returns with a hilarious and heartfelt new novel about a perfectly imperfect summer of love, secrets, and second chances.

This book started off with so much promise. I was immediately curious about Bridget and her life as a divorced mom of two grown children finding her footing after dealing with a few changes in her summer plans. But as each chapter came it became evident this wasn't just Bridget's story. To me, there were too many characters and too many story lines that just weren't as interesting. If the book has focused solely on Bridget and her immediate family I think I would have liked it a lot more. I finished it so I definitely did like it but was pretty underwhelmed overall.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this free copy!

Have you read this one? Did you enjoy any of her other books?

Amy Poeppel’s novels are always solid four star reads for me, and Musical Chairs was no exception. In fact, Musical Chairs is her best novel yet, and rounds up from 4.5 stars to one of the few five-star books I’ve read this year. It’s absolutely delightful from cover to cover, a surprise of a book that I immersed myself in over the course of a weekend.

What sets this book apart is its characters, writing, and warmth. It’s not “chick lit” in any sense of the word - it feels literary without being difficult to read, it has humor and heart, and it isn’t being held together by a “will-they-won’t-they” romance. I knew about three chapters into this book that I was going to love it, and it never let me down. In fact, the most beautiful and fully-formed part of this novel is its final chapter - so unexpected and yet the most obviously perfect way to conclude the story.

I’m thinking back over Poeppel’s other novels, they never quite hit five stars for me, because, while I enjoyed them in the moment, I didn’t carry them with me after they ended. Musical Chairs is that book that I’ll be revisiting several years down the road, remembering the characters and wishing their stories could continue.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks #netgalley #atriabooks @atriabooks for my complimentary ARC of #musicalchairs by Amy Poeppel upon my request. All opinions in this review are my own.

Bridget and Will are best friends, professional musicians, and are two thirds of a struggling chamber trio. It's summer and Bridget is reeling from an unexpected breakup and Will is her "break-up buddy." Bridget heads for her family's vacation home in upstate Conneticut, but complications include the search for a third chamber member, a summer house that needs significant repairs, two young adult children descending on Bridget's lovely summer plans with problems of their own, a strained friendship with Will,secrets and misunderstandings, a famous father who unexpectedly announces his intent to marry again, and Bridget offering to host the wedding. Obviously, this is not the summer that Bridget envisioned. But maybe it will be salvaged in unexpected ways.

Although the writing includes some humor and is fast-paced, there are many characters to track in the beginning that caused me to think I should be taking notes! Once everyone is introduced, connections made, and individual situations are revealed, I enjoyed the story more. The characters are realistic, sometimes quirky, and mostly likable. In addition, I appreciate that Bridget is a character in her 50s. In this complicated family/friendship drama, there are secrets and dysfunction....and there is a lot going on!

Musical Chairs is engaging and heartfelt, and fans of Amy Poeppel with enjoy this new release. If you are looking for romance, that is not the focus of this story even though relationships are formed. Readers who are musical will especially enjoy the musical references and discussions.

4⭐️ This was the perfect feel-good read I needed during lockdown 2.0 here in Melbourne! Family, friendship and of course music are all big themes throughout and the quirky ensemble of characters were all really well written and had me feeling all the emotions whilst reading! This was my first @amypoeppel book but it won’t be my last - A great fun read for your #TBR!
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A big thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for this advanced digital copy to read and review.

With a title like Musical Chairs and all of those feet on the cover, you might expect a story with lots of characters in play and you would be right. At the heart of the story is Bridget Stratton, a cellist who is one third of the Forsythe Trio. Bridget leaves her place in NYC to head to her ramshackle home in Connecticut for the summer. Her elderly father, a famous composer, lives nearby. He's busy meeting with his biographer and doing other important music stuff. :) THEN, Bridget's dad announces he is getting married to an old family friend. Bridget ends up with a full house as both of her adult kids, twins Oscar and Isabelle, wind up staying for the summer, both having issues in their lives that they are trying to get away from.

This story is about the Stratton family and those close to them. We get view points from Bridget and various members of her family plus her friends. It can be a lot to get used to but I caught on fairly quickly. This is a story about family....set over the course of one summer. Most of the characters are trying to find their own way towards happiness.

The books was woven through with lots of heart and moments of humor. I see some people have tagged this as a romance, but I don't really consider it a romance. The main focus is the relationships between all of the characters. It is more of an ensemble cast, but with Bridget front and center. I really enjoyed it and it was a nice, light summer read.

Ever read a book where you felt like you knew the characters so well?

Musical Chairs, is a funny/heartfelt/frustrating and all around fun, family and friends drama, with an ensemble cast you cannot help but love, you have:
*Long time Friends who have a rare history
*Questionable Lineage
*Siblings going through early life crisis
*Aging father going through late life crisis
*The loving housekeeper/nanny turned friend
* A cast of girlfriends, boyfriends, politicians, and local neighbors and potential love interests (each with their own quirks)

This isn't the fast paced plot of a thriller, but a nice pace of getting a front seat to an evolving family with dynamic relationships - and a few laughs along the way!

If you like family dramas, local town hijinx,and feeling like you truly have gotten to know all the characters, this book is one to pick up!

"Life is a perfect combination of chance and choreography." Musical Chairs, by Amy Poeppel

Nothing goes according to plan when Bridget Stratton, struggling cellist / mother / daughter, attempts to retreat to her ramshackle summer weekend home for a little romantic time. Suddenly everything starts coming apart at the seams, all the problems in everyone's lives begin to surface and become a little-to-a-lot-disastrous. Drama and secrets and hilarity ensue. People behave badly. And others redeem themselves. There's a crazy wedding. It's all about the messiness of life.

This book is a romp. I kept thinking about how it would make a great movie, with its summer romance feels, cute rural Connecticut setting, quirky cast of characters, witty dialogue, and messy comedic action. It all feels light but there is depth here too. It's about family and chosen family, motherhood and making music, seeking love and finding it, letting go, old friendships, and making brave choices later in life.

I think this one is best enjoyed in summer, in a spot with some romantic porch lights, perhaps while sipping a little rosé. It's a charmer.

This was my first Amy Poeppel novel and it was fun! There is a large cast of (mostly) likable characters that are well written and believable. Sometimes the cast of characters was A LOT for me, and I had to stop and remember who someone was, but it was not too overwhelming.
I liked the characters and their quirky relationships. I think Bridget was an excellent lead as we rarely see a woman over 40 as a lead with any sort of romantic story line. I was surprised by the direction this novel took and that is always a bonus.
I am not one for dysfunctional family dramas, but Musical Chairs is done in such a way that it feels like you are watching a television comedy/drama unfold so it was more enjoyable to me than most. If you are looking for a bit of family drama but a light read for the summer, I think this one fits that bill perfectly!

In MUSICAL CHAIRS, Amy Poeppel tells the story of lives entwining, hearts breaking, and unexpected creativity unleashed through the story of Bridget, her family, her friends, and others over the course of a long, hot summer in the Connecticut countryside. There are laugh-out-loud moments, stunningly crafted passages, and the details that Poeppel delivers in her unique, compassionate, wise way. Entanglements, weddings, ruptures, and professional ambitions abound in a fast, enjoyable read about the world of classical music I knew only through professional, polished performances. Ultimately, the book rang delightful true in what happens when you don't know what is going to happen next, only that it's coming. I deeply appreciate the opportunity to read this book through the generosity of the publisher, NetGalley and the incomparable Amy Poeppel in exchange for my unbiased review.

A game of elimination, listening, strategy, social comfort, patience, disappointment, and chance. It’s also a game where music plays an integral part.

This is the best way to explain Musical Chairs..... the book, that is.

Within these pages you will be introduced to multiple players who will rise and fall until the melodic writing of the last page ends and we say goodbye to our last character.

A famous conductor father, beautiful adult twin children, longtime best friend, musical degree from Julliard, a cozy home and a few animated animals to boot. Bridget seems to have it all.

And just like life, when eventually revealed or disclosed, the things that we perceived as perfect are almost always far from it.

And much like the game itself, it’s not the start or the finish but the in between that holds the most intriguing parts of all.

A story that parallels the definition of a game? Amy Poeppel does so.. and brilliantly.

A fun, heart warming read which I expect to grace everyone’s shelf upon its release this week!

Thank you to @NetGalley @simonandschuster @atriabooks @amypoeppel for the advanced reader copy and the opportunity for such a lovely read.

J. Courtney Sullivan has a way of making you feel like the people in the story are not just made up characters but, real people who you would have liked to know and befriend. In this story, you meet the Forsyth trio, Bridget, Will and Gavin. As the story unfolds, you meet Edward, Bridget's father, Gwen, her sister, Marge, Edward's caretaker, of sorts, Bridget's children, Isabelle and Oscar, their assorted spouses and lovers, Connecticut locals, Emma, the florist, Kevin, the handyman, Mark the realtor, and others. You also get to know Nicholas, Lottie, Randall, Jackie, and some others. It really sounds confusing but, the way these characters come together and interact makes for an adorable story. I don't think I've ever called a story 'adorable' before.... #musicalchairs #netgalley

This charming novel by Amy Poeppel navigates the lives of her characters with love, humor, and a little bit of drama.

Musical Chairs was such a wonderful surprise! I love Bridget’s tongue in cheek humor and fortitude to keep going despite things not going as she’d thought they would. She’s surrounded by this menagerie of friends and family who don’t have perfect lives but despite their ups and downs they support each other.

There were quite a few different plots running simultaneously but the main one revolved around the original members of the Forsyth’s Trio and what happened just as they dissolved their partnership in the band. Gavin went on to become a well renowned violinist while Bridget and Will kept up the Trio with a revolving door of violinists, their friendship being the binding factor in why they stayed together. As the book goes on we find that there may have been more involved with Gavin’s leaving than was spoken of at the time. This adds conflict to Will and Bridgets relationship, something thats new and uncomfortable for them to face.

Bridget seemed like she was an awesome mom, a great friend, and an understanding and patient daughter. I wish I was a little bit more like her! She saw the world so clearly and with the exception of the hiccup with Sterling, she lived life exactly as she wanted. Her relationship with Will felt so true. A book about the relationship between a man and a woman who were not sexually interested in each other was so refreshing! When I pick up a book I just want to get lost in it, and not regret the time spent on reading it. Musical Chairs was a book that I can easily say I read with zero regrets. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher for my honest review and it was honest!