This book is the very definition of a coming of age masterpiece. I have enjoyed reading Elizabeth Berg across most of my adult life for her honest, raw and introspective view on human interaction.
The story of Arthur Moses in small town Mason, Missouri chronicles a coming of age of a shy young man with a gentle spirit. I enjoyed reading a character who enjoys the smallest details of life - the magic of trees, the delicate care of roses and the beauty of a young girls hair. This book is a slow burn which for some may be too slow. For myself it was a beautiful reminder of how our younger selves slowly evolved over time and even when we were in the biggest rush, sometimes slow and steady really does win the race of life.
I received this NetGalley advanced book copy for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley & Random House for allowing me to provide this review.

I loved the Mason series, so I was super excited to read Earth's the Right Place for Love. This is the story of Arthur Moses and Nola McCollum's budding relationship in 1947. It is a tender coming-of-age story of love and a family life with secrets and the tragedy of losing his brother who was wise beyond his years. The book will keep you turning pages. Thanks to author Elizabeth Berg, Random House, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

• Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is March 21, 2023.

Elizabeth Berg has a special way of writing novels that are lighthearted as well as emotional. This is a coming-of-age story about growing up in Mason Missouri. Arthur Moses, is shy and compassionate, Nola McCollum is the most desirable girl in his school. Arthur has a major crush on Nola. Unfortunately, Nola only sees him as a friend.

Although this book sad in parts and funny in parts, it is ultimately quite uplifting.

This book is so easy to like. The main character is just so real and you get so deep in his thoughts, The pages practically turn themselves as you follow Arthur along his days as a teenager in a small town. Nothing extraordinary or implausible. Just Arthur as he makes his way through life. And now I'm intrigued, so I am going to have go find the first book, The Story of Arthur Truluv.

I was given a prepub copy for my honest review.

Elizabeth Berg is just a fantastic author. And how could you not love the childhood story of Arthur before he was Arthur Truluv. Arthur was compassionate even as a young man, and a deep thinker.
This is just another little gem of a story, true to life, intelligent, just a wonder. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the e-arc. You cannot go wrong with anything by Elizabeth Berg.

Elizabeth Berg's latest book is like a warm hug, an in-depth look into the life of Arthur Moses. An old soul even at age sixteen, Arthur loves everything about his home town of Mason, Missouri, especially his older brother, Frank, and the prettiest girl in school, Nola. Unlike most of his schoolmates, he is not into sports or parties. Arthur finds happiness in nature, befriends an unpopular boy from his class, does odd jobs for women in the community, and is a deep thinker. His bond with Frank, with whom he shares a bedroom, is unshakeable. Arthur leans on Frank for advice, defends him from their abusive father, and supports him in whatever he wants to do. Arthur and Nola gradually become close friends, and even though he would prefer a more intimate relationship, he supports her when she makes decisions that keep them apart. An unexpected tragedy is part of the story, but the roots Arthur has planted in his beloved town and those he loves are able to carry him through.

I have always appreciated the author's writing style and the insights she brings to even the most common situations. Those who have read The Story of Arthur Truluv will realize that Earth's the Right Place for Love is really Arthur's origin story, but this book can also be read as a standalone. It is a very profound story, not so much about found family as its predecessor was, but quietly inspirational.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

For the many, many readers who loved the Arthur Truluv series, this is an amazing treat! We get Arthur's backstory in this book that features his childhood and young adulthood. Having said that, even readers who are discovering this wonderful character for the first time will enjoy this heartwarming story of love and family. This is a gentle read that keeps readers turning the pages, yet also offers comfort and inspiration in a way that is universal. Really looking forward to recommending this book.

I absolutely loved this book. Though it had some sad parts, I really appreciated the relationship Frank and Arthur had. I enjoyed their late night chats in bed when Frank would bestow tender advice to Arthur on how to win his girl. I found the characters to be well developed and easy to like and empathize with. If you are looking for an overall feel good book, give this one a try.

Earth’s the Right Place for Love is such a lovely story. I read it in one sitting, it was so easy to fall into this novel.

The book is about a teenage Arthur Moses, who is trying to figure out his life, his heart and the world around him. It wasn’t until I finished the book that I realized this is a prequel to the Story of Arthur Truluv. Without wanting to give too much away, this book is absolute sunshine and connects perfectly to the other novel (which I will now have to read again, now that I know how the story begins!).

Thank you, Elizabeth Berg, for another beautiful story.

New to Arthur Moses and Elizabeth Berg but SO GLAD I found them. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the chance to review this book via an ARC! Expected publication date 3/21/2023.
Arthur Moses is a high school student growing up in Mason Missouri in 1947. It is a wonderful coming of age story and Arthur is a totally amazing character. Arthur is dealing with family struggles as well as unrequited love. For me each chapter was a little vignette of Arthur's interaction with the people in the town and each was its own delight. The writing sets the scene so vividly I instantly felt I was there.
About 2/3 into the book a tragedy occurs. I felt as shocked as the characters and initially refused to believe what had happened. That is how entranced I was with this book. How the author describes the other characters reactions to the tragedy is nothing short of brilliant. It was so meaningful to me. Grief is personal and that was captured so beautiful. It made me love Arthur even more.
I really enjoyed the writing style and I sped through this book all the while wanting it to last forever! Can't wait to read the others in the series. This will also be a book to read over and over for me.

Although not quite my usual reading material, I really enjoyed Elizabeth Berg's novel, Earth's the Right Place for Love. The title is taken from a Robert Frost poem. Both the poem and poem title perfectly describe this novel. The characters are beautifully written and are so likable. I was sad to finish Berg's novel.

The novel opens in 2016 but then flashes back to 1947 and post-WW II American life. The author's research into life at this time was wonderfully thorough. The wages paid, the costs of goods, automobile descriptions, homes--it all works well to capture the period and the novel's location in small town America. Most of the events take place in 1947, but near the end of the novel, time moves forward by a couple of years to reflect the growth of Arthur and Nola from teenage high school students into young adults.

Obviously, I need to read more Elizabeth Berg novels, since I really enjoyed reading Earth's the Right Place for Love. I do intend to recommend the novel to my book club. This is the sort of novel that will touch readers. There is humor, love, tragedy, recognition, and the kind of gentle life that provides a sweet escape from contemporary life.

I want to thank the author and publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you also to NetGalley for bringing this novel and author to my attention.

Earth's The Right Place For Love, a prequel of the Arthur Trulive stories is a beautiful coming of age/love story but mostly it's the story of family. It captured the comforts and love as well as the tragedy and loss that happens in family and the power of love to heal. The story of Arthur as he finds his way through the angst of adolescence with wisdom and kindness is a reader's gift. The depth honesty and relatability of Elizabeth Berg's characters make this book a five star, excellent reading experience. Arthur is unforgettable. I received a ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Much appreciation to Netgalley and publisher for this opportunity.

A story that will touch your heart. Arthur and his brother Frank are in their teens. It's Franks last year of high school and in love. Arthur at 16 really looks up to him and asks for his advice in pursuing the girl he's in love with. Their father is really rough on Frank as Arthur is not as healthy so Frank gets the beatings. This is a story of coming of age for these boys to learn the challenges of love and life. It's sad in parts but shows perseverance and what love can be. It portrays hope and strength. I liked it. However, it was not gripping nor very uplifting. I finished it feeling sad even though it had good parts. It may be a type of book you would enjoy so try it. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for letting me read this eARC. This is my personal opinion.

A sweet story of growing up, sibling relationships, and unrequited love. Arthur and Frank were as close as two brothers can be sharing secrets and all the joys of growing up and falling in love. Then Frank dies -- not a spoiler, since Arthur reveals that in the first chapter. The rest of the book goes back in time (to the 1950s) to tell Arthur & Frank's story and the girls they loved.

Elizabeth Berg's strength is in creating believable, sympathetic characters that the reader can understand and empathize with. This book is a great example of that Arthur is a sweet, wonderful character and I was rooting for him the whole way. The problem is that the story is just Arthur's reminiscences. There's actually little action, little real suspense, just a sweet story of a boy in love dealing with being in the "friend zone" and then dealing with his brother's death. Not a bad book. I read the whole thing and actually could not put it down, but I was hoping for a bit more.

Elizabeth Berg never fails to examine and open the hearts of her characters in an enticing and profound way. In Earth's the Right Place for Love, the three characters who keep the reader moving forward with interest, empathy, and hope are the two brothers, Frank and Arthur, and Nola, who thinks she is smitten by Frank. Nonetheless, as the book moves forward and Nola and Arthur slowly spend more time together, their relationship becomes stronger and solidified. As tragedy strikes, we also examine Frank and Arthur's parents and the family dynamics. Berg perfectly balances her characters, their interactions, and their growth. This book is difficult to put down, and having read it, the reader feels as if he or she has been privileged to be drawn into a family unit not as a stranger, but as a friend and almost as a confidant.

Thanks to Random House and Net Gallery for the opportunity to read this lovely novel.

While I loved Berg's "The Story of Arthur Truluv," I was much less charmed by this prequel. It all seemed too familiar, a mix of cliches and overused tropes that have been done before: the nerd boy gets the popular girl, the older sibling's death transforms the hero, the abusive father reforms, etc. The first chapter promised something fresh and new, but for me, the book failed to deliver.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This story felt like a coming-of-age story for the protagonist, Arthur. He is the ultimate good person who has dreams that he wants to share with the people he loves. Arthur's relationship with his brother, Frank, is important because their bond is unshakable, and they love and respect each other. Arthur leans on his brother for advice as he is smitten with Nola, who appears to have a crush on Frank. This does not deter Arthur because he believes that Nola is his forever girl. The story takes a tragic turn that shapes the story and Arthur's view on his future. I don't want to give anything away but know that Arthur is tested but doesn't waiver from the decency that has cemented his character. This story had a lot of feels and you can't help but fall in love with Arthur.

If you have read the first book in the Mason series The Story of Arthur Truluv then this is the book for you! Even if you haven't read The Story of Arthur Truluv this is also the book for you. Arthur Moses (AKA Truluv) is a gentle soul contemplating the end of his life when we meet him at the beginning of this latest book in the Mason series. It is 2016, Arthur is in his eighties and is ready to say goodbye. Fortunately for the readers of this gentle series Elizabeth Berg takes us back in time to 1947 when Arthur is a sixteen year old high school boy. He is trying to navigate his way to adulthood and most importantly to win the heart of his beloved Nola. The way is not without bumps, upsets and tragedy. We meet his parents, his brother Frank, neighbors who influence his decisions and high school friends. As the other books in the Mason series, this one is comforting, gentle and makes you wish you lived in Mason, Missouri so you could meet these all too human characters. So much of why and how Arthur became the man we first met in The Story of Arthur Truluv is explained and expanded upon. I won't reveal the details because that would spoil the pleasure for the next reader. Curl up with Earth's the Right Place for Love and enjoy!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Group for the chance to read the e-galley.

Thank you to Emani Glee, Random House and NetGalley for the chance to read this forthcoming novel. Arthur Moses in his teens and this is his coming of age story. He loves the beautiful Nola, but Nola only has eyes for his older brother, Frank. Set in the small town of Mason, Missouri, Elizabeth Berg writes beautifully with detail of life growing up in a small town where everyone knows your name and parents. The teenage years are hard and Arthur faces tragedy, not always with grace, but realistically. This is a story of second chances, showing that people can change and sometimes it is all about walking a mile in someone else's shoes.

The writing is so poetic. I enjoyed this book even though there is an underlying depression to many aspects of it. It was a well-written book that flowed well.