Elizabeth Berg writes with a profound depth in a story that takes readers to past days of small town Missouri in the 1940s and '50s. Although life was simpler then in many ways, Berg reveals the timeless complexities of first love and family relationships that we can still relate to in modern times. This book gives the backstory of Arthur Moses from Berg's the Story of Arthur Trulove.

The shy Arthur is a true nature lover. He falls hard for Nola, but she wants to date his older brother Frank. Their story is revealed through Berg's tender, beautiful writing which flows gently yet deeply. The difficulty of family dysfunction emerges as the boy's father has anger and alcohol issues.

I highly recommend this book for its strong portrayal of characters and the atmosphere of bygone times in Mason, Missouri. Berg's insight and perception into the feelings of Arthur, as well as his parents and Nola, take us through the pain and joy of young love and coming of age.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House
Publishing Group - Random House for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

This was so good!! I was so excited when I got a physical arc to add to my library. The story was just amazing!! The characters were just perfect!!

In EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE Elizabeth Berg offers a prequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv, sharing Arthur’s coming of age story as a teenager in 1947 Mason, Missouri. The story reflects Berg's typically gentle, heartwarming writing style, but there is not much action. Arthur falls in love and deals with several family situations, particularly his relationship with his older brother, Frank. Praised by authors like Adriana Trigiani (Big Stone Gap), Rachel Joyce (Miss Benson's Beetle), and Debbie Macomber, EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE is sure to please loyal Berg readers who will enjoy this relatively short novel with its small town setting and homespun feel.

I couldn't wait to read this book to learn more about Arthur Truluv since I fell in love with him and the town of Mason, Missouri in The Story of Arthur Truluv.

This novel is a perfect addition to the series, but in a way it's also a prequel of sorts so I think it could be read as a standalone as well. I enjoyed the story of how Arthur and Nola met and how their relationship developed over time. I also appreciated learning more about Arthur's childhood.

Elizabeth Berg writes a beautiful story and Earth's the Right Place for Love was no exception.

I received this book courtesy of the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t expecting to like this book with such s strange title but I did. It is about a young teenage boy coming of age. Arthur comes from a family of his parents and an older brother. His father is physically abusive to Arthur’s older brother, Frank. Arthur and Frank are very close. Arthur is in “love” with one of the girls from his class that is in the “in crowd”. Her name is Nola. The story is good,; the characters are well written and fairly believable. Being a teenager is hard. Being in high school is sometimes even more challenging especially if you are not popular or an athlete, for a young man. I would read other books from this author and I will recommend this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Elizabeth Berg is a wizard with words and this book is no different. She weaves a story of a boy, Arthur, in love with a girl, Nola, who only wants to be his friend. She's in love with his brother, who seems to not know that she is alive. When a tragedy occurs in Arthur's family, his world is rocked and he must learn to put his world back together. Can he find love and happiness in this new life?

Falling in love at sixteen is hard enough, but when the love is not felt or returned it can be torturous. A great story of growing up and learning to believe in yourself. The hard topics of abuse and death are gently covered and the book leaves you with a smile.

There are those rare books that are so much more than 5 stars, and this is one of them. Elizabeth Berg has created one of the most memorable characters I have ever encountered in the pages of a book, Arthur Moses (Truluv). This is the story of Arthur during and shortly after high school, and his family, friends, and hometown and the lives they all share together. The author has created a wonderful, heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking story of Arthur as he overcomes tragedy and grows to becomes a caring, loving, giving young man. The writing is beautiful, and the character development is amazing! This is a book that I just could not book down! I absolutely loved it! And if you haven't already read The Story of Arthur Truluv, add that one to your list as well. Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for my copy of this book. The opinions in the review are my own.

Elizabeth Berg's latest "Earth's the Right Place for Love" is a great character study that quickly got me immersed in the characters and waiting to see what happened next in the lives of these characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

An amazing coming of age story told with all the emotion and love it deserves. The feelings of inadequacy, and self confidence that soars and dives in the matter of an evening were all so true to life: I was rooting for Authur and Nola the whole time. Just a great story and very well told. A joy to read. Thank you Random House and NetGallry for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I found this to be an incredibly sweet and wholesome story - very much Mayberry/Leave It to Beaver-ish, which was honestly very refreshing. While it is a "prequel" of sorts to The Story of Arthur Truluv, it's very much a stand-alone story and you do not have to have read the other book to enjoy this. It's a coming of age story about a boy and his struggles with friendship, love, family and growing up, and how he prepares himself to navigate life. Arthur is a beautiful soul, and he just might be one of my very favorite characters ever. If you're looking for a no frills, feel good story, this is the one for you.

4.5 sweet heart full stars, rounded up

I first met (main character) Arthur Moses in early 2018. Five years ago, I wrote, “I love you, Arthur. Cloning you would make a better world.” I was delighted to be able to read an ARC of Earth’s the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg, now going back in time and sharing in Arthur’s high school years.

Occasionally humor slips onto the pages. “He’d had her cookies before, and he thought this must be the recipe: Get some sawdust. Add water. Bake it.” “There was something about rainy days that could inspire women to come up with all kinds of projects for other people to do.”

Berg incorporates all the senses into her descriptions. “She smelled like toast and coffee and ironed things.” (Evocative, though I’m concerned today’s generations will not know what ironed things smell like!) “He liked the familiarity of the things he passed on the neighborhood streets: the arrangements of rocking chairs on front porches, the laundry on the lines out back.” “Arthur liked when he heard the church bells pealing, the resonance so deep he could feel it in his chest.” Sometimes readers just need to go back to ‘simpler times.’

And yet, Berg never oversimplifies. A devastating loss occurs. “But then he went home quickly, back to the work of mourning. It was work. It was hard and heavy and painful, and for the time being anyway, it never stopped. It was on you first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It invaded your dreams. It stole your appetite.”

From previous books in the Mason series, I knew how Arthur’s love life would end up. Despite knowing the outcome, Earth’s the Right Place for Love did not disappoint. Berg continues to capture my heart and soul, as I share joy and sorrow with my literary friend, Arthur. (In case you’re wondering, it is a rare thing for this reviewer to have literary ‘friends.’)

“And here, sitting on the steps in his pajamas, was Arthur, feeling that he was right where he should be. For him, life was like a gift perpetually ready for the opening.” Thank you, Elizabeth Berg for the chance to visit with my friend and to be reminded of this gift.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book. To be honest, I didn’t remember requesting Earth’s The Right Place For Love but I felt obligated to read it. What a totally pleasant surprise. The story takes place in the late 40’S and early 50’s when things seemed simpler. It focuses on Arthur Moses, his family, and their small town of Mason, Missouri. The story is simple but the relationships complex. It is well-written, a nostalgic coming of age story that examines the different forms of friendship, aspects of love, and of grief. At its heart, it’s a moving story about love and one I am very happy to have read. When I was posting my review, I learned this was a prequel to the previously published The Story of Arthur Truluv which I will definitely go back and read.

I have to admit, I haven't read much of this author but yes I will now! What a wonderful book, Earth's the Right Place for Love is just the kind of engaging character driven story I want to wrap myself in and is filled with writing that is lyrical and powerful at the same time. I know this author has her fans and now please count me as one (runs off to find the other Truluv books).

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg.

I normally don't reach for books like Berg writes, but she just has a WAY. Her books are equally wholesome as they are heart wrenching, and they hit right where they are supposed to.

If you loved Arthur Truluv (which I did!) here is a quick prequel for you. The minute he sees Nola McCollum, he is absolutely smitten, and while Nola thinks Arthur is a nice guy, she never quite has an eye for him back. But Arthur has a secret weapon, his brother Frank, who is wise in all things love and women. Frank continues to gently coax Arthur and encourages him in different ways of wooing Nola.

But after a giant unexpected pivot in Arthur's life, he's not sure if he will ever love Nola, or anyone ever again. But love has a way of finding itself back to you.

This love story spans quite a few years in young Arthur's life and will leave you breathless. I just adored it, it's the perfect way to have your heart broken, but gently put back together.

I think I might be one of the luckiest gals on earth. I just finished the new book by Elizabeth Berg titled Earth's the Right Place for Love. I have been honored to be the recipient of so many great books to read this year for review. I have to admit I do fall in love easily with my books, their characters and plots but there have been some outstanding books this year already. It is going to be a stellar year and we're not quite a fourth into it!

This book takes me back to my early years. The days when our streets were quiet, not much traffic and the children and parents were outside and not sitting in their house on electronics. We were always outside and now I never see anyone out just enjoying the day. The book starts and ends in the winter of 2016. The first chapter picks up in April of 1947 in Mason, Missouri. The book is the telling of the young life of Arthur and the girl he loves named Nola. You must read the book to find out what happens between Arhur and Nola.

I loved every minute of this book. It reminds me of the way life was in my young years growing up and how my mother was. Women wore more dresses back then and were home raising the family and keeping house. The kind of woman my mother was. She took care of me, nurtured me and made sure I had what I needed to be the woman I grew up to be. She was the best. I think Arthur thought his mother was the best too.

I love small towns where you know everyone and they all know you. This is what Mason was like and when a storm goes through, they all go out to help each other clean up and rebuild. Arthur did odd jobs for the older women in town on Saturdays to earn his spending money and he learned to enjoy and appreciate the older generation. Arthur was kind, loving and a soft soul.

If you love reading books that take you back to your early years or you love to read about the time period your parents or grandparents lived during, this book is definitely one you should pick up. There is a love story and a story of true friendship. There are times of great loss and times to be treasured. I just can't say enough about this book. Until next time…Happy Reading!

Don't forget to support the authors you read by leaving a review!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #ElizabethBerg, #RandomHousePublishers and #Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
https://pjp-reviews.com/2023/03/21/earths-the-right-place-for-love-by-elizabeth-berg-5%e2%ad%90/

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
Earth's the Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg is a prequel to her Mason series. It’s beautifully written, heartwarming, and very charming.

The main character in the story is Arthur Moses, and this is the story of his life. Like most people who live a long life, Arthur’s life is full of ups and downs, love, and tragedy. Arthur is a beautiful character, he’s kind and loving. I enjoyed watching Arthur grow up and spend time with him during his ups and downs.

I highly recommend Earth’s the Right Place for Love to anyone who enjoys fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Exquisite and moving…Berg writes like a dream. You could highlight a few passages or the entire book. Highly recommended for fans of literary fiction.

From the author that brought us The Story of Arthur Truluv, Elizabeth Berg now brings a prequel, Earth’s The Right Place For Love. This is the story of how a young Arthur Truluv growing up in 1940’s Mason, Missouri becomes the beloved character in later books. Arthur is a shy teenager, smitten with popular Nola who has a crush on his older brother. Home life is rocky as their dad struggles in his job. Told from Arthur’s point of view this character driven story of his neighbors, his young love for Nora, and his close relationship with his brother seems a quiet story. It has much deeper undercurrents that don’t become apparent until later in the book. Stick with it, trust me!

This was my first book in the series, and although it can be read as a stand alone I did become somewhat impatient at the pace. I believe if I’d been more invested in the characters going in from previous books I may have had some understanding what we were leading to. I loved the relationship between Arthur and his brother Frank. My 2023 sensibilities were frustrated at his mother’s dismissal of his father’s actions but I believe this was very true to the time period (and sadly, often remains so).

I recommend for those that love character driven stories, coming of age, and especially those that have previously read Elizabeth Berg’s Mason series. I think this is a great addition to this series!

Thank you to @RandomHouse, Elizabeth Berg, and @Netgalley for the Advanced Review Copy.

Historical Fiction | 16-Adult
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Set in the town of Mason, Missouri just after the end of World War II, this is a story of first love, friendship, family, loss, and resilience. Arthur Moses (from Berg’s earlier novel The Story of Arthur Truluv) is 16 years old and has fallen hard for the lovely Nola McCollum, but she has eyes only for his older brother Frank. Frank is the best kind of older brother – he has kind advice for Arthur, he leads him into scrapes that Arthur would never get into on his own, and he diverts the wrath of their unstable father. As Arthur tries to figure out how to get Nola’s attention, he asks Frank’s advice. They talk into the night from their beds in a shared bedroom, each staring into the darkness and listening to each other. Frank admits to Arthur that he too is in love. They share dreams of their futures – Frank is a writer and seeks the excitement of New York City; Arthur loves the town he lives in, the little houses filled with people he knows, on streets he knows well, and with trees that leaf out and bloom and make a home for birds whose voices sweeten the air. How these two boys grow up into men and deal with shocking news, devastating events, heartbreak and joy makes for a rewarding read. As she is known for, Berg has peopled this coming-of-age novel with beautifully developed characters, from the rose-mad Mrs Crawford to aging Mrs Trentino who hires him to help her sort fabric to the sweet nerd Harvey and his comics, whose mother is surprised to learn Arthur wants to spend time with her son. “You didn’t have to be a guy chucking a football to another guy to have a friend,” Arthur realizes. “You could have an odd boy and a crazy old lady and a beautiful young woman for friends. You could have your brother, the guy you could say anything to and ask any question of.” The title of the book is taken from a Robert Frost poem. A poignant novel that will lift your heart, it will delight long-time Berg fans and appeal to older teen readers who enjoy character-driven stories. My thanks to Random House for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60788841