For those of you who have read Elizabeth Berg's The Story of Arthur Truluv, then you'll really enjoy reading Earth's the Right Place for Love, a prequel novel about how Arthur and his true love meet. If you've never read The Story of Arthur Truluv, you'll still find this to be a good read. Let me tell you why.

So, I was first drawn to this novel because it's set in Missouri. Mason, Missouri, to be exact, which I'm pretty sure is not a real place, but could be very similar to the very real Macon, Missouri, a small town not far from where I went to college.

The story itself reminded me a little bit of Far From the Madding Crowd. (If you've ever read it, then you'll hopefully remember one of the book's themes: waiting. I wrote a whole paper on it in high school.) Arthur is hopelessly in love with his classmate Nola. The only problem? Nola has a crush on Arthur's older brother. In fact, Nola seems to have a crush on every other boy BUT Arthur. Still, that doesn't stop Arthur from being patient with the girl, even when the world around him comes crashing down after a family tragedy.

This is a novel about hope, love, family, and friendship. If you need a message of "good guys finish first", then this it.

Oh, and the title of the novel comes from a line in a Robert Frost poem. (That's in the book.)

Earth's the Right Place for Love is published by Random House and will be available to purchase tomorrow (March 21, 2023). I received a free e-ARC.

Master storyteller Elizabeth Berg rewinds her popular The Story of Arthur Truluv (5 stars) novel (Mason series) for a prequel (Mason .5) —EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE. Readers get a look at Arthur Moses in his younger years for a charming, heartfelt, and emotional coming-of-age tale.

Set in the forties to early 1950s in Missouri, we get the backstory of Arthur Moses, otherwise known as Arthur Truluv. Arthur is sixteen years old with an older brother Frank who is an inspiring writer.

Arthur and Frank are very close and spend much time at night in their twin beds talking about their passions, love, and life.

Their father is a war veteran with PTSD and a drinking problem. He is abusive, especially with Frank, and violent. The dad has problems since he lost his job and cannot find work.

The loving mom just tries to maintain peace. The boys cannot understand why she stays with him. The boys have to walk on eggshells when they are home. They love their mother but fear their dad, and his violet rages.

Arthur is a quiet, sweet, thoughtful boy—an old soul and wise beyond his years. He is different from the popular, good-looking boys like his brother Frank. He is smitten with a girl named Nola.

They are friends, but she does not like him in a boyfriend-girlfriend way. However, she does have a crush on Frank, but he is having a secret affair with his English teacher, Mary.

Arthur is such a loveable boy, a hard worker, runs errands for the neighbors, and tends flowers and gardening with a widowed lady, and she enjoys talking with him.

Taking advice from Frank, Arthur works up the nerve to ask Nola to the movies, only to have their date called off when a tornado rips through town and other issues. However, he does not give up, even when she leaves town and he walks her to the bus stop.

Mary is pregnant, and Frank's plans for them to move to New York change when there is an accident. A tragedy occurs, and Arthur is grieving. His dad finds a job and raises his spirits, and Arthur's luck finally changes for a happy ending with Nola and his neighbor's house with the rose garden.

What a nostalgic, beautiful story of love, loss, and joy. Fans of Berg and the Mason series will enjoy this one, as well as fans of author Catherine Ryan Hyde and Fredrik Backman.

A big fan of Elizabeth Berg, I enjoy her writing and heart-warming characters blended with humor and insights. I loved the close relationship between the two brothers and fell in love with Arthur and his love of nature and trees.

Thank you to #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for a gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. #RandomHouseInfuencers

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My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: March 21, 2023
March 2023 Must-Read Books

This is such a touching coming of age story. I read the other books by Elizabeth Berg and this one was every bit as wonderful. The story is about Arthur Truluv during his coming of age years.Not many teens are as kind and discerning as young Arthur Moses was. He had a natural tendency to spot the loneliness in others and treated them kindly.

I especially liked one scene in the story involving his father. An unlikable character, we soon learn that his father had been through some struggles as a child and as the breadwinner of the family, felt a lot of pressure during a time when his job was becoming obsolete.

Readers also learn the history of Arthur’s relationship with Nola. He was so patient with his love for her and waited until Nola’s heart was ready before he declared his love.

This is a wonderful book to read during stressful times or between heavy reads. I loved all the stories included, especially the ones relating to Arthur and his older brother, Frank. And, of course, the ending was the icing on the cake!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to offer my honest review and recommend this to other readers.

Ahh, finally Arthur’s backstory. This was such a sweet coming of age story. Beautifully told and not as sweet as it first seems. Arthur’s family is disfunctional and yet when tragedy strikes they don’t implode. Arthur is just a lovely human who simply makes his world a better place. I have read many of the authors previous novels and they are deceptively simple. Each is a true literary marvel. Such an amazing writer.

This is the story of Arthur Moses and how he grew up. It isn’t a book full of action, just a story of a boy experiencing the trials and tribulations of going from teenager to man. He has some definite hard times and sad times, but he also keeps trying to find joy with what is around him.

This is a sweet story that reminded me of Andy Griffith times for some reason…set back before life was so expensive and technology had taken over the world. People were able to find simple joys in spending time with one another, enjoying nature, and reading books. Most of all it’s a story of believing in love, even when it would be easier not to believe at all.

Berg's fans will welcome this tale of Arthu's teen years- the years when he met and pined over Nola. But it's not just about Arthur, it's also about his brother Frank, who falls in love with one of their teachers. And it's about their parents who are struggling a bit with themselves and each other. This is a low key novel, where the traumas (and not all is good here) sneak up on you. It's slow in spots and feels almost immature but those who have read Berg know that this is part of her charm. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Know that just when you think nothing is happening, it does.

I loved learning Arthur’s backstory! This was a sweet, emotional story which includes a dysfunctional family. Arthur is just such a good person and always will be.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first novel by Elizabeth Berg and I was immediately smitten with her writing style. I don't know how to describe it, but it has a purity to it. She makes you feel all the emotions of the 16 year old Arthur in Mason, Missouri in 1947; all the phases of his efforts to attract the attention of the girl that he has decided will be his. Nola is decidedly more popular than he is and seems to draw most of the older boys to her, but Arthur treasures every moment with her.

In the story we are given incites into the dynamics of his family as he talks with his slightly older brother and they both witness the negative behavior of their father and wonder why in the world their mother ever got together with him and stays with him. The delightful exchanges between Arthur and and Frank as Frank tries to impart all of his worldly knowledge about girls to Arthur shows the depth of their relationship.

Most of all, Berg gives us the totally delightful character traits of Arthur. He is just plainly a wonderful human being--one I wouldn't mind calling my own son. He grows and matures through the pages in his dealing with the tragedy that strikes his family, the women he does odd jobs for and in his relationship with the lovely Nora.

This was simply a pleasure to read. The characterization is amazing. I will be looking for more from this author.

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I found this book to be ho hum.
Most of the characters were one dimensional and mundane.
Arthur loves Nola for years and that’s the major theme of the book. Other events happen, some tragic, some violent, but I couldn’t get invested in any of the characters.
Thank to NetGalley and Random House For the early read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Random House Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.

Genre: Women's Fiction, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
Spice Level: Low

Whenever I pick up a book of women's fiction, I never know where it will take me. In EARTH'S THE RIGHT PLACE FOR LOVE, I'm reminded of "The Wonder Years" because the world seems innocent and yet, there is so much trauma and drama going on at the same time.

I loved this book. It took me through smiles and tears. And by the end, I felt satisfied.

Arthur is a conundrum—he isn't precisely shy but he tends to keep to himself. He appreciates stories when told by another person but doesn't love reading. And he loves being outdoors among the trees but not wading in the creek. He's just a really good kid who reaches out in friendship to others. Does he have love on the brain like other sixteen-year-olds? Oh, yeah! Unlike some of the other guys, he looks deeper to see the real person.

Frank is a man's man—he's athletic, good-looking, smart, and a writer. He's also Arthur's best friend and confident. I would classify Frank as a dreamer. And in a small town, he almost seems worldly. He certainly understands problems that seem beyond his years. But he's also caught off guard at other times.

Nola is concerned about popularity and worried that she doesn't fit in. At first, I was worried that she was completely shallow. Whew! She isn't. I ended up liking her and wanted her to find the life that would suit her best. And I was concerned for her when she didn't seem to understand what really happened in a horrible moment.

Elements:
Young Love
Old Love
Loving Nature
Patience
Dreams Found
Dreams Lost
Grieving
Mistakes
Forgiveness
Distrust
Hardship
Character

You might want to check for trigger warnings on this book.
But everything is done tastefully and anything too gritty takes place off page. One of the questions this book made me ask was: How would like be without hardship?

I highly recommend this book.

Happy reading!

Earth's the Right Place for Love is a prequel to The Story of Arthur Truluv, however you do not have to have read the previous book to enjoy this one. Earth's the Right Place for Love is the story of Arthur and Nola. Arthur is 16 years old and already in love with Nola. The book follows the romance of Arthur and Nola, as well as Arthur's family. Arthur has a close relationship with his brother Frank. However, Frank's relationship with his father is difficult at times.

This is a light, easy and quick read. Great if you are in a reading slump!! I received an ARC of Earth's the Right Place for Love in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutly loved this series and when I saw a prequel about Arthur in my email I couldnt download it fast enough. The story follows Arthur Truluv (Moses) as he grows up in his little town falls in love with the girl next door. If you haven't read this series I highly recommend you start right away. You will fall in love with the stories and every book is a treasure.



My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Earth’s The Right Place for Love by Elizabeth Berg

This book is easy to love. It’s one of the most charming teen coming of age stories I have ever read. The characters are endearing and well developed. It is late 1940s Mason, Missouri and brothers Frank and Arthur are best buddies.

Frank, a romantic dreamer, is more worldly than Arthur and has lots of tips for catching a girl. Arthur has older neighbor ladies he does odd jobs for who also befriend and advise him. He has an eye on beautiful Nola, so any ideas to be her boyfriend are welcomed.

The writing flows and tells a wonderful tale any reader would enjoy. I thank #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for the ARC for my review and mark this a five star winner for Elizabeth Berg.

*3.5 stars rounded up. In her latest novel set in Mason, Missouri, Elizabeth Berg pens a prequel to her Arthur Truluv novels. We meet Arthur as a young teen growing up in small town America in the 50s with his older brother, Frank. Arthur is a bit of a loner, not into sports or any of those popular teen things but he does feel a deep connection to the natural world: it gives him a feeling of 'expansiveness and peace.' And he has formed a deep crush on a classmate named Nola, a lovely and popular girl. But for Arthur, 'the course of true love never did run smooth.' Will they ever be more than just good friends?

This is a heart-warming story about family, friendships and love. It's written in such a way that takes the reader back to simpler times and small-town living. Arthur is truly a remarkable character whom it's been a pleasure to get to know.

I received an arc of this new novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley--many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.

4 1/2 stars. This is the third of Elizabeth Berg's books that involve Arthur Moses. Although I read - and enjoyed - the first one a while ago, it wasn't really necessary to read that one (or the second one) before reading this book - it really is a stand-alone novel. Arthur lives with his family in small-town Missouri, and he likes it that way; he can picture himself spending the rest of his life there. When he falls in love with the popular Nola McCollum, he gets dating advice from his older brother, Frank, whom he adores. Try as Frank might, he and Nola are just friends - she really considers him her best friend, but that's it. When a family tragedy strikes, Arthur is blind-sided, avoiding everyone, even Nola. This is a sweet, slow-moving story, and I enjoyed the descriptions of small-town life and the relationships between the people. When I finished, i went back to look at the author's first book about Arthur, and the whole story came back to me. The author has a lovely way of writing, and I enjoyed this story, as I have her others. Many thanks to NetGalley, Ms. Berg, and the publisher for the ARC of this title.

I loved this book. An elderly man looks back on his life at 16 years old. A story of brothers living in a troubled home trying to figure out life. When a devastating event shatters the family each person seems to suffer alone. Until his best friend Nora and the love of his life shows him how to really love.

This is the story of Arthur Moses, the character that many readers know in The Story of Arthur Truluv by the same author.
Arthur is a shy teenager who has developed a crush on Nola, a girl in his class. Arthur works on a plan to help his friendship with Nola blossom even further, and his older brother Frank is a good source of advice for him. Frank shares some of his own romance story with Arthur and the brothers relationship grows stronger as well. After a tragedy strikes the family, Arthur struggles with his grief and turns to those close to him and to nature to help him process his emotions.
This is a book of warm characters, big feelings, and growth.

I definitely really liked this book. Wasn't a love as I felt some parts were pretty slow but overall a good read. Also, did not realize it was part of a series but glad it was the "prequel" so I felt I wasn't actually missing out on anything.

This is about two brothers growing up in a small town with a drinking and fighting war veteran father. We see the boys with their first experiences with love and their very special relationship with one another. We see what happens when tragedy strikes a family, the grief and sadness but also the hope that comes with continuing to move forward. This is a sad story but there’s also so much hope.

The title of Elizabeth Berg’s newest novel, Earth’s the Right Place for Love, is inspired by a line written by Robert Frost. As usual, this author writes a story that immediately grabs the reader.

Set in 1947, in the little town of Mason, Missouri, this warm and wonderful story focuses on shy, unassuming Arthur Moses, a 16-yer-old, living in a family wrought with disfunctions, beginning with his abusive, alcoholic father. Arthur’s salvation is his close relationship with older brother Frank, who dreams of becoming a writer. Frank is also sleeping with one of his teachers. And Arthur loves Nola, but Nola adores Frank.

I could not turn the pages fast enough. And yet I had to go back and reread passages for the overwhelming beauty of the words. Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite writers, and her work casts a spell. She places the reader in the middle of the story, engaging with the characters and moving to the ups and downs of the plot. She writes so clearly that the characters become as real as the next-door neighbors. I loved this story, one of family, of love, of tragedy, of loneliness, and of the unique blood relationship between brothers.