A young man was adopted by a group of elderly puzzlemakers when he was just a baby. When Pippa, the founder of the group and also his mother, passed away, he went on a quest to find out who he was and who he wanted to be in the future, discovering the world and making meaningful connections along the way.

This book feels like a piece of pastel-colored cream cake with a cute, little cup of flowery tea. It is warm and cozy, full of nice and hardworking people, who wholeheartedly care about each other. It also incorporates some puzzles, mainly crosswords, but also a few other games, which add to the story like sweet, icing sugar on the cake metaphor. Personally, I'm not good at these puzzles, and I have never been that into it, but I could imagine that if you enjoy them, the book would give you a really cool and fun experience, where you can sometimes take a pause from reading and solve the puzzles along with - or even ahead of - the characters.

I like that the story is told in two timelines, and I like both equally. The two timelines have different charms, with the differences between Pippa's and Clayton's personalities as narrators, the different challenges they face in different time periods, and the different goals they have for their journey. Constantly switching between them makes for an engaging reading experiences. I also really enjoy about the book is that it explores many different types of relationship. Although there is a very cute romance in the book, it is given only as much focus as friendships and familial bonds. It has really nice LGBTQIA+ representations, particularly in the discussion of what one's ideal family looks like, how it could look differently to everyone, and the importance of finding a place where you belong.

That said, for a character-centric story, I think that the characters are quite lacking. Although we have a found family with easily distinguishable members, I didn't really care about any of them. I wasn't curious what their stories were, and I didn't root for them to achieve anything. So, even though the prose is beautiful and the plot flows smoothly, I wasn't emotionally invested. This doesn't mean it's a bad book. It's just a mismatch between the book and my expectation. I personally need a book to reach into my chest and rip out my heart, but if you only want a book to make you smile on a Sunday afternoon, I would still recommend this book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Clayton Stumper is not your typical English 20-something boy. For one thing, he was abandoned, as a baby and found found in a large hatbox,on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, and has no idea of his true parentage. The owner of the house that headquarters the Fellowship, Pippa Allsbrook, brought him up as her child, but as the story begins, she has recently died.

The story is told in alternating chapters, starting in the 1980s in London when Pippa, a well-known crossword compiler (under a pseudonym, because women didn't do that sort of thing) has the bright idea to start a club of sorts of people who like puzzles and are good at them. She sends a dozen invitations to fellow puzzlers and invites them to spread the word. But even she is surprised when a "legendary codebreaker and international chess master", shows up, along with about a dozen others,

The other chapters tell the story from Clayton's standpoint, beginning at Pippa's wake. She is the only mother he has ever known and now she is dead, but maybe she can still help him find out who his birthmother is?

Thus starts quite the adventure as Clayton goes to London alone for the first time in his life and slowly solves the puzzles he has been left, as well as Pippa's final crossword. And we find out exactly what this Fellowship is all about in the alternate chapters.

SPOILER: Clayton DOES, FINALLY, find his birthmother, but she is a complete surprise to Clayton AND the reader!!

Pippa Allsbrook, an esteemed crossword compiler, starts a group called The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers. She even acquires housing and they all move in together, like one big commune. They are all older, alone, and each one has their own specialty. They enjoy each other's company, and trying out the new puzzles they have created on the group. Even though they are a family, of sorts, Pippa still longs for love, and for children, but those two things have remained elusive to her. Until the day she opens the front door and discovers a crying baby laying in a hatbox, that is. Pippa brings him in, and falls in love immediately. Thus begins the story of Clayton Stumper. Clayton grows up in the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, raised by Pippa as his mom, and a plethora of "dads". Because of his strange upbringing, he acts and dresses more like a grandpa than a young man in his twenties. When Pippa dies, he decides it is finally time to search for his birth mom. Pippa has laid out clues for him, in the form of a quest, so Clayton sets off on an adventure to discover who he really is.

This dual-timeline book is told in alternating chapters between past and present, with the past starting before Pippa had even begun the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers up until the time she died, and then in the present storyline Clayton is following the clues Pippa laid out for him. I loved the eclectic group of puzzlemakers, each with their own talents and story. There was a maid that worked at the Fellowship that seemed to mess up more than she got right, and she kept bringing to mind one of my favorite childhood characters - Amelia Bedelia. I loved watching Clayton go on his journey of self-discovery, where he not only learned who his parents were, but he learned more about himself and grew as a person as well. This is one of those feel good novels that you will enjoy so much, you will want to discuss with others after you are done. I loved it, and I think you will too.

This was a very interesting and very touching story of finding oneself. I loved the journey that Clayton takes to discover his parentage and his own place in the world. The backstory on the Fellowship was also pretty riveting. Some of the writing felt a bit repetitive, especially the bits of wisdom Pippa gains from the fellowship, being echoed back by Clayton.

The puzzles were fascinating. I was in a bit of a rush to finish the ARC before the release date, so I didn't try to solve them along with Clayton. But I can imagine how engrossing they would be to actually decipher while reading.

In any case, this is a great read for when you are looking for a sweet story with a bit of mental stimulation.

Entering the enchanting world of "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers" by Samuel Burr was akin to discovering a hidden treasure trove of warmth and camaraderie. This delightful tale follows a group of individuals who form an unlikely fellowship centered around their shared passion for puzzles, evolving into a found family brimming with heart and charm.

At the heart of the story are two characters whose narratives unfold across different timelines, weaving together to create a rich tapestry of interconnected lives. As we journey alongside them, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters, each with their own quirks and complexities.

What sets "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers" apart is its ability to evoke a myriad of emotions, from laughter to tears and everything in between. The genuine bonds of friendship and the sense of belonging that permeate the story tug at the heartstrings, leaving a lasting impression.

While the narrative may falter slightly in the latter half as it moves towards its conclusion, the allure of the characters and the cozy atmosphere remain unwavering. The resolution of the central puzzle within the story serves as a satisfying climax, bringing closure to one characters journey while leaving room for reflection.

Ultimately, "The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers" is a peaceful and heartwarming tale that celebrates the beauty of friendship, community, and the simple joys of life. It is a story that invites readers to slow down and savor the moments, much like the leisurely pace of piecing together a puzzle. For those seeking a comforting and uplifting read, I wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in this book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr is a sweet story of friendship and self-discovery. It centers around Clayton who is a mid-twenties young man who was left on the doorstep of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers as a newborn. He was raised by Pippa, the founder of the Fellowship, who has recently died. She left Clayton clues to lead him on an adventure to discover the truth about his heritage. In doing so, Clayton also learns more about himself. This was a sweet, uplifting read about friendship and the journey to find yourself.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC of this book!

Note: I do love puzzles. I feel like that's important to note. The puzzles are were not super clear in the eArc, but I'm sure the physical book will be such a treat for you to follow along with the puzzles!

4/5

Description: Clayton's lived with the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers his entire life. He was left on the doorstep of their commune in a hatbox as an infant and the commune's creator, Phillipa (Pippa), took him in with open arms. However, Pippa passes away, but leaves one last puzzle for Clayton to solve: the mystery of where he came from. Clayton goes on to not only unravel his past, but gets an opportunity to explore a future he never thought he'd have.

All the goodies:
- The puzzles were SO cute and fit the story. They keep the story twisty and will also encourage you to solve the. mystery with Clayton.
- I really loved Clayton's character growth throughout this book.
- The ending left me EXTREMELY satisfied. One of the best stand-alone endings I think I've read in a while.
- The cast of characters you meet along the way are all marvelous and I did tear up over a few side storylines.

The loss of a star:
- I feel like the pacing was inconsistent. The beginning felt very slow, then the latter half felt too fast!
- As I mentioned earlier, the formatting on the eArc just made it tough to read and I was taken out of it. There were also very random letters placed into some words that were not part of the puzzle, which again, I think was just an eArc issue but I'm not sure. I would highly recommend the physical version of this book, or I'm hoping the official eBook will fix their formatting.

Overall: If you like puzzles and character driven stories, this should be your next read.

Dull Fellowship

I’m a puzzle devotee. I am a fan of the New York Times puzzles and the new word games they now offer. But I’m disappointed in the plot, sequences and outcome of this “puzzle.” The opening of the book was excellent when Pippa Ashbrook discovers a baby boy at the doorstep. She takes him in and becomes his “mother” until she dies.

Clayton, the child all grown-up, is determined to discover his parentage and any other mysteries surrounding Pippa. He is like an old man, which is understandable since he lives among older fanatics of puzzles. They are enigma developers and solvers.

The story became dull and repetitive.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Random House for this pre-published book. All opinions expressed are my own.

UGH. All the flashbacks were annoying: they could have effectively introduced the members who lived in the house but instead were a lazy way of providing background that we didn't really need. Clayton's search for his history didn't really have the puzzles or the quest aspect I'd hoped for, instead it shows a decent young man essentially going out into the world for the first time and doing decent things while following a few clues.

Yes, there are red herrings. And ultimately it's clear which the red herrings are, another disappointment. However, the puzzles (excepting the "blind jigsaw") were interesting and made this more than just a search for an identity.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

3.5 stars for this debut by Samuel Burr. I loved the premise of this book, but it was just kind of long winded and meandering without getting anywhere for a long time. Told by two different points of view in two different times, we learn about Pippa at 67 founding the The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers and Clayton being dropped on her doorstep, and also Clayton as a young adult and mourning the loss of Pippa while also trying to discover his biological roots. This novel is all about finding yourself, found family, and some LGBT+ thrown in there. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.

When the book opens, Clayton finds himself orphaned a second time when his beloved adopted mom (Pippa) passed away. He'd been left on the doorstep of the home Pippa shared with several puzzle enthusiasts. Clayton's "family" was made up of a number of people living together in a commune like setting. When Pippa died, she left Clayton a series of clues to help him solve the one puzzle that had eluded him all his life: the identity of his birth parents.

The book is told in parallel storylines. One focuses on Clayon's journey of self-discover, and theother is a history of Pippa's life up to the point of Clayton's arrive. Readers will enjoy trying to solve the puzzles sprinkled throughout the book. I liked the split story as it felt like two jigsaw puzzles were taking shape and readers will be kept guessing how the two fit together.

Burr created a fascinating and clever tale with plenty of puzzles thrown in. One of the puzzles was a maze in which the correct path was supposed to spell out a word. Alas, there was more than one pathway out of the maze (the path I found was very short and didn't spell anything; perhaps the maze could be edited so only one solution is possible).

One a personal note, had I realized the book had LGBT elements, I would not have chosen to review it. Because I am committed to finishing every book I opt to review, I went ahead and finished it skimming over some parts. I felt like the same-sex attraction element came a bit out of left field as there were no hints about that until readers were well into the book. I only bring that up so other readers will not be taken by surprise.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Fellowship of Puzzle Maker from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

This one was quite the cozy mystery! It was heartwarming and the found family theme was really strong in this one. It also had a couple actual puzzles you can solve as you read. I liked how it defined what made people like puzzles from the start and established a common drive for many characters. The story is told in alternating timelines between the past and the present and I think pace and the reveal was done well! Thank you so much to Vintage Anchor/Doubleday for the ARC of this one!

A lovely dual time line novel about Pip, Clayton, and found family. Pip, an intelligent woman and puzzlemaker, creates a community of like minded talented people in the early 1960s. They live together, supporting themselves by making and selling puzzles. And then infant Clayton is left at their doorstep. Now, Pip has died and left Clayton a puzzle based scavenger hunt to find his bio-mom, a quest he'd never discussed with her. Don't worry if you can't work the clues (I couldn't)-some of them are cryptic, others dependent on your (and Clayton's) knowledge of London. Both timelines are big hearted and engaging with secrets abounding. Clayton discovers more than he anticipated during his quest (no spoilers) and you'll be pleased for him. Burr has done an excellent job with all of the characters (some of whom are a real hoot) the atmospherics, and the mystery. This has good storytelling, an intriguing premise and well, I became invested. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, An excellent read.

Philippa Allstock was a woman with a vision. She created a sort of commune, at a house she inherited, with like-minded individuals who liked all sorts of puzzles—word games, codes, mazes, mathematical puzzles, and the like. They became a family, and one day when a baby was abandoned on their doorstop, Philippa was thrilled. Clayton, the baby, grew up with many loving mentors, and the best mother in the world.
When Philippa died, she left Clayton a series of puzzles to solve that would lead him to his birth parents. And in the process, he travels a bit, jas a few adventures, and finds a new love.
I loved the story and the kindness and acceptance that pervade it. My only criticism is that the dual storyline (past and present), told in alternating chapters, make the book a bit disjointed.

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers is a novel that follows a group of puzzle makers. When a baby is left on their door step, they raise him as their own. Now Clay is 25 and the leader of the fellowship, who was his adopted mom, has passed away. Clay goes on a search for his true identity.

This book was just ok for me. I loved the different puzzle aspects throughout. I love puzzles so that part was great. I also loved the friendships throughout. I think the writing was good also. I liked how we had different timelines going as well.

I didn't quite connect with the characters though or the story itself. I just felt a bit bored throughout and I didn't like how everything wrapped up in the end. I wanted more action or suspense in there, something to keep me engaged.

I am not a huge reader of contemporary fiction so those who love that genre might enjoy this one.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Vintage Anchor | Doubleday for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday, for my free digital copy for review.

I would describe this book as a delightful blend of humor, mind-twisting puzzles, and heartfelt moments. From the prologue, I was completely captivated. Being a fan of puzzles of all kinds, I found myself drawn in. While I may not excel at all puzzles, as Pippa says, “The solving is always more important than the solution,” a sentiment that resonates throughout the book. The main character, Clayton, is tasked with solving a crossword puzzle to uncover what he is seeking. My advice? Don’t just answer the puzzle, go with the flow; it’s a lot more enjoyable.

Clayton is an endearing character. Having grown up not knowing his biological parents, he was raised by Pippa and Earl, his foster parents, within a family of puzzle makers. His humor, thoughtfulness, and frustrations leap off the page, making it hard not to root for him.

The theme of found family, as seen in the fellowship, adds a heartwarming touch to the story. Pippa, Nancy, Earl, Hector, and the rest of the cast each contribute their own quirks, weaknesses, and strengths, and the way they come together is particularly appealing to readers.

While the puzzles initially drew me to the book, they did not disappoint. It’s always delightful to see this element woven into a story. A beautiful narrative with wonderful characters.

I highly recommend this book if you're seeking a read that will challenge your mind and warm your heart.

The Fellowship of the Puzzlemakers was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I really liked the puzzle elements, but I felt like the time-shifting made it hard to become absorbed in the individual relationships. It was a good 50 pages or so before I was 100% clear on who everyone was. And, even then, their characters didn't necessarily settle into themselves. Nevertheless, I still very much enjoyed the book. I liked the scavenger hunt aspect, the intelligence of the plot, and the fact that I didn't entirely see the ending at the beginning. I think many, many people would enjoy this one.

Pippa Allsbrook, an esteemed London crossword compiler, puts out a call for all those of a like mind to form a 'fellowship' of puzzlemakers, drawing in the best of the best in all related fields. Their motto? 'I CAME, I SAW, I SOLVED.' Eventually the group moves in together in a grand old house known as Creighton Hall where creativity flows and brilliant ideas abound.

But as time goes by, there's one puzzle they haven't been able to solve--the parentage of the foundling left on their doorstep 25 years ago, the baby boy they called Clayton Stumper. When Pippa passes away, she leaves a set of clues for Clayton to follow and perhaps find himself in more ways than he expects.

Being someone who enjoys doing puzzles of all sorts, I thoroughly enjoyed this light-hearted, charming story. Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this debut novel via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

I was intrigued by the title (I'm a fan of puzzles) and was excited to read this. With that said, I loved the premise of the book and what it was trying to accomplish but this was a sluggish read for me. I really wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me. But, what a great book idea!

I didn't love this nearly as much as I wanted to - I felt like the characters' experiences were trivialized in a way and also explained to death, which always rubs me the wrong way as a reader (I have a brain, I get it - why don't you trust that I get it?).