I love this book. To see where Sid and his family fought against different elements from the beginning of the story all the way until the end was emotional ride for them. They had many obstacles to overcome at every turn. The obstacles are economic based, political and emotional.

Sid and his family move to Goodnight, Kansas when his restaurant folds in New York City. They return to Scarlet's hometown to face a town that has seen many hardships. The town had the vibe of being left behind when the rest of the world has progressed. Quite a few themes running this book.

I love how Page Getz formatted the book in emails and letter form. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advance reading copy.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!

What a good book! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It was a fun quick and easy read.

This novel has a charming concept, with an interesting setting in the small town of Goodnight, where life is far from perfect, and everyone seems to be running from something. The story kicks off when chef Sid Solvang, after failing in New York, reluctantly moves into his wife’s childhood home and soon becomes involved with the struggling May Day Diner, a local landmark under threat. The premise has potential, especially with the unique use of diary entries, emails, and newspaper clippings to tell the story.

The author does an excellent job of balancing the small-town charm with heavier themes like corporate corruption and exploitation. The fight to save the May Day Diner is not just about preserving a building but protecting the soul of Goodnight, and that struggle is portrayed with authenticity and depth. There’s a subtle critique of how modern life often steamrolls over history and tradition, and the book invites readers to consider what it really means to find a home and a sense of purpose.

Overall, this beautifully written novel tugs at the heartstrings while offering a thoughtful exploration of community, family, and the things we fight to hold onto. With well-drawn characters, a richly imagined setting, and an emotional core that feels true, this novel will resonate with anyone who’s ever searched for a place to call home.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved the way that this story was told. It is a very unique way. The story was great. I loved the characters.

I love a good epistolary novel! Losing it all and going to the only place they can, a small town in Kansas with not much going on at all is the Solvang family. From the hustle and bustle of New York to a house with 3 resident alpacas (yes they live in the house), buried treasure? and lots of fun characters. Hitting rock bottom and coming out on top, I really enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Told in emails, notes, letters, and newspaper articles, this story was very cute. Small town vibes with a lovely diner and lots of cooking is a theme I love so I was attracted to it and I really enjoyed Sid’s character as well as the Reverend’s.
Some parts I didnt really enjoy, like the yodeling. But it was so wholesome that I don’t care. So many little passages and expressions made me laugh.
In the conversation with the author at the end, when asked what she wanted readers to get from this book, the author said comfort and that’s exactly what I got.

I loved it !!! But not from the beginning! Let me explain. This book is made of little snapshots from email, letters, newspaper etc. All from people who can seems a little awkward. So at first, I was pretty confused and not convinced. Then I started to become attached to this awkward people because who is not a little bit strange ? And I really loved the fact that you can read the thoughts of a father who has failed, a teenager who is rejected.... Moreover the storyline is interesting and universal and you will have surprises until the very last page. So go for it !

"A Town with Half the Lights On" by Paige Getz is a poignant exploration of a community grappling with loss and change. The book delves into themes of resilience and adaptation as the town faces a significant challenge that impacts its daily life. Getz’s narrative is both reflective and insightful, capturing the emotional landscape of the characters with a blend of empathy and realism. The writing is accessible yet evocative, making it a compelling read for those interested in character-driven stories about community and personal growth.

A Town with Half the Lights on

A heart-warming story of a family returning to a small town in Kansas from New York City on a journey of redemption. The general plot of this story was simple yet endearing as we follow a small family as they each heal from the past and come together as one. The interesting use of emails, newspaper articles and journal entries as the format for the story provides outsiders views on the family and the town as a whole. Very interesting story!
Thank you netgalley and author for the honour of reading this book!

A Town with Half the Lights On just blew me away. This novel, written by author Page Getz, introduces us to "Goodnight, Kansas, where there are no strangers."

Mired deeply in money and career trouble, the Solvang family arrives in Midnight from Brooklyn, NY. Scarlet Solvang, wife to Sid and mother to Harlem, is back to her hometown after a 20-year break. Her family moves onto Scarlet's late father's (Pop's) once-booming Apalca farm; however, there are only 3 alpacas left. The rest of the town looks barren, too; Scarlet doesn't recognize much of what's left, saying, "Maybe I've found the opposite of New York."

"Emporia Road is the main drag through Goodnight. It's a dusty, forgotten street." Unfortunately, owners of the many businesses that once thrived in the town boarded up the storefront windows and left. Goodnight has fallen on hard times, primarily due to the absence of good jobs and stagnating wages at the town's major employer, Goodnight American Tire Company.

While the novel's first part focuses on the Solvang's arrival and their purchase of the May Day diner, there is so much more to the story. We soon learn that the Goodnight American Tire Company (GATC) is overflowing with corporate greed disease. GTAC is duplicitous, hiding its wrongdoings and decimating the economy and environment in Midnight.

The humor and characters in this book are fantastic. From the author's naming conventions, such as the "Sunset Home for Widows, Un-wived, and Under-wived men," to characters with no filter like Bailey, readers will be amused. Speaking of saucy, take-no-shit Bailey, waitress at the May Day Diner, has some of the best lines in the book. After waiting on with an uppity man from NYC wearing a pocket square (and it's paisley patterned, to boot), she remarks, "If I weren't on probation, I might've slapped him just for looking stupid, but [probabation offer] says I can't hit nobody until July."

Uniquely, the story moves along entirely through mixed media pieces. That is, there is no narrator. I found this format extremely engaging, and while I acknowledge that it must have been difficult for the author, I quite liked how straightforward it was. The story evolves through journal entries, physical middle-school notes, emails, The Goodnight Star newspaper/gossip rag, and more.

A Town with Half the Lights On discusses painful and controversial topics like income disparity, wage stagnation, union busting, bullying, pollution, cover-ups, corrupted officials, and more. We see characters who are different, like Disco, who wears glitter and scares people away (literally). In writing that, I'm reminded that all of the characters in this book (the good ones, anyhow) are overwhelmingly different. They are complex, non-perfect people with honest opinions and problems.

The main theme of this novel is a community rising above all odds and evils to achieve something magnificent. The characters are hard-working, determined, smart people, and their differences are what make the collective group great.

I absolutely adore this book, and there is so much more I could say about it. However, to avoid spoiling anything, I'll leave you to discover the story, town, and characters for yourself. This book deserves a solid 5-star rating!