I loved this book so much! Harlem and Discos friendship had my heart feeling warm from the very beginning and i loved seeing Sal’s development and him getting over his phobia and opening up to neighbours. this book was very well written and i thought it had a very unique writing style which i think many people will enjoy. amazing 5/5

Two things I love to read: epistolary novels and books set in quirky small towns. You can imagine, then, that I was delighted to pick up A Town with Half the Lights On. And let me say, it did not disappoint. I'm really glad I read this when I did, because it was the perfect cozy read for a chilly Thanksgiving weekend. I loved Goodnight, Kansas. I loved Bailey, the sharp-talking, deeply loyal waitress, Disco, the glittery, country music-loving wild child, and of course, all the Solvangs. Getz did a brilliant job interweaving plot threads (the missing wind chimes, the "lake flu," Sid's journey back to cooking, the mysterious identity of the newspaper editor, etc, etc.) in a way that felt realistic but also heart-warming.

Honestly, the biggest thing I have to say about this book is just that it was a profoundly enjoyable read. I loved getting to root for the residents of Goodnight. I was disappointed when I had to put the book down for Thanksgiving dinner. It was such a comforting, homey novel in every way, but also one that left me pondering some interesting and important stuff about the nature of creativity and what it means to grow up feeling like an outsider. I would absolutely recommend A Town with Half the Lights On to anyone looking for a warm, big-hearted read that's also profoundly engaging. (I would also, of course, recommend it to any of my fellow epistolary novel lovers -- Getz does a stellar job of telling the story fully and completely within the constraints of the form, while also incorporating the book's epistolary nature into its plot.)

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book. A small town story with a lot of cooking. Makes me want to move out of my small town, just so I can visit and have my bookish/Hallmark romance.

A Town with Half the Lights On is a heartwarming and nostalgic novel that captures the essence of small-town America. Told through a unique epistolary style, the story follows the Solvang family moving from the bustling city to the quiet town of Goodnight, Kansas. The novel’s charming characters and witty dialogue keep the reader engaged. Sid, the chef with a big heart, and his daughter, who discovers a hidden history of the town, add depth and complexity to the story.

The supporting cast, including the quirky townsfolk and the mysterious Lady Whistledown-esque figure, further enriches the narrative. The epistolary format allows for a diverse range of perspectives, offering a glimpse into the lives of various characters. However, some readers may find the constant switching of voices somewhat disjointed. Despite this, the unique storytelling style adds a refreshing layer to the narrative.

Ultimately, A Town with Half the Lights On is a feel-good story that celebrates the power of community and the importance of finding one’s place in the world. It’s a perfect read for those seeking a heartwarming and nostalgic escape.

I absolutely enjoyed reading A Town with Half the Lights On. The book was both sad and funny, with a gentle sweetness that was so comforting to read. Its unique epistolary format, told through emails, diary entries, and newspaper articles, kept me fully engaged. The story follows the Solvang family, who relocate from Brooklyn, New York to Goodnight, Kansas after Sid's family deli closes. The small town has strong opinions about outsiders, and the narrative covers a lot of important topics like income disparity, wage stagnation, union busting, bullying, pollution, cover-ups, and corruption.

I loved the diversity of the characters and the breadth of the story. It delves into family drama, the courage to start over, learning from mistakes, and forgiveness. The main theme is about a community overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness. The author's writing style is engaging, making it perfect for book club discussions. Overall, it’s a charming story with different character perspectives that kept me hooked. I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.

I enjoyed this book. At first the storytelling through emails, journals entries, etc. was a little annoying and reminded me of projects from high school English class but once I got into the rhythm of the story I got used to it. Many of the characters weren't as well developed as they could have been if the story was written in regular prose. My main gripe is that I don't know of any New Yorkers who would name their daughter Harlem, but overall this was an entertaining read.

I really wanted to like this book but I don’t. I think this book would be great for lots of other readers.

This is such a fun, cute, and fluffy read!!

Perfect Cozy read for a day where you need a little slice of happiness! Short chapters with quick character POV changes.

I absolutely loved this book, very comfy cozy!

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I recently read the synopsis for “A Town with Half the Lights On” and instantly knew it was the book for me—and I was right! From the very first chapter, I fell in love with the charming little town of Goodnight, Kansas, along with its quirky inhabitants. I love it when a novel feels like chicken soup to my reading soul and Page Getz has done that and has created an endearing cast of characters that I won't soon forget! I adored how the story combines humor with touching moments, which made this 5++++ star novel a true delight. I became so invested in the storyline that I didn't want it to end! I highly recommend this fantastic novel to everyone! I will be reading everything Page Getz publishes in the future!

Beautifully written. I truly loved the different ways this book was written; from emails, to hand written notes, and even to newspaper articles. It was different from most books which is what kept me interested. The story overall is very cute. I enjoyed the different point of views from each character.

This exquisitely written book offers a profound examination of family, community, and the things we struggle to preserve while simultaneously touching readers' hearts. This book will speak to anyone who has ever looked for a place to call home because of its realistic emotional core, vividly imagined setting, and well-drawn characters. I thought the way this story was told was fantastic. It's a really original method. It was a fantastic story. I adored the characters.

This was a good book. I liked how it was all written in diary, entries, newspaper, clippings, radio clippings, etc. It was a feel good book, and it was well written. I like the way that the characters were developed.


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This book was such a cute comfort read with small town vibes and lots of cooking.
There was some random bits .. like the yodelling but you know what I loved it! There was definitely some laughable moments in this book along with some that were thought provoking.
All in all it was a great read!

Such. A. Good. Read. Epistolary novel done right. Hands down one of the best books I have read this year. I felt a connection with all of the characters, and even felt like I was a resident of Goodnight myself. The way the novel was written, made it so easy to follow along and it kept you wanting more. Absolutely loved!

[3.5☆] this was my very first epistolary novel and i was kinda... disappointed? since everything was written through emails, notes, journal entries or the newspaper it felt a bit impersonal seeing the vast cast of characters this book has. i couldn't get attached to anyone and the use of emails was more so to explain what was happening in the town rather than delving deeper into the character feelings.

What a fun read. A New York family forced to return to a small conservative Kansas town after a humiliating restaurant fail finds themselves as outsiders in a dying town. In the process of finding a way back to “civilization” they discover what family, community, and true service really mean. Written as emails, journal entries, and letters to a truly democratic newspaper, it is a fun and unique story. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions here are all my own. Although I’m a Missouri girl I highly recommend this Kansas based book!!

Failed chef Sid Solvang and his family move back to Goodnight, Kansas, his wife's hometown, because they have nowhere else to go. Eventually they take over the town's May Day Diner, slowly becoming interwoven into the structure of the town, even as they are trying to find a way to move back to New York City. But when the town itself is threatened by corporate greed, the family has to make the difficult decision of what makes home, home.
As a life-long Kansan who loves epistolary novels, this was a no-brainer for me to pick up, and it was delightful! Truly capturing the spirit of a small-town in Kansas being shaken up by a family of New York chefs who move in, I thought this was brilliantly done, expertly switching between humor and poignant moments, and the themes of being different, helping your neighbor, friendships, and finding your true purpose in life. Definitely a must read, perfect for Spring/Summer!

As soon as I saw that this was an epistolary novel, I knew I needed to read it. There is something so unique and entertaining about this writing style, and Getz uses a variety of things from emails to notes to reports to tell the story of a small Kansas town.

Chef Sid and his family move to Kansas after an incident in NYC forces them to step away from their lives there for a bit. The small town pace is quite a massive difference from their usual NYC lives, and we see his wife struggle to reconnect with her sisters and their teen daughter attempt to make friends in her new town.

I loved the format and thought this one was full of quirky characters and small town charm, particularly with their newspaper and its funny columns. I did struggle to connect with the characters this time, possibly because there were so many of them to keep track of! It is hard to dig too deep into a character through email unless we are only dealing with a couple of characters and can stick with their POV, and I struggled with that a bit in this book.

Thank you toSourcebooks Landmark for the arc. All opinions are my own.

This book was full of small town quirkiness and characters that keep you asking questions.
An encapsulating read.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

if this novel had have had a comp to erin brockovich in the description, would that have been too much of a spoiler?? because it was much more erin brockovich than it was the bear lets all be real.

this was a charming little novel, with a very straightforward plot and very little conflict. it tackled heavy topics like the damage that capitalism causes, the issues with union busting, and how community is really the only power that people have left to fight back with, which are all honestly some really timely discussions.

i am a big fan of epistolary novels usually, and while this was no exception, i thought that the firm adherence to the style with little flexibility left too many of the potential conflicts of the book implied instead of explored. introducing the council meeting minutes at the end was a great start to different styles, but it came a little too late in the piece. the voices across the emails also blurred into one, especially in differentiating disco from the others. like that is a literal child, but she speaks the same as sid, an entire adult man. and also she has a drinking problem. as a child. huh.