A Five-Letter Word for Love

Finished October 5

A Five-Letter Word for Love by Amy James

I really enjoyed this unexpected romance. Emily has dreamed of a creative career in a bustling city, with a group of close friends that she confides in and spends time with outside of work, but she hasn't fully identified what exactly she wants to do, and so, for the moment, she is house-sitting for friends of her parents. The house is in small town Prince Edward Island, and she's managed to get a job as receptionist at a local garage. She tries to keep in touch with friends from college but feels increasingly that they've moved on.

She decides that it is time to invest in her life, and tries a number of things, from making a date in nearby Charlottetown on an online dating site to volunteering at the only museum in town, one about barrel-making. As she gets to know the staff and volunteers at the museum, she begins making friends, and she finds herself coming up with creative ways to promote the museum.

When her elderly neighbour needs assistance, she finds herself starting a side business of senior care, and when she plays her daily Wordle at work, she learns that one of the mechanics also plays, and may not be as boring as she thought, although John is definitely car-obsessed, and part of the local racing community.

As Emily puts herself into her community, she finds she gets a lot more in return than she expected, but some of her efforts beyond the community also bear fruit for her, and she finds the life she wanted is a real possibility. 

I liked the character Emily, with her energy and ideas, and her uncertainties for the future. I was like that when I was her age too. She is a caring person, curious and open, and I appreciated the changes that she went through as she connected with people. This is a story about a woman figuring out her life, not just her love life, and I really wanted to see what happened with her life.

To The Edge of the Sea

Finished March 16
To the Edge of the Sea by Anne McDonald
This short novel is lyrical and flows between four characters. Set in the summer and fall of 1864, this book begins in PEI and takes us across the Canadas to Niagara Falls. Two young men in PEI, brothers, Alex and Reggie are very different. Reggie, the oldest, is seasick every time he goes out on his father's fishing boat, yet he is the responsible one, the one who asks before he acts. Alex is impulsive and a natural fisherman. When a circus comes to the island, Alex leaves in the night to go to town to see it. He is drawn to the actions of the highwire performers and follows them beyond his island home. Reggie is changed by Alex's disappearance and makes choices in his own life that change his life forever.
At the same time, the leaders of Upper and Lower Canada come to PEI to try to get agreement to form a nation. This is the start of a road trip from the island across the Canadas and we see things from the eyes of John A Macdonald himself and the eyes of Mercy, daughter of PEI delegate George Coles, a young woman both drawn and repelled by John A. This is a journey, and a discovery and a leaving.
Mercy leaves behind her younger, more innocent self. John A leaves behind part of himself as a cost to forming a new country. Alex leaves behind his island home and family. Reggie leaves a life he was born into, but not without cost. From Canadian history to the famous Farinis, this novel explores change and a sense of inevitability. Very enjoyable.

Mind Over Mussels

Finished October 10
Mind over Mussels by Hilary MacLeod
This was an enjoyable light mystery set in PEI. This one includes a storm that cuts off part of the island, a few messy relationships, and the power of the mind.
While I enjoyed the village feel and the range of characters, I was sometimes distracted by poor editing and a disjointed plot. Things seemed to jump around a lot and characters talked in riddles.
I found the outcome unsatisfying overall and there seemed to be ongoing storylines where I didn't have enough information. I liked the quirkiness of the characters and the inventiveness of the plot.