‘By The Book’ by Julia Sonneborn is the perfect combination of a light, vacation novel and a story that touches the heart in a gentle yet unmistakable way. When I read it the air was just beginning to get a chill to it, and I found myself sitting outside on the balcony, getting colder and colder, and yet unwilling to set the book down for even a moment to step inside. We follow the protagonist Anne Corey through romantic and professional turmoil, with a story steeped in friendship, the occasional drink, and literary references.

As Anne is working to secure her place of tenure at Fairfax College in California, she finds herself in a muddle of past and present romances. With her ex-fiancé moving into the role of president at her school, and a new love interest who seems too good to be true, Anne struggles with old and new feelings; a remembrance of old love and the possibility of an exciting new relationship with a charming and seemingly perfect new man.

As the romantic tension unfolds, Anne finds herself struggling to step away from her past, and she begins to wonder if leaving the past behind is the best idea after all. As she moves through life with her best friend Larry by her side, Anne learns that looks can be deceiving, in more ways than one. As the story progresses we see Anne struggle and almost break from heartache, and then begin to pick herself up and become whole again, with the help of friendship and literature. As her career becomes more stable, we begin to see a woman who is fully capable of saving herself, and allowing herself to find a love that is healthy, not just convenient. By the end of the novel, we are proud to see Anne end up in a stable place in life.

While this story could easily be read on a plane and left behind for the next passenger to enjoy, it stays with the reader long after it comes to an end. I found myself thinking of it months after reading it, and feeling grateful that I had held onto it so that I could share it with someone else. While it may disguise itself as a beach day read, there is something about this story that stays with you and reminds us all to pick up a good book from time to time.