The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

by Gabrielle Zevin

“Every word the right one and exactly where it should be. That’s basically the highest compliment I can give.

This observation says a lot about what A.J. Fikry likes, and it reflects my aspirations for A.J. FIKRY the novel. I wanted the book to feel perfectly plotted and efficient, with few wasted words. However, I also appreciate (and sometimes write) books that are emotionally messy, risky if imperfect, and expansive.