Why this book? It sounds REALLY GOOD and it is making the non-religious people (like myself) REALLY ANGRY and I want to see if it does the same to me.

Five strangers are secretly slipped invitations to the story society. Out of curiousity and perhaps boredom all five show up and attempt to decipher who invited them and WHY? As the story unfolds we witness this odd ball group grow to trust each other and themselves. They don't know why they are supposed to be there, but they make of it what they need.

This is such a sweet little story. The prose flows along pleasantly enough and it was easy to curl up and enjoy as the stories progressed even though it isn't clear where the story is going until all at once secrets spill out and pieces finally connect and there's that AHAH moment for the reader and the characters simultaneously.

This was my introduction to the work of Rachel Hauck and I think I'm in love. This was just the heartwarming authentic and oh so human story that I needed right now, that many readers need right now. If you're wondering about if this book is for you or not, read it. You'll find something you needed hidden in these pages. ( )

I mistakenly got this book instead of The Lions of Fifth Ave. And what a pleasant mistake it was!
This novel has an interesting mix of characters brought together by a mysterious invitation to a historic library. As they meet once a week, their personal stories begin to unfold. Each story is told separately and intersect only at the library. It's during these weekly meetings their friendships are formed and they try to solve the mystery of the invitations.
Wonderfully detailed, this light story has well developed characters with a minor christian theme (but it's not overbearing).
This book would be a good "beach read". It's undemanding with a clean storyline. Easy to pick up and just enjoy. ( )

From the synopsis you think you are getting a novel about five New Yorkers meeting and sharing their stories in a magical Manhattan library. Nobody is more disappointed than me that this author did not live up to the promise in the synopsis. I gave this book until Chapter 11, and so far the intimate meetings of the Fifth Avenue Story Society consisted of 'Why are we here?' 'Will there be food?' 'Are you going to help me write my memoir?' 'Why is HE here?' 'Why should I continue?' and 'Library is closing'. Do these meeting last only fifteen minutes? Each chapter is from one character's point of view. The five characters were as dull as a butter knife. Lexa, workaholic doormat who fancies herself a CEO candidate, but goes for weeks without being able to make the assertion in a sentence that she deserves the job (I wouldn't hire her), frankly, I've seen her character before, nothing new here (her neighbor Abby seemed be living a more interesting life), Jett Wilder, sort of a ridiculous name, bland hot guy nerd who begins the story in the aftermath of a wedding brawl but can't seem to stand up to his Literature department head about a biography (and why is he confused his space navy Sci-Fi book was not a runaway best-seller?), Chuck, the Uber driver with poor impulse control and not much else going for him, Coral, heir to an elite cosmetic empire and tabloid fodder runaway bride, and lastly, Ed, a blue collar senior citizen. He's obsessed about writing the love story between himself and his late wife Esmerelda, but seems to have little love for his neighbors or the "Society" members. Given their busy lives and no evidence they read books, I find it highly implausible Lexa, Coral or Chuck would actually show up when given a vague invitation to a library event. I read books, and I'm not sure the invitation, as written, would compel me to go. I'd probably chuck it in the recycle basket. Too bad I didn't decline this novel's invitation.
Sorry, but if you can't grab my interest better than this by a third way into the novel and live up to your title, then it's time to move on. I would not recommend this book or this author, as her character development was weak, story progression inordinately slow with much repetition (I thought I was rereading a passage over again), overuse of allusion to interesting backstories (which might not be worth the wait) and writing skills mildly shaky. ( )

This book was five stories in one and how five strangers can become best friends. I liked the setting: I've never been to Manhattan, but I feel I know it through books, TV, and movies. I don't think I could pick a favorite character, but I may have related to Coral the most, because she was a Christian from the beginning of the book. ( )