Sixteen years after she last saw her Uncle Billy, Miranda Brooks learns that he has passed away and she has inherited his Los Angeles-based store, Prospero Books. Named for Prospero's daughter in The Tempest, a theme recurrent throughout the novel, Miranda follows clues she believes her uncle sent her to unravel the story of his past. The path leads her to people who fill in the holes she didn't know she had in her own story. At first, Miranda's parents are thrilled that she has returned home, but soon her mother is not talking and a wedge is driven between them. With her personal life in shambles and the bookstore in financial straits, Miranda moves into Billy's apartment above the shop and sets out on a quest of self-discovery, taking a chance on revitalizing the store and discovering love where she least expects it. VERDICT Meyerson's debut is a sweet read filled with family, love, and healing. Readers who enjoy Robyn Carr and Debbie Macomber will be charmed by this tale of self-discovery and new beginnings.—Jane Blue, Andrews P.L., NC

In her heartfelt debut, Meyerson brings readers on a scavenger hunt full of literary clues and family secrets. Miranda Brooks feels her life is finally coming together—she adores teaching high school history in Philadelphia and has decided to settle there, taking the big step of moving in with her boyfriend, a fellow teacher. But Miranda's cozy life is thrown into tumult when she receives a mysterious package after the sudden death of her estranged uncle Billy, who she hasn't spoken to since a falling-out between him and her mother years before. Once a huge part of her life, Billy used to invite Miranda to his Los Angeles bookshop, Prospero Books, where they would read and solve riddles he thought up. But, on Miranda's 12th birthday, her mother and Billy had a mysterious fight, and Miranda hasn't heard from him since. After his death, Miranda travels to L.A., where she learns that Billy has left her Prospero Books—along with a literary clue to one final adventure he wanted to share with her. She works with the devoted staff to revive the old store, all the while following Billy's clues, which lead her to hidden family secrets. Filled with quotes from and allusions to The Tempest, The Wizard of Oz, and Jane Eyre, Meyerson's evocative novel is a fun homage to book lovers and the eclectic spirit of L.A. (June)