The absolutely genius title caught my eye and I am so happy that I gave this book a chance. I really enjoyed this novel! I am thrilled to have gotten a chance to read an early review copy, and I thank the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity in exchange for my honest opinion.

Claire is a crotchety, reclusive prescriptive grammarian, a retired English professor who hides from the world in a restored barn in western Washington state. She's been roped in to teaching an adult education creative writing class, which forces her to interact with far more people than she'd like. I loved her character and often laughed out loud at her thoughts, speech, and actions. The knowledge she shared with her students was surprisingly insightful and informative and I learned a great deal from those interactions. I also liked reading about Claire's days as an activist in her youth and witnessing how those beliefs shaped her as an individual. Her misanthropy is profoundly relatable given the context of her views. Even though it touches on some deep issues, the story is light and easy to get caught up in, and I read this very quickly. Highly recommended!

This is a lovely book. It has truly captivating characters and a story which is uplifting and engaging. The references to various literary works make for a terrific sideline rabbit warren to trip down and the historical references to the culture of the 1970s was absolutely fascinating. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and how the main character’s story gradually emerged. Yes, it is a bit predictable and some of the plot lines are incredibly convenient, but that’s fine.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Claire Maguire, a formidable writing teacher in her mid-seventies, who is happy with her solitary life in a rented barn/loft. However, she is forced back into teaching when the landlord needs her to take over her classes as she and her husband must go interstate to care for ailing in-laws. After scaring most of her students away, those that remain enjoy a wonderful semester with Claire. There is nothing like a change in circumstances to open up one’s life and Claire unexpectedly falls in love with teaching again as well as allowing more people into her life.

Character-driven, this story creeps into your being so that Claire becomes a friend you embrace with joy.

Claire Maguire is in her seventies, a retired English teacher, and one of those wonderfully curmudgeonly women I enjoy reading about. She lives alone in a loft above a barn, with no husband or children, and has largely withdrawn from the world. Deeply antisocial, her only pleasures seem to be books, writing, and the English language — and correcting everyone else’s grammar, often not so silently. When Helen, the woman whose property Claire lives on, asks her to take over a summer writing class at the community center, Claire reluctantly agrees. Almost immediately, something begins to change. Surrounded by a handful of women of different ages and backgrounds, Claire slowly reconnects with the teacher and the person she used to be. As she comes out of her shell, we discover that there is a story behind her bitterness and a reason she abandoned the passions she once had. She even finds herself in an unexpected romance! I have enjoyed author Dave Boling’s historical fiction, and was so surprised by how different this book felt! Claire is smart, funny, painfully honest, and occasionally a bit of a know-it-all, but never in a way that made me dislike her. Of course, give me a book about books, writing, and grammar, and I am already won over. Claire reminded me of the infamous Olive Kitteridge and, more recently, Mad Mabel. She is that same kind of grumpy woman whose sharp edges are hiding a much more complicated history. These are the women I always want to know more about. A wonderful, enjoyable book that seems to be flying under the radar, it is simply perfect to enjoy those last days of summer! And yes, I am aware that Claire would certainly delete my many exclamation points, but that's a risk I am willing to take! Lol.