LitPick Review
Anya Novak had always been very timid. Growing up in Slovakia, she was always told that she needed to be quiet and supportive in the background. She was told that as a viola player, she has to blend into the background and allow the violin players to shine. Now, alone in the US after her parents' deaths, she continues to live a quiet lifestyle blending into the background. She plays the viola in a chamber orchestra, and one day near Christmas time, she meets an older man named Niels after rehearsal. She notices that Niels appears the be lonely, and she decides to become friends with him and accompany him for a meal. At the restaurant, she meets a guitarist named David who is playing songs for the guests. Anya accompanies him for a song, and for the first time in her life, she shines brightly in her music. But Anya is scared because she's used to safely staying in the background. Will Anya be able to get over her fears and embrace her talent?
Opinion:
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked that the book took place in December, and the author did a great job of painting the winter landscape in the city by describing the weather and how it affected the city. This book definitely had a warm and cozy feeling around it, and it would be the perfect book to get into the mood for the holidays! I also enjoyed the plot of the story. Anya's timid but kind character was revealed in the first few chapters through her actions such as agreeing to have dinner with Niels, and I found that I really liked her character. Additionally, I think there was just enough suspense in this book (such as in the instance of Anya's car crash) while still keeping a positive mood around the book! Lastly, I liked how the book was fast-paced and did not have any boring moments in the storyline. Overall, this is a perfect short story for any reader who enjoys the holidays!
