The Book of Silver Linings | Nan Fischer

Do you ever feel that a book finds you at just the right time? Not unlike the main character Constance and the letters, I felt that The Book of Silver Linings came to me at a time when the themes particularly spoke to things I’m working through myself. This is a story about resilience, overcoming self-doubt, and learning to believe in yourself that you are good enough, even when things fundamentally change in your life.

About the Book | The Book of Silver Linings

Constance is a paralegal in her thirties who is admittedly a people-pleaser. She had a hard childhood, with her dad imprisoned for murder and her mother passing when she was young. She was raised mostly by her grandfather, who taught Constance to be kind, caring, and work hard. She loves animals and volunteers in a shelter.

Her boyfriend Hayden proposes, and despite a few challenges in their relationship (and some secrets they are both keeping), Constance accepts. When her friend points out that the ring seems very expensive for his English teacher’s salary, Constance becomes interested to learn more about where the antique ring came from.

She soon discovers the tragic love story behind the ring through letters in her library written by the soldier who bought the ring for his fiancé. Constance is touched by the story, and leaves a note in the manuscript confessing her own doubts about her relationship and her life. She’s shocked when a few days later, she finds a response to her note among the letters. Is the ghost of the soldier communicating with her?

Over the next few months, Constance continues to correspond with the mysterious letter writer. Constance knows it seems crazy, but she may be falling for the ghost in the pages. Will this new found companion derail her current relationship? And what is she willing to risk to find out?

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Book Review | My Thoughts

Romance readers will be surprised and delighted by Nan Fischer’s The Book of Silver Linings. This is not your average love story. If anything, this is almost a story of Constance learning to love and value herself and not worry as much about the opinions of others. A heartwarming blend of romance, historical fiction, women’s fiction, and a dash of mystery, The Book of Silver Linings is heartfelt and charming.

Constance is a character that many readers will relate to. Her feelings of self-doubt, her constant desire to make other happy sometimes at her own expense, and her insecurity over whether she is good enough. From the beginning as we see Constance and her best friend Mars navigating the dating world and get glimpses into Constance’s past that help us understand that she is someone who is seeking stability and comfort.

Constance gives more than she gets back from others in many relationships throughout her life. I often felt that Constance was sacrificing so much in her life to better others, and it was a cycle she couldn’t break free from. Not everyone appreciates Constance, and she often undervalues herself and her worth.

The story with the ring is fascinating because it adds an historical mystery element to the plot which made the novel shine. As Constance is pushed to research the story of the ring, she also begins to think more critically about the man she is engaged to marry and his prior relationships.

This is a book for all of us who are on a journey of self-love and finding our way through our messy imperfect lives. Reading this felt like cozying up with a friend with a warm mug of tea on a cold rainy day. A must read for the animal lovers (seriously, you have to meet Growler!), the ones who know a great gal pal can make anything better, and the people who always root for love!

Nan Fischer | About the Author

Nan Fischer is the author of The Book of Silver Linings (August 2023, Berkley Publishing), Some Of It Was Real, and the young adult novels, When Elephants Fly and The Speed of Falling Objects. Additional author credits include Junior Jedi Knights, a middle grade Star Wars trilogy for LucasFilm, and co-authored sport autobiographies for elite athletes including #1 ranked tennis superstar Monica Seles, Triple Crown race winning jockey Julie Krone, Olympic gold medal speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno, legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, and Olympic gold medal gymnasts Nadia Comaneci and Shannon Miller. Honors include:

• Two-time Oregon Book Award Finalist
• Parade Top 20 Most Anticipated Books
• #1 on Bookstr’s Top 15 Unputdownable YA Reads
• The Culturalist Top Ten Most Anticipated YA Books
• Hypable Books You Can’t Afford to Miss!
• Bookstr 10 Amazing New YA Books Adults Will Love, Too
• Missouri Gateway Reader Award Nominee
• Hypable 15 Best YA Novels of 2019
• Buzzfeed Most Anticipated Contemporary YA New Releases

A graduate of Cornell University and former Traveling Writer for Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Senior Campaign Writer for The University of California, San Francisco, Nan’s articles have appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, The Huffington Post, Powell’s Book Blog, YA Books Central, Germ Magazine, Hypable, and School Library Journal.

Nan lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Henry, and sometimes vorpal, but always lovable, Vizsla, Boone. When she’s not conjuring a story or reading, Nan can be found hiking, biking, kitesurfing, skiing or planning her family’s next adventure.