When an editing pen has the power to change not only stories but also lives,
Book editor Emily Bryant finds herself unexpectedly in the charming town of Cascata on California’s Lost Coast, holding the keys to her grandmother’s rambling Victorian mansion. While sorting through her grandmother’s things, Emily learns that she must edit old manuscripts to inherit the estate. It’s a strange request from a family member who was basically a stranger.
Emily quickly realizes that there’s something different about these manuscripts. Any changes she makes come true. At first, she embraces the gift. She has a chance to help characters find true love or chart a new course for their future. But then things go terribly wrong. Her edits have the opposite effect. Cascata’s sweet and funky seaside community is reeling from Emily’s chaos. Everything she thought she believed about her family and her past is in jeopardy, and no amount of editing can fix the damage she’s done.
Then, she finds one last manuscript. If Emily can get this edit right, she may have a chance to create a new narrative for herself and everyone around her.
"I absolutely could not put this book down. The descriptions of everything from the bookish decor of "The Ballad" to the wonderful people of the town and their many activities had my nose stuck in this book from cover to cover. I felt as if I was transported into each place Emily visited. As Emily enters the town, "The breezy plaza was enveloped by historic buildings restored to their original glory in varying shades of lapis, eggplant, pistachio, hickory, and graphite. Timeworn bricks carved a pathway...dotted with eucalyptus trees and fragrant bunches of lavender." This detailed imagery can be found throughout the book and really creates a homey feel. As we enter "The Ballad" with its wall-to-wall books, it feels like the most magical place in the world. With its nooks and crannies that Emily finds with the help of her cousin, Shay, "The Ballad" starts to feel more and more like home. It is not until Emily finds the forsaken manuscripts though, that she realizes her skills as an editor may be greatly needed in this town and that this is why her grandmother had sent for her. As memories start to unfold, Emily realizes that things are not as she had previously remembered. Lost Coast Literary is the perfect book for any bibliophile who is ready to get lost in their next favorite read."
"You will cherish this story for its lush description, engaging characters, gasp-worthy twists, and touch of magic. Lost Coast Literary is a heartwarming reminder of life's mystery and a must-read for book lovers."
"This book blew me away a little. I’ve been reading Ellie Alexander’s various series for a long time now and always enjoy her stories, but this one just goes so much deeper than a cozy mystery. Emily was a good protagonist who worked through a lot of conflict in a way that inspired sympathy. The other characters were interesting, especially Shay. The location was fabulous and really made me want to go visit. But it was the concept of the story that really grabbed me."
"Starting this book, I expected a fun, sweet, light story, which in some ways it was. What I did not expect was the emotional depth from unearthing long buried and altered memories. I also love and appreciate that Emily’s story was about finding herself, not through romantic love, but through a connection to her family. While there were peripheral love interests, Emily was not involved in them, and, as she told Shay, none of them were really love stories— they were stories about finding something else."
"The author's detailed, lush descriptions of Emily's grandmother's mansion, the colorful houses of Cascata, buildings such as her uncle's pub and the local paper goods store, and the nature surrounding them are to die for. Her struggle to help the townspeople who are the subjects of the forsaken manuscripts is palpable, and her dawning realization of what she wants her life to be is ultimately satisfying. If you like an engaging and uplifting plot tinged with magic realism, this book is for you."
"The story completely captivated me. Reading about Cascata felt like coming home. The plot combined everything I loved, reading, writing and books. The protagonist, Emily, with a lot of loss and pain and acceptance of her literary gift. I felt like I was in her shoes."