Adams Morgan Fugue - by Alex Fardon (Paperback)

About the Book

When a ruthless investor fund threatens a DC neighborhood's beloved pizzeria, the Squad springs to action in this uplifting and funny story of friendship, community, and second chance romance.

Book Synopsis

A retired lawyer, an unlicensed contractor, and an ex-ballplayer walk into a bar . . . and transform their neighborhood.

With a dark secret weighing heavily on his conscience, former government lawyer Oliver Bartholomew teams with two buddies to perform random acts of kindness in their Adams Morgan, DC, neighborhood. Sid is a brash but tender-hearted contractor who recently lost all but his shorts in a comically botched remodel. PJ is a former pro baseball player pining for the magic he once felt at the plate. The Squad meets nightly at Gary's Bar & Grill and grapples with everything from mistreated dogs to broken school windows.

But when a ruthless investor fund threatens to drive the neighborhood's beloved pizzeria from business, the men are utterly stumped by their new mission-that is, until Oliver's old college flame, Rose, arrives for what was supposed to be a day visit. Now, bolstered by Rose's bighearted spirit and real-world savvy, the Squad must rally their neighbors to action.

And Rose and Oliver must discover if, despite the tragedy that drove them apart long ago, they are meant to be together after all.

For fans of Fredrik Backman, Kent Haruf, and Virginia Evans, Adams Morgan Fugue is a neighborhood love story, an uplifting and often funny novel of friendship, community, and second chance romance that celebrates the revolutionary power of showing up for the people around you.

To save the world, begin at home.

Awarded the B.R.A.G. Medallion

"An impressive literary novel filled with both searing regret and stirring hope." - Kirkus Reviews

"[D]eeply intimate and remarkably life-affirming . . . skillfully weaves together touching moments with sharp, witty humor." I.S., Goodreads Review

Review Quotes

"Strong protagonists and vivid descriptions anchor Fardon's debut novel about second chances, community, and love . . . While the most basic summary of this plot sounds trite-college sweethearts unite to save a local business-the execution is powerful, thoughtful, and tender. The language soars lyrically without sounding pretentious . . . The philosophical, almost elegiac, tone echoes Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day (1989) . . . An impressive literary novel filled with both searing regret and stirring hope." - Kirkus Reviews

Full review: https: //www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/alex-fardon/adams-morgan-fugue/

"[O]ne of those rare books that wraps you in warmth from the very first page . . . both deeply intimate and remarkably life-affirming . . . skillfully weaves together touching moments with sharp, witty humor . . . the kind of book that makes you want to hug your loved ones, brew a cup of coffee, and reflect on the mark you're leaving on this world. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is room for kindness, friendship, and hope."

-- Reader review (no connection to the author)