FICTION

Welcome to the Pine Away Motel and Cabins

by Katarina Bivald
Sourcebooks Landmark. Jan. 2020. 448p. ISBN 9781492681014. pap. $16.99. F
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On the outskirts of Pine Creek, a small town in Oregon, a motel near the highway does a modest business. It has also, over the years, become a refuge for some from the conservative values of the nearby townspeople. In fact, a vocal contingent takes it upon itself to fight against the motel’s very existence with a strength and resolve not previously seen. A recently deceased employee and resident of the motel, Henny is, for reasons unknown to her, able to observe her friends and family members as they deal with her death and the threat against the Pine Away. While there is little she can do from her vantage point, she’s not without hope that her otherworldly influence will be enough to save the motel and help her loved ones move forward without her.
VERDICT In this follow-up to her popular debut, The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, Swedish author Bivald weaves a charming tale that also examines serious issues and is populated with quirky yet eminently believable characters. For fans of literary small-town fiction including the works of Fredrik Backman and Elizabeth Strout. [See Prepub Alert, 7/1/19.]
Reviewed by Karen Core, Detroit P.L , Jan 01, 2020
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