Description: "A bewitching novel within a novel--a blend of romance and magical realism, part The Lost Bookshop, part A Love Song for Ricki Wilde--a magical world in which a bookseller becomes a reluctant matchmaker, bringing soulmates together through books"-- Provided by publisher.
Brief description:
Jeannine A. Cook is the founder and owner of three avant-garde bookshop concepts, Harriett's in Philadelphia; Ida's in South Jersey; and Josephine's, a literary installation in Paris. She holds an MFA from Drexel University. She is the author of the novel It's Me They Follow.
Review Quotes:
I would follow Jeannine Cook anywhere after reading her first novel. Tender and funny, she creates a magical world in her bookshop where love and longing exist and expand in her beloved Philadelphia. - Maria Bello, Writer, Actor, Producer
""There's something in your book that touches people," one character tells another in Jeannine A. Cook's debut novel, It's Me They Follow. And it's true, on Cook's pages, words touch, sometimes tenderly, always urgently, even when ordinary touch is impossible. The main character, the Shopkeeper, molds her story out of her own blood, memory and bones. The reader is gifted with shelves full of lives to fall in love with. Turning these pages is as delightful as it is necessary. Cook's is a story and a voice to remember." - Nomi Eve, author of Henna House and The Family Orchard. Director, Drexel MFA in Creative Writing.
Real life bookshop owner/author Jeannine A. Cook's soul satisfying novel It's Me They Follow is a rich, magical, compelling tale about levels of love, ancestral bonds, self-discovery, resilience and the actualization of childhood goals. With affectionate cultural references to Sonia Sanchez, Jill Scott, Jazmine Sullivan, Will Smith and more, this is a bibliophile's delight and an irresistible Philly Jawn!
- Dyana Williams, Broadcaster
Romance is only part of the payoff in this quirky yet humane story of a lonely shopkeeper conquering her fears. - Kirkus Reviews
It's Me They Follow is an intoxicating story about the unfolding of a woman and how she found herself and love. The gift of journeying into the Shopkeeper's world gives us, the readers, permission to dream, explore and find our own community, our own joy. - Sannii Crespina-Flores, author of Machetes are Forged in Soft Rivers.
"It's ME They Follow bursts the boundaries of the romance genre even as it seduces. Rocky uses boxing, It's ME They Follow uses literature, to depict unforgettable love and ambition in underdog, indelible Philadelphia." - Lorene Cary, Author, Educator and Activist
"Lyrical and tender, a beautiful tale about following your passions in life which ultimately lead you to that one true love. Jeannine's writing is so magical and unique. The perfect book for book lovers by a lover of books." - Lola Akinmade Åkerström, international bestselling author of IN EVERY MIRROR SHE'S BLACK & EVERYTHING IS NOT ENOUGH
"Bookstore owner Cook delights in this inventive metanovel that explores the ways books and stories connect us...Bibliophiles will be captivated by this magical tale of community." - Booklist
Sprinkled with magical charm and romance, Jeannine A. Cook's unique debut novel, It's Me They Follow, is an emotional ode to book lovers. - Woman's World