Finding Colin Firth: A Novel

What Janeite would not stop dead in her tracks when she spies "Colin Firth" in the title of a book? Mia March's latest offering Finding Colin Firth: A Novel certainly set off all my bells and whistles. The smolderingly sexy British actor not only won our hearts when he emerged dripping wet from Pemberley pond as Mr. Darcy in the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, he has had an acclaimed career, winning the best actor Academy Award in 2011 for The King's Speech. Who wouldn't want to find Colin Firth? But no, dear friends, this is not a "How to" book sharing tips and advice on how to track and successfully have a Firth encounter. Eeesh! It's a work of fiction about three women unknowingly bound together and whose lives intersect when the actor is slated to film a movie in a coastal Maine town. Daily rumors of Mr. Firth's arrival fuels fantasy and stirs the excitement in their lives and aspirations. (Just imagining spotting Mr. Firth in my little town sets this fan-girl's heart racing!)

A year after her mother's death, (who incidentally was a Colin Firth fan), 22 year-old Bea Crane receives a mysterious letter from her deceased mother, confessing she adopted Bea as a newborn. "...Now that I feel myself going, I can't bear to take this with me. But I can't bear to tell you with my final breaths, either, I can't do that to you. So I'll wait on this, for both of us. But you should know the truth because it is the truth." Shocked, Bea tracks down her birth mother to Boothbay Harbor, Maine and decides she must see this unknown woman for herself.

In Boothbay, Bea learns that 38-year-old Veronica Russo is an unmarried waitress-slash-magic pie baker-slash-Colin Firth fan who has only in the last year returned to her hometown. After years of failed relationships, her friends worry she will end up alone. "...she'd started saying what felt light-hearted but true at the same time, that she was holding out for a man who felt like Colin Firth to her. Her friend Shelley from the diner had known exactly what she meant. `I realize he's an actor playing roles, but I get it,' Shelley had said. `Honest. Full of integrity. Conviction. Brimming with intelligence. Loyal. You just want to believe everything he says with that British accent of his -and can trust it.'" Having failed to escape haunting memories of her youth, Veronica has come home to confront her past then "maybe her heart would start working the way it was supposed to. And maybe, maybe, maybe, the daughter she'd given up for adoption would contact her." Now back to those magic pies by Veronica... She calls them elixir pies claiming to cast hope, love or banishment- or anything that conjures up a solution to one's troubles. "For a heartbroken friend, Healing Pie. For a sick friend, Feel Better Pie. For a down-in -the dumps friend, Happiness Pie. For the lovelorn, Amore Pie." And they seem to work! On everyone except Veronica. At least so far.

After seeing her birth mother at the diner, but not brave enough yet to approach her, Bea decides to take a tour of Hope Home, a home for unwed pregnant girls where she was born. There she meets a Manhattan journalist, Gemma Hendricks. Upon first coming to town, the recently fired Gemma thought she could curry favor with her old magazine by scooping a coveted human-interest story on Colin Firth. Instead she is offered a free-lance gig at the local newspaper to write a story on the 50th anniversary of Hope Home. At a crossroads herself, Gemma has only just discovered she is pregnant but has yet to share the news with her devoted attorney husband. She loves living and working in the city but already knows her husband wants to move to the suburbs and start a family. "How would she ever get back what she had at `New York Weekly'? Alexander would realize this in a hot minute and argue her into that Dobbs Ferry house before she new it. He'd make his own case until she had no arguments of her own. And once she had the baby? He'd bombard her with articles about working mothers and bad nannies and reckless day cares."

Although this is an intricate concoction, cooking up a potentially emotionally heated story, it would be a failing indeed were I not to mention the elephant in the room. A glaring error, in fact. And I mean GLARING--Red-light GLARING error--in the beginning of the book. Veronica is baking a pie while supposedly watching the mini-series Pride and Prejudice. The Colin Firth, 1995, A&E five-hour version. March writes, "Fitzwilliam Darcy's face filled the TV screen. `If, however, your feelings have changed, I will have to tell you; you have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love, I love, I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on...'" Although it's not Austen's prose, this Janeite loves that line and all it's saccharine sweet sentiment. I know for a fact it's what the Matthew Macfadyen's Mr. Darcy from the Joe Wright 2005 version of P&P says to Kiera Knightley's Lizzy Bennet as they meet in a mist covered field at daybreak! So, I went back and made sure I hadn't missed something--something like, Veronica was watching the newer version. But no, she is supposed to be watching the Colin Firth version. Ugh! It is incredulous any author writing about the namesake of her book, or her editor, or the layers of people who read it before publication could let such an obvious blunder slip through unnoticed. From then on I had my doubts March was a fan of Colin Firth or P&P - and speculated maybe she wrote this bit of pastiche to take advantage of the current popularity and ready-made fan base of both. Prejudiced thereafter, I read any mention of Mr.Firth or his movies with a cynical eye, thinking this could be any popular actor and his movies dubbed in. Nevertheless, I soldiered on because honestly, I liked the premise--and was hopeful.

Did I enjoy the book? Hmmmmm... Yes, I did. It was an interesting story with strong plot lines. Although Finding Colin Firth: A Novel dealt with powerful issues regarding teenage pregnancy, adoption, marriage and relationship struggles with a happy ending for all, I must admit I never felt overly invested in any of the characters to really like them. There seemed no shortage of disjointed "telling" from the three main characters' point of view but scant, soulful interaction. Given the themes, I thought there would have been more depth. Pity. In short, it's a good book. Easy, breezy bit of chic-lit that I liked. Not loved.

Yes, there is a Colin Firth sighting, eventually, but then again, he's not really the story. Just the bait.

The description of life in Booth Bay, ME is worth the read, but this delightful book offers far more. It's a great example of synchronicity at work - how lives intertwine at the right time in the right place when they're ready to receive the answers to the questions they've been asking. Throw in some magic elixir pies, characters you really care about and of course, the elusive Colin Firth and you know you're in for a good read.

Great summer read that captures the despair, hope and dreams that are a part of all our lives. We may not have the same problems, but we can certainly relate to Bea, Veronica and Gemma, the main characters in this novel. Author Mia March tells the stories of these three women, stories that all intersect in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. No wonder the producers of Colin Firth's movie chose the town for a movie setting. Oh, wait, that was just part of the story line. Lovely story and a very enjoyable read.

4.25 Stars

Three women, Bea, Veronica, and Gemma, experience a life-changing summer when the famous actor comes to town to film a movie. I wasn't sure what to expect in this book, but what I found was a heartwarming story about motherhood, identity, loss, family, and magical elixir pies.

I enjoyed and connected to all of the characters, and their conflicts were realistic and emotional ones. Lovely Maine setting too. This is a wonderful summer read with depth and heart. Enjoyed!

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for providing me a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Last year I read the excellent The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March and it was a book that I kept thinking about long after and recommending it to my friends, so you can imagine I was absolutely thrilled when I found out that the author had a new novel coming out this year. And not just any novel, but one titled Finding Colin Firth which has an image of the actor in his acclaimed role of Jane Austen's Mr Darcy on the cover - cuteness overload!

The novel focuses on three different characters - Veronica Russo, Bea Crane and Gemma Hendricks - who are strangers at the start of the story, but through a series of events their lives, and with that the storylines, become intertwined. A crucial part of their connection is the actor Colin Firth who is rumoured to be filming in the town where all the action takes place and the characters on more than one occasion cross paths while Finding Colin Firth.

I thought that this novel was INCREDIBLY good. I already really liked The Meryl Streep Movie Club, but with this book author Mia March brings it to a whole new level. The running theme throughout is that of family; single parenthood, unwanted pregnancy, loss of a parent and adoption are just a few of the elements that come to the surface. The topics are handled very sensitively and through Gemma's research into Hope Home, a centre for teenagers who need support during their pregnancies, the reader discovers the various, heartbreaking stories of these young women who struggle, often by themselves with little to no support from their family, with the decision whether to keep their child or go the adoption route.

But don't let this make you think that this is just a very sad novel, because for all the very realistic problems that are covered in a moving way there is also a whole lot of fun. The hunt for Colin Firth by the villagers was certainly an aspect that I enjoyed greatly and I loved revisiting some of his great (and sometimes not so great) films through the eyes of the characters who were watching the films throughout the story.

Something else that I loved reading about were Veronica's pies. She makes elixir pies to order where during the baking process she thinks about something or someone in particular (for instance her beloved grandmother, who passed away when she was a teenager, when making a pie that makes you feel closer to someone you want to be closer to) and she asks the recipient to also think of something or someone that can evoke the same emotion while eating the pie. Because of the combined hope, or prayer as you will, put into the baking and eating of the pie it will have the effect you desire, which while not magic or voodoo (as she gets accused of) is certainly something very special.

Also, while this novel is a stand alone and can be read without any previous knowledge of March' work, those who have read The Meryl Streep Movie Club will be happy to know that not only does the book once again take place in the idyllic town of Boothbay Harbour, but characters from the first novel make a reappearance too. We see what happened to June and Isabel, and to a lesser extent Kat, after the events of the previous book and a large part of the story takes place in The Three Captains' Inn, where both Bea and Gemma stay during their time in the town.

And of course once again there is a movie theme running throughout the story, which unsurprisingly considering the title and cover image, is Colin Firth. But instead of the characters analysing the films after weekly film evenings at the Inn, his back catalogue of work is instead of inspiration to the three main characters in a different, more individual way - which is equally effective from a storytelling point of view.

If my VERY long review (apologies for that, kudos to anyone who's read this far...) didn't already make it clear, I absolutely loved Finding Colin Firth. Based on the fabulous cover I expected a fluffy kind of chick-lit, but what I got was a moving and heartwarming story of family, loss and love. Though there was plenty of adorableness as well of course, and I am totally okay with that.

Colin Firth - his British accent, his elegant manners, his British charm and, above all, that lovely sultry look he gives Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice - is every anglophile girl's ideal husband. And he's coming to Boothbay Harbor, Maine! For Veronica Russo, it's a dream come true. Colin has inspired each and every one of her "Amore Pies," one of the many elixir pies that she's become famous for. Their ability to inspire love, lift spirits or bring happiness are a mystery that Boothbay's inhabitants have come to accept and appreciate. Unfortunately, Veronica can't seem to bake a pie for herself to erase the longings she still has for the little baby she gave up or the unresolved sadness she carries with her about the past.

Bea Crane is stunned by a letter she receives a year after her mother's death disclosing the fact that she was adopted. Leaving her unfulfilling life in Boston, Bea comes to Boothbay in search of her past. Will meeting her birth mother hold the key to her future? Or will the answers she seeks be as elusive as the famous actor?

Gemma can't believe that she's pregnant. Recently laid off from her job, she's struggling to convince her husband to remain in New York City. His stubborn insistence that they move into a rural area near his family and that she become a stay-at-home mother has her feeling trapped. She loves Alexander with all her heart, but she just can't see herself as a mother. Hoping that a short escape to Boothbay will spark the maternal feelings that she lacks, Gemma keeps her pregnancy a secret and packs her bags for the harbor town that holds special childhood memories. There, she grasps at an opportunity to write a cover article about the local home for pregnant women. As she learns the history of the home and hears the stories of its inhabitants, Gemma is inspired. Her drive to write the story only fuels her desire for a career and makes her dread the return to her husband even more.

Three women, connected by the most intimate relationship - motherhood, all seeking answers. Will they find their happy endings like those in every Colin Firth movie?

This was an absolutely wonderful book with strong characters in situations that ring true, a little bit of romance and a well-handled coverage of adoption, teen pregnancy and motherhood. I have not read the first book in the series (The Meryl Streep Movie Club), but it's definitely on my list now! (As an aside, you don't need to have read the first book to understand this one.) Five stars for my favorite actor and five stars for this book that drew me in by its title but kept me reading with its excellent plot.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley in return for this unbiased review.

So.... Finding Colin Firth isn't literally about finding Colin Firth. It's a story about three different women who do not know each other and how their lives intertwine while Colin Firth is supposed to be filming in a small Maine town, Boothbay Harbor.

Bea is twenty-two, still reeling from the death of her beloved mother, Cora. On the one year anniversary of her mother's death, Bea receives a letter that Cora had arranged to be sent to her on that date, informing Bea that she was adopted.

Gemma is twenty-nine, recently fired from her job as a human interest reporter, and at a crossroads with her husband about leaving New York City for the suburbs while struggling with her newfound pregnancy. She leaves behind her husband to visit friends and clear her head in Boothbay Harbor. Word is, Colin Firth is in town to film a movie, and Gemma is convinced that an interview with him is her ticket to revive her floundering career.

Veronica, after years of running from her past, has lived in Boothbay Harbor for the last year, trying to reconcile herself with said past so that she can have a future. She makes specialty and "elixir" pies that can impart hope, love, banishment, and a sense of closeness to loved ones. She aspires to become an extra on the set so that she can catch a glimpse of Colin Firth doing Colin Firth stuff.

This isn't one of the best books I've read, and I'm likely to forget it soon. It's not because it's bad or unreadable; it's just one of those books that's sappy and a little saccharine. While there are some potentially depressing things due to the adoption aspect of this book, for the most part, it's a feel good story with little complications. Granted, there are conflicts in the book, but in the grand scheme of things, they are little and don't detract from the general warm and fuzzy vibe that it gives off.

I found the "elixir" pie part of the story a little silly, but then, I'm more of a cynic. After all of the reading about pies, I can't lie, I really felt the urge to make some, particularly shoofly pie. If you can believe it, though, there was a lot about Colin Firth, more than I dare say I needed. However, what should I have expected otherwise?

Finding Colin Firth is the second book March has written, following The Meryl Streep Movie Club. While I haven't read The Meryl Streep Movie Club, I found that this was fine as a stand-alone. I think that the first book goes more into the owners of the B&B that Gemma stays at.

Great literature this is not. However, if you LOVE Colin Firth, pie, and uplifting fluff, this is your book. Not my favorite, but I didn't hate it.

I enjoyed the story and even though I am a huge fan of Colin Firth, I didn't mind that the book really has very little, if nothing to do with him. But, it did frustrate me that several of the references to Pride and Prejudice were inaccurate. The line quoted, " you bewitched me......" was not from the 1995 BBC version starring Firth, but rather the 2005 version and the author makes several references to colin emerging from the lake dripping wet. He didn't. You see him dive in and then in the next seen he is wearing a barely damp shirt as he comes across Elizabeth on the grounds of His estate. He did look sexy bit we never see him emerge "dripping wet."

Excellent novel for Colin Firth fans!

Great