The Sweet Spot

A Novel

By: Amy Poeppel

Narrated by: Billie Fulford-Brown, Stephen Graybill, Aden Hakimi, Daniel Henning, Nancy Linari, Carly Robins, Jackie Sanders, Erin Ruth Walker

Amy Poeppel brings her signature “big-hearted, charming” (The Washington Post) style to this wise and joyful novel that celebrates love, hate, and all of the glorious absurdity in between.

In the heart of Greenwich Village, three women form an accidental sorority when a baby—belonging to exactly none of them—lands on their collective doorstep.

Lauren and her family—lucky bastards—have been granted the use of a spectacular brownstone, teeming with history and dizzyingly unattractive 70s wallpaper. Adding to the home’s bohemian, grungy splendor is the bar occupying the basement, a (mostly) beloved dive called The Sweet Spot. Within days of moving in, Lauren discovers that she has already made an enemy in the neighborhood by inadvertently sparking the divorce of a couple she has never actually met.

Melinda’s husband of thirty years has dumped her for a young celebrity entrepreneur named Felicity, and, to Melinda’s horror, the lovebirds are soon to become parents. In her incandescent rage, Melinda wreaks havoc wherever she can, including in Felicity’s Soho boutique, where she has a fit of epic proportions, which happens to be caught on film.​

Olivia—the industrious twenty-something behind the counter, who has big dreams and bigger debt—gets caught in the crossfire. In an effort to diffuse Melinda’s temper, Olivia has a tantrum of her own and gets unceremoniously canned, thanks to TikTok.

When Melinda’s ex follows his lover across the country, leaving their squalling baby behind, the three women rise to the occasion in order to forgive, to forget, to Ferberize, and to track down the wayward parents. But can their little village find a way toward the happily ever afters they all desire? Welcome to The Sweet Spot.

Critic reviews

"The Sweet Spot is the name of this novel, a pub, and the feeling one gets when everything goes just right. Eight narrators bring multiple dimensions to this story about relationships, adultery, aging, parenting, and finding oneself in New York City. At the heart of the book is Lauren, an overworked mom who is trying to juggle her work as an artist while also being a good mother; these difficulties are deftly captured by Carly Robins's narration. Aden Hakimi brings three distinct tones and nuances to his vocal interpretations of Leo, Harrell, and Charles, with Leo's absent-minded professor quality transmitted perfectly. Lastly, Jackie Sanders introduces listeners to Melinda, a betrayed wife out for revenge whose maniacal ramblings are just cover for a wounded human being."

Loved everything about this book

So lovely written. Intertwining stories where you actually felt like you knew everybody’s character. Delightful heartwarming, suspenseful just a terrific audible book

Entertaining

Enjoyed. First time I listened to various narrators. It offered more flavor to the story.

Fun, creative

So enjoyable. I wish we all had this glorious mishmash of family and friends. To all be so lucky.

The Sweet Spot Was Sweet

3.75 stars for the Sweet Spot, which may be a bit generous, TBH. I thought the book was fun and the characters were endearing. It was a bit chaotic, though. There were just SO many new storylines coming at you, it was a little bit challenging to keep track of it all. I had to take notes. Eventually the storylines intercept in a (mostly) clever way and I did find the characters lovable in all of their quirky ways. It was a bit strange to me that the Sweet Spot, which is a bar at the center of the story, was not even brought into the narrative until about 25% in. And since I am critiquing pacing - I thought it was also weird to have the male characters narration tossed in at the end of the book, too. It just felt off. Overall, I enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend it for fans of quirky family fiction especially if you enjoy settings like Greenwich Village. But I was shocked to see my fave podcaster gave this 5 stars. I definitely would not agree and struggled to even give it 4 stars. I also found the narrators for the audiobook to be really odd choices, and I can't say there was one female narrator that I enjoyed listening to or who sounded like what I imagined that character would sound like. It was not a deal breaker but wasn't pleasant.

Feel good story

I enjoyed the story of an unconventional family, pulling together in the time of need. Also, everyone coming to terms and apologizing, and being understanding, the world would be a much better place, if the story were carried out in life.