5 stars
A delightful read featuring a rambunctious family, a loving neighborhood, and a landlord with a mysterious past. This was such a fun book to listen to. As an only child who grew up in the middle of nowhere, I was instantly pulled in by this charming family of seven and their connections to so many in their neighborhood. The Vanderbeekers were instant favorites.
Each character has their own thing going on within the larger story of trying to stay in the apartment they love so much. I enjoyed all their distinct personalities and how they thought about the problem at hand. From the goofy to the sincere, this book covers a lot of ground and it was a wonderful journey.
Despite the silliness, there are some nice messages that promote taking action, listening to others, and being helpful, understanding, and sympathetic. I also appreciated that when people messed up, there were actual consequences and resolutions instead of glossing over the issue.
Heartwarming and charming. Already hunting down the sequel because I need more Vanderbeeker shenanigans in my life. An instant classic.