Berg's (The Dream Lover; Durable Goods) latest is the sweet, sentimental tale of an elderly man and a teenager coming into each other's lives at just the right moment. Arthur is mourning the passing of his beloved wife, Nola. Despite the weather, every single day he packs his lunch and takes the bus to the cemetery to chat with Nola while he eats. Maddy is a 16-year-old with a nose ring who gets harshly bullied in school. Her single father isn't capable of parenting her, so she acts out by skipping class and spending time in the cemetery, which she finds calming. After eyeing each other for days, the duo finally start talking. Once she gets to know him, Maddy anoints Arthur with the surname "Truluv." After a particularly difficult turn of events in Maddy's life, she moves in with Arthur, as does his nosy neighbor Lucille, a master baker who spreads her love with cookies and caramel bars. VERDICT In the vein of Fannie Flagg, this life-affirming story is a definite choice for Berg's many fans and anyone looking for a little break from the darker novels that have been so popular lately. [See Prepub Alert, 1/18/17.]—Beth Gibbs, Davidson, NC