In "The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend," Sara lives alone with her books near Stockholm. She observes the world from behind a book and uses books to escape life. Books are her defensive wall. Josephssons Bokhandel has closed, so Sara is now an unemployed bookseller. 

Sara and Amy Harris had been pen-pals for a couple of years when Amy, an elderly resident of Broken Wheel, Iowa, invited Sara to spend a couple of months with her in Iowa. However, when Sara arrived at Broken Wheel, she discovered that Amy had just passed away. Broken Wheel is a small town in Cedar County in eastern Iowa (not southern Iowa), struggling to maintain its relevance.

When Sara comes to Broken Wheel, she is transformed into someone who can brighten the lives of those around her by connecting them with books that add meaning to their lives. She soon becomes a beloved member, albeit one with an expiring travel visa. Through Sara's story, the author weaves a tale of human connection, portraying how shared literature can spark community. 

I find value in this novel with the highlighted themes, which are the importance of human connections and relationships in fostering a sense of belonging and the role of books in shaping personal growth and understanding. It provides a platform for discussions on empathy, acceptance, cultural exchange, and the value of literature in enriching lives and uniting people from diverse backgrounds.

The narrative begins to unravel when Sara's travel visa is nearing expiration, necessitating her return home. The storyline becomes more fractured, with a community rallying for Sara's stay, a suggested arranged marriage to facilitate this, and a romance between a 25-year-old and a 44-year-old that adds intrigue but seems irrelevant. Despite Tom's view that talk is futile, effective communication among the characters could have resolved many issues, and the happily ever after ending may have seemed more realistic. I had a hard time finishing the book because of the disjointed ending.