To Be Where You Are (Mitford Series #14) by Jan Karon
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017
#1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon returns with the fourteenth novel in the beloved Mitford series, featuring three generations of Kavanaghs. In To Be Where You Are, Jan Karon weaves together the richly comic and compelling lives of characters that readers around the world now love like family.
Every time I read a Mitford book, I’m completely drawn in, again, to the quaint town and its quirky characters.
In Mitford, genuine people routinely do nice things for each other. Sure, there is the occasional personality quirk that rubs someone the wrong way, and these situations offer many comic moments in the series. But in Mitford, much of the outside world is held at bay. Readers are given the gift of immersing themselves in a peaceful little town that represents the way life could be.
Fall is the perfect time of year to start reading To Be Where You Are because the story covers the fall season and continues through Christmas. Each chapter is identified by a date and place, so if you time it right, you can celebrate Christmas with your loved ones while also sharing it with your Mitford friends.
However, if you haven’t visited Mitford yet, I recommend that you start the series at the beginning. Fourteen books might seem like a lot to catch up to, but I think you’ll be glad if you take your time getting to know Mitford and its inhabitants from their earliest days. Then, when someone says, “Remember good ol’ Barnabus?” you’ll recall the very first scene in the very first book, and all the delightful Barnabus scenes that followed, and you’ll have built Mitford memories right alongside your Mitford friends.
Reader, have you been to Mitford yet? I’d love to meet you there. We’ll share the good memories together.
