WBC Book Club 2024 Wrapped

Welcome to the WBC Book Club, where your favorite Admins & Agents share our favorite books of the moment! From fictional adventures to inspiring true stories, you can find it all right here on the WBC blog. You may notice that the format of our book recs look a little different than most, but that’s because our team loves to stand out and provide an unparalleled experience in all aspects of our business.

Happy New Year! Before we jump into 2025, let’s reminisce on some of the great books we read in 2024. From Japanese coffeeshops to Swedish HOAs and a mystery in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we traveled the world through the written word, experiencing heartache and joy and love through the eyes of memorable characters. We are grateful for all the awesome books we had the chance to read in 2024 and look forward to all the #LiteraryListings to come in this brand new year!

Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

Marketing Remarks:

Unique commercial space waiting for the right buyer. Currently a charming coffee shop made famous by urban legends, this subterranean space located in the heart of Tokyo marries convenience with comfort. Close to local amenities yet intimate enough to make this hole in the wall the perfect location for cafes, speakeasies and more! Frequented by a host of colorful patrons, the knowledgeable staff is ready to answer your questions on anything, from obscure coffee beans to time travel. Don’t let this opportunity pass you by!

Agent Remarks: A poignant and moving portrait of humanity, oscillating between love and loss in the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. Before the Coffee Gets Cold explores the nature of time travel but with certain concrete rules, the most important of which is that no matter what you do in the past, the present will not change. Split into four parts and charting the travels of several individuals who are all searching for hope or absolution or peace. Equal parts heartbreaking and humorous, Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a short book that leaves a huge impression on the reader, reminding us to treasure every moment, every relationship, and hope for a better future even if we regret actions of our past.

                                                                       Directions: Read the full synopsis here!

A Man Called Ove by Frederick Backman

Marketing Remarks: Find peace and quiet in this quaint row house. Located in a quiet community on a dead-end street, this property offers the clean, Scandi style that Sweden is famous for. Please note: very active HOA with strict parking rules. Conveniently located near local cafes and hospitals with plenty of storage for vehicles and tools. Radiators will be replaced by seller prior to closing. This is a great place for families with young children and curmudgeonly older folks alike!

Agents Remarks: Frederick Backman has a talent for writing exceptionally witty novels that are incredibly moving at the same time. It’s hard not to have soft spot for the grumpy, misanthropic Ove who is grieving his wife’s recent death. After being forced into retirement, Ove contemplates suicide but is continuously prevented by a cast of colorful neighbors who call on him at just the right time. This is a heartwarming story about love, community and found family that will have you laughing out loud as often as you tear up.

Directions: Read the full synopsis here!

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

Marketing Remarks: Historic Victorian-style home in need of a little TLC from the right buyer. This well-loved property has been in the same family for generations and features lovely historic details including a stained glass window and claw foot tub in the upstairs bathroom. Located in the secluded mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, this home has seen its fair share of love and family intrigue, but don’t let the local gossip mill keep you from writing your own chapter in this Bishop Street gem!

Agent Remarks: The Unmaking of June Farrow is a heartbreaking and romantic work of magical realism, like a perfect blend of Outlander meets Where the Crawdads Sing. With parallel timelines and a dash of time travel, there are several plot lines to keep straight over the course of the book, but Adrienne Young does a masterful job of making sure nothing gets lost in the shuffle. This book has it all; a curse, betrayal, murder and the quintessential quest to choose one’s own destiny. The characters are incredibly dynamic and fleshed out, the story well-paced and beautifully written and you are truly left guessing up until the last moment what path June will choose for herself.

                                                                        Directions: Read the full synopsis here!

What should we read next? We are always on the lookout for new book recommendations and would love to hear from you – tag us on social media with your favorite stories!

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Written by Makena Schoene