The Wonder of Ordinary Magic

Bobby Weaver is a successful writer who has been in a coma for years. In his head, he's still trying to finish his latest novel%E2%80%94a murder mystery about hikers on the Appalachian Trail%E2%80%94and all around him, his family members are going on with their own lives. Niece Chloe is facing maternal pressure to grow up and spends time bonding with grandfather Jack, who is recovering from the loss of his wife. Bobby's brother, Tom, is terrified of losing his job and his relationship with his wife, Miranda. Meanwhile, Miranda's brother is still negotiating his relationship with long-term partner Josh. While Day does a workmanlike job rendering the inner lives of her characters and weaving together the many narratives threads, her story is extremely short on plot. The use of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 is completely unrelated to the rest of the story, feeling like a ploy that may alienate some readers.