Theo of Golden by Allen Levi Published by Simon and Schuster on October 3, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Friendship, Fiction / Literary, Fiction / Romance / Small Town & Rural
Pages: 400
Format: Audiobook
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“[A] word-of-mouth smash hit.” —The New York Times
One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why…
His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.
Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.
This is yet another book that I have no real idea how I stumbled onto it, but stumble I did. A little research, a long Libby wait, and here we are. I chose the audio version for a myriad of reasons, and honestly, I’m really glad I did. The narrator was perfect for the story of Theo. I have also learned that while I tend to devour novels like it’s going out of style, that some stories need to be savored over time, and I felt like this book would be one of them just based on the stories of the portraits. And for that, I have mixed feelings.
I can’t say enough that this book is my first five-star read this year, and possibly soon to be ranked in my all-time favorite books. That is something that literally only one other book from this century has made the list. The narrator was perfect for Theo, and the afterward from Levi Allen was just as gripping as the story itself. I’m super glad that I paced myself with this listen, as much as I wanted to go all in, as it was just that engaging, as I really got to sit with each character. It was hard, though, just being honest! And Tony, going broke bookshop owner Tony, gained a tiny advantage to be my favorite relatable character. Ellen comes a super close second, but I was really feeling Tony.
I’m going to suggest a break from my own low-key rule as well. I’m not a fan of TV/Movies made from books because they never get it right. They can many times be well done, if you don’t know the book. But if you love the book, it can feel like a letdown. I think, in the right hands, this would make an amazing series, 30-minute episodes (like the old days) that really lets you engage with each person, each portrait, and Theo. A chance to really develop and understand the scope of who Theo is. Not a streaming pickup, an actual television pickup that will allow a broader audience to really be touched by Theo. Theo is a bright spot in a world of hurt, no ulterior motive, just connection. And that is why I loved this book.
About Allen Levi
Allen grew up in Columbus, Georgia, attended University of Georgia for degrees in English and Law, and worked as an attorney from 1980 to 1990. He left law practice for two years in 1990, moved to Scotland, and, while there, received a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh. He returned home, resumed law practice for three years, and finally ventured into vocational music in 1996.
Since then, he has worked as a traveling musician, sharing his whimsical, thought-provoking brand of songwriting and storytelling to audiences across the U.S. He has over twenty albums to his credit, as well as hundreds of other unpublished songs.
In 2014, he published The Last Sweet Mile, a memoir of the close friendship he shared with his brother, Gary, who died in 2012. He also wrote and published a children’s book, Oliviatown, adapted from a song of the same title.
Allen published his first novel, Theo of Golden, in 2023. Learn more about Theo of Golden here.
When not reading or writing Allen cares for family acreage where he lives with his father, tries to spend time with family nearby, keeps a full schedule of involvement in the small community around him, and dreams of being an artist someday.
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