THEO OF GOLDEN
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
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,
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
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.
- Atria Books
- Paperback
- October 2025
- 400 Pages
- 9781668236512
Buy the Book
$20.00
About Allen Levi
Allen Levi—attorney, judge, singer/songwriter, author—lives on and cares for family acreage near a small town in middle Georgia. Theo of Golden is his first novel.
Praise
JEN HATMAKER BOOK CLUB: March 2026 Book Club Pick
KATIE COURIC BOOK CLUB: February 2026 Book Club Pick
NEW YORK TIMES: Surprising Hits of 2025
“[A] word-of-mouth smash hit.” —The New York Times
“A treasure” —Hoda Kotb
“An emotional and heartwarming tale” —USA Today
“It has a soft-lit, allegorical quality.” —Washington Post
“A solid entry in the ever-more-popular category of music-biz lit, pulled off with notable élan.” —Kirkus
“The book on everyone’s lips these days seems to be Theo of Golden by Allen Levi” —Martha’s Vineyard Times
“I’m in awe of Theo – and of his creator Allen Levi. Levi’s debut novel is one you’ll want to buy so you can travel to Golden again and again.” —WKLB-FM (Waltham, MA)
Discussion Questions
- What was your overall impression of the book? Strengths and weaknesses?
- Who was your favorite character? Why?
- What was your favorite scene in the book? Why?
- If there were a sequel to the book, focusing on one of the characters other than Theo, which character would you want it to be
- Of all the friendships that Theo forged in the story, which interested you most as a reader? Which revealed most of you about Theo?
Video
https://simonandschuster.box.com/s/1ckgyfxyqw3rka2a8qbn4nuinxswq0fp