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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
How I managed to not DNF is beyond me. Apparently I’m a glutton for punishment. Plus it feels like it's bad luck to DNF your second book of the year.
I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for books with Bookshop in the title. I’m also a sucker for books that take place in beach areas. So a bookshop on a beach sounded like an amazing concept. And honestly, I think it’s still an amazing concept - it just didn’t prove so in this book.
Now I’ve honestly never read this author that I’m aware of but I’ve heard good things about her. So I was excited to jump into this novel. But let me tell you, when I say that it was a struggle to get into the story, it was a struggle. To the point of where I felt like I was forcing myself to read, therefore making myself miserable.
I guess I hoped that the story would redeem itself in the end? Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
Let’s start with the characters of this story.
Not one of them was likable. Not one of them stood out. Not one of them had a redeeming quality. It had potential - three women from different backgrounds in different stages of their lives join forces and open up a bakery/bookshop/gift shop on the beach. They become friends. They go through life’s struggles together.
Well, I mean I guess they were supposed to. We have Bree, who is a widow with a commitment problem. We have Ashley, who is young and beautiful and wanting marriage - except her boyfriend does not. And we have Mikki, who is divorced and carrying on a romantic relationship with her vibrator Earl. Trust me, I know more about Earl than I ever cared to know - to the point of where I’d even label him as a main character And we have Ashley’s brother, who is supposedly charismatic and God’s gift to women..
To be honest, he comes off as a complete psychopath to me and every scene with him made me cringe. Actually, many of the scenes with these characters made me cringe, if we’re being honest. I have never read so much whiny drivel before in my life. From the woe-is-me, my life is over because I’m about to be forty to the bordering on sexual assault comments from the males in this book, I was just done about seven chapters in. Especially after the “You won’t date me and you won’t sleep with me. Where does that leave me?” How about with a restraining order, my dude?
Now we have the storyline.
Hahaha, what storyline? I absolutely could not even find the storyline after a few chapters amidst all of the sex talk, the cringey sexual comments and Earl. It was as if the author was trying to cram as many stereotypes into the plot as if it were a contest to win tickets to a sold out Taylor Swift concert. Everything about this book was so toxic and stereotypical that I think any chance for a decent plotline was lost before it could even truly happen.
I would like to point out that I do not have an issue with sex or sexually explicit scenes. For gods sakes, I read reverse harem on a regular basis. But it's nice to have a plot somewhere between the sex scenes and sex talk. Somewhere. Anywhere?
Will I attempt to read another book by this author? I honestly don’t know. This wasn’t the best first impression. Especially for a book that I think had amazing potential. To say I was disappointed would be a major understatement.
I’ll admit it, I’m a sucker for books with Bookshop in the title. I’m also a sucker for books that take place in beach areas. So a bookshop on a beach sounded like an amazing concept. And honestly, I think it’s still an amazing concept - it just didn’t prove so in this book.
Now I’ve honestly never read this author that I’m aware of but I’ve heard good things about her. So I was excited to jump into this novel. But let me tell you, when I say that it was a struggle to get into the story, it was a struggle. To the point of where I felt like I was forcing myself to read, therefore making myself miserable.
I guess I hoped that the story would redeem itself in the end? Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
Let’s start with the characters of this story.
Not one of them was likable. Not one of them stood out. Not one of them had a redeeming quality. It had potential - three women from different backgrounds in different stages of their lives join forces and open up a bakery/bookshop/gift shop on the beach. They become friends. They go through life’s struggles together.
Well, I mean I guess they were supposed to. We have Bree, who is a widow with a commitment problem. We have Ashley, who is young and beautiful and wanting marriage - except her boyfriend does not. And we have Mikki, who is divorced and carrying on a romantic relationship with her vibrator Earl. Trust me, I know more about Earl than I ever cared to know - to the point of where I’d even label him as a main character And we have Ashley’s brother, who is supposedly charismatic and God’s gift to women..
To be honest, he comes off as a complete psychopath to me and every scene with him made me cringe. Actually, many of the scenes with these characters made me cringe, if we’re being honest. I have never read so much whiny drivel before in my life. From the woe-is-me, my life is over because I’m about to be forty to the bordering on sexual assault comments from the males in this book, I was just done about seven chapters in. Especially after the “You won’t date me and you won’t sleep with me. Where does that leave me?” How about with a restraining order, my dude?
Now we have the storyline.
Hahaha, what storyline? I absolutely could not even find the storyline after a few chapters amidst all of the sex talk, the cringey sexual comments and Earl. It was as if the author was trying to cram as many stereotypes into the plot as if it were a contest to win tickets to a sold out Taylor Swift concert. Everything about this book was so toxic and stereotypical that I think any chance for a decent plotline was lost before it could even truly happen.
I would like to point out that I do not have an issue with sex or sexually explicit scenes. For gods sakes, I read reverse harem on a regular basis. But it's nice to have a plot somewhere between the sex scenes and sex talk. Somewhere. Anywhere?
Will I attempt to read another book by this author? I honestly don’t know. This wasn’t the best first impression. Especially for a book that I think had amazing potential. To say I was disappointed would be a major understatement.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery is a wonderful story about three friends who all own shops in the same retail space. This story is about the power of friendships and found families.
Bree, Mikki, and Ashley have rented one retail space for their own shops. Bree owns The Boardwalk Bookshop, Mikki owns The Gift Shop and Ashley owns Muffins to the Max. Although they didn’t know each other before they became co-owners of the space, they soon became fast friends, and make sure they spend every Friday afternoon together with a bottle of wine on the beach to go over their week.
Bree is divorced and the child of inattentive parents who cared more about their next book than their own child. Her ex-husband was almost as enamored by her parents as he was with her and eventually cheated on her. But, will Ashley's author brother make her rethink her vow to never date an author? Ashley is in love with her boyfriend and expects a proposal any day now, but when he claims to want to spend the rest of his life with her but doesn’t want to marry her, can she live without the formal commitment of marriage? Mikki is divorced with two children about to leave the nest. She and her ex-husband have stayed on friendly terms as they co-parent their children. She’s happy to put all her energy into her store, but when an unexpected friendship happens with a handsome man, can she finally move on from her marriage?
The Boardwalk Bookshop was a quick book to read. It was easy to follow the three friends and their lives as they changed throughout the book. Their friendship with each other was so beautiful, especially since they hadn’t known each other very long. They are so supportive of each other and their businesses.
The romances were good, and not the entire focus of the book, as it was more about each individual’s personal growth. There is a bit of steam in this book, but nothing too unusual.
I also enjoyed the setting. Owning a bookstore (or gift shop or muffin shop) right on the beach must be a dream come true, and I liked the way the author weaved the location into the story. I thought Bree was the toughest character to like in the beginning, but she really grew on me throughout the book. Mikki was my favorite character and I enjoyed her story the most.
I highly recommend The Boardwalk Bookstore to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Bree, Mikki, and Ashley have rented one retail space for their own shops. Bree owns The Boardwalk Bookshop, Mikki owns The Gift Shop and Ashley owns Muffins to the Max. Although they didn’t know each other before they became co-owners of the space, they soon became fast friends, and make sure they spend every Friday afternoon together with a bottle of wine on the beach to go over their week.
Bree is divorced and the child of inattentive parents who cared more about their next book than their own child. Her ex-husband was almost as enamored by her parents as he was with her and eventually cheated on her. But, will Ashley's author brother make her rethink her vow to never date an author? Ashley is in love with her boyfriend and expects a proposal any day now, but when he claims to want to spend the rest of his life with her but doesn’t want to marry her, can she live without the formal commitment of marriage? Mikki is divorced with two children about to leave the nest. She and her ex-husband have stayed on friendly terms as they co-parent their children. She’s happy to put all her energy into her store, but when an unexpected friendship happens with a handsome man, can she finally move on from her marriage?
The Boardwalk Bookshop was a quick book to read. It was easy to follow the three friends and their lives as they changed throughout the book. Their friendship with each other was so beautiful, especially since they hadn’t known each other very long. They are so supportive of each other and their businesses.
The romances were good, and not the entire focus of the book, as it was more about each individual’s personal growth. There is a bit of steam in this book, but nothing too unusual.
I also enjoyed the setting. Owning a bookstore (or gift shop or muffin shop) right on the beach must be a dream come true, and I liked the way the author weaved the location into the story. I thought Bree was the toughest character to like in the beginning, but she really grew on me throughout the book. Mikki was my favorite character and I enjoyed her story the most.
I highly recommend The Boardwalk Bookstore to anyone who enjoys Women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5 All in all, I was happy with the way everything ended up, but I was just missing something. For as long as the book was, I didn’t feel like had the chance to get deeply invested in any of the relationships. Things jumped around quite a bit, and occasionally it came abruptly when I wanted to stay with the character that was previously being focused on. I would have happily read a series with each main character getting her own book, so the stories are definitely there. I just wanted more time with them individually.
A great summer read and the compelling story of a female friendship. Three women in different phases of their life, a lovely setting, interesting professional life.
Susan Mallery can surely write stories that keeps me turning pages and this one was no exception.
A bit slow at time but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Susan Mallery can surely write stories that keeps me turning pages and this one was no exception.
A bit slow at time but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Audio book. Thought I would try this author. It was a 2 1/2 for me. I have to say I pretty much could not stand the story line and the main characters all bugged me a little. I don't think I will be reading (or listening) to Mallery again.