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sarah984's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
This was a quick read with a breezy, conversational style I liked, and the setting and most of the characters are pretty charming.
The plot and the main character were just really, really bad. The protagonist, Maggie, hates classics and makes no effort to learn about or sell them and then is disappointed when no one buys them. She has a little bet with her boyfriend where she reads a book he recommends and he does an activity she chooses, and while he at least tries everything she doesn't take her part seriously at all and doesn't even read one of the books. She lies constantly, including in a cover letter for a job she applied for (about her availability!!! Girl if they hire you that's the one thing they need to be true!), things that affect the livelihoods of people she claims to care about (including stealing something from her boyfriend), falsifies her sales reports at workand breaks into her boss's office to blackmail him about his grandfather. No one stays mad at her for long about this, which is absurd.
No idea how the "society" that runs the businesses in town was supposed to work, since it seemed like one guy just calling random shots and not a board or anything. No place in the history of the world would operate like this.
Also this is more pedantic but the author apparently majored in English and this bugged me: the bookstore didn't carry any books published after 1968 for Reasons (for a guy who wanted to make money the boss was really into making it hard to sell anything) and another character (who likes classics) implies that the only books by Black authors that it's possible for them to carry are slave narratives. I can buy Maggie not knowing about the Harlem Renaissance because she's stupid but Malcolm? Come on.
The plot and the main character were just really, really bad. The protagonist, Maggie, hates classics and makes no effort to learn about or sell them and then is disappointed when no one buys them. She has a little bet with her boyfriend where she reads a book he recommends and he does an activity she chooses, and while he at least tries everything she doesn't take her part seriously at all and doesn't even read one of the books. She lies constantly, including in a cover letter for a job she applied for (about her availability!!! Girl if they hire you that's the one thing they need to be true!), things that affect the livelihoods of people she claims to care about (including stealing something from her boyfriend), falsifies her sales reports at work
No idea how the "society" that runs the businesses in town was supposed to work, since it seemed like one guy just calling random shots and not a board or anything. No place in the history of the world would operate like this.
Also this is more pedantic but the author apparently majored in English and this bugged me: the bookstore didn't carry any books published after 1968 for Reasons (for a guy who wanted to make money the boss was really into making it hard to sell anything) and another character (who likes classics) implies that the only books by Black authors that it's possible for them to carry are slave narratives. I can buy Maggie not knowing about the Harlem Renaissance because she's stupid but Malcolm? Come on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Alcohol
amberinpieces's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Racism, Sexism, Cursing, Pregnancy, and Sexual content
onegalonelife27's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Racism, Sexism, and Misogyny
bzliz's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This was the cutest book I’ve read in a while. It’s sweet without being saccharine and has just the right amount of gentle twists. It’s proof that sincere romcoms need to make a comeback because this would be a perfect movie.
Maggie has always struggled to find her place in the world and is taking a break from disappointing her parents to help her friend Rochelle with her bookshop while she’s on maternity leave. The town of Bell River charms Maggie right away but that takes a turn when she sees how behind the times the bookshop is. She butts heads with Ralph Bell- the busybody micromanager who makes sure all his investments in the town in the name of his grandfather (author Edward Bell) stay under his thumb and revolve around the Bell Society- but Maggie managed to build a community but hosting a secret book club where authors put a modern twist on the classics. This also gives her the chance to secretly sell modern books (a fiendish practice explicitly banned by Ralph, who only wants the shop to sell classics and books by Edward Bell). All of this must also remain hidden from Ralph’s little spy, Malcolm, who keeps an eye on Maggie and the bookshop per his boss’s directions and harbors a secret love of sci-fi books. And of course, he’s cute.
The characters were all fun, though I think a few too many were named when they played little to no part in the plot. I love the relationship Maggie fosters with all the people in the town. She has a gift for bringing fun sprinkled with chaos wherever she goes and is full of excellent ideas for community events. She can win over anyone, even the local curmudgeon. My only disappointment was that we didn’t get to see more of her friendship with Rochelle.
Additionally, I appreciate the resolution of the book. It’s so easy to make a cartoonish villain out of someone like Ralph but the author humanized him in a very realistic way.
Shauna Robinson gave me faith in TikTok recommendations again. As soon as I finished this book, I immediately borrowed Must Love Books and I’m looking forward to her new book next year.
Content warnings:
Alcohol:Lots of drinking throughout, not important to the plot.
Infidelity:Edward Bell cheated on his wife. This is denied by Ralph and the Bell Society who basically gaslight everyone into believing the man was perfect. The evidence of this affair becomes important to the plot and is not there just for shock value.
Sexual content:pretty glossed over, not explicit at all. Easy to skip if you’re not interested.
Sexism: (big spoiler for the end of the book)Ralph tries to gaslight everyone into thinking Edward Bell was perfect when in reality he cheated on his wife with her cousin, Louise, then tried to forbid Louise from getting married despite being married himself, and then he plagiarized her manuscript and basically threatened her to stay quiet or he’s tell his wife about their affair. Ralph semi-attempts this in the present day but Maggie comes out on top.
Maggie has always struggled to find her place in the world and is taking a break from disappointing her parents to help her friend Rochelle with her bookshop while she’s on maternity leave. The town of Bell River charms Maggie right away but that takes a turn when she sees how behind the times the bookshop is. She butts heads with Ralph Bell- the busybody micromanager who makes sure all his investments in the town in the name of his grandfather (author Edward Bell) stay under his thumb and revolve around the Bell Society- but Maggie managed to build a community but hosting a secret book club where authors put a modern twist on the classics. This also gives her the chance to secretly sell modern books (a fiendish practice explicitly banned by Ralph, who only wants the shop to sell classics and books by Edward Bell). All of this must also remain hidden from Ralph’s little spy, Malcolm, who keeps an eye on Maggie and the bookshop per his boss’s directions and harbors a secret love of sci-fi books. And of course, he’s cute.
The characters were all fun, though I think a few too many were named when they played little to no part in the plot. I love the relationship Maggie fosters with all the people in the town. She has a gift for bringing fun sprinkled with chaos wherever she goes and is full of excellent ideas for community events. She can win over anyone, even the local curmudgeon. My only disappointment was that we didn’t get to see more of her friendship with Rochelle.
Additionally, I appreciate the resolution of the book. It’s so easy to make a cartoonish villain out of someone like Ralph but the author humanized him in a very realistic way.
Shauna Robinson gave me faith in TikTok recommendations again. As soon as I finished this book, I immediately borrowed Must Love Books and I’m looking forward to her new book next year.
Content warnings:
Alcohol:
Infidelity:
Sexual content:
Sexism: (big spoiler for the end of the book)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Infidelity, and Sexism
chaotically_katie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The vibes of this book are unparalleled. I, too, hate both the Red Wheelbarrow poem and The Heart of Darkness. It’s good to get validation from the fictional characters I’ve come to adore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol
Minor: Infidelity, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Racism, Sexism, and Slavery
greatexpectations77's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I had a lot of fun with this book, and I love that Ms. Robinson is a local author. The writing was solid and the storytelling was extremely fun. It really made me want to help out my local independent bookstore. I'll definitely read this author again when I'm looking for something cozy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Alcohol, and Infidelity
Minor: Misogyny and Slavery
bexi's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Alcohol
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
nukie19's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
lealovesbooks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol
michaelion's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.5
So cute! So sweet! So lovely!!! What a perfect read to end my year! The first year I'm back to reading as regularly as I used to when I was a kid, before reading was made un-fun. (A black girl discovering her love of books? A black girl trying to figure out what to do with her life? A black girl who says she only read a book if she already watched and liked the movie it was based on? As a cinema major, MOOD!) It has a cheesy sweet Hallmark / Netflix Christmas / romance movie feel, so it's very fun, and all the tropes are so well done! I have no complaints! I wanna buy it and pre-order any and all following books by Shauna Robinson! What a treat!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Alcohol
Minor: Racism