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capellacutiexoxo's review against another edition
2.0
When I purchased The Bookstore, I read the reviews and I tried to get a feel for what the book was about.. I don't know why I got the impression it was going to be about "The Bookstore" and it's employees, their lives, etc.
After reading it I am left with a few thoughts. Firstly, I have it 3 stars because the story line was good. It kept me really interested in seeing what happened. The character development was a little lack luster.. What are Esme's parents like? What's that relationship? I wanted to know more about George, Luke, Dennis, Etc. It just seemed like there was no development of any characters and really not a lot of development of Esme. She's basically a English girl who gets pregnant and than throws herself repeatedly at the Father after being reject and toyed with over and over.
In the end I was left with more questions than answers and this being a standalone book it left me very aggravated.. Does she end up with Luke? There was clearly something building there. What happens with Mitchell & The baby and the lawyers? Does Josie ever get her Fathers ashes? What the heck was wrong with George near the end there when he starts to act strangely.. I don't know..
3 stars because I finished it.
After reading it I am left with a few thoughts. Firstly, I have it 3 stars because the story line was good. It kept me really interested in seeing what happened. The character development was a little lack luster.. What are Esme's parents like? What's that relationship? I wanted to know more about George, Luke, Dennis, Etc. It just seemed like there was no development of any characters and really not a lot of development of Esme. She's basically a English girl who gets pregnant and than throws herself repeatedly at the Father after being reject and toyed with over and over.
In the end I was left with more questions than answers and this being a standalone book it left me very aggravated.. Does she end up with Luke? There was clearly something building there. What happens with Mitchell & The baby and the lawyers? Does Josie ever get her Fathers ashes? What the heck was wrong with George near the end there when he starts to act strangely.. I don't know..
3 stars because I finished it.
jventer's review against another edition
2.0
It was an okay story. The writing got lost in the weeds of overanalyzing some unimportant details. The main issue I had was with the one-note feeling I got from many of the characters. None of them felt fully fleshed out. Mitchell's character in particular felt very stock and one-dimensional. A story that could have been interesting, but came up short.
ardiag's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very good, I look forward to her next book. I became very involved with the characters to the point of yelling at Esme, the main character, "run away!!! Mitchell is a jerk!!!" I love reading books that draw me into them. I appreciated the fact that the author didn't go for the expected easy ending, real life is never that easy..
ciiku's review against another edition
2.0
Outside of the fact that this book is set in a bookstore it has no redeeming qualities. Also sprinkle in a little fat shaming and this book just frustrates.
melinda's review against another edition
4.0
Esme Garland is a young expatriate from Britain studying Art in New York City. She’s pursuing her dream in a city she loves, has an adorable apartment and a used Bookstore with quirky workers that she visits often. Esme also has a boyfriend, Mitchell, she loves who has “old money” and doesn’t always say the nicest things. He dumps her right before she can tell him that she’s pregnant and from there she is completely unsure what to do.
Esme is quirky and witty and I loved this character from the beginning. Her observations on things throughout the book from the city to the people she meets were amusingly spot on with her outsider’s view on everything. I wanted to slap Mitchell on at least 15 different occasions, but I could also picture him vividly as a real person.
However, the best part of this book is The Bookstore. The Owl is full of fun characters, both entertaining and touching at different turns. The various people at the store are the heart of this novel, which feels like the point of it to me. From the nurturing store owner to the homeless guy everyone cares about and the patrons that come and go, these are where Esme gets the friends and caring that everyone needs in any situation.
I love books about books or books with bookstores as a characters. As a debut novel, or as whatever number of novel, this was a great book and I recommend it to anyone who loves books.
I received this ARC from Netgally in return for an honest review.
Esme is quirky and witty and I loved this character from the beginning. Her observations on things throughout the book from the city to the people she meets were amusingly spot on with her outsider’s view on everything. I wanted to slap Mitchell on at least 15 different occasions, but I could also picture him vividly as a real person.
However, the best part of this book is The Bookstore. The Owl is full of fun characters, both entertaining and touching at different turns. The various people at the store are the heart of this novel, which feels like the point of it to me. From the nurturing store owner to the homeless guy everyone cares about and the patrons that come and go, these are where Esme gets the friends and caring that everyone needs in any situation.
I love books about books or books with bookstores as a characters. As a debut novel, or as whatever number of novel, this was a great book and I recommend it to anyone who loves books.
I received this ARC from Netgally in return for an honest review.
carol_kennicott's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
3.5 stars
I tried not to set my expectations too high for this book. With a title like "The Bookstore," I really wanted to love it. The good news is that at times I did. A lot. At other times I was scratching my head.
See my full review at vscherbartquist.blogspot.com.
3.5 stars
I tried not to set my expectations too high for this book. With a title like "The Bookstore," I really wanted to love it. The good news is that at times I did. A lot. At other times I was scratching my head.
See my full review at vscherbartquist.blogspot.com.
miajmu's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the first half of this book and I even mostly liked the secondary characters, but Esme was such an idiot and made such stupid choices that I kinda hated her. Perhaps if this book was just about The Bookstore and Esme was just one of the characters involved it would have been better.
flogigyahoo's review against another edition
4.0
This is a love song to books and New York. Esme Gardner, comes to NY from England to do her PhD in art history. The book opens when she realizes she is pregnant and the father is rich, spoiled, Mitchell who doesn't want the baby. To make ends meet Esme works at a used book store which apparently caters to eccentrics. Esme discusses love, books, art, photography and music. She also has opinions about circumcision, marriage, breast feeding among other topics. This is not the usual chick lit although some might class it so. I could not put it down. Does she stay with Mitchell? Does Mitchell want the baby? Does she get her PhD? This one is fun, especially her descriptions of NY.
ritab80's review against another edition
2.0
I liked parts of this book, but overall, I was annoyed by the main character. She was completely clueless throughout the entire book. I almost gave up 3/4 of the way through, but decided to finish it with the hope she would wake up. No such luck!