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labyrinth_witch's review against another edition
5.0
This Book was wonderfully written. If you are an ardent book lover, reader, and regular at a bookstore this beautiful woven narrative with captivate you- as she write it for us. Her imagery is carefully done to pay attention to the thinks books lovers adore- the smell of the pages, the look of the shop, the people in the shop, the editions, the inscriptions, etc. But beyond that, the story itself had a grip on my heart. It made me gigggle, it made me cry, and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I had read it clear through. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
apasc's review against another edition
3.0
Very hard to rate because there were aspects that I loved and aspects that I hated. I gave it 3 because I did want to keep picking it up.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
So conflicted in this one. There are parts that I really loved: anything that took place in the bookstore, the parts where Luke tries to explain music to Esme, her description of a snowstorm in New York. But there were so many things I disliked: some characters are so unpleasant and Esme's behavior regarding them is frustrating (sadly believable but still frustrating!)
I am undecided about how I feel about how the book concluded and I think I'm coming around to liking the end. I'm left wondering what happens next.
Generally, the writing is pretty good, the plot is ok but a little frustrating and overall the whole book has a tinge of sadness that I was not expecting.
I am undecided about how I feel about how the book concluded and I think I'm coming around to liking the end. I'm left wondering what happens next.
Generally, the writing is pretty good, the plot is ok but a little frustrating and overall the whole book has a tinge of sadness that I was not expecting.
mrsdragon's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the book. The writing, the story, the characters--okay, MOST of the characters. There was one major disconnect for me though. The entire books revolves around Esme's conviction of her love for Mitchell but I was not convinced. And maybe that's part of the point. She knows he is bad news. She admits that if this was someone else's story, she would want the heroine to run away. But she clings to a misguided notion of love. I'm not entirely sure what she is mistaking for love. Desire based on Mitchell's hot and cold nature? Watching their relationship is watching a primer on abuse.
I still found it a compelling read, and there were some beautiful turns of phrase you could get lost in.
I still found it a compelling read, and there were some beautiful turns of phrase you could get lost in.
dcmr's review against another edition
2.0
Entertaining and easy. Suspension of disbelief is required.
kthomas4415's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It kind of secured in my mind exactly what New York life is like. Crazy chaotic, impersonal and a bunch of people who don't fit in always trying to get one up on the other. Wish she would have named the baby Josie.
I actually really enjoyed this book. It kind of secured in my mind exactly what New York life is like. Crazy chaotic, impersonal and a bunch of people who don't fit in always trying to get one up on the other. Wish she would have named the baby Josie.
teresa_b's review against another edition
3.0
I was going to give this book 2 stars, but then decided on three, because there were things about it that I did like. The descriptions of various places around NYC were vivid, and it made me feel like I was there. The British references were fun, and I found myself caring about many of the characters. What frustrates me about this story is Esme's horrible boyfriend, and her decisions concerning him. I wanted so much better for her, and wished that she wanted better for herself as well. If this book is ever made into a Hallmark movie, the actor who plays Mitchell had better think long and hard about taking the part. Think Jack Gleeson (Joffrey Baratheon) in HBO's Game of Thrones...
All of this being said, should Ms Meyler write a sequel, I will give it a try. I am curious to know what happens next. It would also be interesting to understand better why Mitchell made the decisions he made. How does a person become like that?
All of this being said, should Ms Meyler write a sequel, I will give it a try. I am curious to know what happens next. It would also be interesting to understand better why Mitchell made the decisions he made. How does a person become like that?
veronicag's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Vomit
roniquereads's review against another edition
4.0
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This is going to seem odd, but the reason I liked this book was because I hated Mitchell van Leuven. Nope. Not going to sugar coat that. I did not like his character at all. In my mind while reading this story, Mitchell embodied every notion or idea I have about a person who has been given everything in his life but still believes he has nothing. He is a modern day Holden Caulfield. To complain about everything and everyone, yet do nothing about it to make it right while having every resource to do so is wasteful. I can't stand that mentality and therefore I could not stand him.
And I know it sounds off, to like a book because you hate a character. This book luckily is not about Mitchell however. It's centered around Esme Garland who is a British transfer student, studying Art in New York. I relate to her character because she is enamored by the world around her. She pays attention to the City, to the people and the effect she has on both. She remains quite simple and down to Earth, given the events that happen to her during this novel, and never loses her sense of self.
I liked Esme as a character as much as I disliked Mitchell. I think that's what made this story work for me. I really wanted Esme to write Mitchell off or tell him how selfish and ridiculous he was being but she never gave him the satisfaction of being down right angry at him. She just kind of let him continue his crazy elsewhere while dealing with the results of knowing him.
Esme finds solace in The Owl, a second hand bookstore at which she eventually finds a part-time job after learning she is pregnant. While Mitchell pretty much deserts her right before she is about to tell her the news, the employees and patrons of The Owl take her in and act as a second family to her during her pregnancy.
As much as this title angered me due to the blatant refusal of Mitchell and his family to take responsiblity for his actions, I loved the story between Esme and the city of New York and the patrons/workers of The Owl.
This is going to seem odd, but the reason I liked this book was because I hated Mitchell van Leuven. Nope. Not going to sugar coat that. I did not like his character at all. In my mind while reading this story, Mitchell embodied every notion or idea I have about a person who has been given everything in his life but still believes he has nothing. He is a modern day Holden Caulfield. To complain about everything and everyone, yet do nothing about it to make it right while having every resource to do so is wasteful. I can't stand that mentality and therefore I could not stand him.
And I know it sounds off, to like a book because you hate a character. This book luckily is not about Mitchell however. It's centered around Esme Garland who is a British transfer student, studying Art in New York. I relate to her character because she is enamored by the world around her. She pays attention to the City, to the people and the effect she has on both. She remains quite simple and down to Earth, given the events that happen to her during this novel, and never loses her sense of self.
I liked Esme as a character as much as I disliked Mitchell. I think that's what made this story work for me. I really wanted Esme to write Mitchell off or tell him how selfish and ridiculous he was being but she never gave him the satisfaction of being down right angry at him. She just kind of let him continue his crazy elsewhere while dealing with the results of knowing him.
Esme finds solace in The Owl, a second hand bookstore at which she eventually finds a part-time job after learning she is pregnant. While Mitchell pretty much deserts her right before she is about to tell her the news, the employees and patrons of The Owl take her in and act as a second family to her during her pregnancy.
As much as this title angered me due to the blatant refusal of Mitchell and his family to take responsiblity for his actions, I loved the story between Esme and the city of New York and the patrons/workers of The Owl.
nicolebonia's review against another edition
I went into The Bookstore expecting to really enjoy it. Sadly I didn’t as much as I had hoped, but I was invested enough to read until the end to find out what happened to Esme and her pregnancy.
A lot of this novel unfolds in conversations, and I didn’t find very many of them to be convincing, or particularly interesting. Part of the problem is that about half take place in the bookstore, The Owl (I guess to be expected in a novel so titled). I learned some things about all of them, but I didn’t get a chance to know anyone beyond superficial interactions. There wasn’t much depth.
Esme’s relationship with Mitchell was also problematic. He shows repeatedly that he doesn’t seem to be that much in love, and was such an ass to the point that it seems as if Meyler is hinting at mental illness or some sort of deficiency. Their relationship and the depth of Esme’s feelings for him never made sense. Esme seemed to like him well enough in the beginning, but was also much more concerned about school, and the new life she was building in New York. In many respects her behavior did make sense for a woman in love, and in a toxic relationship. I just didn’t see the love, so it was very hard to understand why she went through the things she did.
It wasn’t all loss. I did enjoy the descriptions of the bookstore and some of the patrons, Esme’s work on her graduate degree, and the discussions of authors, artists, novels, and the literary life in general. My finishing The Bookstore was driven by trying to see what perspective Esme gains around choices concerning her pregnancy and relationship, but unfortunately the novel’s conclusion was unsatisfying. It ended rather abruptly – with few indications of where Esme will go next, or how much of her past has been resolved. Less ambiguity by the end would have gone a long way in shaping how I felt by the novel’s end. As it stands, I was more disappointed than not.
A lot of this novel unfolds in conversations, and I didn’t find very many of them to be convincing, or particularly interesting. Part of the problem is that about half take place in the bookstore, The Owl (I guess to be expected in a novel so titled). I learned some things about all of them, but I didn’t get a chance to know anyone beyond superficial interactions. There wasn’t much depth.
Esme’s relationship with Mitchell was also problematic. He shows repeatedly that he doesn’t seem to be that much in love, and was such an ass to the point that it seems as if Meyler is hinting at mental illness or some sort of deficiency. Their relationship and the depth of Esme’s feelings for him never made sense. Esme seemed to like him well enough in the beginning, but was also much more concerned about school, and the new life she was building in New York. In many respects her behavior did make sense for a woman in love, and in a toxic relationship. I just didn’t see the love, so it was very hard to understand why she went through the things she did.
It wasn’t all loss. I did enjoy the descriptions of the bookstore and some of the patrons, Esme’s work on her graduate degree, and the discussions of authors, artists, novels, and the literary life in general. My finishing The Bookstore was driven by trying to see what perspective Esme gains around choices concerning her pregnancy and relationship, but unfortunately the novel’s conclusion was unsatisfying. It ended rather abruptly – with few indications of where Esme will go next, or how much of her past has been resolved. Less ambiguity by the end would have gone a long way in shaping how I felt by the novel’s end. As it stands, I was more disappointed than not.