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mimi503's review against another edition
3.0
I liked all of the scenes in the bookstore ("The Owl"), but the rest of this book was disappointing. The main character, Esme, was whiny and had no backbone, so she was hard to like. Plus, the ending was very abrupt and I didn't like how so much was left unresolved.
jaimereadsromance's review against another edition
3.0
This book just wasn't my cup of tea.
It wasn't poorly written or badly edited, it was a decent book that just didn't fit my taste.
It probably says more about me that I feel it was too "intellectual" for me. It was hard to follow along with at times because I frankly had no idea who or what she was talking about when it came to a lot of the art and literature.
I kept waiting for something dramatic or life-changing to happen but this just wasn't one of those kind of books. It would be a good read for someone who is interested in art and knows more about the subject or someone who isn't always looking for a HEA. Not to say that Esme wasn't happy at the end of the book or that you couldn't anticipate that she would have her love story after all but really the book just sort of ended.
I liked the characters enough, mostly Luke, but I never really felt connected to them.
I wouldn't advise anyone to NOT read this book but I think that the audience for this is sort of narrow. If your looking for a nice, simple read and consider yourself an intellect then by all means this one's for you.
**Received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
It wasn't poorly written or badly edited, it was a decent book that just didn't fit my taste.
It probably says more about me that I feel it was too "intellectual" for me. It was hard to follow along with at times because I frankly had no idea who or what she was talking about when it came to a lot of the art and literature.
I kept waiting for something dramatic or life-changing to happen but this just wasn't one of those kind of books. It would be a good read for someone who is interested in art and knows more about the subject or someone who isn't always looking for a HEA. Not to say that Esme wasn't happy at the end of the book or that you couldn't anticipate that she would have her love story after all but really the book just sort of ended.
I liked the characters enough, mostly Luke, but I never really felt connected to them.
I wouldn't advise anyone to NOT read this book but I think that the audience for this is sort of narrow. If your looking for a nice, simple read and consider yourself an intellect then by all means this one's for you.
**Received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
lostinagoodread's review against another edition
1.0
This review and others can be found on Cozy Up With A Good Read
So this book obviously appealed to me because of the cover and the title, something about a book that revolves around a bookstore will always have me wanting to read it. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the used bookstore and the characters that are entwined with the bookstore, it was adorable and is definitely a place I would love to have around here, but for me that was the most enjoyable thing about this story.
My main problem with the story was the characters, I could not get behind any of their decisions or the way they acted. Although Esme's character grows up by the end of the novel and really starts having a different view on life, but I just could not get behind any of her decisions through the story that got her where she ends up. I found Esme to be too naive about things and that she never really stood up for herself. Mitchell's character was just a complete jerk the entire time and I hated that Esme would fall for his sweet talk all the time.
The characters that I did really love, like Esme's neighbour and George, the owner of the bookstore, were barely in the novel. Esme's neighbour is the type of person that tells it like it is, she would be there to help Esme with anything and yet she should have been in the story more. She was the voice of reason for Esme and she needed to be there for Esme to talk through more things with.
I also went into this book thinking that the bookstore itself would be more than what it was. Yes, it's the place that Esme really finds herself and begins a new life there. I will say that all the characters associated with the bookstore actually kind of made me interested in reading more just because they were so unique and it was like a special family.
The story itself also felt like it dragged on for too long and the conclusion left me wanting a little more from Esme. I really needed more from the characters to have been able to really enjoy the story. Sadly, this book did not end up being one for me.
So this book obviously appealed to me because of the cover and the title, something about a book that revolves around a bookstore will always have me wanting to read it. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the used bookstore and the characters that are entwined with the bookstore, it was adorable and is definitely a place I would love to have around here, but for me that was the most enjoyable thing about this story.
My main problem with the story was the characters, I could not get behind any of their decisions or the way they acted. Although Esme's character grows up by the end of the novel and really starts having a different view on life, but I just could not get behind any of her decisions through the story that got her where she ends up. I found Esme to be too naive about things and that she never really stood up for herself. Mitchell's character was just a complete jerk the entire time and I hated that Esme would fall for his sweet talk all the time.
The characters that I did really love, like Esme's neighbour and George, the owner of the bookstore, were barely in the novel. Esme's neighbour is the type of person that tells it like it is, she would be there to help Esme with anything and yet she should have been in the story more. She was the voice of reason for Esme and she needed to be there for Esme to talk through more things with.
I also went into this book thinking that the bookstore itself would be more than what it was. Yes, it's the place that Esme really finds herself and begins a new life there. I will say that all the characters associated with the bookstore actually kind of made me interested in reading more just because they were so unique and it was like a special family.
The story itself also felt like it dragged on for too long and the conclusion left me wanting a little more from Esme. I really needed more from the characters to have been able to really enjoy the story. Sadly, this book did not end up being one for me.
lobo1tomia's review against another edition
2.0
Végülis az utolsó oldalakig reménykedtem, hogy ebből valami jó is kisülhet még, de ez nem történt meg. Lehet, korábban abba kellett volna hagyni az olvasását, de nyáron a melegben kicsit lassabban kapcsoltam (igen, ez a kifogásom és ragaszkodom hozzá). Úgyhogy a klassz koncepció mögött valamit nagyon, nagyon elcsesztek.
Részletek: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2014/05/14/deborah-meyler-bookstore/
Részletek: http://olvasonaplo.net/olvasonaplo/2014/05/14/deborah-meyler-bookstore/
laheath's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book but was disappointed. There is some great writing and memorable quotes, but Esme, the main character, seemed so weak. Given that she has left her home in England to study at Columbia, I really expected her to be stronger in most situations. She finds herself pregnant by a man she continues to chase despite his clear lack of interest in her. She ends up getting a job at a bookstore, where she meets some interesting people. Their relationships seem to be developing but never really get any deeper. The story seems to be going somewhere and then it just ends! It seems like their stories aren't finished, but I don't know that I'm interested in reading a sequel.
readbydusk's review against another edition
1.0
I was under the impression that I would be reading a book about a bookstore, not about a dumb protagonist - a PhD student at Colombia! - pining over her asshole boyfriend who can't decide what he wants in life. And honestly what was that ending? How is she going to support herself and the baby? Why hasn't she been deported yet? What is the point of Luke? Half star for the brief scenes at The Owl and half star for some vivid description of NYC.
brianajae's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know what it was about this book but I was just constantly waiting for it to be over. Not that I didn't like the writing or the characters...it just didn't grab me quite enough.
jadelibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
1.5 stars. I did not finish this book. I was so disgusted by the actions of its protagonist that I literally slammed it shut. If it wasn't a library book or 1:30am, I'd probably have thrown it at the wall.
I chose this book because it was on a list of books set in bookstores, and I happened to like some of the books on the list. Yup, not a good enough reason. When I first started reading it, I didn't particularly like the writing style. I thought it was too wordy, pretentious even, without really saying or describing much. But it had a couple of episodes that I thought were interesting enough so that I kept on reading. I thought it would finally get to the good part once she got a job at the bookstore (and it certainly showed some promise), but when she ran into her ex again, I just had it. No point in wasting more time on this book -- so many other books to read on my nightstand.
Once I decided to stop reading it, I read the other reviews on here, and I pretty much agreed with the negative ones, and I'm really glad I decided to stop reading it. Funnily enough, I tweeted about how I slammed this book in disgust, and someone asked if I was reading Fifty Shades. I haven't read that book (and unlikely to do so) but, without her knowing any details about the book other than the protagonist took the boyfriend back, she's actually right. From what I know about 50, there are a lot of similarities -- young woman, older rich guy, abusive relationship. But this one doesn't have the (badly written, I hear) sex. No, thanks. Next!
Give me a book about the bookstore instead!
I chose this book because it was on a list of books set in bookstores, and I happened to like some of the books on the list. Yup, not a good enough reason. When I first started reading it, I didn't particularly like the writing style. I thought it was too wordy, pretentious even, without really saying or describing much. But it had a couple of episodes that I thought were interesting enough so that I kept on reading. I thought it would finally get to the good part once she got a job at the bookstore (and it certainly showed some promise), but when she ran into her ex again, I just had it. No point in wasting more time on this book -- so many other books to read on my nightstand.
Once I decided to stop reading it, I read the other reviews on here, and I pretty much agreed with the negative ones, and I'm really glad I decided to stop reading it. Funnily enough, I tweeted about how I slammed this book in disgust, and someone asked if I was reading Fifty Shades. I haven't read that book (and unlikely to do so) but, without her knowing any details about the book other than the protagonist took the boyfriend back, she's actually right. From what I know about 50, there are a lot of similarities -- young woman, older rich guy, abusive relationship. But this one doesn't have the (badly written, I hear) sex. No, thanks. Next!
Give me a book about the bookstore instead!
hayley_bopp's review against another edition
3.0
Although it was chick-lit, it wasn't completely vacuous. I thought the characterisation of Mitchell was good - I hated him - but would've liked to have got to know more about his past and his link with the girl (whose name I've forgotten) who I assume is an ex. But maybe that was the point - that he was so closed off and absorbed with himself.