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laurajrogers's review against another edition
the writer's snarky, condescending, and mean-spirited attitude (especially towards his customers) got boring really fast
Content Warnings
Moderate: Deadnaming and Transphobia
lisatz's review
slow-paced
1.0
Naja. Anfangs ganz interessant, aber da es tatsächlich wie ein Tagebuch geschrieben ist, ist es dann doch nicht so abwechslungsreich. Bythell ist ein egozentrischer Buchladenbesitzer, der nie etwas falsch machen kann. Seine Aussagen zu Windrädern waren schockierend und unreflektiert, genauso wie er sich lange darüber ausgelassen hat als eine Trans Person in seinem Laden eingekauft hat und er nie weiß welche Pronomen er benutzen soll etc. Er erzählt außerdem, wie er eine seiner Angestellten zum Abschied umarmt und freut sich sehr darüber, dass ihr das sichtlich unangenehm ist. Bah!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Transphobia, and Deadnaming
poemsandponds's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.75
I really enjoyed this book. It was such a "cuddle up on a rainy day with a blanket and a cup of tea" type of book. I truly felt relaxed while reading about this little bookshop in this tiny Scottish town with its revolving door of eccentric characters. It honestly felt like Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls but make it Scottish.
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
imrereads's review against another edition
The last straw was the transphobia. I also didn't find it funny and frankly snobish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
amberinbookland's review
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Transphobia, and Ableism
jaedyn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
The audiobook became like a companion
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
The book describes one person who visits the shop as a he/she. Although the author says that this is how they describe themselves, the disclaimer that he calls them he/she because the author doesn’t know the birth sex of the person is transphobicsheonlywantsmybooks's review against another edition
I bought this book and started reading before seeing comments that apparently Bythell has taken it upon himself to reply to reviewers' discussions of his partner's book. As has been discussed at length on book Twitter, reviews are for readers, not for authors to overstep a line, especially to "protect" or "defend" themselves or their partner. I was prepared to continue reading the book at that point, though, albeit with a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. It sounds like it'll be funny and could include some helpful and interesting information about the book industry. However, when you get to a section of the book where he consistently refers to a transgender customer as a "he/she"...I'm drawing the line there and DNF-ing at a measly 35 pages. My copy will be re-donated to the charity shop I bought it from.
Content Warnings
Minor: Transphobia
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