Reviews - Not Quite by the Book

500 reviews for:

Not Quite by the Book

Julie Hatcher

3.43 AVERAGE

misssurrah's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Charming, if somewhat predictable story.

dmsullivan's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I should’ve taken inventory of my life sooner. Instead, I’d been running full speed in the same direction since college without questioning why.

I thought of Emily and her appreciation for nature and all its wonder. She’d written that nature never knocks, but also never intrudes. And I thought of it often in the fall.

She believed beauty wasn’t made. It simply was.

**

I really enjoyed this month's Kindle First pick (February 2025). We follow our main character Emma who runs her family's bookstore and has given up on love -- she's too busy with her job. When her parents tell her they're leaving her the shop, she decides to take a bit of a break to visit the nearby town where her idol, Emily Dickinson, lived. Her goal is to channel her inner Emily and most importantly, give up on love. Of course, who should she run into but the attractive handyman who isn't pleased she's staying at his family's manor -- at least to start.

Overall, this was a good read with a "You've got mail" vibe, some introspectiveness of the main character, and a happily ever after.

Some stray thoughts:

--Davis lies to Emma about some big aspects -- TWICE in a 6 week period. I know we want him and Emma to have the happy ever after, but come on.

--I'm sorry, Emma's family is the WORST. Her parents ran the bookstore for how many years? They know how much work goes into it. And they never once questioned if she needed help? And her sister was insanely immature -- I don't care if you're pregnant, you just can't cold shoulder someone and expect them to read your mind.

--Emma, you gave cooking your best shot. It's not for you.

--I liked the Emily Dickinson quotes throughout.

--A good book to read while traveling.

tricialogan_11's review against another edition

4.25

funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

megankleinkort's review

4.5

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

beezypeazy's review

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-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

northerly_heart_reads's review

3.25

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

okiecozyreader's review against another edition

3.0

lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Unique from many bookish books, this one is about a main character (Emma) who doesn’t love working in a bookstore. Her family has owned one, and as her parents retired (basically) and her sister got married and is moving on, Emma feels dumped on by her family. She decides to go on a long break to Amherst to re-discover her inner Emmitt Dickenson.

“Emily Dickinson had never married or had children, and she’d been brilliant. She’d found peace and beauty all around her. Why couldn’t I do the same?” Ch 1

“Emily spent her time observing and contemplating things I regularly buzzed past without noticing.” Ch 11

I enjoyed a lot of the Emily Dickenson references and information in this book - the museum, quotes:

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.” Ch 1

And facts:

“Folks found drafts of her poems on the backs of old recipe cards and flour labels after her death.” Ch 14

While she is at this old house, she has a series of disasters, and she gets occasional help from Davis. I wouldn’t really call this a romance, I would classify it more as a getting reacquainted with yourself and your family, type of book. She attempts, gardening, baking and poetry writing:

“Alone, not lonely
Enjoying a pretty day
Learning to be fine” ch 9

I feel like this haiku she writes, represents much of her time at the house, as she contemplates her family relationships, people around her in Amherst, and what she wants to do moving forward.

I loved this information about Wuthering Heights, because I’m hoping to read it soon:
“… I read it every year when the snow begins to fall.”