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emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Closed Door Mod: Chapter 25 (some parts), Chapter 27 (some parts), Chapter 30 (some parts)
Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I received this e-ARC as part of Berkley’s Influencers Hub for Underrepresented Voices and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks so much to @berkleyromance for the free book!
If there was ever a book that can resonate so deeply to the love that comes with being a reader, Battle of the Bookstores would be it.
Sure, the story in this book has been told before, but the fact that Brady chooses to focus on two indie booksellers adds a new level of stakes to this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers dynamic. Josie and Ryan are so easy to like (despite both of them having nearly opposite personalities), and from their first moments on-page you can clearly see the dedication that Josie and Ryan put into their respective stores. Especially when you consider how reading served as a gateway for Josie to escape from her complicated home life, and Ryan (who has dyslexia) was able to discover a passion for reading after working at the romance bookstore he now manages. Their banter was top-notch and this book had just the right amount of slow burn to keep you wanting more until you're swooning over the last few chapters.
Putting it plainly, I don't know what it is with this book, but Brady got me hooked on this story to the very last page and it's definitely a book you need to keep on your radar.
Thank you to Berkley Romance for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I received this e-ARC as part of Berkley’s Influencers Hub for Underrepresented Voices and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks so much to @berkleyromance for the free book!
If there was ever a book that can resonate so deeply to the love that comes with being a reader, Battle of the Bookstores would be it.
Sure, the story in this book has been told before, but the fact that Brady chooses to focus on two indie booksellers adds a new level of stakes to this rivals-to-friends-to-lovers dynamic. Josie and Ryan are so easy to like (despite both of them having nearly opposite personalities), and from their first moments on-page you can clearly see the dedication that Josie and Ryan put into their respective stores. Especially when you consider how reading served as a gateway for Josie to escape from her complicated home life, and Ryan (who has dyslexia) was able to discover a passion for reading after working at the romance bookstore he now manages. Their banter was top-notch and this book had just the right amount of slow burn to keep you wanting more until you're swooning over the last few chapters.
Putting it plainly, I don't know what it is with this book, but Brady got me hooked on this story to the very last page and it's definitely a book you need to keep on your radar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Child death, Homophobia, Suicide, Medical content