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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
This book follows 4 best friends who want to open a bookstore but their personal lives get in the way. I really do wish that I enjoyed this book because I liked the meaning of the story of how these 4 friends love each other and would help them at their hardest times. Sadly the author didn’t do the best job. This book was messy, chaotic, and just so much was happening at once. First the MCs were all dumped into one chapter so it was hard to figure out who was who. Then just everything started that it just became too much. This book was told from Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni & Leslie’s pov.
I won’t go indept of each character but I do have to say that the book felt more like Leslie’s story. I felt that I read so much of her character. But overall, the women in this book made some questionable choices that could have been resololved so easily. Even as a woman myself, I never seen so much drama that made me question myself many times.
The ending I didn’t care for and after all the truth came out to their loved one, it felt like the MCs were like “oh I was silly”. I just wasn’t getting the whole vibe of this book with the way of the story was. I could kind of see what the author was telling it’s readers but it just went way overboard. Also I have to say that the cover made me think this was entirely about a bookstore but the bookstore didn’t even feel like a part of the story.
*this arc was sent to me by the publisher to give an honest review in return*
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
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
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think this book would have benefitted from a different title and cover. I was excited about the idea of sisterfriends opening and operating a successful bookshop. I wanted a bookish cozy vibe celebrating sisterhood. Instead, I got a whole, whole lot of drama and some characters who were borderline unlikeable who used questionable judgement. I think the book would have been better with either fewer characters or less angst for each character. I really enjoyed the bookish aspects and author mentions. I liked that I got to know each character and the inspirational aspect
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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:
Complicated
Too cheesy, wasn't enjoying it or connecting with the characters
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
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
“The Bookshop Sisterhood” by Michelle Lindo-Rice is my first read from this author, and overall, it was an enjoyable experience. The story centers on four best friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie—who share a deep bond over their love for books and their dream of opening a bookshop together. What worked well in this novel is the authenticity of their friendship. The dialogue, banter, and drama between the four friends felt natural and believable, making their connection truly come alive on the page.
Each character had her own storyline, and I appreciated how the author managed to balance these multiple perspectives without sacrificing depth or interest. It’s often challenging to maintain equal engagement across several POVs, but Lindo-Rice nailed it. The pacing of the drama was also a highlight, as it was fast enough to keep me turning the pages.
However, there were a few drawbacks that impacted my overall experience. The plot felt a bit too familiar, as if it followed a well-worn path seen in other novels of this genre. The author includes a cameo by Kimberla Lawson Roby, and while it’s a nice nod, it also made the story feel even more derivative, almost as if it were a continuation of one of Roby’s books. Additionally, the characters were somewhat predictable, and I found myself accurately guessing the ending long before I reached it.
Another issue was the heavy use of pop culture references, which can be a double-edged sword. While these references are relatable now, they risk dating the book in the future, potentially diminishing the reading experience for later audiences.
Overall , “The Bookshop Sisterhood” offers an engaging story of friendship, love for books, and personal drama. While it didn’t break new ground for me, it was an enjoyable read that kept me interested until the end.
Rating: 3.25 Stars
“The Bookshop Sisterhood” by Michelle Lindo-Rice is my first read from this author, and overall, it was an enjoyable experience. The story centers on four best friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie—who share a deep bond over their love for books and their dream of opening a bookshop together. What worked well in this novel is the authenticity of their friendship. The dialogue, banter, and drama between the four friends felt natural and believable, making their connection truly come alive on the page.
Each character had her own storyline, and I appreciated how the author managed to balance these multiple perspectives without sacrificing depth or interest. It’s often challenging to maintain equal engagement across several POVs, but Lindo-Rice nailed it. The pacing of the drama was also a highlight, as it was fast enough to keep me turning the pages.
However, there were a few drawbacks that impacted my overall experience. The plot felt a bit too familiar, as if it followed a well-worn path seen in other novels of this genre. The author includes a cameo by Kimberla Lawson Roby, and while it’s a nice nod, it also made the story feel even more derivative, almost as if it were a continuation of one of Roby’s books. Additionally, the characters were somewhat predictable, and I found myself accurately guessing the ending long before I reached it.
Another issue was the heavy use of pop culture references, which can be a double-edged sword. While these references are relatable now, they risk dating the book in the future, potentially diminishing the reading experience for later audiences.
Overall , “The Bookshop Sisterhood” offers an engaging story of friendship, love for books, and personal drama. While it didn’t break new ground for me, it was an enjoyable read that kept me interested until the end.