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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
I requested The Bookshop Sisterhood with high hopes for a cozy novel about friendship and a love of books. What I got was unnecessary drama with one-dimensional characters, simplistic and kinda lazy writing that didn't always make sense or was unrealistic, and questionable content like minor fatphobia, the normalization of adult/minor sexual relationship, and weird misogynist elements. I have a laundry list of quotes from this book with comments.
Some of my issues
- saying an audiobook-only reader read 10 books in three days
- a doctor immediately diagnosing someone as infertile with only an ultrasound and a urine test (which btw it never said she took the urine test & was there even enough time to test the sample AND have the doctor interpret the results, also how does a vaginal ultrasound show shrunken ovaries clear enough to diagnose infertility? she had eggs, could she not do IVF or a surrogate? she had enough money for that)
- three incredibly financially privileged women & one working class woman solving her money issues with winning the lottery
- the only woman in an executive position at a law firm being pit against a main character as if she's trying to steal her husband
- completely out of character reactions from said husband, like why did he lie to her?, he said so many terrible things!
- weird commentary on adoption
- positively talking about a sexual relationship between a 20 & 16 year-old (he's a "considerate lover" um no he's a groomer and a rapist)
- first chapter has one character judging one of her best friends for being plus size shading her for a decade of baby weight & allegedly overindulging in sweets--fatphobia much? peoples bodies change after they have children & as they get older. also... why did that have to be said?
- did these friends even like each other?
- the conversations felt so unrealistic
This book is just.... not good--at least what I read. I DNFed at 43%. Kept avoiding the book for two weeks making me avoid reading altogether.
Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC! Though I didn't like the book, I appreciate the chance to read and review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Infertility, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Stalking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Medical content
Thank you netgalley and harlequin for the arc. I kinda knew early on i would give it a 3 but at this point a 2. However, since i dnf I’ll just gave y’all my thoughts.
As we know age does not determine how mature one is. Even though you would think in some way, shape or form it should help. Well at 70% into the book i decided to dnf. The only character that didn’t piss me off completely was Leslie. She had a lot going on and a secret that really hurt her feelings. So i totally get it. Toni, Celeste and Yasmeen (especially the last one) really worked my nerves. Those three were dumb and/or desperate in more ways than one. I truly kept thinking “dang we can’t have one friend with brains or something going completely right for them?” Yasmeen i could never be friends with in real life.
I would have rather the book been written as the ladies already having the book store for about 3-5 years now. Then Us as readers get to come in to see how each one is navigating their life, friendships and being part owners. Also how they work with the community and different bookish things for the store to keep growing. Up until i decided to dnf the book the store or anything with books was probably mentioned let’s say around 8-10 times (just a guess). The book store was more so an afterthought to me hence why they probably should have already owned it.
I did not even care for them as a group of friends. They needed to either truly fix their issues or stop bringing the issues up. If you want drama then read this book because nothing up until i dnf it warmed my heart.
As we know age does not determine how mature one is. Even though you would think in some way, shape or form it should help. Well at 70% into the book i decided to dnf. The only character that didn’t piss me off completely was Leslie. She had a lot going on and a secret that really hurt her feelings. So i totally get it. Toni, Celeste and Yasmeen (especially the last one) really worked my nerves. Those three were dumb and/or desperate in more ways than one. I truly kept thinking “dang we can’t have one friend with brains or something going completely right for them?” Yasmeen i could never be friends with in real life.
I would have rather the book been written as the ladies already having the book store for about 3-5 years now. Then Us as readers get to come in to see how each one is navigating their life, friendships and being part owners. Also how they work with the community and different bookish things for the store to keep growing. Up until i decided to dnf the book the store or anything with books was probably mentioned let’s say around 8-10 times (just a guess). The book store was more so an afterthought to me hence why they probably should have already owned it.
I did not even care for them as a group of friends. They needed to either truly fix their issues or stop bringing the issues up. If you want drama then read this book because nothing up until i dnf it warmed my heart.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you're in the mood for a book that's like a soap opera on steroids, you might have better luck with this one. The story revolves around four best friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie—who are on the verge of opening their dream bookstore. Sounds cozy, right? Well, prepare yourself for loads of drama.
Each friend faces a massive personal crisis. Fifteen months prior, one was hijacked at gunpoint, leading to a marriage ultimatum. Another wins the lottery and makes a series of disastrous choices. A third uncovers shocking family secrets while managing her daughter’s health issues. And the last is grappling with infertility amid threats from a gang member. It’s a lot to take in.
The bookstore opening, which should be the heart of the story, gets overshadowed by these over-the-top subplots. Honestly, I had trouble keeping track of everything. Each woman’s conflicts could have easily filled its own book, so cramming them all into one felt very overwhelming.
(heat level: open door, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Each friend faces a massive personal crisis. Fifteen months prior, one was hijacked at gunpoint, leading to a marriage ultimatum. Another wins the lottery and makes a series of disastrous choices. A third uncovers shocking family secrets while managing her daughter’s health issues. And the last is grappling with infertility amid threats from a gang member. It’s a lot to take in.
The bookstore opening, which should be the heart of the story, gets overshadowed by these over-the-top subplots. Honestly, I had trouble keeping track of everything. Each woman’s conflicts could have easily filled its own book, so cramming them all into one felt very overwhelming.
(heat level: open door, mild details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I wanted to love this book, but it didn’t quite work for me. The concept of sisterhood didn’t feel right for this group of women, as they were more catty and toxic than supportive. I wasn’t seeking a flawless group of friends, but I expected them to at least seem like genuine friends, not frenemies. To be honest, I only managed to get through about a third of the book before deciding to stop. Although it had elements I usually enjoy, like bookstores, friendships, and found family, the stakes were so high that it felt unrealistic. This might appeal to readers who enjoy high drama and soap opera-like twists, but to me, it felt like an exaggerated gossip story that lost its believability.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for providing an ARC.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA and NetGalley for providing an ARC.
The entanglement into the web of drama is unreal and so gravitating.
You know you are always told not to gossip but I appreciate the good drama in this book. Now please don't bring it into my real life. lol
I was expecting a comfy found family novel and I was thrown into the lake without a paddle but I made it ashore and the swim was so fun!
If you are looking for a fun read full of d-r-a-m-a please pick this book up and give it a chance! Didn't disappoint at all.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of Michelle Lindo-Rice's novel.
You know you are always told not to gossip but I appreciate the good drama in this book. Now please don't bring it into my real life. lol
I was expecting a comfy found family novel and I was thrown into the lake without a paddle but I made it ashore and the swim was so fun!
If you are looking for a fun read full of d-r-a-m-a please pick this book up and give it a chance! Didn't disappoint at all.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of Michelle Lindo-Rice's novel.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to like this book. I usually adore any book about books, however this one fell completely flat. The first 5% and the last 5% were exactly what this book should have been. A story about a group of friends creating a bookstore and helping each other through difficult times. However, the 90% in the middle was terrible. I do not believe that these people are friends at all, they act more like bitter enemies and rivals towards each other. They absolutely didn't support each other through anything until the very end. They were catty and mean and kept secrets from each other. Also, for supposedly being very intelligent they all made such stupid decisions along the way. Overall, I think this book could have been great if the author had leaned more into the drama of the plot unless into the interpersonal dynamics of a friendship that clearly wasn't working very well.