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2.92 AVERAGE
2.92 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-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
A little witchy and lot whingy, this one didn’t end up being for me.
I would say this book was 78% inner monologue, switching POVs between the lead characters. I found myself skimming for dialogue and realizing there wasn’t much happening outside of the constant brooding. It ended up creating a book that was basically one long miscommunication trope.
I’m sure there’s a group of readers out there who eat this up. I’m just not one of them.
STORY: ⭐️⭐️
SMUT: 💦💦
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you yo NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
I would say this book was 78% inner monologue, switching POVs between the lead characters. I found myself skimming for dialogue and realizing there wasn’t much happening outside of the constant brooding. It ended up creating a book that was basically one long miscommunication trope.
I’m sure there’s a group of readers out there who eat this up. I’m just not one of them.
STORY: ⭐️⭐️
SMUT: 💦💦
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️
Thank you yo NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
I liked the premise of this- the bookshops, the witchy vibes and the found family.
It was a cosy read, each character navigating their own personal issues. I liked the normality of the characters.
The pacing, however, felt slightly off to me. I was confused at the beginning at the timeline. I think the ending felt super rushed and the third act shakeup was like 5 pages from the end of the book. It wrapped up too neatly, too soon.
It was a cosy read, each character navigating their own personal issues. I liked the normality of the characters.
The pacing, however, felt slightly off to me. I was confused at the beginning at the timeline. I think the ending felt super rushed and the third act shakeup was like 5 pages from the end of the book. It wrapped up too neatly, too soon.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-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
A gentle and charming love story, heavily steeped in herbal tea, moon rituals, manifestation and witchy vibes. I loved the regular (and accurate) use of tarot by our FMC's Wiccan best friend and business partner.
Going into this, I think I was expecting a paranormal or fantasy plot to emerge but I found I was pleasantly surprised to find all the rituals and magic within the book were very true to life practices. The author even directly mentioned a real witchy deck of oracle cards readily available to purchase by name.
The nod to Taylor Swift and Swifties was cute, in the fictional superstar who visited the shop. As a reader, it's hard to resist the allure of classic second-hand books, bookbinding and restoration weaved into this love story.
The Bookbinder's Guide to Love is a very low-stakes, cozy (but spicy) romance book with plenty of sisterhood and found family feels. The storyline follows our main characters processing grief and abandonment trauma, as well as how that impacts their ability to open up to love and long-term commitment.
Going into this, I think I was expecting a paranormal or fantasy plot to emerge but I found I was pleasantly surprised to find all the rituals and magic within the book were very true to life practices. The author even directly mentioned a real witchy deck of oracle cards readily available to purchase by name.
The nod to Taylor Swift and Swifties was cute, in the fictional superstar who visited the shop. As a reader, it's hard to resist the allure of classic second-hand books, bookbinding and restoration weaved into this love story.
The Bookbinder's Guide to Love is a very low-stakes, cozy (but spicy) romance book with plenty of sisterhood and found family feels. The storyline follows our main characters processing grief and abandonment trauma, as well as how that impacts their ability to open up to love and long-term commitment.
Thank you Mills & Boon and Katherine Garbera for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent, Abandonment
Thank you to NetGalley and Katherine Garbera for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
I will start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing, and I love a witchy, spicy, rivals to lovers type vibe. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. It was advertised as witchy, which there are some references, but a large part of the story is that everyone thinks the FMC and her friends are witches but it’s constantly reiterated that they’re not, which just felt odd to me. The spice also wasn’t really working for me, it felt like it was too much and not enough all at the same time. I will admit that this was my first Harlequin romance, so I went in with a little bit of a bias due to the stereotype, but it just didn’t hit the spot for me.
I will start by saying that I really wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing, and I love a witchy, spicy, rivals to lovers type vibe. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me. It was advertised as witchy, which there are some references, but a large part of the story is that everyone thinks the FMC and her friends are witches but it’s constantly reiterated that they’re not, which just felt odd to me. The spice also wasn’t really working for me, it felt like it was too much and not enough all at the same time. I will admit that this was my first Harlequin romance, so I went in with a little bit of a bias due to the stereotype, but it just didn’t hit the spot for me.
This book gave me all the feelings of found family, healing, and finding love in unexpected places. Sera and Wes did not know what how to feel when they learned that her good friend/his grandfather had passed. Together they used this opportunity to work together in mending their broken pasts and finding a new future.
I love how the author emphasized different types of grief throughout the story. The main characters, as well as others learned how to lean on friends and family to help them heal.
This book has a comforting feel that flows easily from beginning to end. I enjoyed this story very much and will highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I love how the author emphasized different types of grief throughout the story. The main characters, as well as others learned how to lean on friends and family to help them heal.
This book has a comforting feel that flows easily from beginning to end. I enjoyed this story very much and will highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
emotional
funny
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:
Complicated
First things first, thank you to NetGalley, Afterglow Books, and Katherine Garbera for a galley of The Bookbinder's Guide to Love in return for an honest review!
I am a sucker for books about books, and emotionally intelligent romcoms, and this ticked every box! Sera and Wes were two of the most communicative, emotionally aware romantic leads I have ever had the pleasure to read. Their introspection became a little repetitive, as they both came to terms with, but then couldn't push past, their issues. That being said, it was really refreshing to read them not only admit to themselves what was wrong, but communicate that so clearly with each other. For such a short book, it also felt like their relationship developed at a pretty sensible pace. I think in compact romcoms like this it can sometimes feel like the leads go from strangers to soulmates, Garbera gave herself the room to show genuine growth, and I think she did it so elegantly.
As well as the romance in this book there is a really strong found family element, I loved the vibe of the WiCKed Sisters, and their satellites (Merle especially.) You could really feel the warmth in every interaction between Sera, Poppy and Liberty. It was such an honest and yet deeply felt portrait of female friendship. I adored the way Gabera wrote them. I will absolutely be following this series, as it was going I was trying to guess at which sister might be next up.
On top of everything else I loved watching Sera and Wes interact with books, I work in an archive, and so seeing them talk about and appreciate old tomes just really warmed my heart. It was such a core facet of their relationship, and of Sera's relationship with Ford. I think it seeing them bond over something they both considered so important really helped to understand how their relationship could grow so quickly.
I have so many good things to say about this book, but I should say here I had a couple of small problems with it. In places the writing felt awkward, and some of the interactions just didn't add up. Like, physically the way people were moving or sitting read awkwardly. But I think that's a small things and it was easy to get over!
All in all I think this was a solid read, and of the two Afterglow books I've read this month this was by far my favourite.
I am a sucker for books about books, and emotionally intelligent romcoms, and this ticked every box! Sera and Wes were two of the most communicative, emotionally aware romantic leads I have ever had the pleasure to read. Their introspection became a little repetitive, as they both came to terms with, but then couldn't push past, their issues. That being said, it was really refreshing to read them not only admit to themselves what was wrong, but communicate that so clearly with each other. For such a short book, it also felt like their relationship developed at a pretty sensible pace. I think in compact romcoms like this it can sometimes feel like the leads go from strangers to soulmates, Garbera gave herself the room to show genuine growth, and I think she did it so elegantly.
As well as the romance in this book there is a really strong found family element, I loved the vibe of the WiCKed Sisters, and their satellites (Merle especially.) You could really feel the warmth in every interaction between Sera, Poppy and Liberty. It was such an honest and yet deeply felt portrait of female friendship. I adored the way Gabera wrote them. I will absolutely be following this series, as it was going I was trying to guess at which sister might be next up.
On top of everything else I loved watching Sera and Wes interact with books, I work in an archive, and so seeing them talk about and appreciate old tomes just really warmed my heart. It was such a core facet of their relationship, and of Sera's relationship with Ford. I think it seeing them bond over something they both considered so important really helped to understand how their relationship could grow so quickly.
I have so many good things to say about this book, but I should say here I had a couple of small problems with it. In places the writing felt awkward, and some of the interactions just didn't add up. Like, physically the way people were moving or sitting read awkwardly. But I think that's a small things and it was easy to get over!
All in all I think this was a solid read, and of the two Afterglow books I've read this month this was by far my favourite.
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very slow pace, not the best writing and seems to jump into smut for no real reason other than to have it there which leaves you feeling like the characters are lacking as people. The basis of “instant love” disregards the complexity of human emotion and grief by simply brushing certain parts under the carpet and hand-waving away the character development and growth. Feels very slow and far too rushed at the same time. Not so bad I stopped reading but not a book I’ll be going back to.
Sweet, sexy, and witchy…. It’s a great romantic read with some spicy scenes. Both Sera and Wes are great characters. It was so interesting seeing them connect because of Ford. This story truly reminds you of the importance of the relationships you have. Whether friends, family, or romantic. Always remember to connect with the ones you love.
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story hinges on insta love, which feels even more unrealistic than normal. The characters both have massive personal insecurities which are the main driver of the plot. But there is only so many repetitions of Sera declaring she has "main character energy" that I can stand. She does not. Dialogue is clunky throughout, which is a massive issue in a story where everyone talks about their feelings.
This cute love story weaves a charming tale that captures perfect witchy vibes. This heartwarming story revolves around Sera, a small-town business owner, and her unexpected connection with an elderly gentleman, which leads to an unexpected upheaval in her quiet life. With Wes, the grandson of the said gentleman, their relationship transforms from enemies to lovers in a delightful and quick-read romance. While the story is undeniably cute and enjoyable, it leans towards simplicity, leaving room for a deeper exploration of the characters. The book offers a cozy and enchanting journey, reminding us that love and connection often take us by surprise, just when we least expect it. If you're seeking a quick and sexy read with a touch of magic, THE BOOKBINDER'S GUIDE TO LOVE is a delightful choice for your reading list.
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