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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I wanted to like this novel, after reading the description and seeing the cover I thought I would love this story. For one, like everyone else on this site, I love books. For another, I love Scotland, I’ve been to Scotland and it felt like I’d come home when I was there. I would have moved there if I could have and possibly changed my last name to my Nana’s Scottish surname (something I’ve wanted to do for ages even before I traveled there). So, you can see why I thought a story about a woman opening a bookshop in Scotland would appeal to me. Unfortunately, I have a lot of issues with the heroine of the story. I’m pretty sure this book is sort of a loosely based retelling of Pride and Prejudice, and it was pretty obvious at the beginning who she would be ending up with just by paying attention to all of the character descriptions. I love Pride and Prejudice, but I also love Elizabeth Bennett, and I did not love Nina. Nina didn’t stick up for herself when she should have, and she was too nice for her own good. When she should have been upset with this version of Mr Wickham, she was consoling him and sticking up for him when she should have been angry and upset. Nina loved recommending books to people, but I found her recommendations were too...linear...not sure if that's the right word to describe it, it's late right now. There is this one character that has multiple young children, she complained about not reading since she was pregnant, and even then she was reading books on babies and caring for babies. Nina recommended to this exhausted mother in want of a spa weekend, a book on growing toddlers. Why would you do that? This woman was not asking for another book on being a mother. For some reason, practically everyone loved her recommendations, which I think, makes everything too perfect, too sickly sweet. I don’t know if sickly sweet is the right term I’m looking for, but maybe it’s not far off. Nina was too sweet for me, and I couldn’t stand a lot of her actions in this novel. I’m sure others will and have enjoyed this story, but it wasn’t for me.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-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
I love books about books, and I did enjoy this light read. It kind of reminded me of [b:Like Water for Chocolate|6952|Like Water for Chocolate|Laura Esquivel|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1430241812s/6952.jpg|1172473], in its premise. Nina is able to present the perfect book to a person in need.
Nina is a Librarian in Birmingham, Great Britain, who finds herself out of a job due to her library closing. She has lots of books from the library (and her own personal collection) that need a home. She sees a van for sale in the newspaper, and an idea is born.
Nina is a Librarian in Birmingham, Great Britain, who finds herself out of a job due to her library closing. She has lots of books from the library (and her own personal collection) that need a home. She sees a van for sale in the newspaper, and an idea is born.
This was so sweet! The title doesn't really make sense to me, though.
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Really more like 3.5 stars. Another cozy romance set in Scotland - I enjoyed the main character's discoveries and transformations as she created her mobile bookstore and became a part of the community. The romance itself felt a bit abrupt and didn't quite feel "finished."
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Nina Redmond needs a new life plan - and quick! With the library where she works closing and job options few and far between, the only thing she can think to do is plain crazy: buy a van and start a mobile bookshop. When her permit to park in Birmingham is denied, Nina ends up moving to a small Scottish village that she's only been to a handful of times. But she is welcomed with open arms by a loving and book-starved community. Her brooding landlord, on the other hand, is a different matter...
This book was cute. Nina was a sweet, relatable character. The friendships she had - both in Birmingham and in Scotland - were precious. The plot line was somewhat Hallmark-y and predictable but fun nonetheless. There were several comments about the importance of community that I found encouraging as well. If you're looking for a fun, quick read about new beginnings and sharing books, this may be a good option for you!
This book was cute. Nina was a sweet, relatable character. The friendships she had - both in Birmingham and in Scotland - were precious. The plot line was somewhat Hallmark-y and predictable but fun nonetheless. There were several comments about the importance of community that I found encouraging as well. If you're looking for a fun, quick read about new beginnings and sharing books, this may be a good option for you!
That's it, packing up and moving to a rural Scottish village.