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mrsdryoder's review
4.0
Really 3.5-4. I read the ending first, as always, but clearly didn't read enough of the ending as it still didn't turn out the way I thought it would. Easy, quick read.
nightowl4127's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
5.0
sarahlreadseverything's review
2.0
As seen on The Everyday Reader blog
Thanks to Gallery Books for providing an advance copy of this title for review. I received no other form of compensation and all opinions are my own.
I love books about books. And I just recently watched You've Got Mail for the first time ever and it got me into a complete bookstorish haze, so a novel where the main characters works in a second hand bookstore in New York sounded perfect.
From the word go, The Bookstore is beautifully written. Meyer obviously has an astounding vocabulary and an in-depth knowledge of art and literature, which she puts to good use. It was lots of fun catching the literary references that she threw in all over the places and the art references had me expanding my knowledge with Wikipedia on multiple occasions. Which I don't actually mind in a book, so long as its done in a way that fits the setting, which it does here.
BUT that being said The Bookstore is probably one of the most irritating books I've read all year. Because
The only thing that really had me rooting for The Bookstore a little bit was the setting. Meyer's descriptions of New York and The Owl bookstore are gorgeous and make those two the real stars of the show. It'll make you want to take a holiday on the Upper West Side. Which must mean something, considering I'm really not a big city kinda girl.
Overall: 2/5 stars. It's Mitchell's fault.
Thanks to Gallery Books for providing an advance copy of this title for review. I received no other form of compensation and all opinions are my own.
I love books about books. And I just recently watched You've Got Mail for the first time ever and it got me into a complete bookstorish haze, so a novel where the main characters works in a second hand bookstore in New York sounded perfect.
From the word go, The Bookstore is beautifully written. Meyer obviously has an astounding vocabulary and an in-depth knowledge of art and literature, which she puts to good use. It was lots of fun catching the literary references that she threw in all over the places and the art references had me expanding my knowledge with Wikipedia on multiple occasions. Which I don't actually mind in a book, so long as its done in a way that fits the setting, which it does here.
BUT that being said The Bookstore is probably one of the most irritating books I've read all year. Because
Spoiler
the characters are AWFUL. Esme's 'boyfriend' Mitchell is a despicable man-child, who thinks of nobody but himself and whose life seems to consist of creating drama so he can proceed to revel in it. Seriously, he pushes at six month pregnant woman out of a bed because he can't deal with affection if it's not on his own terms. He's probably the first literary character this year that I've full-out just wanted to punch in the head. Esme is little better. To be fair, she would probably be quite likable if it wasn't for one major flaw - her obsession with Mitchell. He comes close to straight out psychological abuse on multiple occasions and yet she keeps going back to him. Loving him. Refusing to look at life without him. She perhaps would have been redeemed if the book had ended with her getting over him. But it doesn't. There is a hint that she might. . . maybe. For an obviously extremely intelligent woman she's extremely stupid. The supporting characters were marginally more likable. Luke, the counter for Mitchell that's Esme's colleague at the bookstore would have been great if he ever got over himself enough to admit he had feelings for her. George and Stella (Esme's boss at the bookstore and girl-from-across-the-hall respectively) were better, Stella seeming to be the only one who saw Mitchell for what he was.The only thing that really had me rooting for The Bookstore a little bit was the setting. Meyer's descriptions of New York and The Owl bookstore are gorgeous and make those two the real stars of the show. It'll make you want to take a holiday on the Upper West Side. Which must mean something, considering I'm really not a big city kinda girl.
Overall: 2/5 stars. It's Mitchell's fault.
tammiely's review
3.0
This was a hard one for me. I liked it enough to keep reading, but her devotion to Mitchell was cringe worthy for me. The other characters in the book were enjoyable and unique.
malaneycwick's review
3.0
There were things about this book I liked but I struggled through it. The relationship Esme carried on with Mitchell was disappointing to me and the way she showed her strength in fleeting moments but never actually used it drove me wild. The way the story evolved, or actually didn’t, made it really hard for me to get through. I finished it for the baby and for the bookstore. The part the Owl played in the book is what kept my interest but by the end of it I just wanted it to be over.
meme_too2's review
1.0
I should have believed the reviews here on Goodreads. Couldn't finish this book either.
erboe501's review against another edition
2.0
A (nauseatingly) besotted English grad student struggles with romance and pregnancy while working at a charmingly quirky secondhand bookstore in NYC.
The protagonist's name should give you a hint of the melodrama that permeates this novel. Esme Garland? Are we talking about some sentimental Hollywood starlet? I can't enjoy a story that has such an obviously misguided protagonist. She's so naive, going back to her boyfriend/fiance Mitchell whenever he shows the slightest interest. Mitchell himself wasn't a very believable character. His actions did not seem to make a very convincing character portrait. He was all over the place. I'm surprised there wasn't more closure at the ending of the novel. I had assumed Esme would end up with Luke, but Meyler merely left a suggestion of the future. I loved Esme's many literary allusions.
The narrator's voices on this audiobook were at times confusing. Many of the characters started to sound the same. The breaks weren't always evident. A good choice for a long road trip because it didn't take much concentration, except for the parts where Esme would go off on a tangent and left me wondering where we were on the timeline of events.
The protagonist's name should give you a hint of the melodrama that permeates this novel. Esme Garland? Are we talking about some sentimental Hollywood starlet? I can't enjoy a story that has such an obviously misguided protagonist. She's so naive, going back to her boyfriend/fiance Mitchell whenever he shows the slightest interest. Mitchell himself wasn't a very believable character. His actions did not seem to make a very convincing character portrait. He was all over the place. I'm surprised there wasn't more closure at the ending of the novel. I had assumed Esme would end up with Luke, but Meyler merely left a suggestion of the future. I loved Esme's many literary allusions.
The narrator's voices on this audiobook were at times confusing. Many of the characters started to sound the same. The breaks weren't always evident. A good choice for a long road trip because it didn't take much concentration, except for the parts where Esme would go off on a tangent and left me wondering where we were on the timeline of events.
mandikaye's review
4.0
This book was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting some sort of chick lit or romance novel. Instead, I got a kind of heavy literary fiction novel that broke my heart.
And I loved every page of it.
I don’t often read real fiction. Yes, I understand that was an oxymoron – but typically I read fiction of the paranormal variety. Supernatural or mystical books that have no basis in reality.
The Bookstore was real. Esme’s story was harsh and breathtaking and beautiful.
Her boyfriend Mitchell was the douche-baggiest of assholes (don’t worry, though, I promise).
And The Owl? I wish it really existed! I would live there forever.
This story really had no beginning and no end. It was a snapshot of a period of time in Esme’s life.
And it was… beautiful.
And I loved every page of it.
I don’t often read real fiction. Yes, I understand that was an oxymoron – but typically I read fiction of the paranormal variety. Supernatural or mystical books that have no basis in reality.
The Bookstore was real. Esme’s story was harsh and breathtaking and beautiful.
Her boyfriend Mitchell was the douche-baggiest of assholes (don’t worry, though, I promise).
And The Owl? I wish it really existed! I would live there forever.
This story really had no beginning and no end. It was a snapshot of a period of time in Esme’s life.
And it was… beautiful.
lgmaxwell722's review
1.0
This book was stupid. I found the characters shallow and underdeveloped. Sometimes it was hard to see where the plot was going, it just seemed to circle back on itself. I also thought the book tried to delve into deeper topics, but it only added to the flatness of the story. Skip it.