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jaimejustreadsromance's review
3.0
This book just wasn't my cup of tea.
It wasn't poorly written or badly edited, it was a decent book that just didn't fit my taste.
It probably says more about me that I feel it was too "intellectual" for me. It was hard to follow along with at times because I frankly had no idea who or what she was talking about when it came to a lot of the art and literature.
I kept waiting for something dramatic or life-changing to happen but this just wasn't one of those kind of books. It would be a good read for someone who is interested in art and knows more about the subject or someone who isn't always looking for a HEA. Not to say that Esme wasn't happy at the end of the book or that you couldn't anticipate that she would have her love story after all but really the book just sort of ended.
I liked the characters enough, mostly Luke, but I never really felt connected to them.
I wouldn't advise anyone to NOT read this book but I think that the audience for this is sort of narrow. If your looking for a nice, simple read and consider yourself an intellect then by all means this one's for you.
**Received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
It wasn't poorly written or badly edited, it was a decent book that just didn't fit my taste.
It probably says more about me that I feel it was too "intellectual" for me. It was hard to follow along with at times because I frankly had no idea who or what she was talking about when it came to a lot of the art and literature.
I kept waiting for something dramatic or life-changing to happen but this just wasn't one of those kind of books. It would be a good read for someone who is interested in art and knows more about the subject or someone who isn't always looking for a HEA. Not to say that Esme wasn't happy at the end of the book or that you couldn't anticipate that she would have her love story after all but really the book just sort of ended.
I liked the characters enough, mostly Luke, but I never really felt connected to them.
I wouldn't advise anyone to NOT read this book but I think that the audience for this is sort of narrow. If your looking for a nice, simple read and consider yourself an intellect then by all means this one's for you.
**Received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
gaderianne's review
3.0
3.5 stars (instead of just 3)
There are really two stories in this book. One is the story of a bookstore. A struggling independent store in the heart if NYC with its quirkiness, and its employees, and its customers and its wonderfulness. It's about a place that you explore and feel at home or like you are in another realm. I loved this story. I lived how the store accepted homeless people and gave them work. I love that they cared about (and made fun of) the customers. I loved the atmosphere and the joy of reading they conveyed. I didn't always love the conversations the employees had with each other - sometimes they were too academic, too smart, just too...too forced. But overall, I like that the bookstore was the glue and the support system that propped up the main character, Emse.
So the 2nd story in this book was Emse's story. Her saga. As a PhD student at Columbia se ended up accidentally pregnant and then made mistake after mistake. It is this story that I didn't like. I understand that she is young and in love. And in a way I understand wanting to be with someone who is not nice or good for you...(I think a lot of us have been there too) but....when she finds out (while pregnant) that she has chlamydia (from supposed love of her life dirt bag) and doesn't confront him or even seem to care ... WHAT??? So this story - which in many ways was the main story and the bookstore only a support character - I did not care for.
There are really two stories in this book. One is the story of a bookstore. A struggling independent store in the heart if NYC with its quirkiness, and its employees, and its customers and its wonderfulness. It's about a place that you explore and feel at home or like you are in another realm. I loved this story. I lived how the store accepted homeless people and gave them work. I love that they cared about (and made fun of) the customers. I loved the atmosphere and the joy of reading they conveyed. I didn't always love the conversations the employees had with each other - sometimes they were too academic, too smart, just too...too forced. But overall, I like that the bookstore was the glue and the support system that propped up the main character, Emse.
So the 2nd story in this book was Emse's story. Her saga. As a PhD student at Columbia se ended up accidentally pregnant and then made mistake after mistake. It is this story that I didn't like. I understand that she is young and in love. And in a way I understand wanting to be with someone who is not nice or good for you...(I think a lot of us have been there too) but....when she finds out (while pregnant) that she has chlamydia (from supposed love of her life dirt bag) and doesn't confront him or even seem to care ... WHAT??? So this story - which in many ways was the main story and the bookstore only a support character - I did not care for.
kkellymsu's review against another edition
3.0
While I enjoyed the book and the characters were well developed, I felt like the author got bored writing the ending and just stopped. The conclusions to tie up loose ends were not satisfying.
themaritimereader14's review
3.0
This book definitely kept me interested and I enjoyed it. It was sweet. I read it around the time of Gilmore Girls and parts of it reminded me of that (a little bit - not a LOT!) It is a cute little book.
labyrinth_witch's review
5.0
This Book was wonderfully written. If you are an ardent book lover, reader, and regular at a bookstore this beautiful woven narrative with captivate you- as she write it for us. Her imagery is carefully done to pay attention to the thinks books lovers adore- the smell of the pages, the look of the shop, the people in the shop, the editions, the inscriptions, etc. But beyond that, the story itself had a grip on my heart. It made me gigggle, it made me cry, and I couldn't stop thinking about it until I had read it clear through. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
apasc's review
3.0
Very hard to rate because there were aspects that I loved and aspects that I hated. I gave it 3 because I did want to keep picking it up.
hmonkeyreads's review
3.0
So conflicted in this one. There are parts that I really loved: anything that took place in the bookstore, the parts where Luke tries to explain music to Esme, her description of a snowstorm in New York. But there were so many things I disliked: some characters are so unpleasant and Esme's behavior regarding them is frustrating (sadly believable but still frustrating!)
I am undecided about how I feel about how the book concluded and I think I'm coming around to liking the end. I'm left wondering what happens next.
Generally, the writing is pretty good, the plot is ok but a little frustrating and overall the whole book has a tinge of sadness that I was not expecting.
I am undecided about how I feel about how the book concluded and I think I'm coming around to liking the end. I'm left wondering what happens next.
Generally, the writing is pretty good, the plot is ok but a little frustrating and overall the whole book has a tinge of sadness that I was not expecting.
mrsdragon's review
4.0
I enjoyed the book. The writing, the story, the characters--okay, MOST of the characters. There was one major disconnect for me though. The entire books revolves around Esme's conviction of her love for Mitchell but I was not convinced. And maybe that's part of the point. She knows he is bad news. She admits that if this was someone else's story, she would want the heroine to run away. But she clings to a misguided notion of love. I'm not entirely sure what she is mistaking for love. Desire based on Mitchell's hot and cold nature? Watching their relationship is watching a primer on abuse.
I still found it a compelling read, and there were some beautiful turns of phrase you could get lost in.
I still found it a compelling read, and there were some beautiful turns of phrase you could get lost in.