You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
This was such a sweet Christmas read. An old bookstore set on a charming decked out for Christmas street in Edinburgh needs saving. Carmen is the unwilling volunteer who is tasked with saving it. From snowstorms, to old train sets, to christmas festivals and parties, to family reuniting, and of course romance, this book had all the feels for Christmas. A great holiday read.
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book, our November read for @rebel.readers.bookclub, was a lovely cosy choice for this time of year. It was not the type of book I would have picked up myself, but I’m really glad it was our bookclub book as I really enjoyed it!
It is about Carmen, fed-up, jealous of successful sister Sofia and resentful of her hand in life. When her job in old-school department store Dounstons comes to an end, she is at an even greater loss and directionless as to her next move. When her sister secures her a job with her client, Mr McCredie, whose neglected antiquated bookstore is his last hope at not becoming bankrupt, Carmen reluctantly agrees. When she arrives, she gets more than she bargained for. However in spite of herself, she finds herself adjusting quite nicely to her new situation and as she lets her defences down, the people around her find their way into her heart as does the beautiful city of Edinburgh, which was the perfect setting for this book.
While there was nothing mind-blowing in this book, it was very easy reading and I found myself looking forward to picking it up over the last few nights. It is a quick read and probably not very memorable: the story was quite predictable and the characters lack subtlety but this book was still undeniably quite lovely and I was very glad I read it. It was a perfect book to bring me into the Christmas season which seems to have crept in from nowhere!
It is about Carmen, fed-up, jealous of successful sister Sofia and resentful of her hand in life. When her job in old-school department store Dounstons comes to an end, she is at an even greater loss and directionless as to her next move. When her sister secures her a job with her client, Mr McCredie, whose neglected antiquated bookstore is his last hope at not becoming bankrupt, Carmen reluctantly agrees. When she arrives, she gets more than she bargained for. However in spite of herself, she finds herself adjusting quite nicely to her new situation and as she lets her defences down, the people around her find their way into her heart as does the beautiful city of Edinburgh, which was the perfect setting for this book.
While there was nothing mind-blowing in this book, it was very easy reading and I found myself looking forward to picking it up over the last few nights. It is a quick read and probably not very memorable: the story was quite predictable and the characters lack subtlety but this book was still undeniably quite lovely and I was very glad I read it. It was a perfect book to bring me into the Christmas season which seems to have crept in from nowhere!
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-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
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
slow-paced
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
what a wonderful book!!!! i loooooved carmen and really grew attached to her as a character. her relationship with her sister, her nephew & nieces, oke, and let's not forget mr. mccredie... all so good in their own ways! i just did not want this book to end and totally cried at the wonderful ending. so sweet. i hope this will be an annual christmas re-read for me. :)