Reviews

What an unexpected surprise this book turned out to be. This wonderful book was my first read by Ali Brady (pen name for best friends/co-authors Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey).

When rival bookstore managers are forced to compete for a job by the new owner of both of their stores (and the coffee shop in between them), Josie and Ryan are thrown into a whirlwind of competition.

They are complete opposites, but you know what they say about opposites... Josie is all about the details and focuses on serious literature. Ryan is all about the romance. Their opposing book preferences initially pit them against each other, but despite their stubbornness their able to become friends. There is also a bit of "mistaken identity" that comes into play and honestly their messages to each other where some of my favorite bits of the book.

This is a wonderful story about figuring out who you are alone and who you can be if you just open up to others. There was a lot of great tension and longing that made me want to keep reading and I know I will seek out more books by this author(s).

I'll include that their store owner is a complete loser and I am so glad that he wasn't around much.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for the arc, all opinions are my own.

thehauntedbookshop_thea's review against another edition

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funny slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Super cute!!! Very good enimies-to-friends-to-lovers. Mostly no spice.

savannahcanread's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted fast-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

3.75

morganza91's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted 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? Yes

3.5

msoh's review against another edition

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3.0

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Battle of the Bookstores played on any book lover’s fantasy of running their own bookstore (or is it just me?) with similarities to the You Got Mail, but with a modern take with a book forum vs. email.

Josie and Ryan manage bookstores separated by a coffee shop, with all owned by a not so great guy. You’d think those models couldn’t work but Josie’s book shop focuses on higher brow literature and Ryan’s on romance. The bookstores reflect their managers personalities in many ways as well. The owner decides to consolidate bookstores with the coffee shop, setting up a contest for the most profitable manager to take over the single business. Some little curve balls to keep the plot moving are that Josie and Ryan are both part of a book forum where they are unknowingly besties, both have some darker elements to their pasts that make their bookstores personal salvations, and both detest each other up to this point (remember they don’t know they’re book forum besties).

I enjoyed the shenanigans both get into, though there were times the story dragged a bit. Something that started to distract me as well, Ryan seemed unrealistic. I really began to suspect Ryan may have been a Rowena in a early draft because of how he was written. Perhaps it’s his upbringing given he has the polar opposite brother, or maybe it was a heavy handed attempt meant to show the difference with his brother more starkly, but while this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story I found myself distracted more and more trying to figure it out. Maybe just me?

If you enjoy enemies to lovers and want to further the fantasy of running a bookstore, Battle of the Bookstores is a good book to get into.

jsilfen924's review against another edition

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5.0

I had the opportunity to beta this and it was everything I would ever want in a romance book. Alison and Bradeigh are a powerhouse duo, and I will read anything they write together and individually.

Full review to come!

literaryrogues's review against another edition

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I really tried, but this is too on the nose. Not only are authors’ names dropped like pennies in a wishing fountain, but the characters are so flat and prone to misunderstandings.
Maybe if I wasn’t a bookseller myself I’d find this less cringey, but this is a “no” from me.

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