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melissac20 's review for:
Not Quite by the Book
by Julie Hatcher
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an early ebook release - my review is my own.
I tore through this book. I didn't want to put it down once I had picked it up and managed to read it in one sitting. It was adorable, chaotic, heartbreaking and lovely.
Emma is 32yo, overworked, stressed out, and barely managing to keep up with the demands of running her parents bookshop. Her parents and little sister have all slowly abandoned her to manage on her own - because she does 'such a great job'.
She has been left out more and more as her younger sister got married and is pregnant with the first grandchild. When her parents announce their retirement and that she alone will inherit the store - whether she wanted to or not - Emma freaks out a bit. When she sees an opportunity to get away for a little while - she takes it - by renting a small little house owned by her online Bookstore friend, an hour away in her college city - the same city as her beloved Emily Dickinson. She hatches a plan to embody the lifestyle of Emily Dickinson in order to figure out her own life.
This is a story of self discovery.- finding out what you love and what you need - and how to remember to communicate with your family and friends when things get hard (Even though there is a SEVERE lack of communication due to people intentionally keeping stupid secrets).
There is a little bit of romance thrown in - but it definitely takes a backseat to the story of self love, and familial relationships.
I had a few minor issues with consistency on times (was it six week, or 30 days?!?!?! Make up your mind), as well as a mystery that was not really a mystery - if they had paid any sort of attention.
Slight spoiler:
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I think my favorite part of this is that as she goes along and realizes the differences between her personality and Emily Dickinson's - She doesn't hold too firmly to the idea of BECOMING JUST like her. She soon realizes what fits and what doesn't without excessive resistance.
I tore through this book. I didn't want to put it down once I had picked it up and managed to read it in one sitting. It was adorable, chaotic, heartbreaking and lovely.
Emma is 32yo, overworked, stressed out, and barely managing to keep up with the demands of running her parents bookshop. Her parents and little sister have all slowly abandoned her to manage on her own - because she does 'such a great job'.
She has been left out more and more as her younger sister got married and is pregnant with the first grandchild. When her parents announce their retirement and that she alone will inherit the store - whether she wanted to or not - Emma freaks out a bit. When she sees an opportunity to get away for a little while - she takes it - by renting a small little house owned by her online Bookstore friend, an hour away in her college city - the same city as her beloved Emily Dickinson. She hatches a plan to embody the lifestyle of Emily Dickinson in order to figure out her own life.
This is a story of self discovery.- finding out what you love and what you need - and how to remember to communicate with your family and friends when things get hard (Even though there is a SEVERE lack of communication due to people intentionally keeping stupid secrets).
There is a little bit of romance thrown in - but it definitely takes a backseat to the story of self love, and familial relationships.
I had a few minor issues with consistency on times (was it six week, or 30 days?!?!?! Make up your mind), as well as a mystery that was not really a mystery - if they had paid any sort of attention.
Slight spoiler:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
I think my favorite part of this is that as she goes along and realizes the differences between her personality and Emily Dickinson's - She doesn't hold too firmly to the idea of BECOMING JUST like her. She soon realizes what fits and what doesn't without excessive resistance.