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A review by okiecozyreader
The Boardwalk Bookshop by Susan Mallery
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I loved her book The Vineyard at Painted Moon and was glad this is the Brenda Novak book for June. I like most books that have Bookshop or Library in the title. I loved this book about female friendship, family relationships and was glad to see a good therapist!
Three strangers meet at a boardwalk rental space and not having the money to rent it independently, they decide to go in together. Bree owns a bookshop that she relocated there, that she inherited from her deceased husband. Mikki has been divorced three years, with grown children and a new desire to have her own gift shop; and Ashley is young, in love, and has a muffin bakery. Friday nights, they sit on the beach with a bottle of champagne from Ladies Know Wine reviews and discussed the week.
“This moment, this laughter, this friendship. It was unexpected, but she liked it. These women had, in a short period of time, become important to her. Their weekly ritual grounded her and made her feel she belonged.” P153
In the heaviness of the world, it’s nice to read a book of three women, who are very different, who can become like family to each other. I even had a few tears in my eyes at the end (and I’m not a crier.)
I loved Bree and her bookstore that didn’t carry literary fiction, because her parents are famous literary writers who didn’t have time for her.
“You’re a bookstore owner who loves books but hates writers?” P74
—- more quotes
“Hiding doesn’t help. Hiding gives the problem more power. Every time you hide, it grows until you’re overwhelmed.” P157
I loved some of the banter, like this:
“You make me insane.”
“I know it’s hard when I’m reasonable. You’re going to have to learn to live with that.” P230-231
“But her friend was unable to change, despite being loved by a great man.
Because love didn’t transform a person into someone else, she thought as she parked in her spot. Love wasn’t a cute or a solution. Love might make a person want to be their best self , but it didn’t fundamentally alter beliefs.” P317-318
“I used to think you were some amazing woman - elusive and beautiful. That if I could just figure you out, I could make you fall in love with me. But after what happened that night, I’ve realized you’re an empty shell pretending to be a person. I can’t believe how much time I wasted wanting something that turned out to be nothing.” P331-332
Three strangers meet at a boardwalk rental space and not having the money to rent it independently, they decide to go in together. Bree owns a bookshop that she relocated there, that she inherited from her deceased husband. Mikki has been divorced three years, with grown children and a new desire to have her own gift shop; and Ashley is young, in love, and has a muffin bakery. Friday nights, they sit on the beach with a bottle of champagne from Ladies Know Wine reviews and discussed the week.
“This moment, this laughter, this friendship. It was unexpected, but she liked it. These women had, in a short period of time, become important to her. Their weekly ritual grounded her and made her feel she belonged.” P153
In the heaviness of the world, it’s nice to read a book of three women, who are very different, who can become like family to each other. I even had a few tears in my eyes at the end (and I’m not a crier.)
I loved Bree and her bookstore that didn’t carry literary fiction, because her parents are famous literary writers who didn’t have time for her.
“You’re a bookstore owner who loves books but hates writers?” P74
—- more quotes
“Hiding doesn’t help. Hiding gives the problem more power. Every time you hide, it grows until you’re overwhelmed.” P157
I loved some of the banter, like this:
“You make me insane.”
“I know it’s hard when I’m reasonable. You’re going to have to learn to live with that.” P230-231
“But her friend was unable to change, despite being loved by a great man.
Because love didn’t transform a person into someone else, she thought as she parked in her spot. Love wasn’t a cute or a solution. Love might make a person want to be their best self , but it didn’t fundamentally alter beliefs.” P317-318
“I used to think you were some amazing woman - elusive and beautiful. That if I could just figure you out, I could make you fall in love with me. But after what happened that night, I’ve realized you’re an empty shell pretending to be a person. I can’t believe how much time I wasted wanting something that turned out to be nothing.” P331-332