A review by sheahbartlett
The Bookstore by Deborah Meyler

5.0

The most sensational aspect of this book was its setting. Deborah Meyler's ability to bring New York City and the small, hole-in-the-wall bookstore, The Owl, to life was simply astounding. As someone who could hardly be described as a fan of the Big Apple, I found myself longing and nostalgic for it's streets, parks, and bagels. The Owl and its eccentric characters strengthened my resolve to visit more locally owned bookstores! The characters were rich and the prose was was fantastic. The literary and artistic references were certainly engaging, though I imagine those not well-read in the classics or without much knowledge of art history would certainly be lost.

That being said, I struggled to find reason why Esme would initially fall for Mitchell, and her constant returns to him were increasingly annoying. I disliked the chapters in which he was featured, as I wanted to return to The Owl and continue to learn more of its employees and patrons. The romance was definitely the weakest part of the book, and I honestly wish it wasn't there.

Overall, it was a great book with rich characters. I would definitely recommend it to a friend!