A review by zoey_1
The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice

2.5

Everything about this book was infuriating. I now know the contours of my own brain from the amount of times I rolled my eyes while reading.

You know how, sometimes, watching stupid people can be fun? Yeah, this wasn't one of those times.

Look: I get it. There needs to be conflict or there is no story. But this was absolutely painful to read. I kept pushing myself to read so it would be over quicker. Nearly every character was annoying and grated on my nerves. It reminded me of my experience reading Katharine McGee's Rivals; all the characters lack brain cells. And the characters in The Bookshop Sisterhood are meant to be at least (if not over) ten years older than those in Rivals.

Kent was the only character I truly liked. Which, honestly, wasn't that high of a bar to start with.

Celeste's opposition to therapy made me want to tear my hair out. Toni not telling her fiancé
she couldn't conceive almost made me throw my phone at the wall. Yasmeen I absolutely couldn't take, especially when she ignored the walking red flag that was Cashmere. (Has she never heard the horror stories of people winning the lottery?) I hate "you were adopted and we didn't tell you until now" and the "I feel betrayed you didn't tell me I was adopted; you aren't my real parent(s)" plot lines with a burning passion.

Wade should grow a spine (and also should have told his wife that he was going to therapy as soon as he started? This is common sense, I fear. If Celeste had known he was going, I think she might have considered it since they were doing it together). Edwin should have told Leslie she was adopted ASAP, Aaron's plain stupid, and Julie and Henry need to be slapped back from whatever fantasy they were living in. (I mean, asking their adult daughter—who they put up for adoption when they were teens and did not raise—to call them mom and dad?)

Some lines I highlighted:

"Celeste wanted to take a picture but refrained because the Amish didn't like photographs."
The reason you didn't take a picture of a stranger shopping is because they are Amish and don't like photographs? Not because it's weird to photograph strangers just going about their business?

And this gem from Wade who wanted a divorce from Celeste and moved into his own apartment but, at the end of the novel when they reunite, says, "Girl, I left to get your attention."