***3.5 stars***
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I want to start off by saying I love all the literary references peppered throughout this book! And I appreciate the author putting a list of all the titles in the back of the book. There are many I knew of and some I want to look up! Of course the beautiful book cover grabbed me and the setting of a family-owned bookstore drew me in.

But it was a struggle to get into and feel out the characters. About the halfway mark they finally hit their stride and the story started coming together. I compare it to starting off slowly on a roller coaster but once the ride gets started it’s great to the end. I found myself cheering for Madeline, Claire, and even Janet! I loved how redemption was shown in a true-to-life situation and that forgiveness is messy but yields the fruit of peace.

I'm not quite sure how this book ended up on my to read list. I'm guessing, I saw a book about books, didn't really read the synopsis, and added it. It was a little cheesy for my taste, kind of how I picture a Hallmark Movie (I haven't actually watched one though).

Though there were a few story lines about finding love, and finding forgiveness, it kind of read like a christian romance, with not quite enough religion to call it that, but still a bit much for my taste. Despite all this, toward the end, I really did get sucked in, wanting to read what I knew would inevitably happen. I guess it was predictable in a comforting way, and I can totally see why so many people would love this book.

As these types of books go, it was good, just not quite my cup of tea.

I love books about books and bookshops and friends and love and...So yea, I love this book. Anytime I get in the middle and feel so much anguish over the character's problems that I find myself wanting to skim ahead, it's a really good thing, and that's what I did with this book! My favorite thing of all about this story is the way these character's change, especially how a few of them learn to own up to her mistakes and apologize well. This one switches back and forth between three narrators, their perspectives, their stories (and the way they intertwine). A fun read, but not short on significance.

This book has been sitting on my shelf for longer than I’d care to admit. I’ve even had the audiobook for a while. I’m so glad I buddy read this with a friend to have the little nudge I needed to read it. And now I’m upset with myself for waiting so long!

This is a sweet story of three women who are brought together over a bookstore and by the deceased owner of that bookstore. Her relationship with each woman wasn’t always a great one, but her love of books and each woman created a bond that was so strong.

I read The London House by Katherine Reay a few months ago and I look forward to reading more of her backlist!

I liked this. Parts felt as though it was trying too hard. Parts felt as though they sparkled with wit. Then entire thing was enjoyable. I liked the "seasoned protagonists" as two of our main characters, and the clever writing with regard to one of their viewpoints.

Undeniably sweet chic lit. But I liked it anyway. ;-)

Finished it in a day, much more of a page turner then I thought it would be and perfect summer read!

ETA: The people who keep talking about how two stories are told in 1st person but Claire's is told in 3rd: I think they're missing the point. The last couple chapters of Claire's are told in 1st person. Claire's big "issue" through the whole thing is that she doesn't "tell her own story", as Janet says. After she takes back control over her household, she begins to tell her own story in 1st person. Annoying way to write a book? Probably. But the author is trying to be clever.

This was a difficult story for me. Reading it over the course of 24 hours, I had to walk away a couple times as it was really stressful. This was NOT a good Shabbat read — I had a lot of anxiety today. Haha! The three women in the story have their own issues to work out, but one in particular hit too close to home. One woman has an affair which wrecks her husband, alienates her children, and destroys her marriage. She has her own redemption story, and I’m thankful for that, but having my own mother do the same thing when I was a child— well, let’s just say it was very difficult to have sympathy for this character or to rejoice in her growth. All the attempts to make me feel compassion for this woman… My thoughts went to: “but has she apologized to her daughter?” “This is what she deserves for leaving.“ “Your choices have consequences." “How dare you feel jealousy when he tries to move on when you’re the one who left him?” All thoughts I’ve thought and words I’ve said to my own mother over the years. (We have a great relationship now, by the grace of God).

This line from pg. 157 sums up the epitome of the thinking that gets dissatisfied women to the place of having an affair: ”Seth shone whenever I came near, and the adoration made me glow too. … When did feeling that glow, chasing that adoration, become more than loving that man?” Water your own grass, ladies. Then it will be green on your side too.

This book is about taking responsibility for our actions and trusting God’s plan for refinement. It’s a great story — I just had to get far enough in to see it.

I did struggle early on because I felt there were way too many characters to keep straight so early. At about 20 pages in, I went back and started over so I could get everyone straight. It was also difficult because there was a lot of alluding to peoples’ issues but it took a long time to get to any backstory for context. I liked this book better the more I got into it, but it’s definitely not something I could have put down and come back to. Way too much going on with too many similar characters.

RATING: 2.5 STARS
2019; Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins

I was expecting more from this novel especially as it had such a pretty cover and great synopsis. The characters didn't feel really, and I could not get into the story. I would try another novel by Reay.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss/NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***