It's not a bad book, it's just not a book with a narration of my style.

It is a tender and perfect story to read on a quiet afternoon, it is one of those books that make you feel good. But, my problem was that I couldn't connect with the characters and how their personalities are presented at the beginning: one of them is very rude and the other boring. And the insta-love doesn't convince me, it's actually one of the cliches that I always hate in books hahaha so that's why I didn't like it so much.

If you don't mind insta-love and a plot that goes very fast without going deep into anything, then I don't think you loathe the book. I think you have to take it for what it is: a light reading

Entertaining

The Beautiful Things Shoppe was such a delightful and enjoyable read. A slow burn, fluffy , angsty , low heat, so sweet -it could induce anyone into a diabetic coma- and totally what I needed to escape all stressful things happening around me.

I just reviewed The Beautiful Things Shoppe by Philip William Stover. #TheBeautifulThingsShoppe #NetGalley

"The Beautiful Things Shoppe" had the potential to be the perfect, fluffy, wintertime novel. I found it still quite fluffy and sweet, but I didn't enjoy it as I hoped.
The first half of the book was much more to my tastes, it had that "enemies to lovers" and "opposites attract" vibes that I love so much, but the second half just dragged a bit too much.
I think the main reason I didn't like this book was Danny. Sure, he's funny and endearing at times, but he was so quick to make assumptions and so immature that I found it very very diffucult to read his chapters.
Preston, on the other hand, was adorable and lovely and he deserves the very best: he's probably the reason why I'm rating this book 3 stars instead of 2.
One thing I really appreciated is how well his anxiety his represented. I'm not sure if this was the author's intention, so I apologize if I'm making an assumption, but he comes across as non-neurotypical and demisexual, so kudos for that great representation.
I also adored the small-town atmosphere and sense of community this novel is full of

A 5-star read! An absolute delight!

The perfect antidote to pandemic stress - or at any time.

Because ‘The Hideway Inn’ by Philip William Stover is one of my favorite gay romance novels, and because authors often fail to live up to their first hit when they publish a second novel in a series, I approached ‘The Beautiful Things Shoppe’ (Seasons of New Hope #2) with real trepidation.

I needn’t have worried.

Before I finished reading the first few pages, I knew that Stover had written another great read. This second book in the Seasons of New Hope series is clearly lighter and more carefree than the first, but it’s definitely the perfect escape needed at this time.

The two beautifully created main characters come from very different backgrounds; approach life from very different perspectives; and have each been left hurt and distrusting of others following previous failed affairs.

This time, the protagonists are Prescott J. Henderson (Press), the reserved, highly educated, fine arts dealer and Danny Roman, an openly gay extraordinary extrovert who immediately befriends everyone he meets - everyone that is, except Press.

As the story begins, Danny and Press are about to discover they they’ve each rented one half of a charming little store in New Hope. At the time they signed their leases (without carefully reading them), each thought he’d secured a great bargain for an entire building. Not only are their personalities diametrically opposed, but the items they collect, cherish, and in many instances hope to sell, couldn’t be more different.

‘The Beautiful Things Shoppe’ is set in the magical, but very real town of New Hope in Bucks County, PA.

New Hope is just across the Delaware River from the equally quaint community of Lamberville, NJ. The stunning Lambertville to New Hope Bridge, a mixed use pedestrian and highway span linking the two communities, plays more than one critical role in this story.

The narrative is not limited to the forced business relationship between Danny and Press. It rapidly escalates to cover the uncanny ability they have to make snap judgements and false assumptions about each other.

Yes, many of the interactions are repetitive, and yes, more than once I wanted to physically grab and shake one or both of them out of their stubborn refusal to see what’s right in front of them, and, yes, the reader knows from the very beginning how this story will end, but getting there is ultimately so satisfying.

The novel is filled with wonderful supporting characters, including Danny's best friend, Lizard, and Uncle Arthur, the owner of the shop he rented to Danny and Press. Of course there are charters who are also worthy of the reader’s scorn, the principal one being Jefferson Worthington (Worth).

Ultimately, the resolution to the growing rift between Press and Danny comes during New Hopes’ spectacular Annual Winter Festival. To say any more here would require a serious spoiler alert!

One of the real joys of this second volume in the Seasons of New Hope series was the cameo appearance of so many of my favorite characters form ‘The Hideaway Inn’. It was wonderful to learn a bit more about how their lives were progressing.

‘The Beautiful Things Shoppe’ is a charming mixture of emotional levels:
Chuckle inducing - 5
Tear inducing - 5
Angst - 4+
Heat - 2
and
Pure Joy - 5+

My big disappointment is that the author doesn’t write as quickly as I read. I’ll simply have to wait for Seasons of New Hope, Book 3.

Please, Philip William Stover, don’t make us wait too long.

I received an Advance Review Copy of ‘The Beautiful Things Shoppe’ from NetGalley and HARLEQUIN - Carina Press in exchange for an honest review. #TheBeautifulThingsShoppe #NetGalley