This just wasn't for me. It felt like the author didn't know what direction they wanted to take the story in.

"Bookish People" presents a charming and witty exploration of the eccentric world of independent bookstores, spotlighting Sophie Bernstein's struggles and triumphs. Burned out and mourning, Sophie's desire for seclusion clashes with the arrival of renowned poet Raymond Chaucer. The narrative cleverly weaves together themes of grief, family, and literary passion. The intergenerational cast, featuring oblivious authors and overqualified booksellers, adds depth and humor. The intriguing subplot of Clemi's quest to uncover her parentage enhances the story's emotional layers. This big-hearted screwball comedy, complete with a delightful Russian tortoise named Kurt Vonnegut Jr., captures the quirks of those who cherish good books.

This was a cute bookish story. I absolutely love the cover of the physical book.
I feel I wanted a bit more of the story at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for the complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely mine.

This could’ve been a really good book. Unfortunately endless monologues and an alarming amount of talk about vacuums destroyed it for me. Would not recommend.

This book was a little hard for me to get into. I finished reading but it did take me a little bit to get into. There were quite a few sub plots going that didn't do it for me. There were some funny moments in the book that I did enjoy. I will be attempting to read this book again. See how I feel with a second read through.

This book was way too slow for me. The plot did not seem to move at all. I felt like the author made the main character a bit ridiculous in her want to hide away in the bookshop. How would that even work? Too unbelievable for me.

One of the strengths of "Bookish People" is its portrayal of the quirky and complex characters that inhabit the literary scene. The characters are vividly drawn and, at times, relatable. Coll's insights into the dynamics of the publishing industry and the writer's life add authenticity to the narrative.

However, the plot itself can feel somewhat disjointed and lacks a cohesive central storyline. The various subplots, while individually interesting, do not always come together in a satisfying way. This can make the narrative feel fragmented and, at times, slow-paced.

Additionally, some readers may find the satirical humor employed by the author to be hit-or-miss. While some moments are genuinely amusing, others may come across as forced or overly exaggerated, affecting the overall tone of the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Sadly this one was too messy to be enjoyable. The premise (bookstore! DC!) enticed me, but the book didn’t live up to that hype at all.

This "bookish" book follows a few people who work at a bookshop in Washington DC over the course of a hectic week. I jumped on it because I am indeed a bookish person too! But I didn't love it as much as I thought I would.

It was a quirky "dramedy" - I think it's meant to be a comedy but the way the main character is acting it often felt to be about mental health too (although the author never really deals with it?).

A series of unfortunate events happens and it's meant to be funny, but it turned a bit ridicule, maybe because of the writing. I felt some of the chapters felt unmoored in reality and others felt very grounded, so it wasn't very consistent.

I liked the more serious stuff that was mentioned, like the socio-political context, but it didn't feel like it went anywhere or was addressed.

Did not finish this one. It was just boring and flat. I thought it was going to be great from the synopsis and cover, but it just didn’t have the follow through.

I have tried to review this book several times and each time I have to reread the jacket description to remind me what the story was. If I can't remember it then it isn't a book I can recommend. So I won't.

I love books about books! Give me all the bookstore vibes. I was a bit sad to find out I didn't love this as much as I wanted to. The subplots/time/POVs were a bit confusing. I will definitely keep a look out for more from this author but wasn't too thrilled with this one. Thank you so much for the chance to review.

Amazing summer read that is both funny and witty and entertaining. I loved the insight into the running of a bookstore and it was a great read!

I was very excited about this title, but I have had difficulty getting into the book. I have currently marked as DNF, but will be reattempting in the future as I am a mood reader. However, from what I did read I really enjoyed. I think the main problem for me was the book didn’t instantly hook me and I felt like I was having to work a bit to get started on this story. I am excited to try this book when I am in a different headspace and will be updating my review.

Can there just be more and more and MORE books about bookstores and libraries! This was so fun! This was such an unputdownable book!

I saw the cover of this book and immediately was intrigued. I love books, bookish people, and animals so if you love those things too, you will love this book! The writing wasn't the best and I didn't really care for the political parts of the book. There were also a little too many sub-plots going on within the book.

As a reader requesting books about books is a must but this one disappointed me. It was just stupid and none of the characters were well developed. It was too whimsical and far-fetched.

As a reader who loves independent bookstores, I read any and every book I can that takes place in one. "Bookish People" is the exact kind of quirky and moving that I like best.

A wonderful cast of characters emerges in Coll's world, each one with their own problems and concerns: finding their biological father, dealing with the recent death of a spouse, or keeping their career on track after a national scandal. Just reading that sentence makes me want to read it again for the very first time! Huge fan of Coll and her work, and this book cemented my lifelong affection for her writing.

DNF -- I got 100 pages in and couldn't finish. I love the cover and the description is really fun, but the long chapters and so many points of view had me losing the thread of the story, and losing interest.

I really could not get into this one. I didn't enjoy the writing style or the vignette style. Just didn't work for me at all.