The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson is a charming, feel-good read set in a cozy small-town atmosphere. The story follows Maggie as she takes over a struggling bookshop and, through her unconventional methods, revitalizes both the shop and the town's sense of community. The book shines with humor and bookish references, making it especially enjoyable for those who love stories about books and bookstores.

While the plot can be a bit predictable at times, its warmth and the likable, relatable protagonist more than make up for it. If you're in the mood for something lighthearted and uplifting, this book delivers a delightful escape.

I really enjoyed this quick read, despite the fact that I didn’t like Maggie at all. She just made too many bad choices. I did love the quirky small town charm of Bell River and although I’m not a fan of books where lies are the main catalyst for the plot, Robinson’s easy readability pushed this up from three stars to four.

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson is a delightful read perfect for book lovers who adore lighthearted, relaxing stories about self-discovery, romance, and the power of books, set against the charming backdrop of a small town with a rich literary history.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I really enjoyed this one! I liked Maggie's story about learning to love books after having the classics shoved at her in school but that classics aren't bad - as many in her bookclub liked the classics and her love interest does as well - but they aren't the only worthwhile books to read. That's something I love about books - there are so many good ones (and also bad ones) in the world!
It was also nice to take a breath with this book as I ease into the holiday season with some more light/middle grade reading. I have some heavier nonfiction books that I plan on finishing, but it's nice to take time to read a book that is "my" age and that I'm not evaluating for potential younger readers, but reading all for myself. Part of the problem of working as a librarian means that I never quite turn off the little reader's advisory part of my brain and it was nice to take a wee bit of a break with this one. I would recommend this one instead of "The Bookish Life of Nina Hill" because it was so much more relatable of a protagonist for me.

I read The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks because I liked her other book Must Love Books but this one didn't keep my attention. The relationship did not develop and the characters were not very compelling. I like books about booksellers as I was a bookseller for seven years but this one was not great for me.

I enjoyed this book! I liked that the author took a non reading character and made her fall in love with reading. The party ideas are a great idea and I wanted to attend them myself.

The side characters are fun and interesting. I enjoyed watching the character’s idea for the bookshop transform the shop in subtle ways.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Found family + a lil romance + a mystery + BOOKS = A delightful read!

I am always going to read a book set in a bookshop. Shauna Robinson's The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks is witty mix of lovely characters and small-town hijinks. Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to take over her friend's bookstore and nothing will ever be the same.

This is more than just a light rom com with its side of mystery. The uneven pacing means the book drags a bit, but it's an overall charming story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I put off on reading this - but finally got around to it! As I've said before I love books about books and this was no exception! I loved hearing about how Maggie loved to read and the other characters talk about how much they love reading. I was concerned with the gambles Maggie wanted to make in regards to someone elses business but sometimes disruption and fresh ideas help things begin anew. Overall I thought this book was a good read. Thanks for the ARC!

As we currently live in a world where books are banned, this was a great story about how change and diversity are so important in today's literary landscape.

Who doesn't love a book about bookstores?! It's a lovely read with some great characters that you'll want to learn more about along the way.

4/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cute romance, easy to follow, happy ending. I read this one for banned books week, not realizing that the the title referred to all books that were not classics, not the typical “banned and challenged” titles.

Maggie is really most of us: Feeling lost in life especially when everyone else seems to have their stuff together. In Maggie’s story, it’s clear that she just hadn’t found something that she was passionate about because the effort she puts into certain things in the new community she finds herself a part of was quite beautiful to read.

I was struggling to figure out what to read so I finally decided to pick this one up, and it was perfect for the transition from summer to fall. The story of a woman who is suddenly in charge of a very complicated bookstore, it's full of fall vibes, a fun romance, quirky characters, and small town charm. Highly recommend for fans of Kerry Winfrey and Abbi Waxman. I can't wait to read more from Robinson!

While I enjoyed the premise of this book and the ending of this book, I felt there was a lot I trudged through to get there….. the odd characters, grumpy Ralph, loner Vernon and confusing Malcom….. all with a lot of lies by Maggie. I didn’t dislike her but I didn’t love her. Overall I’m glad I read this book, but it took a long time for me to get through it…,
Thanks to Net Galley for the advanced copy .

Maggie Banks is not what the Bell River society wants in their small town, but she’s what they need. She has to push through a lot of obstacles and barriers while trying not to ruin her best friend’s livelihood in the process.

I quite enjoyed this feminist look at literature and small towns.

I'm always a fan of a book about a bookshop. I like that there is a community of people that love, support and do good things for those around them. I love to stop and witness the moments of kindness in the world and loved that this book had them.

While I was impressed with the lengths Maggie would go to try and save the bookshop, I was surprised the risks she took with someone else's livelihood.

I enjoyed watching Maggie grow and while I wasn't sure it was a good idea in this instance, I loved the underground book sales and book club.

Overall the book was entertaining and charming and had me chuckle a few times.

Very cute novel! Enjoyed the characters. The story line was engaging. Great way to wrap up the story!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark, Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book about a woman who moves to a small town and solves a mystery, falls in love and finds herself.

This book is rich with amazing other characters and a compelling storyline that draws the reader in. It's a little about feminism and a little about found family. There's also rampant misogyny and crimes again femanity (not a real word - don't care).

If you like stories about books, about how history has been shaped and how we can reframe it for future generations, this is the book for you.