This was a really fun read. I enjoyed the portrayal of the town, the characters, and especially of the special events Maggie organizes. I'll be recommending it widely!

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it in advance of publication.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this new novel.

This was a sweet story but for me it fell flat because Maggie felt so non-real. I know this is fiction but when everything goes the protagonist way, it's not fun to read. Even though she messed up she all of the sudden had become best friends with everybody in town. I want more friction and obstacles than this :)

This was a quick and cute fun read. There were some interesting characters In this story that showed how some small town people are sometimes quirky and out of touch with what happens in big cities.
I found the Society a little unbelievable as I find it hard to imagine a struggling business would allow a group of people dictate what they can
sell.
What I did love is Maggie's journey from reluctant book store owner to coming up with creative ways to improve the book store and sell more modern books.
If you love books that are about books than this is the read for you.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and OrangeSky Audio for advanced digital and audio copies of this title.

Maggie Banks is struggling in life. She's a college graduate living at home with her parents and working at a job that she doesn't love. When her best friend needs her to run her bookshop while on maternity leave, Maggie comes to her aid. The bookstore isn't doing so well because it can only sell classics and who wants to buy nothing but classics? As a hater of classics, I loved this aspect of the book! Luckily, Maggie has a creative side that can turn the bookshop's fate around, but it involves breaking some long-held traditions and a few rules. Can Maggie give the people of Bell River the books they want and keep the store afloat without getting in trouble? This is a cozy read/listen that I think many readers will enjoy. It gave me Jenny Colgan bookshop vibes for sure.

There are a lot of secrets in this book, and I'm not sure if I was some of the characters if I would forgive as easily as they do. However, with that said, this is a super cute book. Maggie is helping her friend out by running her bookstore while she is out on maternity leave. But this bookshop isn't allowed to sell any contemporary books and when Maggie has the bestsellers and tourist attractions taken away from her, she has to think up another way to increase revenue.

Maggie is seriously talented in creating, planning, and throwing events. Her idea to combine classics with a contemporary spin is magnificent. What I would give to be able to attend those events - especially the spin on Moby Dick, Hunting for Dick. It sounds so hilarious, and I would love to find similar events to attend in real life. The friends Maggie makes are also so fun. I especially love Vernon.

There are a few twists and turns in this book that I didn't see coming, but they were so great. And then ending...it seems to be perfect for Maggie. Overall, I gave The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Bates ⭐⭐⭐⭐.

I got about 20% into this book and I did not want to put it down. If I didn't have to go to work I would have sat and read all day!

Who doesn't love a book about books. But this was so much more. At 28 Maggie Banks is adrift. She's is unemployed, living with her parents and not sure what she wants to do with her life.

Maggie's friend, Rochelle manages a bookstore. She's about to have a baby and take 4 months of leave. This provides a great opportunity for Maggie. She can help Rochelle while she's on leave and get some space to try and figure out what's next for her.

Bell River, Maggie's temporary home for the next few months, is known for being home to a famous author and the literary society in Bell River dictates that the book store sells only books from the authors era. Maggie isn't much of a reader, but she definitely isn't interested in the classics.

Maggie tries to ingratiate herself into this small town, she is even determined to make friends with the grumpy upstairs neighbor of the bookstore. But, she's also rebelling against the strict limits forced on the bookshop and the town.

Reading has always been so important to me. Not everyone finds as much enjoyment in it. Maggie certainly doesn't, but she comes to discover that's because in school she never had a say in what she was reading. Someone's definition of literature and what was worthy of reading was always thrust upon her.

“I spent years getting classics like these shoved down my throat, and it made me hate reading".

Classics definitely are important and have a place in the literary world, but by limiting what someone reads, you are limiting their access to different voices, with different lived experiences and different points of views. Plus, who should decide what books are worthy of being read.

That was one thing I really loved about this book. I love how the author addresses what turns so many people off of reading. She also calls out those who look down on others for their choice of genre, thinking some books are lesser than others. And most importantly how restricting access to books can silence some very important and historically underrepresented voices.

Maggie is just such an awesome character. She's such an extrovert, and she has such amazing skills, but she's always lived with what she thinks is this very linear path her life should take. The trouble is, that path doesn't make her happy. Throughout this book, Maggie discovers her talents, she realizes that her life doesn't have to follow a traditional path and that she can have a fulfilling life using her talents.

"I wasn’t an aimless wanderer who gave in too easily to distraction. I was driven . I had purpose. It was just a purpose that didn’t fit the mold of what people typically wanted from me".

I adored this book and think everyone should add it to there list to read!

Thank you @Netgalley and @sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unemployed and living at home, twenty eight year old Maggie Banks isn’t sure what she’s looking for but she knows she hasn’t found it yet. When her heavily pregnant best friend, Rochelle, suggests Maggie comes to Bell River to help out at her bookstore for a few months, Maggie leaps at the opportunity for a change of scenery.

Though she hasn’t read a book in years Maggie is confident she can handle managing Cobblestones Books, but she isn’t prepared for the strict rules the store operates under. Like most businesses in Bell River, the shop plays a role in promoting the literary legacy of the late Edward Bell, which draws a steady stream of tourists to the town. The store hosts Bell’s writing desk, where he wrote his most celebrated novel, features his oeuvre, and is only permitted to stock classics written before the authors death in the late 1960’s. Adherence to the guidelines of the Bell Society, run by Bell’s descendant, Ralph, who has financial interest in several of the towns businesses including the bookstore, are rigorously enforced and it doesn’t take long for Maggie to run afoul of them.

Maggie is a likeable character, she’s a people person, warm and friendly but also a little impulsive and even reckless. I love her subversive solutions to the store’s financial issues, which include launching a clandestine book club with its own unique twist, but it’s a risky move. Maggie means well but she has nothing to lose, whereas her co-conspirators, and Rochelle, who knows nothing of Maggie’s machinations, do.

Malcolm, Ralph Bell’s assistant, is pretty clear he won’t risk his job for Maggie, even though he is clearly attracted to her. Their romance is a case of opposites attract, and I liked the way Robinson developed their relationship, though I think Maggie does take advantage.

There’s some exploration in the story about the value of classic literature vs genre fiction, an age old debate. I also liked the small thread of mystery involving the authorship of Edward Bell’s famous book. There are some glaring holes in the plot overall though which some might find hard to overlook, but the conclusion is quite satisfying.

A light and engaging read, The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks has elements that will appeal to book lovers, and readers who appreciate a happy ending.

This book was an unexpected delight and very quick lighthearted read! I absolutely enjoyed Maggie and her distracted mind, and her unknown yearning for something that she cannot yet identify. But we follow her journey through this discovery to find her passion. And I'm a sucker for a book about bookshops and books. I would also label this book as an adult contemporary with a very small dose of romance.

Set in a small town known for its literary success of Edward Bell, Maggie Banks is helping out run her best friend Rochelle's bookstore while she is about to give birth to her second child. The bookstore is, however, restricted to only books published before 1968 and can only sell classics due to Ralph Bell wishing to retain the legacy of his grandfather. Maggie doesn't mind as this is only a gig to sustain her while she job hunts, and she was glad to escape her parent's home.

Although there are mentions of serious topics, they're not explored in depth as Maggie only wishes to make sure she's making enough profits as Rochelle has financial constraints. There is the main topic of “banned books”, and Maggie decides to sell books that aren’t classics to the townsfolk. Maggie certainly likes creative solutions and it does pay off with standing up against one man who essentially controls the town’s economy.

Maggie as a protagonist is charismatic, looks for a fun time, and learns she may have a passion for reading. But she isn't without flaws, including what I interpret as being slightly manipulative to people that are close to her. Those characters were quite quick to forgive Maggie and that made for the ending to feel rushed but to be tied with a neat knot. Also, the romance with Malcolm was decent enough, I liked them together and they have a steady sort of chemistry that isn't all too exciting to read.

Still an enjoyable read with fun comedic moments and highlights the small fights that people may go through!

Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. My first time reading from this author and it definitely won't be my last. This book was such a delightful read from start to finish. Maggie is helping out her pregnant friend by managing the bookstore for her. This means she has moved to a small town, has zero friends around her oh and she isn't even a reader so she doesn't understand why anyone would be a bookworm. Firstly I admit I am always drawn to books about bookstores, readers, book clubs etc and the title of this book alone drew me in. But a title alone cannot hold you snuggled up reading with a smile on your face for 2 entire afternoons...only a well written book with likeable characters, believable plot lines, humour, friendships and some romance can do that and this book has it all. A captivating read that left me wanting to read more books from this author. #shaunarobinson #thebannedbookshopofmaggiebanks #tea_sipping_bookworm #netgalley #goodreads #thestorygraph #litsy #amazonaustralia #bookqueen #bookstagram #chicklit

Maggie is unsure of what she wants to do in life when she agrees to take over running a bookshop while her friend Rochelle is on maternity leave. When she arrives though, she realizes there is more to the job than she realized. The bookshop is in a town dominated by a historical society of an author that lived there. Because of that, the store can only sell classics written before a certain year. Maggie decides to rebel secretly and start hosting events from more modern authors. As she starts trying to bring the store a new life, she starts to find her purpose.

I liked this book. It was cute and would be a good beach read. The writing wasn't my favorite, and there were points I felt the plot was a little slow. Overall though, a cute book!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Though the main character is a bit lost and has little direction in life, she’s feisty and has talents. She just hasn’t found the career for that would make use of her talents. We follow her, flounderingly, into helping out a friend by managing her bookshop, the last place you’d want someone working who doesn’t read!. And of course, there’s a bit of a romance sub plot. It’s a bit of a fun, light, quick read.

You know what someone should write a book about?

A protagonist who hates books (said no one who reads books).

Maggie Banks is a directionless woman who graduated from Berkeley yet can’t seem to keep a job. She proudly “hasn’t read a book since college,” so it makes total sense that her friend who runs a bookshop thinks it’s a good idea to hire her. Wait…what?

Look, obviously, this character is going to learn to love books by the end of the novel and all, but as a person who acquired this book because y’ know, I like books, how am I going to relate to this woman enough to want to stick around throughout her “journey.”

The idea might fly if she were unlikable but interesting, but that’s not the case either, because she spends all of her time making mean-spirited and unfunny jokes about anyone who has any real enthusiasm for pretty much anything.

Not everyone is reader. Not everyone needs to be. But there’s a big difference between simply not enjoying reading (or anything else, for that matter) as a hobby and actively sneering at others enthusiasm for it. Aren’t we, especially as women, past the point where we think we’re funny when we yuck someone else’s yum? It just makes the character seem bitter, pathetic, and embarrassing.

She has particular animosity for the classics, which is about as goofily argued as the broader “I’m not a reader” schlock. This fussing starts as soon as she realizes what the store sells (only classics), because, y’know, “that stuff they make you read in English class.” <Rolls eyes>

Later she comes around to *some* books, but continues to abhor the classics, through various nonsensical and ignorant arguments such as that the shop founders choice to sell them exclusively is a form of “gatekeeping.” Oof. Maybe Maggie should <the horror!> read something once in a while to avoid making these sorts of embarrassing contextual errors.

I think it’s absolutely fine not to enjoy classics. I read across many genres, some highbrow, some decidedly not, and not every type of book is for everyone. But most people who don’t enjoy a certain genre manage to recognize that as a personal choice instead of attempting to mock it to anyone who happens to like it.

Maggie’s specific arguments against classic literature are also reductive and at times, outright incorrect. Don’t they make you take a few English classes at Berkeley, whether you enjoy the subject or not? Sigh.

Anyway, between the proud ignorance of a woman plenty smart enough to know better and achieve better, and her sad, bitter desire to belittle other people’s joy, this book is borderline unreadable and I probably would have DNF’ed it had it not been an ARC received in exchange for review. Does Maggie become less awful by the end of the story? Sure, but she never becomes truly likable, relatable, or interesting.

There are so many cute and fun pieces of fiction set in bookstores. Do yourself a huge favor and skip this one.

I really enjoyed this title. It was a super fast read, fun, heartwarming and had a nice tie up at the end. I was getting a little worried at 75% in with very minor conflict and then the third act really brought the drama, had a realistic solution, sealed the deal for me.

I really really enjoyed reading this book! It was a lighthearted, low stakes, and quick read but packed a punch in the "yes girl, you stick it to the man!" department. Maggie will make you so freaking proud because she is not afraid to take risks and is never ashamed to do what she feels is right. I had both the Kindle and audio ARCs of this book, which made reading it quickly a breeze. My only complaint is one that I'm sure will be caught in editing--at the end of chapter 31, there is a snippet of shuffling papers and the narrator (jovially) sighing.

There's a cute little romance as a subplot that kept me cheesing like an idiot, and the grumpy-sunshine friendship that Maggie develops with the bookshop's upstairs neighbor is absolutely precious. We stan Vernon!

A charming fun read. I was cheering Maggie on throughout the whole book. This book is great for relaxing and needing a good laugh.

Maggie has to help her best friend run her struggling book store, but she is surprised to find out that the town has a famously bookish history that insists on keeping it stuck in the past. So to help save the store, she starts running an underground book club.
This is a light and easy read, funny, with a great premise that sadly fell a bit flat. I couldn't relate to any of the characters and they lacked depth. However, I loved to see Maggie turn from a non reader to a reader - one more for the team!
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Maggie Banks is one of those characters I could read adventures about in book after book. She takes the most mundane events and creates havoc (in a good way). I loved the premise of Maggie against the establishment. The historical society that was forcing the local bookstore, owned by Maggie's bestie to only sell approved books. The way she got around the restrictions was funny and entertaining. Add in some solid romance and this book is 100% a new favorite read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book!
It's the perfect cozy, read in a cute cafe book with a lovely cup of hot tea.
The main character is super cute and it was a good book.
This was the first time I've read a book by this author and I would read more of their work.

This was an interesting and enjoyable read.
While she was trying to help her friend that was going on a maternity leave, Maggie finds herself in an interesting situation.
I thought that working in a bookstore Is fun and meeting new people every day and talk books was a great way to spend your time. But nothing is as easy as it seems for Maggie.
She soon finds out that the bookshop only sells old and special editions, they are about to close if a revamp is not done and the infuriating boss is not helping at all. So she starts bringing trouble while trying to solve a bigger problem overall.
It was a quick, fun and lovely story overall. I don’t think i would have had her courage to do all those schemes behind my boss’s nose but it all worked out well in the end.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

Maggie thought she was going to run a small town bookshop while her friend finished off her pregnancy. Thankfully for the reader, that isn't quite what happens! Instead, she finds a town that is controlled by the legacy of a famous author and a bookstore that is limited to only selling classics, as determined by the famous author's grandson. Not comfortable with those limitations, Maggie begins her subversive activities and the store begins to thrive. Let the shenanigans commence! This was a campy quick read that warmed this reader's heart as well as feed my love of mystery. The characters were fun to get to know but I would have loved to learn more about many of the people who inhabited the town that weren't central to the story. It felt like characters were outlined but only colored in if they needed to be to serve the plot. But, what a wild ride plot it was! Grab a cup of tea and an apple cheddar muffin, find a cozy spot, and enjoy!