What a fabulously warming book! Perfect for book clubs to read and discuss too.... a host of great characters, and even some brilliant book suggestions within the pages of this book, about books! What could be more perfect?

The book haters club was a book about a woman trying to decide on the fate of her bookstore but why is she just jumping in. Secrets are revealed and I love the actual book recommendations!! Not my favorite book but it wasn’t a bad read!

I did not love this one. It was ok. I really could not connect with the characters. I could not get into the story. I sat it down a few times. But I think it was just not a good fit for me.

Great story of family and sibling dynamics. I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the book references sprinkled throughout were a delight as well.

Ugh!

The entire first half of the book is boring and I did not care for any of the characters. It only picks up in the last half of the book and by then I did not care. I am surprised I stuck it out to the end.

I had high hopes for this title, but for me it half way delivered too late.

Being 100% honest here, the name is totally what hooked me and had me checking this book out, and I am so glad that I did.
This was a cute story about family, friendship, love, loss and secrets. Family took on many different shapes in this book; the family you're given, the family you make, and the family you keep. I loved the dynamic between Laney and Bree, sister not by birth, but by heart. They had some of the best banter, and even when they were incredibly frustrated with each other, you could tell there was still love there. Thom, oh Thom, you had my heart from the beginning. You made me laugh and cry and you brought an honesty to this story that was key. Irma just frustrated me. Secrets like hers are never good, especially when one conversation could have cleared up so much.
I loved that Elliot popped in from time to time to give his 2 cents. It was a fun little addition, even if it was a tad on the silly side. And any book that gives other book recommendations is a must.
If you're looking for something light, fun and feel good, go grab yourself a copy of The Book Haters Book Club.

Huge Thank you to Harper Collins for the eBook copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Love the title of this book! I had to read it just to find out who would attend a book haters’ book club if the person hates books. That had to be an interesting group of people. Perplexing at the least.

Elliott, co-owner of Minneapolis’ Over the Rainbow Bridge, has recently passed away, leaving the other co-owner, Irma, in a pickle. Business is not good, and bills are piling up. Irma is also grieving the death of her longtime boyfriend, Nestor, from cancer.

Irma calls a meeting with her two daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliott’s life partner, Thom, at the lawyer’s office. She has decided to sell to a developer who plans to raze it and replace it with high-rise condominiums.

As shocking as this decision is to the three, Bree has the most to lose. She works in the store and has assumed that she would take it over when Irma retired. Laney just wants to get back to her home in Oakland, California, and running a tire-repair shop with her husband. Thom is angry at Irma, but no one seems to know why, including Irma. The most infuriating part is that Irma won’t say why she so desperately wants to sell. This part of the plot dominates the first book’s first half.

The second half is about Irma coming clean with her secrets and what the three can do to save their relationships…and the bookstore.

The book’s title comes not from a fictional book club, but that is the name of the newsletter that Elliott sent out with reading recommendation to his customers. That title comes from Elliott’s belief that “all it takes is the right book to turn a book hater into a book lover.” He wasn’t actively trying to turn non-readers into readers, and, truthfully, I don’t get it. Readers are treated to a few of the newsletters. Cute and interesting, but they do not push the plot forward. And neither does periodic visits from Elliott in the form of the Forward, Commercial Breaks, Intermission, Curtain Call and One Last Thing…They’re creepy.

“The Book Haters’ Book Club” receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

What really worked for me was the book recommendations and the love for booksellers and librarians. Please support your local indie bookstores! I really enjoyed falling in love with Irma and Elliot's undefinable relationship and Laney and Bree's personal lives and fleshing out of their stories. I really grew to trust and love Thom, I really wanted everyone to get along and fight the goof fight together. They grew to be family and I just loved their whole journey.

The writing was a little too slow-paced for me. I kept wondering how the story could be condensed without losing the magic. I kept wanting to put the book down for a whole week or moments before I remembered I am not a quitter and really want to finish this good story. Overall, I found myself breathing a sigh of relief after finally finding out Elliot's secrets and what was being held back plot wise.

Pretty decent read and again, I will be writing down all the book recs the newsletter in the novel provided. Thank you for the ARC Harlequin Trade Publishing, Net Galley and of course the wonderful Gretchen Anthony.

This book is as much an ode to reading and librarians as a novel about a bookstore. Bree and Laney are shocked to find out their mother, Irma, is ready to sell “Over the Rainbow”, a bookstore to a condo developer. As Bree and Laney work to get to the reason why their mother is selling, their relationship deepens. Adding to this are the book recommendations throughout the book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This is the perfect light and pleasant book especially if you’re a book lover. I enjoyed the characters and all the bookish references

Bree is devastated that her mother Irma is selling Over the Rainbow bookstore with no explanation to her, her sister Laney or Thom (co-owner Eliot's partner). Thom is angry because he feels he may be cheated out of Eliot's share. Laney doesn't really care as she left town years ago and is using the situation as a means to escape. The story gets off to a slow start waiting for the reason Irma is selling, but the backstory is engaging and interesting. Interspersed between the story is an interlude from deceased Eliot that at times was distracting. But overall a delightful story.

Elliot is co-owner with Irma, co-owner of the neighborhood independent bookstore. Elliot dies unexpectedly so Irma decides to sell the bookstore. Her daughters are upset when they hear that the bookstore is going to be sold as they spent happy hours there as children. Thom, Elliot’s romantic partner is upset about the bookstore being put up for sale too. Thom and Irma’s daughters decide to work together to stop the sale of the bookstore,
each for their own reasons. Will they be able to stop the sale of the bookstore?

The author has written a book that includes eccentric characters and energetic relationships. There is humor throughout the story which I enjoyed. It includes the importance of family and friends relationship. I enjoyed Elliot’s recommendations for “real” books to read. I think I will be reading some of them. It’s a feel-good novel to read.

Such a sweet & endearing book. A family drama that is centered around a family bookstore that may possibly be sold. I loved the story of the family ups and downs and the solution that they come to for Over the Rainbow book store. This is a feel good read that I really did enjoy.

When Irma decides to sell her bookstore to condo developers after the death of her business partner, Elliott, her daughters Bree and Laney investigate why their mom would sell it. With the help of Thom, Elliott’s partner, Bree and Laney attempt to do whatever it takes to save the book store. Will they be able to save it in time?

This book was a fun ode to book lovers everywhere – there were references to well known books, small interludes of the newsletter that the bookstore used to send out, and small town vibes to wrap it all up. It was enjoyable and well written, but there were a few things that bothered me and at some points the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I think a wide audience would enjoy it, but especially book lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Canada for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

The Book Haters’ Book Club by Gretchen Anthony is a contemporary fiction novel with a bit of mystery for book lovers with recommendations coming throughout the story. The story in The Book Haters’ Book Club is one that is told by changing the point of view between the characters and also by going between the past and the present timeline.

The Over the Rainbow bookshop is in danger. Irma began the Over the Rainbow bookstore with her partner, Elliot, and the two made the business a success. Elliot is now gone having passed away though and Irma has made up her mind that the business has to be sold despite what her daughters think but all they want is for their mother to be honest about her reasoning to sell the book store so quickly.

The first thing I will do is admit that it did take me awhile to settle into the story in The Book Haters’ Book Club by Gretchen Anthony. I felt this one got off to a slow start but once it did get going and I got settled in with the characters the pages started to go by quicker and quicker. I loved the air of mystery to what was going on and couldn’t wait to find out what would happen and I’m sure other avid readers will agree it was totally fun to hear the books mentioned all throughout the tale too. After finishing this one I’d definitely be interested in reading this author again if I get the chance.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover…
With both likeable and unique characters, this story with themes of loss, community and family was a complete delight. Eliot, co-owner of an independent bookstore in Minneapolis unexpectedly passes away. His business partner and friend, Irma, as well his partner Thom are shocked with the unfortunate situation which is compounded when Irma decides to sell the bookstore. Rich with references to Minnesota’s culture and landmarks, this story highlights the importance of communities while also emphasizing friendships and family relationships. Highly recommend this truly lovely read.

Okay, as an avid reader, this title immediately caught my attention. Was this a tongue-in-cheek title? I had to know more! Written by Gretchen Anthony, I found The Book Hater's Book Club full of surprises.

They say that people who don't read haven't found the right books for them. Perhaps that is true. It's what Elliot hoped for – and that is why he started a book club-style newsletter oriented towards people that hate reading. It was Elliot's dream to help connect people with 'their' books.

Then Elliot passed away, leaving the bookstore in the hands of his business partner, Irma. While Irma is willing to sell the bookstore and move on, others within the community aren't so willing to give up on Elliot's dreams.

I'll be the first to say that The Book Hater's Book Club had a lot of potential. Actually, on more than one occasion, I found myself wishing that the newsletter was real! I love the idea – of trying to help people find a book that can get them into reading.

Anyway, moving on. I must admit that while I enjoyed The Book Hater's Book Club, I didn't love it as much as I had expected. I think the biggest problem this novel faced was pacing. It was just too slow at points. I don't mind a novel that doesn't rush to get to the point, but I expect to get there eventually.

It felt like The Book Hater's Book Club got bogged down by the details. The first half of the novel is centered on the sale of Elliot's bookstore, which is heartbreaking. But that means that the first half of this book was spent setting the scene.

My favorite parts of the book involved Elliott's letters, which were mixed in around all of the drama and attempted to save the bookstore. I enjoyed Elliot's insight. I only wish we had seen a novel written while he was alive. That would have had so much passion in it.

I don't regret the time spent reading The Book Hater's Book Club, though obviously, there are some things I would have loved to see done differently. I can still see this as the perfect book for some readers, and I love that.

This is less a book about a book club or bookstore and more a gentle, wry treatment of human relationships and how they evolve over time.

Fans of Ruth Hogan and Jenny Colgan will enjoy this.

An enjoyable story about three people banding together to save a beloved bookstore from being sold and turned into upscaled condos. Irma and Elliott owned a bookstore. When Elliott passes away, Irma decides to sell their bookstore. One of Irma's daughters works at the store and always assumes she would inherit it. She joins Irma's other daughter and Elliott's partner Thom to stop the sale. I enjoyed the story once it got the point of them fighting the sale, but it did take a little long to reach that point. Also, Irma was very frustrating in her refusal to explain her sudden refusal to sell.

This novel describes a family's fight to save their bookshop. Secrets are revealed and all is not as it seems as the various family members work out a plan to save the shop. However, should it be saved, at least in its' present form? Other characters come alongside to assist in the decision-making, and there are many decisions to made, both personal and professional.

I did not like this book. I did not like the characters who continually argued and yelled at each other, then the ending all wrapped up neatly. The interruptions and commercial breaks seemed jolting to me and broke up the continuity of the story, although they provided some insights into the characters. The book had potential for me, but did not carry through, although other readers might enjoy it.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.