Novel Approach To Novel Writing. I *really* like what Anthony did here with the interludes throughout the book, including opening and closing. It becomes very clear (because one of the early ones is "signed') quite early exactly who this person is, but the way Anthony writes them and where she chooses to place them are indeed quite novel in my experience, and thus this book is recommendable for this feature alone. Then there are the (Minnesota-specific) actual book recommendations spiced throughout the tale, in the form of newsletters the bookstore/ book club sent out periodically. And again: *Actual. Books.*. As in, you can search for them on your preferred site and buy them yourself! Which, again, is novel and recommendable for this feature alone.

Actual story-wise, we spend the first half of the book with many of our characters in shock and trying to prevent what they see as a travesty... and then a bombshell is dropped when the answers they've been begging for are finally provided. This bombshell twists the entire book to pivot in a new direction... and gives them all much more depth. Throughout both halves there is quite a bit of humor and heart, and there are a lot of different threads and themes going on here. (So those readers that prefer a more contained/ linear / singular focused tale... I still say give this one a try, but know going in it may not be your thing.) Ultimately the story itself is strong enough here, and the novel aspects of the writing truly take this book over the top in the best ways. Very much recommended.

A thoughtful and moving read that readers and those who love books will enjoy. Anthony has a knack for developing unique, believable characters and a delightful bookstore setting.

This is an enjoyable story, but it took forever to get to the point.

Literally the entire first 50% is about the pending sale of the Over the Rainbow bookstore. It was started years before by Irma and Elliott, friends who joined together after running their own mobile bookstores became cumbersome. But Elliott has died suddenly, and Irma has decided to retire and sell the store, much to the surprise of her daughter Bree, who has worked at the store and thought she would take over someday. Irma has called their other sister, Laney, home to Minnesota from California to hear the news, and Laney is equally shocked. Irma won't give her reasons, and the girls, along with Elliott's longtime partner Thom, decide to try to save the store from being turned into condos.

Like I said, the first half of the book is all about the three fighting the sale and trying to get Irma to tell them why she is doing it so suddenly and without letting them take over. It was infuriating to me and I nearly stopped reading many times because it was SO tedious.

Yet once Irma finally comes clean, the story moves forward and gets interesting and touching. I loved the deeper exploration into the family dynamics and the choices each of them had made over the years and how it affected their present day lives.

There's also a good deal of humor, some parts made me laugh out loud with both how realistic and slapstick they were. When I got tired of all of the "save the bookstore" tedium, the humor is what gave this novel heart.

Overall, it's a worthwhile read if you can get past the first half long setup and get to the meat of the story. I would have liked more book recommendations, but the ones included are fantastic and gave me some new books to find for my own enjoyment.

The Over the Rainbow bookstore is in trouble. One co-owner has died, and the other, Irma, is grieving. But Irma's sudden wish to sell the store to shady developers leaves her daughters baffled. This is a delightful story, interspersed with asides from the deceased, and with wonderful book recommendations!

The Book Haters' Book Club draws you in slowly to the world of Over the Rainbow Bookstore.

Sadly one of the owners has died unexpectedly and his partner has decided to sell the bookstore at

Elliot believed you can make a Book Lover out of a Book Hater with the right book for the right person.

Bree and her sister Laney try and make sense of what the girls thought was there legacy, where the grew up and where their best memories are.

The characters all have their quirks and I loved the sisters.

The narrative is unique and adds so much to the story . I wrote down all the book suggestions.

I felt I was right there in Over the Rainbow Bookstore and was cheering for its survival

Grab a copy of The Book Haters Book Club and settle in for a fun and light hearted read that will warm your heart.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harelquin Trade Publishing, Park Row for a very enjoyable read

My review of this book is short and sweet. The Book Haters’ Book Club was just what I needed right now - a light, quick read with a lot of heart! It shows the importance of friends and family and how they can come together in a crisis. It also reminds us that we shouldn’t keep our problems bottled up inside - that a lot of disasters can be averted if we open up and ask for help. Most importantly, it’s a book about books, and there is nothing better than that!

An anthem of booksellers everywhere, 'all it takes is the right book' to turn a non-reader into a book lover. With the death of legendary co-bookstore owner Elliott's death, Irma is left feeling passionless about the remains of their business. Interest from a developer has Irma selling her building (and therefore business) so she can comfortably retire. Along with adopted daughter and fellow bookseller, family, friends and townspeople won't let this happen, and with the help of the town, fights against the developer coming in. Enter some fun hijinks, lovable characters and actual book recommendations, The Book Haters' Book Club is about legacy, passion and family dynamics.

This is a story for book store lovers. Elliot, a co-owner of Over the Rainbow bookstore, dies unexpectedly and, Irma, the other owner is selling it to condo developers.... That is until Elliott's partner and Irmas' grown children decide to save it! A good story.

This book is about holding on to your legacy even if it isn’t what others want. The legacy of Elliot who died to sudden was left to his business partner Irma and on the brink of selling it (a wonderful little book store) she brings her two daughters and Thom Elliot’s partner to the meeting. The three are shocked and come up with a way to try and save the bookshop. If you love little bookstores and the people there that can recommend awesome books to you and others this is the shop for you.
This was a cute and at times funny book, I enjoyed it and loved the family dynamics, we all have issues in our family and these kids have their fair share. The characters are great and mesh well. It is just a wonderful book.

A great family drama that revolves around a bookstore and its owners when one of them dies unexpectedly. Lots of great book recommendations, an unusual narrative structure (which I loved) and heartwarming mother/daughter, sister/sister relationships. Fans of books about saving bookstores and making them work in this increasingly digital age will enjoy this book a lot. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

This is lovely curmudgeon fiction. I liked the story and the literary references strewn throughout. I loved getting to know Tom and Even Elliot, posthumously. The dynamic between the daughters and the mother was annoying and I feel made the book drag on longer than it needed to. The ending was somewhat satisfying, but there was no grand event that made renewed my faith in humanity like I expect with this type of book. Overall, It was a good book, Thank you to NetGalley, for this advanced copy.

The Book Haters’ Book Club
Gretchen Anthony
Contemporary Fiction
Pub Date: 9/13/22

Forgive me, Father Ralph de Bricassart, for I have committed a bookish foul: I have purchased books from large chains and the-behemoth-who-must-not-be(zos)-named. Mea culpa for my venial sin against the independent bookstore!

For my penance, I will click my heels, say 10 “There’s no place like home”-s and preach the gospel of this enchanting paean to booksellers and Readers Advisory.

After her beloved bestie and co-owner Elliott dies unexpectedly, Irma gathers her nearest (daughters Bree and Laney) and not-so-dearest (Elliott’s bitter partner, Thom) to inform them she is selling their bookstore, Over the Rainbow.

Stunned and determined to prevent the sale to greedy developers, the three reluctant musketeers join forces in an attempt to save the 40-year-old landmark. But sometimes the real villain isn’t the guy in the corner office…

Gretchen Anthony nailed - I mean, NAILED! - the challenge and delight of connecting a book with its reader. A wonderful spirit of community and found family lives in this novel peppered with literary Easter eggs (including one mentioned in the first paragraph of this review- any guesses?) and book recommendations.

This is A.J. Fikry meets Gilmore Girls with a shot of Wizard of Oz and a chaser of The Year of Magical Thinking. There’s also IBS, disco activism and romance. What more could you want?

On September 13, follow the yellow brick road to an indie bookstore near you and add this to your TBR. You won’t regret it. 🌈

I liked this one, it was a feel good read set in a bookstore. As we see our characters trying to save their beloved bookstore and show the community how important books really are.
I found some of it a bit predictable, but I liked the bookstore and the love of books.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

This was cute, quirky, and quick read.

I enjoyed it and the mess that was the characters. They were lovable found family coming together with a common goal. Will they be able to save their beloved bookstore from becoming another concrete nightmare?


Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story in exchange for a review.

I wanted so much to love this book but there was just too much here that was/is predictable. I'd hoped that there would be something surprising beyond the book recommendations (which are the reason this is a three star). More of those, less Elliot, and something a little more meaty and this would have been one of my favorite summer reads.

eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley.

3.5

What, pray tell, is NOT to like about a book idolizing the world of books? While perhaps inappropriately named, Gretchen brings to life the characters of this drowning fabalized bookstore thru - many a trope to be sure - but understandable characters, a sharp wit and miles and miles of heart.

Read it for the story, the female empowerment, or the phenominal recommendations. But whatever you do, dear reader, don't hate on it.

My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Book Haters' Book Club highlights the idea that readers have people in their lives who haven't found the joy of reading. Librarians and booksellers enjoy matching books to readers. Elliot, one of the owners of the bookstore Over the Rainbow, has the particular talent of doing exactly that. Throughout this book (and even in the author notes - thank you very much) titles are suggested for a variety of readers. But this book isn't just about reading suggestions as the author has a bounty of fully-rounded characters - experiencing grief, debt, humor (clown car brain!) and the possibly thorny journey of the mother-daughter relationship. I thought the countdown of when the bookstore was sold to local developers was effective in building the urgency to save the store. The other small businesses and bookstore customers come together to support the bookstore. The turning point for this happens 'early enough' that the reader knows that something else is stirring behind the scenes. If the bookstore is saved, then what?

The ideas to enhance the bookstore's success are creative and should make any bookstore solvent.

I would be interested in reading about other characters introduced in this story. Next book, perhaps?

The conversations from the great beyond added an interesting level of quirkiness. Who doesn't love a good Judy Garland moment?

One odd point is the mention as Bree as Bree Bennet when the character's name is Bree Bedford. I searched the text for too long to figure this out as I must have missed something.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley and author Gretchen Anthony for this ARC.

A bookstore...who doesn't love reading about a bookstore? Unique title...quirky characters...family dynamics...secrets...love and marriage...friendship...this was a cannot put down book by a talented and gifted author. I liked this book. I really liked this book. I read late and was up early...so early...to see what would happen to these people in this novel...who come alive on the pages. This is fiction...reads like nonfiction...this could happen...trials...promises...families working together to get the job done...friends helping...children stepping in with parents...one surprise after another...This book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the electronic copy. Thanks to the author for this intriguing store. I want a sequel...

(4.25 stars)
This was quirky, sweet and poignant. The characters were well-developed and I grew to love them all.

It was light and low stakes. It would be a great pallet cleanser after a heavy read.

Thank you @netgalley , @gretchenanthony.writer and @parkrowbooks for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

The Book Haters' Book Club was such a lighthearted and fun read for me! If you're in a reading slump, you need to pick up this book. It is so perfect to reignite your love of reading. I'm thrilled I had the opportunity to read my first Gretchen Anthony novel.