Dedicated to booksellers and librarians who turn book haters into book lovers every day, this bibliophile’s must-have is about employees saving a beloved bookshop after the owner dies.

Over The Rainbow Bookshop, known as the place to go to find the perfect book suggestion, is slated to be sold to condo developers and the employees are ready to fight for it…by any means possible. I won’t spoil the result for you but will let you know that the team become family in their fight for what they love. It’ll definitely be one of the most unique books you’ll ever have read.

Full of real-life book recommendations, laughs, odd/quirky characters, and mystery, you’ll find yourself cringing at the ‘cheese factor’ and needing to suspend belief at times. It’s light-hearted and sweet….and bookish!

I was gifted an advance copy by Harlequin Trade Publishing, Park Row, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

You are selling the bookshop?

You can’t do that. It’s our legacy.

Irma and Elliott owned the Over the Rainbow Bookstore for years, but when Elliott died, Irma sold the store to a developer.

Her daughters, Laney and Bree, and Elliott’s partner, Thom, are definitely not in favor of the sale.

They think there is something not quite right because the owner gave Irma a very below-market price.

They do investigating behind Irma’s back.

THE BOOK HATERS’ BOOK CLUB is unique because of the setup of the book.

In between all the drama, we are treated to letters that Elliott was famous for writing to his customers and that give background information as well as his feelings and secrets from the grave.

At some point you will be asking yourself where this book is going, and you will find it goes many places and is quite clever.

The quirky characters were delightful and also pretty much a mess.

Lots of surprises hidden inside and characters that are keeping secrets.

The big question is: Will they sell the bookstore?

And bigger yet...which book would you recommend to a friend or do you always recommend to a friend?

An enjoyable read with a great title....don't miss it. 4/5

This book was given to me by the publisher for an honest review.

The Book Haters Book Club by Gretchen Anthony is an entertaining page turner, full of witty dialogue.

This book is about finding yourself and your place.

I love the eclectic characters and the format of this novel. A must read for booklovers 💓

I've tired and tired to finish this book over the last 2 weeks and had no luck. It just didn't touch me like I wanted. Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy. #NetGalley #BookHatersBookClub

Mamy thanks for an electronic ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley for Gretchen Anthony's The Book Hater's Book Club. This wax a fun and sweet book; one i thoroughly enjoyed.

The lives of three people are in upheaval when the owner (Irma) of a local bookstore sells it. Bree is losing her job and dreams of owning her mother’s store. Laney, Bree’s sister, does not seem to care. Thom, partner of deceased Elliot (owner with Irma) is beside himself with grief and knocked for a loop at Irma’s decision. The three join forces to plot to investigate Irma’s decision. It is a touching novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A great book for book lovers since it is set in a wonderful quirky bookstore and comes with real life book recommendations. Complex and lovable characters work through their grief while trying to save their beloved bookstore.

I really enjoyed this book! Loved connecting with the characters through the story. This was a cute, fast read for me! I hope to read more by this author.

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley.
This is worth reading for the book recommendations alone. Anthony blends so many amazing books into her story. Readers meet four main characters - a mom (Irma), her daughters (Bree, Laney), and Thom (her deceased bookstore co-owner's partner). Each has personal struggles and each needs to let go of past hurts and work together to be a family. The story starts slowly as characters are introduced and old challenges/hurts are shared. Further character development continues throughout. We see why Irma had closed in on herself and was pushing to sell the bookstore.
Some of the transitions are a bit obvious but the overall themes come through. The mystery commentator may be obvious to some readers from the start but Anthony identifies them midway through as the fifth character involved in the action.
If you've had a librarian or book seller make a delightful and meaningful recommendation, don't miss the final request in the story, share the book(s) that have meant something to you along with the #BHBCheros tag.

Laney and Bree are sisters whose mother has decided to sell the family bookstore to a disreputable real estate group. Laney and Bree must team up with their mother's business partner's husband to figure out how to save the bookstore, or at least get their money's worth. A quirky cast of characters from the town joins the fight and the sisters have to learn to work together again.

Elliot, the co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, has died suddenly and his business partner, Irma, has rather fallen apart, deciding to sell the bookshop for cheap. Irma’s daughters and Elliot’s partner, Thom, fight back to save the bookshop. Snooping, gossiping, and plots that go awry follow adding humor and heart to this fast-paced read full of fascinating characters. Bonus: lots and lots of reading recommendations throughout the novel.

The author did a great job differentiating this book from others with similar themes. It is mostly a family relationship book with the bonus of some book recommendations from real booksellers and librarians. This added to my endless TBR pile. I particularly enjoyed the periodic breaks of the "4th wall" which added some humor to the book, as well as the Book Haters newsletters. I liked the way the author gradually revealed the back stories of many of the characters, although I didn't feel like I was given enough information about one of the main characters, Irma, and I found her unlikable. I am happy that I was able to read an advance copy of this book thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. This was the first of Anthony's books for me, and I recommend it and intend to read her previous books now.

This was a book with a sweet premise, but for me it felt forced. When Elliot dies, his business partner, Irma, sells their once-successful bookshop for a pittance to big, less-than-reputable developers. Elliot's partner, Thom, joins forces with Irma's daughters, Laney and Bree, to save the Over the Rainbow bookstore and keep Elliot's legacy (and the town's special bookstore) alive. All four of the protagonists are a mess, and in the fight the find meaning in their lives and in their unity.

I set out ready to love this book--how could I not? It's a book that sets out as an homage to local bookstores, with tons of book recommendations thrown in. It's about winning over the book haters with just the right book for each and every one of them. But I felt that the idea fell flat and I, as the reader, was never engaged. The writing was technically sound and the characters all had separate voices, but it somehow didn't gel in the magical way it was obviously trying to. The omnipresent narrator interrupts the action to interact with the reader every now and then, but unfortunately it feels more like a disruption than a charming interlude. I didn't hate it, but it wasn't great either.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley and the publisher. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

The Book Haters' Book Club
by Gretchen Anthony
Pub Date: Sept. 13, 2022
Park Row
Thanks to the author, publisher, and netGalley for the ARC of this book. It is a perfect "beach read" and I loved it.
I am drawn to covers that look like this.
All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover…

That was what Elliot—the beloved co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookshop—believed before his untimely passing. He always had the perfect book suggestion for the self-proclaimed Book Hater. Now his grief-ridden business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell the cozy Over the Rainbow to condo developers.

But others won’t give up the bookshop without a fight. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliot’s romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Over the Rainbow has been Bree and Laney’s sanctuary since childhood, and Thom would do anything to preserve Elliot’s legacy. Together they conspire to save the bookshop, even if it takes some snooping, gossip and minor sabotage.

Filled with humor, family hijinks and actual reading recommendations, The Book Haters' Book Club is the ideal feel-good read. It’s a love letter to everyday heroes—those booksellers and librarians dedicated to putting the right books in the right hands every day. I hope there are more books in this series!
5 stars

This is the first book of Gretchen Anthony's that I've read and I absolutely LOVED it...a great beach read to read in 2 days! Her character development is "spot on" and she weaves them all together effortlessly to make a cast that you soon won't forget! I'd love to see a sequel of this book.

“The Book Haters’ Book Club” is by Gretchen Anthony. I tend to enjoy books about libraries, book clubs, and bookstores - so the cover and title immediately caught my attention. Parts of this book I rather enjoyed, such as the focus on relationships, Ms. Anthony’s humor sprinkled throughout, and a nice little nod to Minnesota. The main characters are memorable and the side ones entertaining. I even liked the quirky way a dead character’s story is woven into the book. But, there was something about this book that I just felt was off for me. I think it was that while the overall main story was good - along with the tension Ms. Anthony had with a slight mystery - a number of minor story lines felt off (without giving spoilers, in one instance something was mentioned and a Google search provided me an answer, but characters seemed to dwell on it for a number of chapters). I must admit that I now want a rhubarb-ginger ale drink … thanks for that suggestion Ms. Anthony. I did like the book recommendations (do read the Author’s Note!) and the quirky style of the included newsletters. However, I do think that others will enjoy this quirky book - so if the description and other reviews make this book sound like something up your alley (or over your rainbow), do give it a read!

I will admit to a certain level of ridiculousness when I read fiction that includes book recommendations. I get many of my TBR titles from fiction. I also adore books about bookshops or libraries. The Book Haters' Book Club is a fun look at a relationship between a woman and a man. It's not a romance and he is dead throughout the book, but Anthony does a good job of intertwining the past with the present and injecting just enough to keep this a quick but delightful read.

After Elliot, co-owner of the Over the Rainbow bookstore, passes away, his best friend and business partner, Irma, decides to sell the shot. Irma's daughter and Elliot's husband jump in to save the store, along with help from the community. Many secrets are revealed along the way and some relationships are healed.
3.5

Such a fun and delightful book and I can't wait to handsell copies in store. The customer interactions were so life-like that I giggled as I read, but the true charm of this book is in the relationships. No spoilers, but the sweetness isn't saccharine just lovely and I'll miss these characters as I move on to my next book.

The Book Haters' Book Club is the next novel from Gretchen Anthony. Prior to its September 13th, 2022, release date, Harlequin Trade Publishing has allowed me to read an early galley in exchange for this review.

What drew me to this one was the title (very interesting) as well as the cover. As a librarian, a lifelong reader and an amateur writer, books that revolve around books are a natural draw for me. I honestly was not sure what this one was going to be about, but I was eager to find out.

I have to admit that I found this one a little bit different than my normal reading fare. The first standout are the interludes from the main story (I won't spoil the source of them, but the reader is tuned into from whose viewpoint they come right away). They have a very distinct voice and a pop to them, and they offset directly to the standard narrative revolving around the rest of the cast. Oddly, it sort of works. Definitely not a writing choice I would have considered ever employing.

Another interesting element are the interspersed newsletters that give actual book recommendations. While these are supposed to have been penned by Elliot, I appreciated where the author actually pulled these recommendations from (as told in the book's afterwards). This is the kind of readers advisory that we librarians do all of the time. Again, this is an unexpected writing choice that seems right at home within this particular story.