Joelle Prima has worked side by side Max Boyson for years, but after the owner of the building they both work at wants to renovate, they are forced to share a space, a bookshop owner and a baker in one tight area. But, it gets even harder when Joelle has had the biggest crush on Max since they first met.

I gave The Boy with the Bookstore four stars, really enjoying the forced proximity of Joelle and Max having to work together. They were both really cute together and the chemistry from the start was amazing. I felt their connection from day one and since the first chapter, you can see just how funny and cute they would be together. Their relationship was fun and fast and I found myself having a lot of fun reading this.

One thing I found throughout the book was how quick it was for Joelle to switch her emotions. From one minute she’s happy and enjoying working close to Max, the next minute she’s angry and throwing out words at Max. That was something I wasn’t really a fan of when it came to Joelle as a main character. While overall she was fun and you could see her character growth from shy and somewhat timid to a more confident — but still shy — woman who stands up for the people she loves. She was a very bumpy character and it felt like a roller coaster when reading her point of view. Even Max, though he was completely lovable and I really enjoyed reading his point of view as well, it just seemed that both of them lacked communication and acted on emotions first and it felt like people had to mention how irrational they both acted and that they should have listened first. That was the one downside of reading these two together. They were great when it came to the chemistry but seemed to lack in the communications department on some occasions.

That being said, The Boy with the Bookstore was an overall great story. I have read other of Sarah Smith’s work and found myself always having a good time when reading her books. I recommend trying this out!

Thank you again to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for inviting me to read The Boy with the Bookstore and for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary advanced copy of THE BOY WITH THE BOOKSTORE by Sarah Echavarre Smith. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio for the chance to provide an honest review.

Publication Date: 9/6/2022
THE BOY WITH THE BOOKSTORE begins with Joelle, the proprietor of a Filipino bakery. Joelle has a big crush on one of her favorite customers, Max. Max is the gorgeous owner of the bookshop next door. She’s determined to finally make a move and ask him out, but things get more complicated when the pair find themselves having to share space while their building undergoes renovation.

I love a good foodie book and the food in this one was definitely a highlight! Combine a bakery and a bookstore and who could ask for more? There definitely were challenges with two strong willed business owners having to share space in a location neither would have chosen.

I will admit that I didn’t initially like Max a lot. He really managed to run from extreme hot to extreme cold on Joelle and I was definitely sympathetic with her confused feelings. They both wind up going to pretty big extremes working against each other. Max did manage to grow on me somewhat as the story went on and we got more from his POV. That said, I did want to yell at them both at times to communicate and hold back their tempers!

THE BOY WITH THE BOOKSTORE just came out on Tuesday!

Joelle is a baker and owns her own shop. She has been crushing over business neighbor and bookstore owner, Max, for a year and a half. Just when Joelle takes her chance on a budding romance, she and Max are thrown into chaos. The owner of the building that houses their businesses decides to renovate the building, forcing Max and Joelle to share a space for both of their businesses.

The Boy with the Bookstore has plenty of romantic tension, miscommunication and misunderstandings. So much so that it's a bit back and forth. It felt like every other page of the book was a conflict and then a convenient make up. I did find the back stories of the characters interesting. Both characters bring the weight of their family drama into the story. Both characters are rather likable, but I did get a little frustrated with their hair trigger irritations with things that happened. It was frustrating. The anger to fondness back and forth of it was so quick that you never really got the slow build to understanding and forgiveness. To be honest, at one point I really questioned if they should even be together. That being said, there is a good amount of spice in this book as well and the sexual tension is definitely there. I did enjoy the book and Smith's writing is pretty solid.

Overall, it's a cute and fun romantic read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to read and review The Boy with the Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith

I thought Joelle’s character was really well written. She is of Filipino descent and her bakery has a lot of that cultures flavors. It all sounded totally delicious and I wanted to get my hands on an ube latte after finishing this book. It sounds intriguing! Unfortunately, Joelle’s family and the ube latte were what kept me reading this book. I loved her multi-generational family living situation and how she was so close to her family. What bothered me was Max’s character. His background of being brought up by an alcoholic mother and raised by relatives who didn’t want him around really affected his character. He was so mean! I had a really hard time looking past his anger and finding the thing (other than his looks) that would sustain a relationship with Joelle. I won’t give away the story, but yes, this is a romance and they do get together at the end, but boy does Joelle have to work hard to get there. Max just got lucky finding someone who would put up with all his baggage. I’m not sure I would have stuck around after the first argument.

When the story reverted back to Joelle and her family I was intrigued, but this is a love story and unfortunately for me it fell a bit flat. I could connect with Joelle, but Max didn’t have a lot of redeeming qualities other than his good taste in finding Joelle. I do realize that reading is subjective, so if this synopsis sounds good to you, please read this book. It just wasn’t to my taste.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review and it was honest.

I'm conflicted. I liked the premise of the story. The boy next steps with his books and his tats, yum. Yes please! The girl and her family love. I will take more of that. Strong small town business owners. Hell yes.

The romance though, this felt a bit forced. I love a good forced proximity/yearning over time. I'm just still on the fence on whether is was just meh.

Overall, I enjoyed the read. Thank you to Berkley Romance for the advanced copy

Joelle has had a huge crush on the man who owns the bookstore next door to her bakery from the moment she first saw him. Now that the building they share is getting renovated, they will have to share a space, which seems like the perfect opportunity for them to get together. However, the reality of sharing a space is not at all what Joelle imagined, instead Max turns out to be the biggest grump. Will they be able to put their differences aside and learn to get along?

What could be better than a romance set in a bookstore? Oh wait…a bookstore/bakery romance! This book combined so many of my favorite things and I could not have been happier to read it. I was sucked into this story right away, and before I knew it I had finished the whole book. I loved the main characters - it was so cute that they had both been secretly crushing on each other, and while they had to work through the shared space and some personality conflicts, I really enjoyed them together and thought they had great chemistry. Max had a deep, layered back story, and getting to know him was heartbreaking at times, and gave him so much depth. Joelle was a literal angel of a human and truly a gem. Plus her family was so fun. Add a few sometimes mischievous and always very loved pets and I was so sold for this one.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for the advance copy. Another thank you to @berittalksbooks and @dg_reads for hosting a great buddy read for this one!

This book felt like a classic rom-com in all the best ways. Filled to the brim with a sweet romance, forced proximity, angst that makes your heart ache, and supporting characters that you wish you had in your own life, The Boy With The Bookstore was pure joy in book form. I flew through it in one sitting, and I couldn’t put it down until Max and Joelle got their happily ever after.
Joelle was a heroine that every introverted book lover can relate to, but she’s also a person that I wish I could be more like. She always sees the best in others, and I greatly admired how caring and selfless she was toward those around her.
Max was the ultimate cinnamon roll hero. I loved that this book was dual-POV, because I got to see just how head over heels he is for Joelle. His and Joelle’s relationship was great because she brings out the best in him and forces him to confront the trauma of his past. Watching his character development in terms of his relationship with his mother was one of my favorite parts of the book, and I was brought to tears when he finally worked up the courage to go see her.
Overall this was a sweet and light-hearted book that is perfect for anyone looking for a pick me up rom-com to brighten their day. Be warned, however, that the pastries at Joelle’s bakery sound so incredibly delicious that reading this WILL make you hungry.

The Boy with the Bookstore by Sarah Echavarre Smith stars Joelle Prima, the owner of a bakery, and her long-time crush turned nemesis slash bookstore owner, Max Boyson. An unexpected renovation in their building causes them to work together in a cramped space for what should be a month. Tension arises and so does romance.

What worked well? I enjoyed reading about Joelle and Max separately, especially on the issues they were dealing with at the family level. Joelle and her guilt towards her family while they also feel guilty towards her, something a lot of eldest/only daughters face. Max and his estranged family, plus the loneliness he felt that caused hyper independence and unhealthy reactions to anger/stress. Both characters working through this by themselves were the most interesting parts of the story!

What didn't work well? The romance between Joelle and Max. Like other reviewers, I got whiplash with the number of enemies from lovers to enemies again and back to lovers throughout the book. Both characters had major faults that just didn't convince me they worked well together. Joelle overstepped a lot of Max's boundaries and offered advice that Max clearly didn't want, based on her own family's dynamics. And Max was plain angry. When he was in love, he was the sweetest. But when he was stressed or angered, he lashed out in a very unhealthy way. For two people who didn't understand each other's boundaries, I'd put them on my list of couples who break up post-epilogue.

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for a copy of this novel.

Sarah Echavarre Smith knows her way around an adorable romance.

I've been a fan of her work in the past and The Boy with the Bookstore was right up my alley with the male main character owning a bookstore. Perfect, right?! And this book starts with such hilarious situations that I was just grinning ear-to-ear while I read. There's heart in this book while providing a saucy and fun relationship between the heroine and hero.

Add this to your TBR today.

Max is the bookstore owner who works next door to Joelle's bakery and who Joelle has had a secret crush on for the last year and a half. When they are both informed by their landlord that their building will undergo renovation, he also asks them to share a temporary space rent free, while the renovations are underway. Could this be the start of Joelle and Max's happy ever after?

Oh my, this book was so adorable! I loved the main characters and their sweet romance but even more so, I loved how the importance of family was highlighted throughout the book. With POV's from both Joelle and Max, I flew through this one.

A bookstore and a bakery! Forced into a shared, temporary space while the landlord renovates their shop spaces. Joelle and Max have instant chemistry, but not without its challenges, of course. Interesting, different yet complementary backstories offer the chance for understanding as they fall deeper in love. The Boy with the Bookstore is told from dual points of view, giving the story a fullness. The importance of family is explored well. Threaded throughout with wonderful and delicious Filipino culture. Catchy cover art!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

CW: parental abandonment (past), parent with alcoholism, parent experiencing liver failure, financial difficulties

This was a cute book with a premise so many can appreciate, a crush on the bookstore owner next door.

Steam: 3

Super steamy, open door romance that I wasn’t expecting. The title hooked me but I wish I had known it was open door.

Max was really mean to Joelle on a number of occasions and she should have just left him behind.

Besides those two issues, I really enjoyed Joelle’s storyline. She was a great protagonist and the descriptions of her pastries had me drooling at times.

Super cute read!
The kind of neighbor trope is always so fun, but I feel like the angst of their time sharing the space wasn't drawn out enough as it could have been!
Both main characters Joelle and Max were easily lovable and relatable, but I feel like could have been developed a little further.
Overall a fun book, will definitely recommend to friends!

The Boy with the Bookstore has a cute premise. Two neighboring store owners have a crush on each other, and when their stores are forced to combine space due to a renovation, we get a forced proximity. If found both Joelle and Max hard to feel for. While Joelle is a wonderful daughter and takes good care of her family, she keeps telling us she is shy. Her actions and words aren't those of a shy person. So there was a disconnect. Max seemed to have a dual personality as well. He could be very unkind and I really didn't like him in the end. The story has a fun story line, which I enjoyed and the authors writing is rich and enjoyable. I just couldn't connect to these two. There are some good secondary characters that I did enjoy as well. The story has some delicious food descriptions and nice cultural representation.

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc. This is my honest review.

LOVED this book so much! Absolutely swoony and adorable. Friends/Enemies to lovers at their very best. Will definitely be reading more by this author.

This book has a cute premise. A baker meets a bookshop owner and he seems like the guy of her dreams. Except he turns into her nemesis. Such a fun, flirty, summer book.

DNF at 30%

I am in the minority in not loving this book. I found the 2 main characters way to immature and petty to continue. When Joelle purposely messes a bookclub order to sabotage Max, I was done. How can someone purposely be so spiteful to hurt someone's livelihood. I also didn't care how they were attracted to each other and turned and became so mean so quickly.

Thank you @berkleyromance @prhaudio for a copy of ARC and ALC.

This book had a lot of ups and downs, and the relationship was very on-again-off-again which I didn’t really appreciate it. I also think that the shy, mousy girl protagonist trope needs to be done carefully so that it doesn’t come off as an “I’m just not like other girls” characterization; I don’t think it was successful in this case. Joelle’s character was extremely inconsistent because of the disconnect between her thoughts and descriptions, and what her actions actually were because she kept saying she was very shy but then she would be extremely outspoken without having any difficulty doing so. I also found a disconnect in the way that Max had two very different personalities, which caused him to be very hot and cold in the extreme. Other than that though, I did enjoy Max’s backstory. But all in all, I felt like the story was very contradictory due to the inconsistencies in characters as well as being unnecessarily full of conflict in situations that didn’t warrant it, even though it was a reasonably enjoyable plot and did not draw out the storyline.

If your looking for a light read that will “fill your cup” this is it for you. Perfect senecio…hot guy who owns bookstore is next to cute quirky girl who owns the coffee shop. Said boy comes in every morning to get the most delicious croissants and Ube coffee and makes the little coffee shop girls heart melt. The two can’t seem to move beyond the counter until a remodel of their stores takes place and they are forced to move into a joint space for the month. I mean a coffee shop and bookstore are the perfect combo for any booklover right? ( did I mention there is a cat, dog ,and hamster in this book too?) Not many bookstores offer a drink/snack because obviously….books, but I can imagine picking a comfy chair and sitting down with a nice warm tea and loosing myself in a book. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline.
Joelle is a hard working female business owner with the most supportive Filipino family. They were in desperate need at one point and Joelle gave up her dreams to help save her family. She has her coffee shop now and is slowly building a name for herself. Joelle loves seeing her regulars come in, specially the hot bookstore owner Max. With his tattooed muscle clad arms and perfect smile Joelle has been crushing on him for over a year, but Max is way out of her league so she’ll need to settle on gazing into his beautiful eyes every morning when he comes in for his usual. What Joelle doesn’t know is that Max doesn’t even like Ube coffee but it takes a little longer to make which gives him a few minutes to talk to Joelle, who he has a crush on. Joelle is adorable and as Max gets to know her he’s blown away at how amazing she is.
When the building owner comes in to let the two know they will need to combine their locations while he makes some upgrades the tow are obviously upset. How can Max fit all his bookshelves in a concrete prison? And Joelle won’t have room for anything other then one oven and a tiny work space, how can she possibly make this work? The only good news is that Joelle and Max will be together, in one tiny space, and hopefully one of them will have the courage to finally tell the other how they fill. Finding love in the stacks with the scent of fresh baked goods, perfection!