The narrator was fine, although a bit slow. The story was "neatly" told as in everything wrapped up neatly at the end. I really disliked the main character and how she 1. seemed totally stupid (I have no job skills, but I love planning events and bringing people together....become an event planner- DUH!) 2. she just does stuff without asking anyone and thinking of consequences (taking over the bookshop that she's filling in at and fudging sales). Maybe I'm too old to be the target audience of this one....younger readers may enjoy the "I think this is wrong so I'm going to do whatever I want to make things change to what I want" kind of attitude.

I had a decent time reading <i>The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks</i> and I thought the overall plot had some good points to it—especially as it comes to the commentary of plagiarism and how it comes out in comparison of works—but the sad thing about this book is that it was actually pretty forgettable.

What’s kind of funny is that I absolutely forgot I’d read this until I went through a few other reviews about it to refresh my memory. And of what I remember, the commentary of feminism and plagiarism was unfortunately very surface level, a pitfall to the mystery that needed unraveling and the somewhat lackluster ending.

But I do think that the dullest part of this book was the characters, specifically Maggie herself. While I certainly share some of her opinions as a person, she kind of just felt empty. I didn’t care about her relationship with Malcom and I didn’t really care about any of the other characters in the story. I don’t have any animosity toward anyone, except perhaps Maggie’s boss, but it’s just not a story that I have any interest in ever returning to.

The themes are great; I just can’t help feeling that another writer might’ve done a better job.

I don’t remember too much about the narrator, but I know she couldn’t have been annoying since I probably would have had a difficult time finishing this book if that were the case.

If you have the opportunity to listen to the audiobook of this, please do. The narrator really helps bring this story and the characters to life. I am a sucker for any book that has to do with bookshops and reading. Maggie isn't much of a reader in the beginning, but that slowly changes. This is a sweet story about being willing to bend or break the rules and make your own way in the world.

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson was such a wonderful read. I loved everything about it and will be recommending it to others. I enjoyed the characters, the bookshop setting and the banned books aspect. Overall a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved so much of this book, bookshops, banned books, gathering a circle and makeing a place for yourself.

This one was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the writing, characters, and overall story. I'm really glad I got to read it.

I really wish I had better things to say about it. I’m definitely all for BIPOC authors and I try to read diverse perspectives. But this just fell flat. The romance was not interesting. There was no spark and I was just left feeling meh about it. I did really love the concept of the bookstore and the questionable backstory of the founder though. I would say check it out if you’re looking for a lighthearted quick read!

This novel has started as a read full of heart and laughter. Heroine Maggie was hilarious as a book newbie left to care for a bookshop full of only the old tomes and tightly tied to local novelist who had lived years ago. Her literary exploring and growth into a bookie was fun, as well as her fights with a tyrannical traditionalist Ralph, the progeny of a said author, who is on a mission to conserve all things as they were years ago. But then...I could live with a bit shallow love story, but the u-turn within the story with a feminist angle and the “preachiness” of ideas in-fashion these days is both highly improbable and very much boring. Which is a pity, as I find the authoress being capable of writing a good fun.

The narrator was great. Her reading was spot-on, livening the story and injecting the right amount of lightheartedness and fun.

The premise is cute - Maggie is running her friend Rochelle's store while the friend is on maternity leave, the main characters are likeable...so why a 2-star review? Maggie doesn't read. She also doesn't seem to have any of the skills a person working in a bookstore should have. Did her friend have no other choices? Maggie doesn't seem to like books at all, I mean, she actively dislikes them.

The bookshop is in the village of Bell River, and the townspeople are obsessed with local (and long deceased) author Edward Bell. So the bookshop is only allowed to sell books published prior to his death, i.e. the classics. But guess what? People want recent books. I don't know how the shop stayed open. The whole town relies on Edward Bell tourism. I don't care who the author is, I can't imagine there is a market for an entire town paying homage to them.

Maggie decides that she is going to start carrying books people want and keeps them out of sight. She also starts a group where they create irreverent takes on classics. They rewrite Moby Dick as a romance (for the dick jokes, duh), for example. This idea becomes very popular and ultimately things come to a head. The problem with this is that Rochelle will lose the business if she doesn't adhere to the Edward Bell-era rule.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was excellent. Imani Jade Powers brought the characters to life.

My thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

One day I hope to find a bookstore like the one Maggie creates in “The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks.” Throughout this story I laughed, I cried and I connected with the characters - feeling like they were my friends too! Definitely recommend this lighthearted contemporary fiction audiobook!

Maggie has come to Bell River to help run her friend’s bookstore. She’s not much of a reader, and has no interest in the books the bookstore sells -- only literature from the time of the town’s famous author, so nothing after 1968. But the store is struggling, and Maggie has some creative ideas to help it succeed, starting with selling modern books that she hides in the back room. This is a fun rom-com with a little mystery and a lot of books.

I love that the author incorporated the current issues of censorship and book banning into this. It may be an eye opener for some. Maggie has spunk and I love it!

"Don't tell me you like Atwood..."
"Well I love Atwood, and Marisa Cooper,and Seth Cohen and Summer Robert's"

And that perfectly describes what our MC, Maggie, knows about books when she offers to take over managing the bookshop. This bookshop only sells Classics and nothing about that excites her but she's in-between jobs and her friend needs help.

A delightful read and great narration. I enjoyed the small town vibes and our MC going from feeling lost to finding her way with the help of a medley of fun characters. My favorite was the reimagining of classics (I wish they'd been added as appendices to this book.

✨Book Review✨
The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson
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I loved this book so much. The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks was my second Shauna Robinson book, and I think I liked it even more than the first. Her writing style is light and easy and her books draw me in quickly. I love love love that they are about book lovers and the book world.
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This book centered around a bookstore in a town that was dedicated to upholding the legacy of famous author Edward Bell. The bookstore is only allowed to sell books published before his birth and no one but tourists are interested in these old "classics" written by dead white men. When Maggie comes to town to help her friend run the bookstore, her secret stash of modern books, her secret book club, and her secret mash-up book events turn this town upside down. These events sounded SO fun and I wished so much that I could attend one. lol.
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Anyway, this story is about questioning the status quo, found family, community, and more, and it had all the cozy feels that I love in a book. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for an easy but meaningful read.
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I went back and forth between the audiobook and hard copy of this one, but ended up loving the audiobook more. :) I would highly recommend listening to this one.

A sweet, bookish story. It read like a warm hug, and I enjoyed the narrator! It reminded me of a hallmark movie in the best way, which feels like a rare vibe for a book with a Black lead. Refreshing!

*NetGalley Review*

This was such a fun and whimsical read! I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator, Imani Jade Powers. I couldn't have imagined a better Maggie for this story. I loved her journey in finding her purpose and how fiercely she cared for her people. This book had me laughing and was so unique in the twist of including literary classics. I'm honestly envious that such book events don't exist. I can't wait for my next Shauna Robinson read. Read this one; you won't regret it! Thank you: NetGalley, OrangeSky Audio, and Shauna Robinson for the opportunity to read/listen to this one in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks and want avid readers to know about it. Shauna Robinson's debut Must Love Books was a rather dark look at the publishing industry. I’m glad the tone of her second novel is lighter. It contains conflicts and challenges, but overall it's optimistic.

Maggie Banks' life is a bit of a mess. Unemployed and homeless, she eagerly accepts her friend Rochelle's offer to come to Bell River and manage Cobblestone Books while Rochelle is on maternity leave. Bell River is a small town dominated by the legacy of the legendary author Edward Bell (think John Steinbeck) - everything from retail to dining and lodging are focused on Mr. Bell and his books, and all businesses must adhere to a strict set of rules to uphold his reputation.

Maggie doesn't adapt well to the limitations placed on the bookstore, which include selling only classics written before Edward Bell's death in the 1960s, and puts its future in jeopardy when she tries to subvert the rules. To bring much-needed revenue to Cobblestone Books, Maggie hosts secret author events with a unique theme and sells recently-published books from cartons hidden in the back room. She quickly makes friends with Bell River residents and 'accidentally' creates a revolution against the Bell restrictions.

There is much to like about this novel. The cast of characters is great - Maggie, Rochelle and her family, Maggie's new Bell River friends, the authors and attendees of the secret events, and Malcolm, who is torn between his job at the Edward Bell Society and his attraction to Maggie. It's full of bookish goodness with many titles and authors mentioned. And it has lots lovely small town charm and a thread of mystery. One storyline in particular requires some suspension of belief, but this didn't outweigh all of the positive aspects of the plot.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Imani Jade Powers who brought Maggie's big, reckless, passionate personality to life but also did well in conveying a large cast of other characters.

Many thanks to OrangeSky Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of this delightful novel.

Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to help her friend run her struggling book store, only to find that she can't sell anything recent. Maggie starts a subversive bookclub and starts an underground bookselling network to help the store stay afloat and get contemporary books into the hands of the locals. It's a mostly lighthearted and entertaining read that had me rooting for Maggie and her new friends.

I believe this book was a pretty cute read. It took me a minute to adjust to the narrator, but overall the performance was good. The romance and the mischief alone is enough for me to recommend it. I would pick it up again. Thanks to NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the opportunity to review this audiobook

Not my normal read, but I really liked it. It was a cute book. Easy read (or listen too).
So if you are looking for something fun, with a little drama (not serious), a little romance, then this book is something you should pick up.

Thanks #Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to #TheBannedBookshopofMaggieBanks
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I work at a library and I love the idea of this book and the events in this book. I could see them being fun in real live.