I LOVED this book! As an avid lifetime reader I related to the joy some of these characters felt around books. There was just enough conflict to keep it interesting while not being too heavy. I loved the main characters process of finding herself and her purpose through her rebellious acts. Would recommend this to someone who is looking for a lighthearted and heartwarming read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

It took me a while to get into this but, once it got going, it was delightful. I loved learning about the historical society, the town, and the cast of characters. The romance was very sweet but I found myself frustrated at many of Maggie's decisions.

All in all, I would recommend this to anyone who loves a story based in a small town.

This was a funny, quirky and honest tale of an up and coming young lady finding her way in life and stumbling upon her purpose. Maggie is a great main character, there is lots of growth in this story as she find her feet and her path through many trials, blockades and tribulations. This is certainly a feel good story with lots of world building and romance to boot. I enjoyed this and also enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook, it was very well done.

Thank you to the author, Net Galley and publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks. I love stories around books, libraries, and bookstores. This one did not disappoint. I thought it was funny and easy to keep reading. I enjoyed getting to know Maggie and found myself wanting to tell her to talk to her friends. I felt like I knew the characters well. I also liked the quirky small town and all of its residents. Overall this was a sweet rom-com and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun, light, but engaging read.
I also listened to this and enjoyed the narrator.

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks is a book you can easily finish in one sitting. The characters and likeable and relatable. The book is funny and creates a realistic small town atmosphere despite being slightly over exaggerated. While there is a little bit of romance thrown in, I find this book is more about Maggie going down a path of self-discovery. Thoroughly enjoyable!

So much literary fun! A heartfelt community brought together by a secret. I enjoyed every character, loved the settings.

What a sweet and cozy book to read in the fall! There's something about a small town bookshop that brings me so much joy. This was such a cute and lighthearted book that will appeal to any book lover. It centers around a bookshop that only sells "classic literature" so a new employee gets creative with secret book sales. Maggie's themed author events sounded like so much fun, I want to attend one in real life.

Thanks to NetGalley and orange sky audio for letting me listen to an advanced copy of the book!

More and more I am asked for a trauma free read that will leave the reader feeling good. This audiobook is definitely going on that list. As someone who avoids romance, the bookish theme captured my curiosity. I’m so glad it did. Maggie spent more time in self examination than pursuing her love interest. Maggie is mint a reader, however, she agrees to run her friend’s book store while she’s on maternity leave. As Maggie fights against the restrictions imposed by the white, male owner who only wants to sell his grandfather’s books and the classics, book lovers will cheer her on. Maggie learns to love books and finds herself in the process.

Imani Jade Powers is a narrator who is very easy listening. She is well-paced and nuanced. I will gladly listen to more books by Ms. Powers. Her voice definitely added to my enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Banks is floundering in life. At 28 years old she feels directionless with no career path in sight. When her best friend calls to ask if she’ll run her book shop in the small town of Bell River while on maternity leave, Maggie’s knows she has nothing to lose. She packs up and heads out for a new adventure.
Never one for enjoying reading, the bookshop seems an unlikely fit for Maggie. However, she quickly becomes invested in the townspeople as well as saving the shop for her friend.

At first thesis book was mediocre to me, but I soon became invested the the characters and Maggie really grew on me. It was a delightful read and I definitely recommend!

**Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Fun, cozy, and sweet book that felt a bit like a Hallmark movie. Was quite predictable and dragged a bit at times and I didn't feel the chemistry in the romance as much but overall it made for an easy and enjoyable after-work read. The narrator was great and a definite bonus. I loved the fact that Maggie was not the classic "bookworm" but instead found her love of books throughtout the story.

Maggie Banks is a distracted person with a big heart-as evidenced by her running Cobblestone Books while her best friend is taking maternity leave. What Maggie isn't counting on is the Bell Society and the strict regulations she has to follow in the bookstore: no books published after 1968, classics only, and a heavy dose of author Edward Bell's books. Basically the entire town is a living shrine and tourist trap to this author, and it is made worse for businesses who are tied in with the Bell Society. Maggie shakes things up with an underground book club, but when the secret comes out what will happen to everyone involved, including Malcolm, the man originally intended to 'spy' on her but instead becomes very close to Maggie.

My only complaint with this book was believing one man can have such a tyrannical grip on a small town. I struggled with part of that and wondering how he was able to get away with it. But it honestly didn't detract from the story itself.

I had a lot of fun listening to this audio and thought narrator Imani Jade Powers did a great job. Her male voices may not have been very masculine sounding, but honestly it made me feel like Maggie was telling me this story and making voices herself, so it worked. I am now going to have to get my hands on everything Shauna Robinson has written and will write.

Thank you NetGalley and OrangeSky Audio for the preview copy.

Love love loved this book! The characters were interesting. I really enjoyed the idea of setting up secret book meetings and selling contraband books and having meetings about it. It made me want to attend events like the ones in the books.

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This super sweet and lovely story brings about a little bit of an identity crisis, dead end job problem, and lackluster romance together to find yourself a little later in life. Maggie is a wonderful heroine and teams up with lovely people from the local town to save a bookshop. The feminist agenda is here subtly and still packs a punch.

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks was such a lovely read. The cast of characters, the unique plot, the love of history, and the love of books really get you invested. I had the audiobook playing every spare moment I could! I even sat in my car after getting to my location for longer than I should have, just so I could finish a chapter.
I loved Malcolm and Maggie's dynamic the most. It was kind of grumpy x sunshine. But Vernon stole the spotlight. I love an introverted grump who gets out of his comfort zone.

Maggie Banks has been struggling to hold a job she enjoys. While still trying to figure out what her next move is, her friend Rochelle asks Maggie to run her bookshop while she's on maternity leave. Cobblestone Books is located in a small town and controlled by the local literary society. Maggie finds herself keeping secrets, selling books and hosting events behind the society's back. How long can she keep her secrets before the society's leader finds out?

This was a lighthearted, fun, quick read. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed Imani Jade Powers' narration. Powers helped set the quaint vibe for the town of Bell River, and portrayed Maggie's quirky personality well. Recommended cozy read!

“When Maggie Banks arrives in Bell River to run her best friend’s struggling bookstore, she expects to sell bestsellers to her small-town clientele. But running a bookstore in a town with a famously bookish history isn’t easy. Bell River’s literary society insists on keeping the bookstore stuck in the past, and Maggie is banned from selling anything written this century. So, when a series of mishaps suddenly tip the bookstore toward ruin, Maggie will have to get creative to keep the shop afloat.

And in Maggie’s world, book rules are made to be broken.”

I’m always so pleasantly surprised when fun, seemingly frivolous books have hidden depths.

Not only did this work talk books, bookshops, friendships, and romance, it delved into racism, censorship, and the erasure of women.

I loved the discussions concerning the sainting of heroes, and how best to enact change. Slow and stead? Or bull in china shop?

Not bad for 336 pages.

My favourite quote:

“[Famous Author] TJ Holt had replied to my email.
TJ Holt was thinking of coming to my event.
TJ Holt and I are basically best friends now.”

Every time an author likes my review, I’m basically planning girls-only retreats, where they write, and I knit. Much fun is had, and much wine is drunk. I’m lookin’ at you, Laurie Albanese.

8.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley, OrangeSky Audio, and SourceBooks Landmark for this chock-a-block ARC.

The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks is absolutely delightful! Like Maggie, I never considered myself a rom com fan, but I thoroughly enjoyed listening and couldn't get enough of Maggie and Malcolm and Vernon and everyone in Bell River. Watching Maggie fall in love with books, the town and its people, and Malcolm was a complete joy. Kudos also to Imani Jade Powers who was a fantastic narrator! A big thank you to OrangeSky Audio, Shauna Robinson, and NetGalley for the early listen in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an audio copy to listen to in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Shauna Robinson's last book and had high hopes for this one. The characters were alright - a wide range of personality types. The story read like a Hallmark movie and I don't know how I feel about it. I really really really don't like when female protagonists are portrayed as clueless, helpless, or naive. Maggie made a lot of really stupid mistakes that were very cringe worthy. Overall a book that is somewhat enjoyable that doesn't require a lot of thought to read.

I received a free audiobook through NetGalley.

This was the literary equivalent of a Hallmark movie, complete with quirky small town and hidden pasts. It’s light, it’s fun, and quick to get through. The narrator of the audiobook has a nice, even voice that makes it easy to follow along without getting too distracted by put-on voices.

Maggie Banks agrees to temporarily run her best friends straggling bookshop. Why is it struggling? Because the owner will only sell books published before a certain time. Nothing relatively new! When Maggie secretly starts selling newer books and having groups of people meet to discuss books the response is overwhelming, but what will happen when the owner finds out?