- Historical romance
- Cinderella retelling
- Bookstore owner
- My Fair Lady vibes

I adored the FMC Evie in this book. She is such a strong character. Even though society tells her she should be married, she instead happily runs a small bookstore as a single woman. One night Max, a Duke, He thinks she should attend a party because she will be the belle of the ball. She dismisses him outright, but after her boiler erupts, she takes his proposition and moves into the Savoy Hotel for the season.

However, she doesn't know the society dances and Max has to teach her. The interactions between these two are witty and clever.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and will be picking up other books in this series.

I found this extremely stressful. It wasn't quite divorced enough from reality for me to not care about the things that Guhrke was getting wrong about the time period, I really *wanted* to have fun, but I just couldn't get into the book

Thank you to Forever for the review copy!

This was a fun Pygmalion / My Fair Lady retelling where a Duke bets his friends that he can turn a bookshop owner - Evie - into the season’s incomparable. I really enjoyed it once I got over the beginning. First, I was disappointed that this wasn’t a Cinderella retelling. Second, I tend to have a hard time when the FMC starts out the book in love with a total jerk, which is how this book started. But it’s always so satisfying at the end when he gets put in his place!

I always love a historical where the woman has a career, and her love interest is supportive of her working! This was a little bit of a slow burn, so readers who don’t like a love at first sight will especially enjoy it!

I don't read a ton of historical romance but the ones I have read, I enjoyed them. This is the first book I picked up by this author and thought it sounded interesting. Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. I thought Bookshop Cinderella started slow and it took me a while to get into the story. I wish there was more chemistry between Max and Evie.

I really enjoyed Evie and Max's story. It was just so much fun watching these two together! I can't wait for the next one in the series!

It’s the way Evie and Max really had multiple Taylor Swift song moments in the last 3 chapters. We went from 🎶meet me in the pouring rain🎶 to 🎶you are the kind of guy who should be marrying the wrong girl🎶 to 🎶part the crowd like the Red Sea don’t even get me started🎶 back to 🎶and they said speak now🎶. So obviously 5 stars and I better get more moments of them in “Lady Scandal” when it comes out!

This was a great read but I didn't love it as much as the other Laura Lee Guhrke books! This was more like a She's All That retelling but in a historical setting with two likeable MCs!

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the eARC of Bookshop Cinderella! All opinions in this review are my own.

If you like historical romance and the movie She's All That, you have to read Bookshop Cinderella! It is full of lovable characters and I like that Evie is in on the bet from the beginning. Rather than having her seen as a poor bookish woman who needs to be helped, Evie is a strong character who is able to keep her business afloat and make decisions for herself. I also loved that we had so much of Max's inner thoughts because we got to find out how hard he fell for from the beginning and how jealous he is of her relationship with Rory. I can't wait to read more from this author!

I was really enjoying this book, but around the middle things started to slow down and I just didn't feel interested anymore. I felt like the buildup didn't really pop when I wanted it to.

This was so cute! Cinderella with a Belle-esque flair, Evie is the bookshop owner of my dreams, surrounded by rare first editions as far as the eye can see. She's an empowered and independent character, making the most of her circumstances. She's also fiscally savvy, which we love to see. The romance honestly was an added bonus here, I could have done with just a novel about Evie sans boys. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Evie Harlow, content with her modest bookshop in London, finds her world turned upside down when Max, Duke of Westbourne, walks in with an audacious proposition. Tasked with turning Evie into the diamond of the season to win a bet, she's initially offended but is forced to accept due to unforeseen circumstances. As their time together unfolds, a connection deepens, challenging the societal norms of their era.

Bookshop Cinderella is a delightful blend of romance and societal intrigue, showcasing the irresistible chemistry between a reserved bookshop owner and a charismatic duke. The tale unfolds with warmth, wit, and a touch of glamour, making it a captivating read for fans of historical romance and those who appreciate the transformative journey of its endearing characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m always up to try a Cinderella-retelling/inspired story. Marry that with historical romance and a bookshop? Yes. And I will say that I enjoyed the overall story and vibe. The two leads complemented each other well. However, I needed more tension and chemistry between the two. Everything was easy and fun to read, but I don’t think this is a story that will stick with me. I would definitely like to read some of the author’s other titles.

This was pure fun in the best ways. Evie is every bit the tenacious, strong-headed independent miss you’d expect in a Cinderella story. She has made her own way overcoming her hardships and surviving in a man’s world, saving and running her father’s business. I appreciated the 90’s film plot, as She’s All That was always a movie I really enjoyed. The premise that a woman would be made over simply because of a drunken wager, is at once comical and insulting and the author truly played that to precision. Capturing both of those reactions in tandem. Watching the Duke continuously set himself up for heartache as he pushed her towards others, was a delightful little bit of angst in an otherwise happy tale. Additionally, we have no ugly step families… but a bright cast of supportive women to guide them along. From Evie’s sister-like friend Anna to Max’s ever-helpful cousin Delia. This story will have you chuckling, and leave you with glow as bright as any glass slipper.

Don't threaten me with a Cinderella retelling, because I will always have a good time, and Bookshop Cinderella was no exception!

Romances in a historical setting are very hit or miss for me, and I haven't found one I have LOVED in too long of a time. Bookshop Cinderella broke my miss streak and it was an absolute hit!

In this novel, we follow our fmc Evie who is a self-proclaimed spinster. She supports herself by running her late father's bookshop; however, she is slowly but surely working herself into the ground. Enter the Duke of Westbourne--Max. Max makes a bet that he can turn Evie into the Belle of the Season in a few short weeks. In return, Evie gets a much-needed vacation.

I liked this book for a myriad of reasons, but an immediate reason was that Max's bet was never a secret from Evie. He was completely upfront with her about his intentions and I loved that she was never in the dark! I hate that trope.

If you like Brodgerton or Jane Austen novels, I think you'd also enjoy this read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc for my honest review.

Evie Harlow runs a little bookshop in London, which is the best an unmarried woman of her age and social standing can expect. When Max, Duke of Westbourne, enters her shop to proposition her to help him win a bet to turn her into the diamond of the season. She's initially insulted, but she has no choice but to accept when some unexpected events occur. As Evie and Max spend more and more time together, their feelings start to change. Will they let society dictate who they love? It's an entertaining historical romance that questions the societal constructs of the time.

This was a very fun & fast paced read. Great for anyone who liked the movie She’s All That (or obviously Cinderella), but historical and if the main character actually knew about the bet. The romance was above average and it was great to see Evie come out of her shell and push herself to try new things and how Max and Evie fall in love. Looking forward to the rest of the series.

WOW! This book is SO GOOD! It is romantic, moving, sweet, and so much more! Whenever I picked up "Bookshop Cinderella", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this Cinderella-esque and Pygmalion-esque story!

Firstly, this book has such a beautiful and lovely cover!

This is the first book I have read by Laura Lee Guhrke, and it certainly will not be my last! Her writing is full of so much heart, visceral, detailed, and unique. I felt truly immersed in the time period the book takes place in, and the author's world-building is spectacular: her storytelling jumps right off of the page, as do the characters in this book.

(Possible Spoilers!)
Oh my goodness, THIS BOOK!!!! Evie owns a bookshop, and, one day, in walks Max. He has made a bet with his friends that involves Evie becoming the "diamond of the season" (quoted from the synopsis of the book). Soon, something happens to the bookshop, and Evie agrees to help Max, and the two work together so he can win. Neither could either have imagined just how much this will change both of their lives.

Evie and Max are truly perfect together, and bring out the best in one another. This friends-to-lovers romance truly is a Cinderella story. The more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings start to become, and I so hope to see them again in a future book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC of this novel, and to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for sending me a beautiful physical ARC as well, it is incredible! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Bookshop Cinderella was a cute historical romance. It gave me major She's All That vibes but I'm glad he actually told her that he was going to give her a makeover and why he was doing it. While there were some predictable moments that made my eyes roll, overall it was a sweet story and I'd be curious to check out future works from this author.

This one fell flat for me. The characters were one dimensional and lifeless. Max wants to save Evie from a life of toil in a bookshop and from being a spinster. The same actions she finds annoying her in family, and yet she humors Max and let's him spoil her. Didn't do it for me.

This was my first Laura Lee Guhrke and I really enjoyed it. Excellent banter and interactions between the hero and heroine, and bonus points for the heroine owning a book shop. I'll definitely be checking out the rest of the series.