"You see, there is no book that can please everyone. And if there were, it would be a bad book."

The Door-to-Door Bookstore was such a heartwarming book to read. I absolutely loved the characters, and it is one of the most joyous found families I have ever encountered. I think this would be perfect for fans of Backman.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of The Door to Door Bookstore. I love any books about books. No matter the genre.

The Door To Door Bookstore is a story that book lovers will enjoy!
This is the tale of Carl Kollhoff, a man in his 70's who delivers books for City Gate Bookshop. Nine year old Schascha befriends Carl and begins to join him on his daily route. This changes not only Carl's world but the world of the people he delivers to as well.
With a wonderful cast of characters this is a very emotional story about friendship and the love of books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Truly a book for book lovers!




Carl Kollhoff loves books. While his life might not have gone the way he planned, books have always been a constant in his life. Now an old man, he still hangs on to his nightly book walks to deliver treasured books to his beloved customers. He knows them all by name, or, the names he gives them, based of course on his favourite literary charectors. His biggest fear at this point in his life is that his best friends daughter, and new owner of the City Gaye bookstore, Sabine Gruber, might finally decide he is no longer needed in her employment. But until that time comes, he walks. His route takes him through the small southern town in Germany that he knows so well, he could walk it with his eyes closed. But one day, bubbly and bright 9 year old Schascha joins him. Although he tries to send her home, she soon becomes a fixture in his life as well as his customers. They team up to become the most adorable duo, helping their customers with books that they no only want, but books they need as well.

This was such a a beautiful and heartwarming book! I loved every moment of it. You will be heartbroken and heartwarmed at the same time.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own!

Carl is an elderly gent whose entire life has revolved around books. He has spent years in the Gateway Bookshop recommending just the right book to anyone who walks in the door. Now his role has been reduced to his special delivery service where he hand picks books and delivers them to the homes of a small group of clients. One day he is joined on his journey by Schascha-an energetic nine-year old full of curiosity who is determined to help Carl improve his services. The cast of characters they visit (each given a literary name by Carl) was delightful and this is very much a story of Carl and Schasha helping each other grow as people while helping their book patrons as well. I don't want to give away the whole book but it gave me a bit of Hundred Lives of Lenni and Margot vibes. I felt the awful new owner of the bookstore character took things down a notch and I kept getting the feeling that I wanted a bit more from this story but it gave me the warm and fuzzies and I think many people would like it.

I love a well-written story about friends made through books! The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a feel-good adventure through books!

In a Nutshell: A sweet story about an old bookseller and a little girl who changes his life. Loved all the bookish references. The final quarter went over the top, but overall, it was a good enough read, albeit clichéd.

Story Synopsis:
Seventy-two-year-old Carl Kollhoff works at a bookstore handling a distinctive role. His job is to deliver books to special customers after closing hours. Carl knows these customers and their reading tastes well and respects their needs and desires.
When “nearly ten”-year-old Schascha bumps into Carl one day during his rounds and insists on accompanying him on his rounds, Carl is flustered. He has no experience with kids and doesn’t know how to handle this impetuous child. But soon, he realises that Schascha has her own wisdom to offer about his books and his routes, even when he hasn’t asked her for her advice. When Carl’s job is in danger, he needs to rethink what to do with his life, because he has always been the ‘book walker’.
The story is written in a limited third person perspective, mostly from Carl’s pov.

Bookish Yays:
😍 You might think that the title refers to the bookstore Carl works in, but to me, Carl *is* the door-to-door bookstore. His passion for books, his dedication to his customers, and his patience with little Schascha all make him a great lead character.
(Note: Nowadays, any old lead male character is compared to Ove. So let me clarify: Carl and Ove have nothing in common except their age and their solitude.)
😍 Loved all the bookish talks and quotes. And there are quite a few of those! The memorable lines will make you ponder or smile, perhaps both.
😍 Some of the secondary characters, especially among Carl’s customers, are quite memorable. My favourites were Mrs. Longstocking, Hercules, and The Reader. And of course, the cat named “Dog”!
😍 As an Austenite, I was thrilled to see Jane Austen’s books and characters popping up frequently, courtesy one of Carl’s clients who is nicknamed “Mr. Darcy.”


Bookish Mixed Bags:
😍 In many ways, Schascha’s character is the life and soul of this book, infusing every scene with her enthusiasm and vivacity. Because of her, we experience some funny interactions as well. At the same time, she breaks her promises and lies regularly to get her own way. While there is plenty to redeem her as well, I couldn’t get myself to love her unconditionally as I usually do to child characters because of her deceptive behaviour. Her dad might have taken the wrong action against Carl (and I certainly don’t condone violence as a solution), but his anger with Schascha was somewhat justified. I am sure I would have reacted with equal fury had my daughters bunked school and romped around town with a stranger.
😍 This is quite a short book, and despite the numerous characters, goes by at a steady pace. Despite this, I was not *gripped* by the plotline as it hardly ever took an unexpected turn.

Bookish Nays:
😒 Probably the only character in the book whose development is utterly lacklustre is Sabine Gruber, the bookshop manager. Her role is poorly sketched, with no valid reasons or justifications for her behaviour. It was almost as if Sabine just had to play the stock negative character without us getting to know what drew her to such extreme decisions.
😒 The final quarter of the book brought down my overall satisfaction by becoming too melodramatic. The ending is weak as well, being too contrived and overly perfect. I would have preferred something more realistic that sprung naturally from the plot, even if the outcome was bittersweet.
😒 I am never a fan of the idea: “Boys push/hit/pinch/trouble you only because they secretly love you.” Luckily, this isn't a children's book, so no little girls will be confused by this weird logic. It’s such a stupid justification!

All in all, despite the relatively dud ending and the somewhat predictable storyline, I liked this book. It appealed in myriad ways to the bibliophile in me. If you love books, you too will find many things to relish about this book. The translation seems true to the original spirit, though native German speakers might be able to judge this factor better.

3.5 stars, rounding up for the love of all bookish references.

My thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC of “The Door-to-Door Bookstore”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

A book about books?!?! I was already hooked. So, I read this as a part of an arc and it was really interesting and unique. It was unlike what I normally read, and it did not disappoint.

Reviewed an electronic version of The Door-to-Door Bookstore, which was about 239 pages. There are multiple versions and languages of this book; looks to be released in German in 2020.

You could definitely tell that this book was not written by an American author. I loved the uniqueness in the feel of this book. (Now that I typed that, I'm increasing from 4 to 5 stars.)

A 70-something man delivers books to some unique characters, he has been doing this for a long (LONG) time. One day a 9 year old girl decides to accompany him.

I can see why this is an international best seller.

Thank you to NetGalley for introducing me to a "new to me" author ... and also for the opportunity to review The Door-to-Door Bookseller in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to author Carsten Henn and to publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing for approving my request to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed each chapter of this novel. It continued to make me smile while reading the story of unlikely friends who work together to uplift others in their community. I feel that Carl and Schascha are both characters who many of us can see in our own lives. An older person, while extremely kind and passionate, who is stuck in their ways and a young, sparkling child who brings life and joy to each situation. Often children surprise us with their wisdom and ability to show compassion and generously. Schascha and Carl are a perfect example of friends learning from one another. Beyond the plot and great character development, this novel is filled with wonderful figurative language and beautiful descriptions. This addition of style creates a true “bookish”feel for those who have read some of the classics mentioned throughout the story. This is a novel I would definitely recommend to someone who is looking for a heartwarming and captivating read.

THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE by Carsten Henn was published internationally in 2020 and has been a best-seller which, as Booklist says, is a "charming story about the power of books and reading." In this shorter novel, readers meet Carl Kollhoff who works delivering books in a small German town. The bookstore itself is in transition as the next generation is taking over and fails to appreciate the value that Carl brings. Throughout the story, readers meet a variety of customers and watch them evolve slowly. A favorite character is a nine-year-old little girl named Schascha who acts as a catalyst for much action, including Carl's own growth and willingness to be more open. Overall, though, I felt little empathy for other characters and would recommend "curmudgeonly old man" stories like A Man Called Ove or the more recent The Lonely Hearts Book Club first.

Fellow book lovers (and anyone, really) can appreciate this novel.
This follows an unlikely friendship between elderly bookseller Carl Kollhoff and 9-year-old girl Schascha. Always seeming to know the book for any situation, Carl hand delivers his book recommends to special customers after the shop closes. Soon, he’s joined by Schascha, and together, they start to make a lasting impact on the community through the power of books and reading, and in turn, when Carl is in need, returning the favor.
A quick and endearing read, Carsten Henn really nailed this story of friendship.
Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This is now available to read.

I am not sure if it is because the book has been translated but I really struggled with the writing. It was very disjointed and had absolutely no flow.

The Door To Door Bookstore
By Carsten Henn
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Carl Kollhoff is a bookseller who lives a monotonous life. He wakes up, delivers books to his routine customers, goes to sleep, and repeats. One day a 9 year old named Schascha decides to join him on his daily route and that is where his life begins to change.

The Door To Door Bookstore is a beautiful tale of how books and people can make a positive impact in our lives. We have the opportunity to learn the lives of Carl’s customers through the eyes of Carl and Schascha, and the way their lives intertwine.

I do believe any book lover would love this story and it’s characters. If you treat your shelves to this one, I would love to hear your thoughts! This book is out now, and was released on July 4, 2023.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a short story about a man named Carl who delivers books in the evening hours after his bookstore closes. He meets a young 9 year old girl who they become great friends. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book before it was published.

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn revolves around seventy-two-year-old bookseller Carl Kollhoff, once a full-time employee at the City Gate Bookshop, but now whose responsibilities are limited to a special book delivery service after hours - individually packaged customized selections delivered to his customers at their doorstep. Carl, having never married and without any close family, is essentially a loner whose world revolves around books and the bookshop. He considers his customers, who are mostly loners like himself, to be his friends and has developed a special rapport with most of them.

Carl meets nine-year-old Schascha one evening on his delivery route. Despite his objections, she insists on accompanying him on his rounds and befriending his customers and he is surprised at how strong-willed and perceptive she is. Schascha also devises her own plan to help Carl and his customers, who are hiding personal struggles and pain behind closed doors. However, Carl has a strained relationship with the current manager of the store, Sabine, the daughter of the owner whom Carl considered a friend and he is aware that his tenure at the bookshop is nearing its end. But he is unwilling to let anything sever the personal connections he has forged within his circle of book lovers. What follows is a beautiful story about bookshops, friendship, community and the transformative power of books.

The premise of this novel is wonderful and would appeal to book lovers and bibliophiles and those who enjoy books about books. There is much about this book that is praiseworthy including the wonderful cast of characters (including a cat with an interesting name!)and the fluid narrative with some beautifully-written passages. I truly enjoyed getting to know the characters and their backstories and loved how the author depicts the friendship between Carl, Schascha and their community of readers. The author also touches upon themes of loneliness, abuse, trauma and the importance of empathy and kindness. I loved the first half of the novel. What prevents me from giving this book a higher rating is the somewhat rushed ending and a few unresolved subplots. I do not want to give too much away but as the narrative progresses, there are elements in the story that feel contrived and unconvincing and a few threads of the narrative either remained unexplored or ended abruptly. But overall, this is a charming, feel–good read that is full of heart!

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on July 4, 2023.

Rating: 3.75⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of The Door-to-Door Bookstore!

The Door-to-Door Bookstore tells the story of Carl Christian Kollhoff, an older gentleman whose job at the bookstore has dwindled to delivering books to a handful of customers who still prefer this way of shopping for books. The bookstore was once run by Carl's friend Gustav, but Gustav's poor health has relegated him to a nursing home and Gustav's daughter has taken over the bookstore. The daughter has been making big changes to the bookstore and wants to eliminate Carl's delivery service. One night a nine year old girl begins to accompany Carl on his route, not at Carl's invitation. Her bubbly personality makes Carl and his customer's open up to one another in ways they haven't for the years that Carl has been delivering their books.

First off, I am a sucker for books about books. I LOVED this one. It is so sweet and the characters are so interesting. I highly recommend The Door-to-Door Bookstore!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I came across The Door-to-Door Bookstore, but I decided to take a chance. And boy, am I so glad that I did. I'm not sure I can fully explain how this book makes me feel. It starts off feeling cozy and comfortable. Then moves into happy feelings, followed by some sadness, and ends with that cozy feeling. How can you not want to read a book like that?

The Door-to-Door Bookstore was initially published in 2020 in German and is finally available in English. With some translated works, things feel like they got lost along the way. Maybe it's because the translator is doing a direct translation. Or they didn't understand the author's voice. I didn't have that feeling with this book. The translator, Melody Shaw, did a fantastic job!

How City Gate Bookshop, the physical bookstore, is described at the beginning makes you want to find the store to experience it. As for the characters, Carl is a reader's reader. What I mean by that is he knows exactly what someone needs to read. The cast of Carl's regular customers is so deliciously different from each other that it would be easy to tell who they were if you passed them on a walk through town.

If you enjoyed meeting Ove or Arthur Pepper, I feel you would enjoy meeting Carl Kollhoff! Carl would still be a great character to meet if you haven't met the other gentlemen. Quite honestly, The Door-to-Door Bookstore may be one of my favorite books of 2023! Who wouldn't want to be a Book Walker?

THE DOOR-TO-DOOR BOOKSTORE by Carsten Henn is a heartwarming story to add to my translated fiction list!

Carl is an older gentleman who has been working at his best friend's bookstore for forever. He is a natural, and enjoys his job as a book delivery man, carefully wrapping and delivering ordered books to their respective homes.

One day Schascha, a nine (almost ten)-year old girl joins him on his route, and despite his protestations, she inserts her lively spirit to not only Carl, but to his patrons. When Carl's job is at stake and the future is uncertain, this girl has to use her wits and charm to remind him of the power of books.

The word for this quick read is charming! Utterly charming. I had thought if might be a bit saccharine for me, but there was just enough humor and poignant moments. I enjoyed Schascha and her effect on the adults around her, as well as how she saw the power of stories in the lives of the patrons. It reminded me a bit of It's a Wonderful Life.

Thank you @htpbooks @hanoversquarepress @netgalley for letting me read this special story and sharing my thoughts. Publishing on July 4th, this will be a delightful tale for a lighter feel-good read!

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn is a beautifully written book that should be read by all book lovers! This is a heartwarming story of an elderly man, a young girl, their friendship and their love of books. Mr. Henn draws you into the story from the start and you will not be able to put it down until the end. A highly emotional story that will make you smile and even bring a tear to your eyes. If you love books then this is one you should read. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley, Hanover Square Press, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Carsten Henn for this wonderful story to read and review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
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