I was intrigued by the premise of "The Bookshop Sisterhood" by Michelle Lindo-Rice, but the sheer amount of drama was distracting. The women in this book caused their own issues and couldn't get out of their own way, leading to a frustrating read with all the secrets and stubbornness. Overall, it was a story of friendship turmoil with a dash of opening a bookstore, though that aspect didn't take center stage.

"The Bookshop Sisterhood" starts promisingly with four friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie—trying to open their dream bookstore. The setup promises a deep dive into friendship and the joy of books, but personal crises soon challenge their bonds.

The protagonists are mostly funny and somewhat relatable, with witty banter that often made me smile. The diversity in personalities and family dynamics enriched the story, providing some much-needed depth. I loved the moments of genuine friendship and difficult conversations that hint the book’s more immersive and emotionally engaging potential. However, a distant narrative voice left me feeling like an outsider instead of a member of the “Upper Crust Crew.”

From the start, the writing style didn't work for me. Heavy exposition made it difficult to connect with the characters. As the drama increased, the story’s believability decreased, turning a potentially compelling set of obstacles into a series of unfortunate events. I felt like I mentally defined each woman by her struggles instead of her strengths, undemining the book’s supposed theme of sisterhood and support.

The bookshop itself - which I thought would be central to the story - seems relegated to the background, adding to the confusion about the novel's focus. The plot came across a little disjointed – a series of crises with resolution as an afterthought.

This serial/episodic structure made the book was a good read for a weekend of camping. I could easily put it down mid-chapter, then pick it up an hour later and refresh myself after a 30-second skim. "The Bookshop Sisterhood" could be suitable for a light summer read - especially with its colorful cover! It might also be better as an audiobook, where a skilled cast could bring the dialogue to life.

I really, really wanted to love this book, but was ultimately left unsatisfied. My curiosity about how resolutions kept me reading until the end, not affection for the characters. It’s an okay read, but left me wanting more depth and connection. This book might appeal to those who are here for the drama, for the quick ups-and-downs of friendship, and for the many POV switches

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review :)

This was a quick, easy read about the ups and downs of 4 best friends trying to start a bookshop together while also dealing with difficulties in their personal lives. I was drawn in by the title and cover of this book, but it wasn't really about a bookshop so much as it was an overly dramatized soap opera about women who mostly seem to not like each other very much, considering how awful they are to each other. Each of the 4 main characters is going through one of the major categories of "problems" and leans on her friends for support, but all of them are unlikable and make very poor decisions, and constantly, rapidly vacillate between saying they love each other and saying really rude and terrible things to each other that I couldn't imagine saying to anyone. The bookshop is more of just a backdrop that gets mentioned repeatedly and has you questioning if it's really a good idea for 4 people who fight so much to go into a financial venture together. The writing wasn't for me and the dialogue felt very stilted, with a lot of sentences feeling like not the way people actually speak to each other. I probably wouldn't recommend this to a friend unless they really enjoy dramatic soap operas.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I would wager a handsome bet that most of you reading this review have harbored a dream of opening their own bookstore. Four best friends live far enough away from the most amazing bookstores (looking at you Delaware beach towns), and aspire to create their own establishment for the people of Dover. The closer they get to their dream becoming a reality, the more lemons life seems to throw their way. Michelle Lindo-Rice’s characters have wonderful depth that will resonate with readers as they tackle hardships that many will relate to. A heartwarming and beautiful read about friendship, family love, and dreams.

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be on Instagram ahead of the publication date.

Book Review
The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo Rice

⚠️SPOILERs ahead ⚠️

Characters
Celeste- car jacked, trauma, her marriage is failing
Toni- minor crime as juvenille, name change, old ovaries, influencer
Leslie- her daughter is sick, husband is a gambler
Yasmeen- struggles to Make ends meet until she wins the lottery, religious family, friends dont like her boyfriend

Storyline
Longtime friends who started a bookclub now want to open a bookstore

Thoughts
▪️The Pace of this book gave me whiplash
▪️Sooo much going on, for each character for the side characters I felt like there was no breathing room (for me or the characters)
▪️Important complex topics that had the potential to provide complex storylines and add depth to the MCs felt more like an episode of Dr Phil
▪️ New to me author
▪️Yes everything does work out in a round about way and the Dream if the bookstore happens but I didnt love the journey

Overall just not what I was hoping for

Thanks to @netgalley and @htp for my digital ARC in return for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

DNF @ 30%
I wanted to love this book and I feel like I really tried, but it’s just not for me. There’s so much drama and the characters’ reactions to things are so over the top. I don’t feel particularly drawn to or interested in any of their stories or their outcomes.

Thank you NetGallry for allowing me to read and review the ARC of this fantastic book. This is my first book by this author and will not be my last. It’s about four friends who want to open up a book store together. This story brings out all the emotions. You will laugh, cry and get angry. Michelle Linda-Rice does a great job with this story. I loved thr characters and their journeys. I loved this wonderful story and highly recommend this one.

I am going to DNF this book at about 30% and here is why - I was really enjoying the sisterhood and the friendships these ladies have. They are all so accomplished, beautiful, and have goals in mind. The ambition! Their love for each other is obviously central to the story. I actually didn't mind all of the drama that was ensuing; it reminded me of a soap opera type show your auntie or your grandmother would watch! Some parts made me laugh out loud. But if the author is writing drama for drama's sake, she should have left out the "Surprise! You're adopted!" trope. As an adoptee myself, it wasn't necessary. This pertains to Leslie's character (I think the only white character in their group? I could be incorrect). She finds this out on top of her daughter needing a possible bone marrow transplant, which is already SO insane and traumatizing. The adoption storyline isn't needed here. In fact, I thought it was going to reveal that her dad was HIV positive or something like that, not adoption. I don't know if the author knows anyone who is adopted but I personally don't find adoption to be an element that's necessary unless that's the ONLY topic about the book. Those stories are so unique and there's so much to unpack with learning something like that. Some other grips are the writing style and writing errors that I hope the editor can handle.

I want to love every book I read. But I don’t love these characters. The set up for the plot was such a good idea. Four book-loving best friends decide to open up their own bookshop and specialize in stocking books/materials written by authors who belong to marginalized communities. The characters just don’t strike me as possibly real people. I really tried and read a little over a quarter of this book, but Leslie’s reaction to her father’s news about her being adopted was just horrific and the way she treated him was so out of line with Leslie’s characterization and Lindo-Rice’s portrayal of their relationship. Lindo-Rice keeps saying these women are a tight-knit friend group but I don’t see that in their actions toward each other. I feel like the characters are being “there” for each other because that’s what they are supposed to do and not what they actually want to do. And the men are described as absolutely in love with their partners but Wade is just leaving so abruptly and Toni believes that the only reason Kent is marrying her is because of her womb. I feel like Lindo-Rice also needed to slow this story down and take more time developing the characters. She just keeps throwing more drama into the book and the character reactions are not believable. There’s also a TON of drama going on. Way too much drama, in my opinion. There could have been like one or two of these events and that could have affected the friendship group and their potential bookshop but then the group comes together, perseveres and has a successful launch. But Lindo-Rice is throwing everything and the kitchen sink at these characters. I’m so sorry I can’t give you a good review. I really really wanted to, but this is my honest opinion and I’m DNFing this book.

I’m giving this book two stars because I loved the idea of this book but I don’t like the writing.

The book made you think of all of the trials and tribulations of friendships and sisterhoods, careers, starting new life and making major decisions. The friends were showing how a healthy friendship can give criticism and overcome that.

Friendship + Opening a Bookshop + Telenovela Level Drama!

This was an enjoyable read but not quite what I expected. I think where it fell apart for me was I wished there was a but less drama and a lot more Bookshop/Bookish content.

Thank you so much Mira Books for the advanced copy.

Four thirty-something friends are determined to open a bookshop celebrating their 15- year "sisterhood", giving a voice to marginalized populations, and sharing their love of books. Each of these four beautiful "sisters", Celeste, Leslie, Yasmeen, and Toni, each face a major crisis or two in their lives which threaten them and their friendship suffers from collateral damages.

To say "The Bookshop Sisterhood" is packed with drama is an understatement. At times, I did not want to read the next chapter because it was an intense read. Michelle Lindo-Rice delves deeply into the themes of friendship, trust, love, healthy and unhealthy relationships, confidence, and perseverance in high drama manner. There were a few times when I thought there could not be any more twists or turns, but turn the page and here we go again! That said, if you want a book that makes you laugh, cry, get angry, and feel over-the-top elated all within a few pages, you'll enjoy reading about the sisterhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher MIRA for the advanced copy of this book. It has potential but it was challenging to get through. So much drama and whining. Four unlikely friends come together to open a bookstore but that is not the story at all. They all have back stories with so much drama is exhausting. I could only read so much before having to put it down but it did leave me wanting to know how it ended up so I came back for more. There are trigger warnings for car jacking, adoption, illness, addictions… Will be curious how others feel about this one. For me it’s a ok read only.

So happy to read about a black owned bookshop opening im an underserved area.
It speaks to the importance of sister hood with friends as they navigate opening a new business, and how their love of books helps them do that.
Should make a great book club read.
Thank you #netgalley for this #arc

🌟 🌟 🌟 💫
Thank you to NetGalley, Michele Lindo-Rice, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this arc copy of The Bookshop Sisterhood. It comes out July 30, 2024, and could be your fun summer read!

We meet the four friends through their first book club of the year. All four of them, very different, but so alike in so so many ways.
Yasmeen, who is barely hanging on and living on her parent’s couch.
Leslie, who learns something about her family that will change the trajectory of things.
Celeste, whose marriage is failing and she’s got extreme fear phobias due to an extremely terrifying experience.
Toni, who learns some pretty awful news just before she’s about to marry her perfect husband Kent.

All of their personalities are so different, which is great when you are changing point of views every chapter!

When every character’s life seems to be turned upside down, they all seemed to rally for one another, but at times their bickering felt more high school drama than adult. Their friendship was the center of this novel, which was apparent from the start, and their bookshop business adventure… which 30% into the story still hasn’t come around. It seemed like the bookshop was a side story to their family dramas, even though this seemed to be a priority right from the get go. It was more of a glance over topic, than the central focus.

The one thing about these four best friends is you personally could relate to one of them, or you have a friend who is like one of these four ladies. I feel like the story picked up halfway through with the drama and the small twist and turns… so if you like a drama filled woman’s fiction novel, this will be for you!

It was really neat to see titles of books I have read, or titles of ones I’ve never heard of. I really connected with Celeste as she talked about her never-ending to be read pile… I think every book lover has one of those!

I found myself questioning their choices and motives for certain situations, and so frustrated when a specific woman trusted a stranger wayyyyyy too much. I also couldn’t fathom how they threw around money so much! They did not just toss around $20 or $50; It was thousands of dollars. Every time a situation came up, I couldn’t help but wonder how this is at all possible!

If you’re into women’s drama, you’ll enjoy this novel out in July!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
I tend to really enjoy books about books but I did not really enjoy this one. There seemed to be a lot of issues with no real conclusions. The subplot of the bookshop was fun but overall this was not it for me.

Lindo-Rice crafts a heartwarming tale of sisterhood, love, and the power of community set against the backdrop of a charming bookshop. You'll fall in love with the characters and their journey of self-discovery. With its engaging storytelling and relatable themes, this book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a feel-good read.

Was an easy read about 4 friends from high school wanting to open a bookstore together while there is more to the story than just that. I enjoyed the easiness and lightness of this book. Will for sure recommend to those looking to read an easy read.

If you’re considering picking up “The Bookshop Sisterhood” by Michelle Lindo-Rice, here’s my take on it:

“The Bookshop Sisterhood” is a novel that weaves together the lives of four friends with the dream of opening a bookstore. It’s a story that delves into the themes of friendship, resilience, and the unexpected twists of life. While I found the book to be an enjoyable read, it didn’t quite leave a lasting impression on me.

The characters are well-drawn, and their individual stories are filled with drama and emotion. The narrative does a good job of highlighting the strength that comes from leaning on one another during tough times. However, I felt that the book could have delved deeper into certain plot points to give them more weight.

Overall, it’s a decent read with a heartwarming portrayal of sisterhood. If you’re looking for a drama-packed story that celebrates the bond of friendship and the power of community, you might find this book to be a pleasant addition to your shelf

I enjoyed this book but I wouldn’t give it higher than a 3.5 star review.
It was a fairly easy read. 4 friends since high school want to open up a bookstore together because of their love for books. But each one of them is going thru a tough time with life. The story goes through each of their lives. I found it was very over the top and dramatic. It was more of a far fetched tale than anything. But it keeps you wanting to turn the page. Maybe it’s because I enjoy reading about all the drama. I’d prefer to read about it than to live it honestly.
So if you like an easy read full of drama this is a book for you.
Thank you for the ARC in return for my honest review