Thank you, netGalley, for the eArc.
It was the cover and title that drew me to this book. This is my first read by this author. This book is heavy on the drama and heavy on the sisterhood. Checking trigger & content warnings is a must; I was stressed. The characters could be likable, but the actions of all of them made it difficult to not want to punch them in the face. But you also want it to work out for them so they are tolerable. Annoying but tolerable. I enjoyed the books that were referenced. I wish there was more about the bookshop coming to be, and the ending felt rushed. But give me an HEA, and I'm good.

I loved this book. I loved the characters and their stories. IT was a tad predictable, but it held my interest. I appreciated that the characters each has a storyline, but they were also interconnected through their past and their investment in the future, It was a great read that I would definitely recommend.

When we are introduced to the characters in this group it is under the premise that these four friends are planning to open a book shop together in a few months. I loved all the book talk. But then the women leave the meeting and go off into their own lives and just like in real life everyone has REAL LIVES with real problems. Some they all find out about and some they keep private. I liked how real this is. The friends are like sisters. They talk harshly and honestly to each other, but they forgive quickly (most of the time) and have each other's backs.

I enjoyed these women and am grateful to #HarlequinTradePublishing and #NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion about this book.

This book had a lot going on and most of it was not about the bookshop. The 4 women who make up the sisterhood are long time friends who decide to open up a bookstore and then each of their lives falls apart in dramatic ways. Although the story kept you turning pages to see what would happen next, not all the women were likeable or treated each other well. It did not seem realistic that all of them would have such immense issues at the same time or that they would make the choices that they did to deal with their situations The ending of the book seemed rushed after so much time was taken delving into each of their lives past and present. I wanted to like each of the women more and root for them more but it was hard to do. I did like that there were so many book recommendations from other authors throughout the book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

The Bookshop Sisterhood is a story about four women facing incredible hardships who learn to love themselves and each other in a way they never have. Friends Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie are a found family, friends who are always there for each other, and bound together by their love of books. They intend to open a bookstore cafe with each other, but almost immediately after deciding this, their lives take a turn for the worst. Celeste, paralyzed by PTSD, is losing control of her marriage, and her husband asks for a divorce. Leslie's teenage daughter collapses during practice and needs immediate medical attention, and her husband is mostly absent. Toni is being threatened by a past partner, all while grappling with news of her infertility. And Yasmeen is struggling to get by, until she wins the lottery, and suddenly has immense cash she has never seen in her life.

There was so much plot that the main characters could all have their own book. They each are going through immense personal drama, and putting it all together loses out on some details of their own story. I was drawn to the title because of the bookshop, which ended up being a fairly minor aspect of the plot. Though, I did appreciate how many references the author made to other author's and novels.

I found the characters to be incredibly frustrating. I think some of that leads into the plot and makes each of them more relatable for the reader. But sometimes I thought it was taken too far, such as Celeste firmly refusing to go to therapy for most of the book, and Yasmeen being incredibly wasteful with her lottery earnings. When the characters fought with each other (which was 75% of the book), their insults were so harsh that I honestly was shocked they remained friends for so long. I was not surprised when the climactic explosion happened in each of their lives, leading to a break in friendship, but it came so close to the end of the book, that the reunion felt rushed. Overall, I think the pacing could have used so work. But with that being said, I did finish the book in 5 days, so that says something about the intrigue in and of itself.

Overall, I would give this book 2.5 stars, but I am rounding up to 5. If you like challenging but relatable characters, found family, and bookish talk, this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending me an advanced digital copy to review.

While I think this book has merit, I don't know if I'd consider reading from this author again. The plot was moving and the connection between the characters is endearing, but I feel as if the narrative was hindered by the writing. For me, it lacked depth and I was left wanting more. The dialogue felt juvenile and cliched at times, for example, the first line is "This is going to be the best year of our lives". When the women would speak to each other it felt unnatural, unconvincing. It takes me out of a book entirely when you have to say to yourself; this is not how people talk to each other.

There's potential here and there is someone out there who's going to love this novel. That person is just not me, unfortunately.

The Bookshop Sisterhood is the story of 4 best friends who love each other and books. This love prompts them to open a bookstore together. Personal and collective issues threaten not only the opening of their bookstore, but also their friendship. Celeste is struggling to save her marriage after a traumatic experience. Toni is trying to get ready for her wedding while dealing with past and current dilemmas. Leslie is caring for her seriously ill child as secrets regarding her dad and husband are revealed. Yasmeen is learning the hard way that more money means more problems after winning the lottery. I appreciate how the author uses this story to demonstrate that “Besties, Books, and Bevs” can be both a bookstore and a way of life. I also appreciate how the author mentions books by other authors though out the story. I literally went back through the book after reading it and wrote down all of the books mentioned. Thank you, Michelle Lindo-Rice, for giving your readers a beautiful story about friendship and a list of books to buy from their local bookstore or include in their own bookstore that this story might inspire them to open. I would also like to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a sucker for any book that involves books or bookstores, no matter what the main plot. The Bookshop Sisterhood did not disappoint. Told from the perspective of all four characters in alternating chapters, you really get to know each of them and how their individual worlds are falling apart while trying to open a bookstore together.

Each of the characters is likable and relatable. I was yelling at each of them at some point in the story for being idiots. And I was genuinely invested in all of them.

The story was fun, with lots of drama, and showed true friendship and sisterhood. Definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Its the New Year and four book loving best friends meet up to discuss the opening of their new bookstore. Immediately after the meeting ends, each woman faces life changing events that threatens the future of both their bookstore and their friendship. The book alternates between the 3rd person POV of each woman and with each chapter we get to know them, and their secrets, more and more. The emphasis of how important our chosen family is feels familiar and refreshing, with female empowerment being a constant theme. The story is packed with soap like drama, but I found myself engaged in each woman's story and rooted for each of them to have a happy ending. I loved how the author joyfully mixes in real life book recommendations, particularly from women and women of color. The characters' mix of distinct personalities, humor and relatable challenges of womanhood make this a great book club read.

Story of 4 friends wanting to open a cafe/bookshop. They belong to a book club that meets at their homes, and are avid readers. But each one has issues and secrets that must be resolved.

Not for me. Dialogue seems like what I hear from high schoolers. Seemed similes were odd such as:
" The praise flattened her spirit like a boulder on cotton"; "giving her a smile as fake as the makeup on her face"

The cliches too numerous: "The familiar ache made her chest tighten. ... Money couldn't buy taste

I couldn't finish the book. I couldn't relate to the women. The dialog , the attempt at simile. the friendship didn't work for me.

At times it felt like the author was using vocabulary from her school lists.
It's ashame, the concept of women owning a book store is an "in" idea, it just wasn't navigated compared to so many others on the market.

The Bookshop Sisterhood by Michelle Lindo-Rice.
This is a women's fiction and a stand-alone.

I want to thank Harlequin Trade Publishing as I got to read this novel early as an ARC through NetGalley. I would also like to thank Michelle Lindo -Rice for providing me with the e-book.

It is so true when they say to never judge a book by its cover. This novel was jam packed with drama as it has 4 different POV's. This is the story of how 4 best friends (Yasmeen, Toni, Celeste, and Leslie) come together with the dream of opening a bookshop together for their community. However, they each have trial and tribulations that change their priorities and make this dream almost impossible. This beautiful journey shows the challenges they face and how in order to have a Grand Opening at all, they will have to rely on the support of their sisterhood.

I will say I had hopes that the plot focused more on the bookshop itself, yet I understand that the sisterhood they have is more of the focal point. These ladies go through grief, love, lost, change, therapy, mental health, and new beginnings. In the end it gives them the strength they need to Conquer anything else life throws their way.

This was a solid 4 star read for me. I most likely would have given 5 stars if the ending wasn't so rushed. I would have love to have a satisfied closure to each lady's story. I felt having them each go through such severe situations all at the same time was a little overwhelming and unrealistic, but I also understood that it was for the plot.

This was my first time reading from this author's work and I look forward to reading more.

This book took me on a ride! Four best friends…four different seasons of life and four different lessons to learn! I loved the diversity of each character….the exploration of different cultures and perspectives. The author kept me on my toes. When things were bad they were bad but when things were good they were so good. Loved that it ended on a beautiful note! Beautiful story over all! Glad I read it!

This was an amazing drama filled , character developing and found family read for me ! I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to read this title ! Following four best friends through their trials and tribulations of friendship and personal life drama this was so enjoyable and tactfully written to give the ultimate reading experience ! The execution and overall writing for this book was absolutely amazing ! This book has led to me to crave more of Michelle Lindo-Rice writing and I will absolutely be checking out more titles by her !

Four best friends with very different life and life complications are about to open a bookstore.
This book was fun to read. I liked the characters and I liked the sisterhood bond. There is lot of drama but the story is about overcoming messy life situations and can these women pull together to successfully open the shop. Good beach read


Thank you NetGallery for the advanced E-book in exchange for my honest review

The Bookshop Sisterhood" by Michelle Lindo-Rice tells the story of four best friends—Celeste, Yasmeen, Toni, and Leslie. It's a well-written tale of sisterhood and friendship that captures the essence of their bond. As the bookstore’s grand opening fast approaches, the women must rely on each other more than ever to navigate their grief and uncertainty. Together, they discover that life’s most unexpected plot twists can lead to beautiful new beginnings.

However, the story did fall flat in some parts, and the ending felt rushed, leaving some plotlines unresolved. Despite these shortcomings, it was an enjoyable read overall.

I really enjoyed this story. Female friendships and books make me happy! I loved the dynamics of the friendships. Each woman really could have had their own story. This book could be a great book club read. It was a quick entertaining read and I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family.

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.