If there is one thing I take away from this book, it is that the protagonist is British. Living in Washington DC and running a bookstore, Lexi (who is British), feels that the success of what was her grandmother’s legacy, is slowly slipping away from her. (Did I mention, she is British?) Lexi needs to do all she can to make sure her bookshop stays open… as well as to continue reminding readers that she is a Brit living in America.

Alas, this really irritated me – if you hadn’t already guessed. I think the majority of chapters sees Lexi remind readers that there are some cultural differences across the Pond and I don’t think we need prompting of this quite so often. It gets in the way of the plot development, which I thought was a bit slow and repetitive as well. Not only are we reminded of Lexi’s home country, she sets her sights on the rival bookshop owner, Sam, devising a plan to woo him and then destroy him. Sounds fun, right?

Except, Lexi uses some of Jane Austen’s romancing to help her along the way, without envisaging that her heart might fall for Sam at the same time. Regardless of her failing bookshop (and that she is British and he is American), Lexi realises she has feelings developing for him. However, I could not get on board with their relationship in the slightest because Lexi’s original intentions were to use Sam in a way to ensure her bookshop’s future, and, despite admitting she is falling for him, I could not banish this from my mind.

Their relationship is predictably a rocky one. I thought moments in the plot started to get repetitive and I did want the book to hurry to its conclusion a bit sooner. Not only that, the backwards and forwards between these two characters just felt artificial and I thought that Sam was too good for Lexi. He isn’t an angel in the slightest, but I think Lexi’s original devious nature towards this relationship was something I could not move on from.

Despite being set in a bookshop, this failed to win my heart. Aside from disliking the protagonist, it felt like the writer was reminding readers about the struggles of the publishing world: from the writer, to the printers, to the suppliers and the independent bookshops. It felt a bit preachy in places and I didn’t want to be told about these struggles – it’s not as if the rest of us are having an easy time. As such, I think it established a bit of a negative tone which wasn’t helped by Lexi’s attitude, either.

Page did not create a page-turner for me and I was relieved to reach the Epilogue. There were some cute moments in this book and I loved the Austen references however, the main character was not particularly pleasant and I thought this “enemies to lovers” story quite underwhelming. Did I mention she is British?

With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This didn't live up to expectations. I love reading about bookshops but this just didn't work for me. I found it a little silly and at times hard going. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, this is so daft…yet so much fun! But I could shake the two of them, haven’t they heard you’re supposed to talk occasionally?
But stuff like “British teeth” and “if the sun can ever be said to fully rise in England” is nonsensical, and cheapens the rest of the book. For an English author to say these things is shameful. Just repeating untrue clichés… I suppose it’s aimed at the US market.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

A cute romance but it lacked depth and felt that there were parts missing which took away from it being enjoyable. The characters and their internal monologues irritated me.

This has a lot of promise but it's quite slow and really didn't live up to everything it could have been; it's not awful it's just very underwhelming and repetitive, and as mentioned...slow! Such a shame as the concept is great!

I wish I liked this book better than I did. It had the right premise and vibe for me, but it just fell flat. The characters were boring and just didn't have much chemistry or witty banter. The drama was too much for me and just wasn't as fun as normal emeries to lovers stories. I think the narrative style was also unclear and disjointed.

Books about books have my heart. So add bookish in your title & you’ve got me. This one was fun & light-hearted. I liked seeing the allusions to the classics & the way that the Victorian elements were recreated for this audience. I don’t think it would appeal to my students I have at the moment or to folks who consider themselves to be highbrow readers. But for the beach? A plane ride? A leisurely evening? Yeah. This fits the bill!

Unfortunately, this book didn’t resonate with me. The writing style reminded me of fan fiction, lacking the polish and depth I typically enjoy in literature. It felt slow-paced, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. Additionally, there seemed to be no clear premise or central theme to anchor the narrative, leaving me feeling lost and disconnected from the story.

I had requested this book on Netgalley some time ago, but because I ended up DNFing the book I didn't leave a full review. I honestly don't think anyone would enjoy this book and for me it rates at a solid 1 star. It was an easy DNF and I won't be trying again in the future.

This is not the usual genre of books that I read but I did enjoy this - fun, light-hearted, funny, romance, and all set in the world of books. A really cosy read.

I really struggled through this one. The premise is one that sounds so fun, but I did not want to pick this up at the 20% mark and found myself frustrated frequently. I will start by saying I'm not sure this needed to be as long as it was, but simultaneously, the resolution is so quick and felt superficial. There is so much repetition about "how DC is" and I felt the whole "Lexi's British in the US" bit was sort of beaten into my head to the point of annoyance. Being in Lexi's (the FMC) internal monologue infuriated me several times. She goes back on her own decisions and thoughts, and really thinks the worst of Sam (the MMC), even though she hardly knows him. Overall, I found Sam to be likeable and Lexi to be very unlikeable. Her motivations are somewhat shady from the beginning and in the end, she doesn't apologize for manipulating him. The way she handled him telling her about his dad also put a very bad taste in my mouth. I did not believe she deserved him by the end of this, and she only accepted they could date after he solved her problems?! Lexi says several blatantly rude things to Sam throughout the book and yet he is direct, honest, and kind to her at every turn.
There were also points in the dialogue where the characters randomly pause and long summaries of the dialogue are presented to the reader. This made for a weird cadence within character interactions. There were also times I felt like I had skipped over some backstory sections because the story would start and then not come to contribute anything to the scene.
There was a lot of immaturity and dramatics going on here, and not in an entertaining way. This just did not work for me at all. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

This book was fine. Not very memorable or even anything that stuck with me. But I finished it. Kind of like eating mashed potatoes without salt.

If you're looking for a hallmark style, enemies to lovers (not really enemies, more like it's all in her head rivalry) romance that explores most well-loved tropes - this one is probably for you. It's effortless to read and a great option if you're lounging by a pool on holiday. I did find the characters a little underdeveloped however the referencing to British life and books made this an enjoyable read. It's quite obvious the direction the story is taking but it is a fun albeit unhinged journey.

As a lover of books, bookshops, romance and Jane Austen, Bookishly Ever After seemed like it was made for me!

Lexi Austen is determined to have the best bookshop on Capitol Hill, so when Sam Dicken's soulless box of a store moves away from non fiction and threatens the territory of her cozy, traditional business, Lexi decides to channel the best of the best: she will make Sam and his shop swoon into submission.

Bookishly Ever After is a cheeky, lighthearted read full of laughs and literary references. Like all great heroines, Lexi is flawed and we don't always agree with her methods but as far as enemies to lovers go, these two may be the cutest yet!

This book was a nice escape from my usual genre of historical fiction - it was light, funny and emotional at times. Having visited Washington and loved it, I really enjoyed the descriptions of the city and the people and it made it feel like I was there again! There were times I was frustrated with Sam who seemed to land himself in trouble by just being evasive, but it almost made him more endearing. Who doesn’t love a book about a character who loves books, who owns a bookshop!? Perfect summer read!

I really wanted to love this book because the premise and storyline was so promising. However, the characters and storyline were quite underwhelming and had no real depth. There was little to no chemistry between the characters and unfortunately it just fell flat. I honestly think if it wasn’t written in the third person it would have been easier to read

"Bookishly Ever After" by Mia Page is a charming and heartwarming romance that will resonate with book lovers and hopeless romantics alike. Page’s writing is infused with warmth, wit, and a genuine love for literature, creating a delightful story about finding love in the most literary of places.

The novel centers around a protagonist who lives and breathes books, finding solace and adventure within the pages of her favorite novels. When her own life starts to mirror the plots of the romances she adores, she’s thrust into a real-life love story that’s as unpredictable as it is enchanting. As she navigates the complexities of her newfound romance, she discovers that love, much like in her books, is filled with surprises, challenges, and the magic of the unexpected.

Mia Page expertly weaves literary references throughout the story, making it a treat for avid readers who will recognize and appreciate the nods to classic and contemporary romances. The characters are endearing and relatable, especially for anyone who has ever dreamed of living out their own bookish fairy tale.

"Bookishly Ever After" is a perfect read for those who believe in the power of stories and the joy of finding love where you least expect it. Mia Page has crafted a novel that’s not only a romantic escape but also a celebration of the love of reading and the ways in which our favorite books can shape our lives. It’s an ideal pick for anyone looking for a sweet, feel-good romance with a literary twist.

This enemies to lovers rival book store owners had all the potential. There were a lot of cute and fun moments but there was too much flair in the pages. I love books about books so it made it pretty enjoyable.

I love a bookish hook and enemies to lovers – Bookishly Ever After has both (and love the title too). This was a super cute concept with adorable chatacters, I whizzed through. Light reading and both charming and enjoyable. It's one of those books that's just easy to read and is fun while you're reading it.

I really wanted to love this book because the premise and storyline was so promising. However, the characters and storyline were quite underwhelming and had no real depth. There was little to no chemistry between the characters and unfortunately it just fell flat. I honestly think if it wasn’t written in the third person it would have been easier to read