I missed downloading this one somehow so I had to wait until it was available from my local library. It was a solid three star read for me. As a librarian, anything bookish appeals to me but this one missed the mark a bit. The premise was good, characters would good, but the delivery fell short to me. Definitely needed a little humor. At one point the MC says, "How could I be so naive?" and I thought, yes, that's been the problem this entire book.

City of Books is a heartfelt ode to the magic of bookstores, with a main character who’s both relatable and endearing. Jo Waterstone has spent her life working at Bruebaker’s Books, and it’s clear that the store is more than just a job—it’s her passion, her community, and a place that has shaped who she is. When the store is threatened with closure, Jo’s determination to fight for it leads to some powerful moments of self-reflection and growth.

The setting itself—living inside a bookstore—adds a unique charm to the story, making the book feel like a cozy, book-lover’s dream. As Jo navigates her way through conflict, both external and internal, you can’t help but root for her. The themes of loyalty, identity, and the value of preserving the things that matter most are woven beautifully throughout the plot.

While the book is heartwarming and filled with tender moments, it does take a bit of time to pick up the pace. Some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped, and the resolution was a little predictable. But if you're someone who finds joy in books about books and the people who keep them alive, City of Books will certainly speak to your heart. It's a lovely reminder of why bookstores—and the connections they foster—are so important.

I love books about books, but sadly there was something about this one that didn't make it my favorite thing.
Will 100% still recommened to friends and family.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so sweet! I loved the found family theme in the book and the sense of community in the book store. It was great to see a story centering on the power books can have to bring people together. I really adored Jo, she was a great main character and I loved how she finally found her own sense of a family with her coworkers and Sierra. This book was so hopeful and endearing.

Jo’s whole world is her job managing the Portland landmark bookstore Bruebaker’s. So when her boss falls ill from a stroke and his daughters are trying to sell the business, Jo decides she can’t concede so easily. A few of her employee’s feel the same way, so a group of them decide they aren’t leaving. As a sign or protest, the employees lock themselves in the book store until the family agrees to keep Bruebaker’s running.

The blurb of the book is essentially the entire plot. Every chapter follows a mundane daily schedule of fulfilling online orders and stressing about the bookstore closing. Some interesting things happen here and there, but nothing directly happens with our protagonist, Jo. If the author took the time to explore the personal issues of the other employees more, then I could see this book being much more entertaining and emotionally touching. Instead, the side characters give updates on their life problems as they slowly solve their own issues (or don’t) without the help of Jo.

Jo is also mentioned to have this book recommending super power where she knows the perfect book for every person. This would have been a great thing to explore and highlight so many great reads for the audience. Instead, it’s mentioned a handful of times and only ever in Jo’s inner thoughts. She never actually gives someone a book to read that could help them in their situation. There is no point at all for Jo to have this “gift.”

One of the more interesting things to happen to Jo is a romance with another employee. This romance happens almost entirely in her own head since all their interactions read as friendly. Still, at the end she gets her kiss. There was just no chemistry between these characters, though. The romance felt so stuffy and forced, like something had to be added to this book to make it interesting.

There are some nice cozy vibes if that’s all you look for in your reading. Otherwise, I struggle to recommend this book to others. I’m landing on 2 Stars since the writing style was good and the concept was there. Unfortunately, everything fell flat and made for a boring book.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. This book seemed like it would be a favorite read for me this summer and I ended up not even wanting to finish it.

This was a very quaint story about a bookshop and its day-to-day operations. And the attempts to save the store. In theory, this would be the type of book I'd enjoy. Regrettably, it wasn't as engaging as I thought it'd be.

I LOVE bookstores. I even worked at a bookstore for many years. I was really excited to read this one. There were a lot of good things about it too. The bookstore culture was fun, and I loved the idea of a community rallying around to support the store. Unfortunately, the pacing felt off throughout the book, and I was just not a big fan of the main character. I just felt like there was a lack of character development for her throughout the book.

That being said, I did find that the pacing and tone of the book got better as it went along. I also loved some of the side characters like Adam, who also worked at the store. I think there was a lot of potential for this one, but it didn't quite hit for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Nicole Meier for the chance to read and review. My thoughts and opinions are my own, so please still check this one out if you want a fun bookstore read!

3.75/5

Love a bookish take out found family in this story of a book store manager and her employees banding together to stop the closure of their store during a health scare of their beloved owner. It’s a cute take, but I think had I not been in Portland when reading it I would have found it a little less charming - as it’s clearly based on Powells.

This book is perfect for book lovers and bookstore lovers, a Portland, OR setting so not a magical small town setting but an actual city with actual city problems.
City Of Books will warm every booklover's heart! When the owner of famed Bruebaker's bookstore falls ill and his daughter's want to close the store, a group of coworkers led by Jo, the store's manager comes together to save what can be saved and fulfill outstanding orders. Through days and nights at the store they join forces and become a family of sorts and they are even able to accept new members ...
The power of community brought together by a bookstore's imminent closing. This book acts as a reminder that books bring people together, plain and simple- a great #foundfamily story. It's a sweet story that boasts a strong sense of community, the importance of doing the right thing, and sticking up for what you believe in - with characters that will bring a smile to your face. This is a fun book for all those people who love a bookstore setting.
Cindy Kay's narration was perfect !

I was really intrigued by the concept of this audiobook, but the execution just didn’t really do it very well for me. I’d still recommend, it just wasn’t my cup of tea

Jo Waterstone has spent decades recommending the perfect reads to customers at Bruebaker’s Books, a beloved local bookstore in Portland, Oregon. When the elderly owner, Mr. Bruebaker, suffers a stroke, Jo's cherished job is threatened as his daughters and the store's CEO plan to close it for good. Refusing to let the store go without a fight, Jo, with a few loyal staff members, barricades herself inside, hoping to keep the doors open until Mr. Bruebaker recovers. As she lives among the shelves, Jo reflects on her life's choices and discovers what truly matters.

"City of Books" is a heartfelt tribute to the power of community and the magic of books. The novel beautifully captures the essence of why bookstores are more than just places to buy books—they're sanctuaries of discovery and connection. It made me think of Powell's Bookstore, a place I love and visit every time I'm in Portland.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Thank you so much to Nicole Meier and Dreamscape Media for this ARC!

This book is a love letter to books and independent bookshops, the perfect read for a book lover.

I thought it was cute, cosy and a great autumn read accompanied by a pumpkin spice latte in hand.

City of Books targets lovers of independent bookstores, all things Portland, and Powell’s Books is Jo Waterstone’s story. She’s the newly fifty-year-old manager of Bruebaker’s Books. Through a series of unfortunate events, Jo is told that she’ll need to shut the city institution immediately — with no plans for its patrons, staff, or beloved books. An exploration of community and family follows as Brubaker’s staff stages a protest of its impending closure while worrying for their hospitalized octogenarian owner’s health.
The book had some sweet moments, but mostly, it dragged with indecision. There was a lack of character development that I found frustrating. I probably should have DNF’d, but I stuck it out.

This novel is a love letter to books and the Indie book stores.  Jo is the quintessential bibliophiles. and is strong in her conviction that book stores are a huge part of our lives.  I love her character, and the idea of that she and her coworkers decide to stand up for their beloved store.  The group learns so much from this, and their stories take a few twists and turns along the way.  Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of the audio book. It was a delightful way to enjoy this book.

I have a deep love for reading in all its forms, whether it's through listening to an audiobook, holding a physical paperback or hardcover, or enjoying my Kindle. Books have been a significant part of my life ever since I started reading at the age of 4. For me, there's nothing better than reading a book, especially one about people who share the same love for books. This is precisely what "City of Books" is about.

Inspired by a real-life event in Portland, the story follows Jo and her employees as they organize a sit-in protest against the closure of Bruebaker's Books, one of the last independent bookstores in Portland. The employees choose to stay for various personal reasons, and we witness their experiences during a month of living in the bookstore, while the owner is recovering from a stroke.

Jo and her dedicated employees understand the significance of the bookstore to the community. They feel that the owner's family is not considering the impact of the store's closure on both Bruebaker and the community it serves. With the CEO and mayor opposed to the sit-in, the community becomes divided, leading to protests both for and against the establishment.

While the book features several characters, we primarily follow Jo as she continues to follow her heart instead of her head. The story takes a turn when a homeless mother and her daughter are introduced, shifting the focus from saving the store to helping these two individuals.

Unfortunately, I didn't really connect with the main character, Jo. It felt like her actions were more self-serving than for the greater good, which affected my overall sympathy for her. Despite my empathy for a community attached to an establishment, I believe running a store involves practical considerations as well as emotions.

I had high hopes for this book, but I found it to be somewhat monotonous and unnecessarily drawn out.

This was bland and boring sprinkled with a couple serious topics. It had one addition that felt like it was inserted just to add another bend to the story. There was nothing special about the characters either. Sadly, I didn't care for it. (2.5/5)

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

While this was an interesting read, it didn't wow me. Heartwarming for the most part, but it was more of a feel-good book about community than I expected I guess. Nice to listen overall, the narrator did a good job.

I love books (obviously!) - and I love books about books and libraries and bookstores. So I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this book about an attempt to keep a beloved independent bookstore open. In the end I liked it, but I didn't love it. The main protagonist is Jo, the manager of Bruebaker's Books, the bookstore in question and a local landmark. When she learns that Mr. Bruebaker has had a stroke she's heartbroken; not only is he her boss, he's her mentor and friend. But when she finds that his family has decided to close the store and ultimately sell it, she's sure that it isn't what he would want and is determined to keep it open until he can hopefully make the decision himself. Her sales associates decide to help keep it open.
There were a lot of elements that I did like about this book, including the associates and revelations about their lives outside the store. There was also a nice side story about a young woman who takes refuge in the store with her child. But what kept getting in my way is that much of it is Jo's internal dialogue, which became very repetitive. Not that that isn't realistic - my own internal dialogue is often ridiculously repetitive, especially when I'm mulling over a situation or a decision. Unfortunately that doesn't make for riveting reading and that was the case here. I will say that this might've partially been a case of real life interfering with my reading life - lots of my own internal dialogue happening right then - and had I read it at a different point in time it may well have gotten another star. And I did enjoy the audiobook, the narration by Cindy Kay was lovely. So if you're like me and love books about books - maybe take my review with a grain of salt and give it a try for yourself. You may well enjoy it a lot more than I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

I thought more was going to happen then actually happen. I thought it was going to be the big fight to save the book store and it really just felt they hid in the book and close to the end they all leave the store and nothing happens. The side story of the the mother was good but didn't fit the story.

Thank you NetGalley for this audio-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.