I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley.

The cover and title of this book intrigued me right away as I LOVE a book with literary themes. "City of Books" is a novel modeled after the famous Powell's Bookstore in Portland, OR. I've had the privilege of visiting Powell's and it was breathtaking. The setting alone made it worth the read.

The idea of staff members choosing to live in the bookstore for weeks on end as a form of protest didn't quite come across as plausible to me. That made the premise hard to "buy into" which hindered my enjoyment.

The characters were very well-written and relatable and I still enjoyed the listen.

Audiobook. NetGalley.

Jo works at one of the best bookstores in the northwest. She puts her heart and soul into her work. So, when her boss and mentor, Mr. Bruebaker has a stroke, she realizes she has to make some tough decisions.

Mr. Bruebaker’s daughters decide to close the store permanently while he is recuperating. They shut off all contact with everyone but the CEO. Jo knows Mr. Bruebaker would never want his store closed. She stages a sit in with all the employees and it turns into more of a protest than she ever expected.

As a reader, who wouldn’t love to sleep in a bookstore for an unexpected time period. Jo definitely stands up for what she believes and what she knows her boss would want.

This story hit me at the right time. I needed a feel good book with a purpose. And this book has it all! Great characters and a great setting and a good reason for it all!

The narrator, Cindy Kay, is fabulous, especially with all the voices!

Need a feel good tale with a kick…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I adored this sweet story, the characters, the setting, and the life lessons learned by the characters during their time spent trying to save their beloved bookstore. Jo gets incredibly flustered when the structure of her world, the bookstore, is about to end and takes extreme measures to try and keep the change from happening. There are a few coworkers that agree to stay in the building with her in a lock down style protest to accomplish this goal, but it does not go as planned and the result is a charmingly quirky novel that is at times funny, frustrating, heartwarming, and brave. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a fantastic job bringing the story to life and giving the characters their own unique voices.

I lost interest in the story about 40% in, I would have liked it more if the book store was left to her in the owners will or something.

Publisher's summary
Jo Waterstone knows what you should read next. She’s honed the skill of sizing up a person and recommending their next book in the decades she’s worked at Bruebaker’s Books. Her life has been shaped by the store, the bustle of customers exploring the stacks, and managing the eager staff. She can honestly say it’s the best job she’s ever had.
Then the store’s elderly owner, Mr. Bruebaker, suffers a stroke, and just like that Jo’s perfect job is on the chopping block. Mr. B’s daughters and the bookstore’s icy CEO think the time is right to close for good, and they order Jo to lock up. But she doesn’t know what she would be without Bruebaker’s—and besides, the place is an institution. So instead of following orders, she decides to take a stand: along with a few brave team members, she barricades herself in the store, trying to buy time until Mr. Bruebaker recovers and can speak for himself.
Living in a bookstore has a certain magic to it, but the quiet hours among the books throw the choices Jo has made in her life into sharp relief. As supporters (and detractors) start to voice their opinions about her actions, Jo will have to decide what, exactly, is worth saving.

Thanks to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of this book!

City of Books
By: Nicole Meier
Narrated by: Cindy Kay
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 05-28-24

**Book Review: “City of Books" by Nicole Meier is a delightful summer read about the unity and resilience of the employees at Bruebaker’s Books after their beloved store owner suffers a stroke. The staff bands together, forming strong relationships to keep their passion for books and the shop alive. Jo, the enthusiastic store manager, learns to follow her heart in both her professional and personal life. This charming, easy read is perfect for those who love bookshops and the magical feeling they evoke. Enjoy the heartwarming adventure!

This cute found family story follows the workers of a beloved bookstore who fight to keep the doors open after the store founder falls ill.
Battling with the founders daughters, the all business CEO and the Mayor who all want to close the doors and keep the protest quiet, our book lovers go from virtual strangers to a close knit group of misfits.
The storyline is there, but the lack of development from the characters made me sad. Regina and the daughters suck the whole way through and there's no comeuppance for them?! Villains really do be getting away in real life, but I don't like when it's in my books.
I also found the romance wholly unnecessary, and uncomfortable? Jo is supposedly in her 50s but her communication and maturity levels are similar to a teenager. I think that if we had left out the little maintenance man romance it wouldn't change the storyline one bit, which in my eyes means.... what's the point?
Thanks for the ARC NetGalley

When a beloved bookstore must close it's doors due to the owner's health rapidly declining, the staff barricades themselves in the store for several weeks in protest. They keep the business running and form bonds they hadn't had before.
This is such a lovely story that gently examines the impact that one person can have on their community. From the impact that the bookstore owner had over the decades, to the current staffs immediate impact. There wasn't a single sleepy moment for me, it was just a lovely, steady train ride of a plot. The romance could have been a bit stronger. I do appreciate that it wasn't the goal of this book though, but a bit clearer interest from his end wouldn't overshadow the rest of the plot.

A book about the love of books, the power of books and bookstores in the community. But really, as Jo says in the book, it's not really about books or the bookstore, it's about PEOPLE. That's really the power of books, it's about found family, human connection, and fighting for the things and the people that you love! This is a delight. I can't wait to walk to many rooms of Powell's City of Books in Portland and think about the wonderful characters you brought to life in this love letter to book people.

The perfect book for readers who adore independent bookstores and fear their demise. Protagonist Jo Waterstone runs a bookstore that has become a beloved institution in Portland, OR, and her life revolves around the store and her job there. When the elderly owner of the store suffers a stroke, his daughters try to shut down the business, but Jo and core members of her staff barricade themselves in the store to keep it going. I loved the premise of this book, and the characters fight for the store with passion and determination. However, there are some clunky sections and unanswered questions. While I found the story engaging and I wanted to find out how it would all be resolved, I really did not love the ending. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine a life where your world revolves solely around a beloved bookstore. Jo Waterstone's dream existence takes a sudden turn when the store's owner falls ill, prompting the decision to sell the cherished establishment by his children. Bruebaker's Books, a cherished community landmark, had been Jo's sanctuary for over thirty years. Refusing to stand by as the store faces closure, Jo takes a brave stand by barricading herself alongside fellow staff members, continuing to manage online orders, and embracing a new reality of living within the walls of the bookstore - transforming it into their shared sanctuary within the city of books.

The tale beautifully captures the essence of community and the deep bonds that emerge as friendships enfold around the extraordinary mission to save the beloved bookstore. As an ardent book enthusiast who once dreamt of dwelling within the shelves of a bookstore, this narrative resonated deeply with me.

With poignant character development and a captivating storyline, Meier crafts a heartwarming novel that serves as a moving tribute to bookstores, and the unsung heroes - the booksellers - who make them thrive. City of Books is a delightful ode to the magic of bookshops and the souls who inhabit them.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Cindy Kay who does a great job!

Jo's life erupts in chaos when the owner of Bruebaker's Books falls very ill, and his daughters abruptly shut down his business. The bookstore is not only Jo's employer but her life, her happiest of places. So, Jo, along with her employees, decide to fight back by peacefully occupying the store in hopes that the media and their clientele will convince the owner's daughters to leave it open. This is their story.

Anyone who feels the same way as Jo about books and small, indie bookstores, and the power of books to help build communities, will very much enjoy this light hearted, fast paced read!

This story is more than just about a love of books but about the importance of humanity, friendship and chosen family. Nicole Meier describes a magical idea of living in a book story surrounded by the smells of literature and the written words of old friends. Even if the circumstances were not ideal, manager Jo Waterstone decides to take a chance, supporting her staff's passion in fighting for a cause. While the story allows you to dive into the lives of the characters I did still feel like there was something missing from the narrative. I was able to understand the character perspective and their motives but the depth of what drives them wasn’t enough for me.

The narration by Cindy Kay, while fit the character voice of what I imagined Jo to be, I was not entirely captivated by her complete narration.

Overall, the idea of this story line was something that drew to me, I walked away with a longing for more. I was hoping for more romance and emotional connection. There was a lot more angst than I like personally especially with characters that have history as these do.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
City Of Books is about the employees of a well loved local bookstore protesting the closing of the store in the wake of its owner’s failing health.
I really wanted to like this one, but it was really slow and kinda boring. There wasn’t a lot happening, none of the characters were particularly interesting, and for a title like City Of Books there really wasn’t that much focus on them aside from the packing/shipping of them. I will never think about this book after I finish it and I fear I barely even wanted to finish it. Also: trigger warning for domestic violence.
2.5⭐️

Have you ever had a bookstore that just had everything? You could walk in having the comfort of being in a place where there were endless possibilities. You want a classic first edition? A place for your kids to be able to experience Beatrice Potter and Good Night Moon. Countless floors of anything and everything you could imagine in the world of books. Bruebaker’s Books has it all! Even better, it has Jo Waterstone. Jo has been in the store for a few decades now and has developed the ability to look at a person and understand exactly what book they need. She can’t imagine doing anything else. Until, the owner Mr. Bruebaker has a medical emergency and now the store is being closed permanently. In desperation to keep the store open, Jo and several of her team members barricade themselves into the building as a stage of protest. Much to the satisfaction of the CEO and Mr. Bruebaker’s daughters. Everyone continues to fulfill online orders and do their best to keep the store going despite many obstacles in their way. The CEO is constantly calling to tell them to vacate. The mayor gets involved. Police knock on the doors. Through it all they manage to continue to show what kind of support the bookstore can be for the community. It becomes a safe haven. Jo is desperately trying to do what she believes Mr. Bruebaker would want them to do. But how can she know for sure when his daughters refused to let her have any contact with him? Medical emergency after medical emergency continues to happen and no word. Until one day, a kind nurse sends a message. You’ll have to read to find out what the message says, what happens to Bruebaker’s Books, and all those working so hard to save it.

This is such a sweet tail of working together, fighting for others, forming friendships that were unlikely, and not being afraid of future unknowns. Get your copy of City of Books today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any other retailer, Thank you so much to Nicole Meier, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for gifting me with the ability to listen to the advanced audiobook.

This just wasn't for me. I couldn't connect to the story or the characters, unfortunately. The narration was okay, and I felt it fit the main character, but honestly, the entire thing bored me 😬
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen and read this advanced copy.

City of Books is a memorable read provoking a desire to look within oneself and evaluate your choices and where you are as a result. I absolutely love the setting being a local bookshop, small sellers are so important, and supporting small business is something we shoulda ll strive to do. I found Jo to be lovable and relatable, something that is important to me as a reader. Overall I found this to be a heartwarming read, and would recommend! Also I did really enjoy the audiobook narrator. Would love to hear more from her.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the AudioARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

First, Cindy Kay does an excellent job narrating the novel. Second, Nicole Meier has created a sweet, sometimes repetitive work about a woman faced with losing her job of twenty years after her boss suffers a stroke and his kids want to sell his bookstore. I enjoyed the journey that Jo goes through in the few weeks she and her employees refuse to the leave the shop. I appreciated the idea that sometimes we get so comfortable in something we have done for years that we forget to look around us and truly live. This is a quick read, with the plot moving at a decent pace. The chapters did get a bit repetitive, but I guess when you have a few people stuck repeating the same thing day in and day out without being able to leave, this is to be expected. It didn't take away from the work too much. I would have liked to learn a bit more about the side characters, but maybe that would have changed the book too much. IDK.
Overall, I enjoyed Meier's story and Kay's narration, and I think this is a great read for a variety of readers and particularly contemporary literature lovers.

What a lovely homage to books and bookstores! Meier has crafted a "take back the store" scenario that, even its wackiest moments, remains full of heart and just this side of plausible - at least, if you've ever loved books. Her characters are a fun mix of personality quirks and stereotypes, and the mixture offers something for everyone to relate to. I loved Jo's willingness to fight the good fight, even when it meant moving outside of her comfort zone, and watching her character grow in confidence was one of the most enjoyable parts of this story for me. This was a fun listen and the narrator did an excellent job capturing all of the pathos of the story.

In “City of Books,” Jo Waterstone, a seasoned employee at Bruebaker’s Books, faces a crisis when the store’s elderly owner suffers a stroke.

The bookstore’s future hangs in the balance as Mr. B’s daughters and the icy CEO consider closing it down. Jo, passionate about preserving the institution, barricades herself inside the store with a few brave team members. Living among the books, she reflects on her life choices and grapples with what truly matters. Meier’s novel weaves together lovable and flawed characters against the backdrop of Portland, Oregon, creating a moving story about unlikely heroes and the magic of bookstores.

If you’re a fan of books about books and contemporary fiction, “City of Books” is worth exploring.

The narration of Cindy Kay truly added to my listening enjoyment. She shared the story in such a realistic and compelling fashion, I couldn't stop thinking about the book through ny work day.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC.

This was a cute read! Jo finds out her boss had a stroke, and his daughters want to close the bookstore permanently. Knowing that Mr. B wouldn't want that, Jo and her Breakfast Club-esque coworkers decide to do a sit-in until his daughters see reason. With support from their community, they stand up for what they believe in and try to save Brubakers Bookstore. But will it be enough?