The plot sounded good but I really struggled to get through the story, it just didn’t capture me and bring me in. As others have stated a little too much Romeo and Juliet retelling. Thank you netgalley for the arc.

This book was such a cozy, cute read. This was the type of book that was so enjoyable it made me not want it to end. The sweetest story of Jules, and her family’s long standing feud with her (very cute nemesis) Roman, and all of the following events when he opens a bookshop in direct competition to her family’s. I love all of the aspects of this story– the competing bookshops, evolving history of the family feuds, with the enemies to lovers scenario between Jules and Roman. My only gripe about this read is that I was wishing there was a little more romance that developed, just because I loved the characters so much I wanted them to be happy. I can’t wait to recommend this read when it comes out!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, Poppy Alexander, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the early copy.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book, but unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me. Very slow paced and for some reason I couldn’t focus long enough, it did not hold my attention at all. The premise had a lot of potential but I feel like the romance was lacking. It just felt flat, and I hate saying this.

This book was a little all over the place for me. The beginning was slow but I eventually got interested. Jules and Roman had so much potential but I felt the author didn’t invest in their relationship at all. They were somewhat enemies and then suddenly in love. I was missing the development of the in between. Aunt Flo was a fun character but the rest of the characters and side stories didn’t really do it for me.

A sweet Romeo and Juliet with a modern twist. Two book story owners battle and it's got some beat side stories. I enjoyed the romance side but also those side stories. Really fun.

Look at that captivating cover! This book about books and more captured my attention from the start. I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. The story flowed well and was entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! Too much Romeo and Juliet Easter eggs (if you can even call them that, pretty heavy handed) and not enough romance for what I was expecting and hoping. Pacing far too slow to keep interest. This one didn’t do it for me.

This was an enjoyable quick read. I wanted to read this book because I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance especially when rival bookstores come into play. While I enjoyed this book overall, I did struggle with the pacing. At times the story seems very slow. I loved the moments between Jules, her Aunt Flo and Charlie and I greatly enjoyed the side story about their distant relative. This was the first Romeo and Juliet retelling I have picked up and I found that element of the story to be really delightful. It was fun to see all the little references to it throughout the story.

You should read this book if you love the following:
-Romeo and Julet Retelling
-Rival Bookstores
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-Slow Burn

Thank you so much Avon Publishing and NetGalley for gifting me for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

One of my favorite characters was Charlie. He was so pure and adorable. I loved how he was so passionate about his work and although we don’t see it, I count his storyline a HEA for little Charlie baby.

The premise of this book was interesting to me, but it was a bit too slow paced for my enjoyment. I also thought the Romeo and Juliet thing was laid on a bit too thick especially early on. There isn’t much romance in this book and what little there is moved pretty fast. This story truly centers around Aunt Flo (this name choice made me giggle a bit) and the bookshop more than anything.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the cozy vibe of this book and all the minor characters where really flushed out. The romance element was good with the Romeo and Juliet trope. I just feel like the ending was rushed and felt abrupt.

i started reading this and i feel like it was dragging on, to keep me engaged in the book i had to force myself to read, i did not enjoy this and i feel like it was more fast paced i would've liked it. it just felt it kept repeating over and over and it just felt like the plot wasn't advancing and it just wasn't getting anywhere. i appreciate so much being approved for this book, so thank you NetGalley and thank you Avon for letting me read this

The Battle of the Bookshops had all the ingredients for a charming read: a quaint small-town setting, a budding romance, and a quirky premise involving rival bookstores. Unfortunately, the execution fell flat for me. While the concept promised a cozy, bookish escape, I found myself disengaged from the story and its characters.

The Romeo and Juliet comparisons were initially a cute nod, but as the story progressed, they became overly heavy-handed. The constant reminders of the “star-crossed lovers” dynamic took away from what could have been a more organic development of the romance. The characters themselves lacked the depth and charisma needed to carry the narrative. I wanted to root for them, but their decisions often felt contrived, making it difficult to connect or empathize with their struggles.

On the plus side, the small-town charm and the backdrop of battling bookshops added a layer of whimsy. However, even that couldn’t save the story from feeling predictable. The plot twists were telegraphed miles away, and while the writing was easy to read, it lacked a distinct voice that could make it memorable.

Overall, this is a book that will likely appeal to fans of light women’s fiction or those looking for a breezy, undemanding read. For me, though, it left much to be desired. I appreciate NetGalley for providing the e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

You’ve got mail is one of my favorite movies so I thought I would love this book. Sadly I did not.
The last witch mystery was interesting but felt like it should have been its own story.
Also every time I read Aunt Flo I thought of my period tracking apps

A crafty retelling of Romeo & Juliet set in a small, seaside town with two families battling to be the last bookshop standing. In a time of family need Jules Capelthorne leaves her publishing job in London to return to the small village she called home. The Capelthorne Bookshop run by her great-aunt Flo is on the verge of closing due to bankruptcy and leasing complications. There is also a new bookshop on the block run by no other than the son of her family's rival, Roman Montbeau. With the Montbeau's seemingly unlimited assets Jules is starting to loose hope for the future of the bookstore she has grown up in and loved her entire life. However, she is not willing to give up without a fight, and it doesn't help that the competition is easy on the eyes.

This is a very cute, cozy story that has so many fun, hidden elements, perfect for fans of Shakespeare! The setting and sub-plots make it easy to get wrapped up in the story and the characters are truly lovable. While the love story was kind of insta-love the banter and competition make this a very enjoyable rivals to lovers.

I liked the premise of a bookshop rivalry. And while I liked the characters and the bookstores, I found it hard to invest in this story.
I just wanted a little bit more. I liked the Romeo & Juliet premise. And I wanted to visit these places. But just wanted a little more depth from the characters.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

I loved the premise of this book and the nods to Romeo and Juliet. The description of the town and the area was pleasant, and all the talk of books was fun. However, the characters fell a little flat for me. The secondary characters only showed up when they had a direct connection to move the plot along, otherwise they are almost never mentioned, so it didn't feel very realistic. Also the pace of the book seemed to drastically change at the end, and what had been a slow (but not un-enjoyably so) build up culminated in a fast wrap up that seemed rushed an not overly satisfying. I would still recommend it to readers who like fiction about books/booksellers, but I was left wanting more.

This was an ARC from NetGalley. The plot sounded promising, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet set in a word of books, add in an enemies to lovers romance. Sadly, I was left feeling very underwhelmed. It was difficult to get invested in the start of the story, and the romance felt very high level. The author never really leaned into the enemies portion of the story, then suddenly they both were head-over-heels in love. The ending came to a slow unmemorable end. Great idea, poor execution. #netgalley #battleofthebookshops #romance#enemiestolover #romeoandjuliet

This was a pretty good romance involving bookshops, an ancient manuscript and cute cottages. It was a little too over-the-top with the last names being similar to Montague and Capulet and a family rivalry that went back centuries.

This book was a little too much Romeo and Juliet retelling for my liking with a sprinkling of you've got mail. I really loved Flo and she was my favorite part of this whole story. Just was hoping for something else.

The Battle of the Bookshops has a lot going for it: an enemies to lovers romance, a nuts and bolts description of making a small bookshop profitable, an found heirloom, and descriptions of small town life in England. However, there is a loose connection with the story of Romeo and Juliet, no tragedy but feuding families, and instead of being an asset to this novel, I found it distracting.

Overworked in a London publishing house, Jules returns home to tend to her 86 year old great aunt. Also returning home at his family’s request is Roman. The battle of the bookstores occurs when Roman opens up a store on behalf of his family as Jules tries to save her aunt’s. Eventually, romance blooms between Jules and Roman.

The best part of this novel, for me, was the descriptions of Jules marketing the bookshop and the discovery of some valuable work long hidden in the centuries old building.