Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first title from this author and unfortunately, the entire story just didn't really land with me. The first half of the book was SO slow to me and I just didn't find the second half to truly be good enough to redeem that. It was disappointing to me because I found the plot to be really good and would have been so cute if it were done differently! I found it difficult to truly care about the characters and what was happening in their lives. There are a lot of people who will enjoy this - it just wasn't totally for me. Three stars.

This just really could not keep my attention. It had a such good premise but I just could not get invested in the characters and I just could not care about what has happening in their lives. So this is a very generous 3/5 star rating. I'm sure that this book definitely has an audience, but it just wasn't me. Sorry.

And this definitely leans more towards women's fiction than romance (and I VERY often find that books like that tend to bore me).

The story drags and the characters aren't really all that likable (and this is clearly the type of book where they are supposed to be liked). Their choices and behaviors were also difficult to understand or relate to at times.

Cute setting with some Romeo and Juliet-esque vibes, but overall disappointing for my reading taste.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with monthly reading wrap-up.

I really loved this book! This was my first time reading Poppy Alexander and her writing style is so warm and cozy, while also being detailed and fresh, I couldn't put it down. The actual realities of running a bookshop are often glanced over in romcoms in favor of more time with characters, but this felt so real and practical. I do wish we spent more time in his POV, just to give us a better understanding of his personality.

A small suggestion: I feel like the title doesn't do this book justice. It's heavier than just a simple romantic comedy, and I would love if the title reflected that.

The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander is a cozy and charming novel that celebrates the magic of independent bookstores and the community they create. The premise—two rival bookshops vying for the title of "best in town"—is a fun and lighthearted concept, offering plenty of room for quirky characters and heartfelt moments. While the book succeeds in creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere, its plot can feel somewhat predictable, relying heavily on clichés of small-town drama and romantic subplots that lack depth. Some of the character development also falls flat, with certain figures feeling more like caricatures than fully fleshed-out individuals. Overall, while The Battle of the Bookshops is an enjoyable and easy read for fans of feel-good fiction, it doesn't offer much in terms of originality or emotional complexity.

This was kind of a Romeo and Juliet retelling but if im honest i couldn't really connect with the characters as much as i wanted to. It was definitely an enjoyable read and i think it has a great modern day aspect to the Romeo and Juliet storyline. I do wish we got a bit more chemistry between Roman and Jules because it definitely did not feel like a love story between them. It just wasn't very believable that they liked each other. I really enjoyed the writing style though.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this opportunity and to Avon and Harper Voyage for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Total score 3.25 stars (First half: 2.5, Second half: 4)

So, it took me a while to get into this story and the first half dragged a bit. I also found it a bit difficult to understand Roman's behavior but, about halfway through, it started to make more sense. The second half of the story was great and I really enjoyed it.

I totally loved Flo and it was nice to revisit some characters from some of Alexander's previous books.

So, overall, a nice romantic story with a satisfying HEA.

this was cute and closed door. there were moments of kissing and discussions but not played out on page. it is a romance with a women’s fiction type of vibe.

✨Rivals To Lovers
✨Modern Twist On A Classic (Romeo & Juliet)
✨Forbidden Romance
✨Cozy Rom-Com

"The Battle of the Bookshops" was an enjoyable read. I thought the author did a good job putting a modern day twist on arguably one of the most well-known classics.

The only thing I wish I saw a bit more of was the romance between Jules and Roman. I didn't quite feel their romantic chemistry as much as I would have liked to but overall I still enjoyed the story.

I think this is definitely worth checking out if you enjoy reimagined classics or cozy Rom-Coms.

Thank you Poppy Alexander, Net Galley and Avon and Harper Voyage for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I usually like modern twists on classics but this seemed to try too hard. Reader is constantly reminded that it is Romeo and Juliet. The first names, the last names being repeated more than necessary.

Such a good read I couldn’t put it down at all! From page one to the last page it kept me hooked which I love.

A very simplified and modern version of Roemo and Juliet but well worth the read if only to see how it all comes together. Well worth the time it takes to read.

The Battle of the Bookshops is a lovely cozy novel. While it avoids the expected turns, it also leaves the reading wishing the author more deeply explored the potential of the budding romance and the grimoire.

Answering a frantic message from her mother about her almost dead great aunt, Jules returns to her home of Portneath to help with the emergency. Once there, she finds out the real disaster is a broken leg and a bookshop teetering on the edge of foreclosure, a bookshop that has been in the Capletorn family for a century. Jules attempts to set right the bookshop and her family, and just so happens to run into her high school crush, who also has recently returned to Portneath.

Poppy Alexander is a gem - every story of hers has a quiet grace akin to settling down into a comfortable chair - and the last three books I’ve read by her have been so, so lovely. Jules, Freya, and Roman coming home and being the next generation in their small town is endearing. It definitely calls to mind the classic 90s rom-com You’ve Got Mail with the small time vs. big time bookstore, but this story goes deeper, and also has a cinematic quality that stands out on the page.

That being said, this novel feels a bit rushed. There is a lack of chemistry, or perhaps the relationship between Jules and Roman just isn’t explored enough to warrant their head-over-heels relationship when it does happen. The ending is also a bit anti-climactic - I looked down at one point and I remember thinking, “How are we going to wind this up in 20 pages?” - and when it happened, it wasn’t particularly remarkable. STILL, I will give this story 4 stars. Her writing is so good, the story elements are so cozy, and the Portneath world (where we also find Imogen and Jess from earlier installments) is so transporting, that I would recommend this book (I would just read the other two first!)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

FREAKING DELIGHTFUL! I loved every page of this book. It was cozy, it was thought provoking. I loved the dynamic between our FMC and MMC. It was just the right blend of women's lit and romance for me. I haven't yet read Alexander's other book, but now I'm thinking it needs to be added to our staff TBR. What a a delightful read.

4.5/5.0

This sweet romance is a love letter to bookstores, booksellers and those who love books. I would highly recommend this book!

Sadly, I could not get into this enemies to lovers rom com. There was too much Romeo and Juliet and I just didn’t find the main characters appealing. I did like the sneak peeks back into past Poppy Alexander books though.

The Battle of the Bookshops had me grinning from the first page! It is a love letter to bookstores, family, and the magic of a great story. It’s the kind of book that will make you laugh, swoon, and leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Perfect for anyone who loves a charming romance with a bit of bite.

This was just the right sort of romance/women’s fiction type of book to read, after reading some much heavier stories. The nice thing about romances, unless they are YA, is that they all turn out alright in the end. The story is, of course, how they get there.
This story is of Jules, who returns home to help her great aunt, who raised her, with her little bookshop, in a seaside town somewhere in Devon, in the UK.


THe local rich boy, Roamn, however, has opened up a competing book store, across the street, because, well, he could, and thus the story takes off. Because Jules has had a little crush on him, and he on her, when they met, briefly, in theri teens.


I like this story, because it isn’t just about the rivalry. It is also about the history in the old bookshop, which we find out about because a university student, Charlie, who is studying antiquarian literature, asks if he can catalog their second hand books, and then find an ancient manuscript from the 1600s, written by a direct ancestor of Jules, because the bookshop has been in the family that long, although not always used as a bookshop.


It is a cozy little romcom. There are some bon mots along the way. This is to say there is nothing to get upset about. Even the misunderstandings are not too bad.


I needed a book like this, in a time of stress, with the world the way it is, it is nice to have something warm and fuzzy. Oh, and yes, this book was clean, with only a little light kissing, and implied other things, which are not gone into.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book will come out on the 19th of August 2025.