This cozy, cute romance offers an interesting premise set in a local bookshop. However, I couldn’t connect with the characters, and the romance felt lacking—particularly the hate-to-love relationship, which didn't seem genuine. While the story is charming, it simply wasn't to my taste. That said, others might enjoy it more than I did.

The Shop Around The Corner meets Romeo and Juliet in this British business rivalry romance. When her great aunt Florence becomes too infirm to run her bookstore, Jules bails from her publishing job to care for her aunt Within a short time of her arrival, she discovers that the bookshop is on the verge of bankruptcy, and it’s more dilapidated than Jules remembers. Intended on planning a celebration of the shop’s 100th birthday, Jules is scrambling to keep afloat, take inventory and clean up when the store that she though was going to be a new tea shops opens up, revealing that it’s Roman’s newest project, The Portneath Bookstore (as if there was only one!) and it’s directly across the street from Capelthornes. Roman, fresh from NYC, is able to give away scads of new books for World Book Day and lure away the local book club with discounts and a sushi and prospect spread of refreshments.

Aunt Flo (unfortunately named) weaves the saga of the long rivalry between the Capelthornes and Montbeaus which unites Jules to dig in her heels and fight for Capelthornes. Jules reconnects with her friend Freya, now a chef, so we get some wonderful culinary descriptions and a nice side of female friendship. Flo may even have a potential love interest in a sweet widowed reader. Jules is going to be maid of honor at Freya’s upcoming wedding to Finn, Roman’s best friend. Roman is even sort of likable the few times they interact. And then Jules discovers that the Montbeaus own the land that Capelthornes sits on.

The writing is charming, well-detailed, and slow-paced. Point of view shifts from Roman (who always thought Jules was cute, even as he and his friends laughed at her teenaged faux pas), sometimes mid-chapter. I don’t love the “he used to pick on me and now I date my childhood tormentor” premise, but it’s a solid enemies to lovers tale if you can get beyond that.

I received a free advance readers review copy of #BattleOfTheBookshops via #NetGalley courtesy of #Avon. A review will post on HLBB on 8/19/2025.

I liked the premise of this book. Unfortunately, there was too much time spent on the feud between the two families and the logistics of running bookstores. I struggled to connect with the characters and as a result their romance was flat.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A sweet romance and family dynamics read. Loved the main characters and their families. And I usually find bookstore centered plots fun. Of course, the ending is always a given, but getting there is the fun. A delightful quick read.

I absolutely enjoyed this story! It was such a charming Romeo and Juliet retelling—with bookshops! The premise itself drew me in, but what truly captivated me was how much heart was packed into every page. The characters were wonderfully fleshed out, with their own complexities and depth that made them feel incredibly real. I found myself fully immersed in their world, feeling their joys, their heartaches, and their struggles.

Now when can I open up a quaint seaside bookstore?

This novel is a delightful mix of romance and family drama, drawing comparisons to the timeless love story of Romeo and Juliet, but with a heartwarming twist. What really sets this book apart, though, is its exploration of family dynamics. The layered relationships within the characters' extended families provide a rich backdrop to the love story. The tension between the lovers and their families, especially their parents, is nuanced and thought-provoking. These family issues go beyond simple conflicts; they show how deep-rooted emotions, generational differences, and expectations shape the characters’ lives and choices.

The love story is sweet and fulfilling, and the family dynamics add the perfect layer of complexity. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a heartwarming and rich narrative!

I tried getting into it, but like many, just couldn’t. I thought I’d enjoy the Romeo/Juliet aspect more but it just kinda felt too much of a drag and ended up making me feel kinda meh about the whole situation.

It’s a good and cute premise so I’m open to trying to reread it but I couldn’t quite invest myself in it…

Tried 2 times to get into it online... but feel like I need the actual book to read it. I will have to get a copy to fully enjoy it... feel like online I just got distracted.

Thank you Avon/Harper Collins for the early opportunity to read this book.

I truly enjoyed this modern take on Romeo and Juliet and the multiple nods to Shakespeare and the comments of the similarities to the original the characters make. This is a sweet no spice romance with realistic stakes throughout. The families dislike for one another goes back hundreds of years. And now Roman Montbeau has opened a bookstore directly across the street from Jules Capelthorne’s great aunt’s shop.

The story paces well and I enjoyed this. Definitely a lighter story than what I usually read so a nice palate cleanser.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for access to this eARC. The premise of this book sounded very intriguing. And while the setting and some of the characters were enjoyable, a lot of the story felt very disjointed.

Jules and Roman are members of families who have been at opposition for hundreds of years. The names are a cute them on a Romeo and Juliet modern take, but too much of the occurrences don't align with a true retelling. The initial hatred between these two deserves more on-page banter to really be believable, and when we discover that Roman has perhaps always actually liked Jules his original animosity feels disingenuous.

The jumps into a casual relationship (and a decision to make Jules the one to beg for it to continue) to insta-love, to separation again and then back is a bit hard to buy into.

The description of the bookstores, the seaside town, and the character of Flo (and to a lesser extent Charlie) were well-done and a nice break from the confusing romance. A few storylines felt unresolved, or in need of greater detail (why truly so much hatred at their parents level? and I assumed the purchase of the grimoire was going to reveal a full-circle moment).

“The Battle of the Bookshops” by Poppy Alexander offers a charming premise, but I found it challenging to fully engage with the story. The heavy use of British slang and cultural references made it difficult for me, as an American reader, to connect with the characters and setting. Additionally, the narrative felt disjointed at times, with certain plot elements and characters introduced without sufficient development or relevance to the main storyline. While the enemies-to-lovers trope can be compelling, in this instance, the transition felt abrupt and lacked depth. Overall, while the novel has its moments, it didn’t quite resonate with me as I’d hoped.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon | Harper Voyager for sending this eARC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I wanted to like thid but ultimately could not get into it.

I struggled through this book, it was so all over the place and so many random details that had nothing to do with the plot. I was not interested in the main characters. Characters were introduced in the book and had you thinking they played some part of the story and they would not be mentioned again or short snips of them. They had nothing to do with the story. This book did not come together well from the enemies to lovers trope.

This was fun but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Not a bad book by any means, but just very very average.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC and allowing me to read this early.

Unfortunately this was not that great of a book. Romeo and Juliet?

It was an interesting premise but 25% through I couldn't get into it as much as I tried. I did not finish the book unfortunately

Hopefully this works for someone else

Meet Jules, our fmc currently working for a publishing form in London, when suddenly her mother informs her that her great aunt Flo is in trouble. Arriving home to her small hometown of Portneath, she realizes her Aunt Flo is in worst shape than she thought. Jules is left taking over for her aunt and attending the book shop which she realizes in on the brink on bankruptcy. To make matters worse, her mortal enemy, Roman Montbeau, opens up a fresh new book store right across the street. Faced with this competition, dwindling sales, and a lease up for renewal, she must try to win hearts of those around town while also drawing up new ideas to renew her 100 year old family bookstore.

While I did enjoy parts of this book, it took me a long time to get into. I felt parts were rushed and the explanation behind why Roman had "loved" her all these years was never really explained. He saw her in the green dress, loved her, and has been waiting for her all these years ??? It seems as though they picked up where they never started. They hated each other (secretly loved) and then were kissing. Anyway that aside, I did enjoy their romance and feel as though they brought out good sides in each other.

I also really enjoyed Charlie and Aunt Flo, along with the side characters. I loved the little mysteries and the plans to save their small town family book store. Once I got into it, I enjoyed. I have always loved a small town, family owned business background. The Romeo and Juliet aspect was fun!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon Books, and Poppy Alexander for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

I had read lots of other previews of this book that it was going to be a must read of 2025. I was really looking forward to reading this one. I loved the Romeo and Juliet theme of the book, but I felt like there were parts of the book that fell very flat to me. I almost gave up reading this one about half way through but happy that I went ahead and finished. I just wish that we had dug more into their relationship than the bookshops and their rivalry.

There was a lot of British language used through out the book. It took me a bit to get used to that part of the book.


Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager and Poppy Alexander for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Poppy Alexander, Avon, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The cover is so cute. It instantly caught my eye. But unfortunately, I was not a fan of this one at all. I did not like Jules or her self-deprecating ways.

Poppy Alexander's "The Battle of Bookshops" is a charming and heartwarming read perfect for book lovers. The story follows a small bookstore facing competition from a new rival, and the owner's determined fight to save it. With relatable characters, a sweet romance, and a strong emphasis on community and the love of reading, this book has it all. Alexander's engaging writing and well-paced plot make it a delightful escape. If you enjoy feel-good stories about love, passion, and community, this book is a must-read.

I loved the premise of the book and the setting. The interactions between characters felt awkward and often incomplete to me, which made the story difficult to follow. The storyline felt stuttered and abrupt at times. I also struggled with feeling like the ending was wrapped up too quickly without enough context. I unfortunately wanted to like this one a lot more than I actually did.