Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book. This book is a romance book lover’s dream! Ryan and Josie are the managers of their own book stores, with completely different vibes and genres. They are told their stores will be merging and only one of them will be hired as the new manager, leaving the other one out of a job. They compete with each other and get on each others nerves, but both retreat to their online book lover forum where they anonymously, unknowingly talk to each other. This book was hilarious, emotional, and just a delight to read. The amount of cliches spun my head, but overall I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun with it!

Thank you NetGalley & Berkley for the galley! It felt so meta to read this book - reviewing it just like the main character reviews books for her store, and the little call-outs to the romance genre were perfect. I loved this book through and through - You've Got Mail is one of my favorite movies, and this book stuck to the spirit of the movie. I can't wait to get my hands on an actual copy when it's out!

A book for booklovers!! The perfect setting with two rivalry bookstores on the same street in the same town competing for customers. The enemies or rivals to lovers aspect of the story was so fun! Ryan works and manages a romance only bookstore. Next door Josie manages a generic more serious bookstore. A new owner decides to combine both bookstores and the coffee shop in between to make one place and one bookstore. The only issue is there can only be one manager. I just loved all the banter between Josie and Ryan. Their personalities were so opposite but really they had a lot in common especially their love for books. Josie and Ryan had both been communicating to a pen pal via an online forum. Not realizing they were talking to one another they both find comfort in this person. This book was fun, adorable and just a perfect book for all of us booklovers!

This book is cute in every essence of the word. I loved the contrast between the two bookstores by having one dedicated to literature and fiction and the other dedicated to all things romance. On top of that, the inclusivity in the romance bookstore hit it out of the park for me. It seems like a store that would have everything and cater to everyone, no matter what their preference is. As a librarian who didn't get into romance books until the last year, I felt like I identified with Josie with her literary preferences. Ali Brady does a fantastic job in portraying the high pressure and self criticism that a lot of women face when they're working. It's such a precarious balancing act and I understood the pressure that Josie put on herself throughout the book, as well as how hard it was to finally let go. Ryan might be one of my all time favorite MMC in a romance book. His temperament and empathetic nature made him so endearing, and quite frankly, his vulnerability made him incredibly attractive. I would definitely recommend Brady's book to anyone looking for a sweet story with a steady spicy buildup.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for this eARC! In all the best ways, this gave me heavy You've Got Mail feelings and that mad me fall in love with it that much faster. I loved Josie being the dark and twisty cynical one and Ryan being the romance loving sincere one. I thought the reveal of their pen pal identities really satisfying and truly above all else their communication throughout was so refreshing and interesting to the story. Truly what a delight of read.

I had such a fun time reading Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady! This rivals-to-lovers rom-com had me hooked right from the start. Josie and Ryan, two bookstore managers on the same Boston street, couldn’t be more different, yet they find themselves in direct competition when their stores are merged. The stakes? A summer-long battle to see who can turn the most profit.

I loved the dynamic between the characters—Josie is all about structure and detail, while Ryan’s more laid-back and disorganized. Their differences create plenty of sparks, but there’s also a lot of chemistry, especially when they start connecting as anonymous friends on an online book forum. It’s a fun and unique twist on the classic workplace romance.

As a book lover and someone who works in a library, I can definitely appreciate the bookstore setting, and the way the author weaves in the rivalry and romance kept me entertained all the way through. I’m sure my patrons will love this one too, especially if they’re into enemies-to-lovers stories!

The Battle of the Bookstores was a cute story. Two booksellers (Ryan and Josie) are pitted against when the owner announces his plan to combine their 2 stores into one, engaging a net sales driven competition to win…their job. The bookseller whose store produces lower numbers is SOL. Unbeknownst to Ryan and Josie, their friend and confidante from the bookseller message board that they both frequent is none other than their rival in the Battle of the Bookstores.

Oddly enough, I read 2 ARCs at the same time with similar storylines. The settings were different, but both centered around discovering that the anonymous person they talked to online was someone they had real life connection to. Not a positive or negative — just a random observation. This one was compelling and I enjoyed the supporting characters. I wouldn’t mind learning more about Ryan and his brothers, and Josie/Georgia/their Mom.

Yall I’m going to be honest I’ve never read an Ali Brady book. But after finishing this amazing romance I will be checking out all her previous books. Before I do that back to the book in question the one I’m about to rave about for a few moments. I went into “Battle of the Bookstores” with very little expectations I was pitched as this is the book version of “You’ve Got Mail”. I could never pass that up, especially since “You’ve Got Mail” is one of my all time favorite romance movies. “Battle of the Bookstores” is perfect for anyone who loves reading. Doesn’t matter if your an avid book reader, a book dragon, or just a beginner. Fans of any genre will find something they can relate to within this story.

Being an avid book lover. This book spoke to me in a way that no other romance novel ever has. I loved the use of dual POVs— we have our MMC who loves romance books and have our MFC who prefers literary fiction—the reversal of the stereotype in who prefers which genre was fantastic and added depth and made it so unique.

I do have to admit at first I had a hard time relating to Josie. At times she comes off very cold and judgmental but her development throughout the book was a joy to discover. Then we have Ryan. (PS Ali I’d like my own personal Ryan thank you very much) I love this man. He seriously can do no wrong in my book. He was a joy to read about from beginning to end and I love how kind, patience and understanding he was with Josie throughout the entire story.

Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. Please check this book out when it gets released later this June. Lastly big thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

okay this had its moments!! from the start, we were name dropping every romance author, trope, series, etc and that was taking me out of it a bit 😭 i’m simply not one for pop culture references in my books, but i digress. i feel like their chemistry was pretty palpable even through all their “enemy” shenanigans, although i *did* feel like the bookish agenda kinda overtook their characterization at some points because they on occasion felt like filler, cardboard characters to push the indie bookstore theme? 🫣 i finished it really quick though, the smut was solid, and if they were slightly more emotional than horny/lusty it would’ve added THAT much more pizazz!

📚Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady
📕ARC Review(Copy gifted by @berkleyromance)
🚨While reviewed copy is gifted, opinions are always my own.
Status: Available June 3rd, Not KU

🥰Enjoyment: I just love this super tall NON basketball playing sweetheart of a MMC. Ryan is just the sweetest man. I really enjoyed this story, especially once they worked beyond the “enemies” into friends. Also super adored the battling bookstore setting, though as a romance girly myself (shocking right?) I really wanted to sit Josie down and proselytize at her. Come with me to the romcom side girl. If you love romances set in a book lovers world, keep an eye out for this one this summer!

This was so adorable! It had a bookstore atmosphere, and the town was portrayed in the best way possible. It was adorable and had the cutest banter and flirting I’ve ever read! I really like this author and will be checking out books in the future from them. The covers were first through me and I absolutely adored it. Great Reed for the new year.

"Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.
Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer. "
This was just a lovely, cozy romance. I want to shop at these bookstores! Enjoyed the slow burn to romance, the witty banter and charm in all the interactions both in person and their online personas. Will recommend to book nerds everywhere and romance readers.

OH MY GOSH THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! I love Ali Brady, she literally never lets me down, but I think this is actually my favorite book from her! The bookish speak, the storyline, the romance, the witty banter, all of it added up to be such an amazing experience!

I love this writing duo’s style and was so excited to get an arc of this. This one is a love letter to all book lovers and bookstore workers everywhere and gives major You’ve Got Mail vibes. It’s a grumpy/sunshine where the male is the sunshine, which I loved! It got a bit long and took me a while to really be invested, but I still really liked it.

(Will post a more in depth review and post closer to pubday)

Josie and Ryan are such lovable relatable characters. I found myself in both of them! Ryan and his love of romance novels, and Josie and her quiet nature. I love a good enemies to Lovers trope, and the banter of back and forth was so good and kept me wanting more! The wait for these two to figure out they were talking all along online, was almost unbearable! Ali Brady has a way with writing that has you wanting more. I can't wait for this one to hit the shelves! its going to be flying off of them, I just know it!

I enjoyed this book. Social media had the characters meeting before he realizes they work under unusual circumstances with the another. I really enjoyed it because I'm as big fan of the movie You've Got Mail. Try it t. I know you'll like it!

Thank you so much for the advanced reader copy!

What started as a charming, witty, and nostalgic read resembling You've Got Mail quickly faded into mediocrity. This is one I likely hyped up too much in my head only for it to fall short. There's also a lot of forced representation that breaks the immersion of the story and felt rammed down my throat - not sure why this was approached in such a way. I'm so sad this wasn't for me, and I had to DNF. Hopefully it finds its fans upon its June release!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Books are so personal and I am sure others will love this book, but I was not one of those people.
The chemistry between the main characters was so off. They had better chemistry as enemies vs lovers.
The story was cute. Expected, but cute.
Where it went wrong, FOR ME. - I like my men masculine and Brian, I mean Ryan ;) was way too feminine for me and Josie was too masculine. Don’t get me wrong, I realize we rule the world, but just sayin’! I would also say this book goes wonky where everyone has to have representation to the point that it feels forced.

This is a rivals to lovers, secret pen mates, and work place romance. If you like You’ve got Mail then you need to check this book out. We have Ryan who is the manager at a romance only bookstore. He’s worked his way up to that position and has been with the store for over a decade. Then we have Josie who is the manger at a generic book store. When both of their stores and the cafe in the middle were bought out by the building owner he decided he wanted to make some changes. Big changes. All 3 stores would now become one and since there is 2 book stores there only needs to be one manager. In comes a big competition between the two so one of them won’t be out of a job. At first there is sabotage and insults between them but they realize they need to combine their knowledge to make the store more profitable. Definitely read this is you like banter, competition, and love.

Josie and Ryan could not be more different, from their childhoods to their organizational skills, and their reading preferences, they seemingly have nothing in common. When their common landlord pits their bookstores against each other, can they come together to solve their problems or are they destined to be enemies forever. While Josie won't allow herself to open up to any possibilities, Ryan can't help but see what the future could hold, only if Josie will let him in.