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.

4.5 stars rounded up. I really enjoyed Josie and Ryan's journey from enemies to lovers. Ryan was my favorite character, but I could totally relate to Josie's back story. Josie made a lot of sacrifices in her life in order to get where she was and there were also missed opportunities due to her family situation. I liked the online aspect thrown in there as well, creating conflict and an interesting spin. I read this book so quickly. It drew me in and kept me reading. I have to find some more Ali Brady books to read now! Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

4.5 stars. This loose take on You’ve Got Mail is a love letter to bookstores and readers. Only here the two enemies to lovers are on more equal footing, as rival bookstore managers competing for a new job. What they don’t know is that they’re also friends online; friends who may be falling for each other.

It’s clear that the authors read widely and love books. Some of the best scenes are when Ryan and Josie discuss books or just read quietly together.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

"But if I've learned anything from the books I love to read, it's that life is full of misunderstandings, raw emotions, and hard truths - and so are relationships."

What a beautiful and stunning read. This story covers the journey of two bookstore owners who happen to hate each other. But what happens when they are told to compete with one another for store manager, for a new vision, the owner of their respective stores has?!

We watch enemies become friends become lovers.
And this story. Oh my goodness - it is like eating the gooey and warm centre of a cinnamon bun - comforting, fun, pure love and joy.

I loved reading Ryan and Josie's story - and I will return to it again and again because love is everything. And so are books!

Such a cute story, but a little inside baseball. A few too many references you needed to be chronically online to get (which I am).

This was A LOT of fun. Very meta for booksellers or those who work in bookselling. I love me a cinnamon roll, romance bookseller hero. Enjoyed enjoyed enjoyed.

Maybe not for you if you get peeved by coincidences that seem a little too close in novels. There were a few moments like that scattered throughout. Didn’t bother me

Ali Brady’s ‘Battle of the Bookstores’ is a charming enemies-to-lovers story between two bookstore managers. It was a delightful surprise to me since I hadn’t read anything by this author before. The book is filled with witty banter and a delightful mix of humor and romance. It was a quick read, and I’m already looking forward to reading more of Ali Brady’s books.

TROPES
Enemies to lovers (obviously!)
Opposites attract
Online epistolary (you’ve got mail vibes!)
Only One Bed
Forced Proximity
He Falls First (and hard)
Dual POV male/female
Slow burn
Open-door
Casually diverse cast of side characters including disability and LGBTQ+ rep
Bookstore setting (with bookstore cats!)
Very Tall male main character (6’8”!!)
Jewish rep
Online banter
Boston setting
Dyxlexia rep
Lots of love for the romance genre, romance bookstores, indie bookstores, and all bookish people in general

If you were a fan of You’ve Got Mail, then Battle of the Bookstores is just what you need to start your summer (pub date June 3)! The dynamic writing duo, Ali Brady, have done it again!

Meet Josie and Ryan - two dueling bookstore owners with a cute coffee store in the middle of them. In an interesting twist - it is Ryan who is the owner of the Romance bookstore, and Josie the owner of the Literary Fiction store. Ryan is a bit chaotic, Josie is total Type A. Enter the new owner of their stores who pits Josie against Ryan in a winner take all manager position. Only one will stand at the end.

What Josie and Ryan don’t know is that they have been talking to each other anonymously on an online book store owner forum and becoming quite “close”. Their banter is off the charts (I read this on the airplane and was literally laughing out loud), The Enemies to Lovers trope works brilliantly - their connection online and in real life is perfect.

Add in the Jewish representation, disability, and dyslexia representation and you have another incredibly perfect read by Ali Brady!

Thank you to Berkley and the authors for this ARC - all opinions are my own.