Review by Booklist Review
Even though they both own bookstores on the same street in Boston, up until now, Josie Klein, owner of Tabula Inscripta, has never interacted with Ryan Lawson, who owns Happy Endings. Then Xander Laing, their mutual landlord, decides to renovate the block and combine everything into one space. So, as far as Xander is concerned, he will need only one bookstore going forward, so he declares that whichever store makes the most in profits during the renovation period will get to stay. May the best bookseller win! Cleverly riffing on You've Got Mail and The Little Shop around the Corner, Brady, the pseudonym for Alison Hammer and Bradleigh Godfrey (The Comeback Summer, 2023), fashions another fun, flirty, and fiercely romantic love story about a literary-fiction reader and a romance devotee falling in love. This also serves as a beautifully written paean to the magic of bookstores, the power of romance novels, and the joy of reading. In addition to all the witty banter and sexy chemistry between the protagonists, readers will be struck by thoughtful insights about dyslexia and family relationships as well as spot-on observations about the art and craft of bookselling.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Author duo Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey, writing as Brady (The Beach Trap), gently riff on You've Got Mail in this cute but predictable rom-com. Chaotic Ryan Lawson runs Happy Endings, a romance-only bookshop in Boston that will soon be merging with Tabula Inscripta, the neighboring literary fiction bookstore managed by uptight Josie Klein. When Ryan and Josie learn that only one manager will survive after the businesses combine, competition ignites. Ryan and Josie trade heated barbs and attempt to one-up each other with book events. Meanwhile, both characters take solace in conversations with an anonymous internet friend, though neither realizes they've been messaging with each other. The authors throw a kitchen sink worth of tropes into their plot and winkingly comment on them through romance loving Ryan, who's genre-savvy enough to recognize that he's in an enemies-to-lovers scenario with Josie--especially when they're forced to share only one bed. It can feel a bit like the authors are going down a checklist, and as a result the plot becomes somewhat rote, but the leads are charming and it's easy to see how carefree Ryan helps soften Josie's sharp edges. Readers looking for a light and sweet love story will want to check this out. (June)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson are the dynamic--and rival--managers of two linked indies bookstores on the same street. Josie runs Tabula Inscripta, a haven for readers seeking highbrow literature, while Ryan oversees Happy Endings, the cozy spot for romance lovers and inclusive stories. Their worlds are about to collide, though, when the owner of both bookstores, Xander, drops a bombshell: he wants to merge the two stores into one. Not only that, but he plans to keep on only one manager, which will be whoever makes the most profit over the next few months. As the tension grows, Josie and Ryan are at each other's throats, each trying to make their store the top contender in order to keep their jobs. Amid the competition, they begin to realize that they actually make a pretty great team--maybe even more personal than professional. However, their budding partnership could unravel when Josie uncovers a secret Ryan has been keeping. VERDICT The latest from Brady (Until Next Summer) features a great cast of characters set in the wonderful world of books and is a perfect read for fans of the classic rom-com You've Got Mail.--Ashli Wells
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Two rival booksellers vie for the same position following the announcement of a merger. Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson are bookstore managers on the same street in Boston, but that's where their similarities end. Josie manages Tabula Inscripta, a shop catering to literature, while Ryan runs a romance-only bookstore named Happy Endings. When both find themselves under the new ownership of Xander Laing, a notorious developer who's already purchased most of the block, their futures hang in the balance. Xander wants to merge the bookstores with a nearby coffee shop, and surely the new space doesn't need two managers. Josie and Ryan vacillate between disliking each other and attempting to unite behind the common goal of preserving their beloved spaces. However, many of the details are wrong. Josie is somehow the only staff member of her bookstore, which in reality would be nearly impossible. The stores are also located in Somerville's Davis Square, though the setting is frequently described as being in Boston. Josie is particularly antagonistic toward romance as a genre and the Happy Endings team, only begrudgingly coming to the realization that romance novels can also be literary. While Josie does eventually soften her judgment of other people's taste in books, reading so many putdowns of the genre isn't a lot of fun for a romance reader. There's also aYou've Got Mail--style subplot in which Josie and Ryan are online friends through a forum for book lovers without knowing each other's identity. It's fine, but there are better options when it comes to Nora Ephron--inspired rom-coms. A bookstore romance best left on the shelf. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
