Review by Booklist Review
Prepare for a charming battle of hearts and books in Alexander's latest (after Storybook Ending, 2024), a contemporary reimagining of Romeo and Juliet. Jules Capelthorne's return to her quaint beach town of Portneath (outside of London) means taking over her family's struggling bookstore while caring for her beloved great aunt Flo. But her quiet homecoming is upended by the reappearance of Roman Montbeau, her handsome, wealthy childhood crush. To Jules' dismay, Roman isn't just visiting; he's opening a swanky new bookstore directly opposite hers, sparking a fresh chapter in their families' ancient rivalry. What Jules doesn't know is that Roman secretly carries a torch for her, too. Jules reconnects with her best friend from high school and while serving as her maid of honor, giving her plenty of opportunities to run into Roman, who is the best man. As their business rivalry heats up, so does their undeniable chemistry, leading them to a much happier ending than the original source material. Readers who are fans of Sally Blakely will enjoy this sweet romance.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Returning to Middlemass, a charming English village first visited in Alexander's Storybook Ending, this enemies-to-lovers contemporary starts strong but fails to stick the landing. Publishing assistant Jules Capelthorne is summoned from London to help out her injured great-aunt Flo at the centennial celebration for her bookshop. Jules only plans to spend the weekend, hoping to avoid unnecessary run-ins with her difficult mother, Maggie, and get back to her demanding job. Businessman Roman Montbeau, heir to a local estate, is surprised to see Jules back in town and regretful when he realizes that his shiny new bookstore will likely quickly put Flo's fading shop out of business. The Montbeau and Capelthorne families have a long-standing feud, and despite Roman's overtures to Jules to smooth their relationship, she's resistant. Their initial animosity is somewhat underplayed, with the duo barely exchanging words in the book's first half. Meanwhile the later switch from enemies to lovers feels far too abrupt. Diehard Alexander fans will enjoy revisiting Middlemass's local couples but others can give this a pass. (Aug.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
Alexander's (Storybook Ending) latest finds Jules Capelthorne summoned home to tiny seaside Portneath, England, to rescue her injured great-aunt Flo. Jules grew up surrounded by books in Capelthornes, the family's century-old bookstore, and finds herself charmed to be rejuvenating the shop. The one fly in the ointment is Roman Montbeau, who has returned to open a massive bookstore right across the street, with the hopes of crushing the competition. Jules and Roman hate each other, as their family feud dictates, until they start to feel romantic sparks fly. Can they save their stores and love each other too? The parallels to Romeo and Juliet, as well as You've Got Mail, are impossible to ignore in this quiet, cozy book. More focused on Jules's journey than on the romance, this gentle read is enhanced by quirky supporting characters and a secret grimoire found in the walls of the store. Delightful bookstore details, a family mystery that revolves around a witch trial, and a dash of enemies-to-lovers romance make for a breezy read. VERDICT For fans of Alexander's previous novels or those seeking a bookish, slice-of-life romantic read.--Katie Lawrence
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