The bookstore diaries

Susan Mallery

Book - 2026

"Jax has a slight issue with control--as in, she needs it. Always. Too bad she has power only over the Painted Lady Bookstore, the Victorian mansion turned bookshop she inherited. No one else listens to a word she says. Her ex gets engaged for questionable reasons. Her beloved sister, Ryleigh, wants to move away to find a husband. And the handsome contractor Jax has chosen to convince Ryleigh to stay is only interested in Jax. Still, she's living the bookworm dream--until an unhappy accident erases the names from the bookshop lockboxes where the town keeps their diaries. Which means the only way to find a diary's owner is...to read it. As secrets spill and scandals surface, life at the Painted Lady Bookstore gets a lot more c...olorful and chaotic. But for a woman who's always had to take charge, Jax will see that losing control--especially with the right wrong guy--can set you free. "--

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1st Floor New Shelf Show me where

FICTION/Mallery Susan
0 / 2 copies available
Location Call Number   Status
1st Floor New Shelf FICTION/Mallery Susan (NEW SHELF) Due Apr 10, 2026
1st Floor New Shelf FICTION/Mallery Susan (NEW SHELF) Due Apr 9, 2026
Subjects
Genres
Chick lit
Romance fiction
Published
Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Mira [2026]
Language
English
Main Author
Susan Mallery (author)
Item Description
Includes questions for discussion and recipe.
Deluxe hardcover has specially designed endpapers and sprayed edges.
Physical Description
370 pages ; 24 cm
ISBN
9781335629708
Contents unavailable.
Review by Library Journal Review

Mallery (Otherwise Engaged) delivers her signature warmth and humor in this engaging tale. Jax owns a cozy bookstore in a small California town. Divorced and coparenting two children with her ex, Jax navigates life with the help of her sister Ryleigh and her precocious African Gray parrot Ramon. Ryleigh wants to marry but fears their small town is devoid of any romantic prospects. Her best friend, a widower with a young son, lends her support as she navigates her best path forward. When the shop needs major renovations, Jax hires a charming young contractor and immediately tries to match him with Ryleigh--only to learn he's interested in her. Meanwhile, a worker cleans a section of an old brick wall, unaware that the wall conceals secret diaries that townspeople had hidden there. Chaos ensues as customers search for their lost journals. Through unexpected discoveries, heartfelt connections, and a touch of romance, both sisters discover that love can find them when they least expect it. VERDICT Mallery fans and new readers alike will relish this charming read with plenty of fodder for discussion. The book will also appeal to Robin Carr or Brenda Novak fans.--Stacy Alesi

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