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beastreader's review against another edition
1.0
I was actually looking forward to reading this book. Robin's family dynamics were complicated. Yet, there was something unsatisfying that I struggled really hard to find an emotional connection with her as well as the rest of the characters in this book.
This is the type of story where it is important to share an emotional connection with the characters. If for nothing else, Robin. I tried to find my footing with this book but it became apparent when I got halfway into the story and could not remember anything that I had read in the first half of the book. Sadly, I did not finish this book as it was not for me.
This is the type of story where it is important to share an emotional connection with the characters. If for nothing else, Robin. I tried to find my footing with this book but it became apparent when I got halfway into the story and could not remember anything that I had read in the first half of the book. Sadly, I did not finish this book as it was not for me.
bmpicc's review against another edition
5.0
Easy read with a sweet story. Part mystery, part first love, part family drama and a large dash of literature love. I think this will be a fun discussion during book club next month.
dwm_1040's review against another edition
3.0
It was an okay read but not as interesting as I had expected it to be. I skimmed the last few pages.
hopecaldwell's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. I found this book club selection so forgettable I had to reread the summary to even remember it before our discussion. It wasn’t terrible, just very blah.
bethywa's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted this book based on the cover itself. This was an excellent book to judge by it's colour. There are many bookshop-centred mystery where books and notes are passed that we booklovers eat up because we love books and coziness. This is the best one of those I have ever read. It actually had a super interesting story laying beneath all the book passing and is not your typical cozy bookshop book. I would very much recommend this one to everyone.
machadofam8's review against another edition
3.0
Throw in another half star - great story and interesting characters.
natcpat's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the plot and storyline. Nothing to write home about but I did enjoy the literary references within the story
maryfaithreads's review against another edition
4.0
"'...these books are fiction, made up, imaginary. But they did happen - in the minds of the people who wrote them and the readers who turn the pages. They happen again and again, every time they are read. If I disappeared tomorrow, no one would miss me. But stories are alive, and some of them live forever.'"
3.5 / 5 stars
Erin Bartels' debut [b:We Hope for Better Things|40392264|We Hope for Better Things|Erin Bartels|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539080356l/40392264._SY75_.jpg|62706888] was one of my favorite books of 2019, so I was so excited to read this! Unfortunately, I didn't love it quite as much. This is one of those books about books that bibliophiles will feel a connection to, and I loved that. I mean, that quote right there? That's poetry to me. Bartels has an amazing talent for writing in multiple timelines and presenting a mystery that way, which was also exhibited in her first book. I just didn't like this story as much. The ending kind of bothered me as well. It felt pretty rushed, and a lot of questions were left unanswered. I can understand the choice to do that, but there were some things that I think readers would have benefited from knowing. Regardless, it was a good read.
annelawson's review against another edition
2.0
Not particulary a Christian novel. Doesn't have to be, but it was advertised as such. Kept waiting for something Christian to happen, like the main character with all sorts of issues to give her life to Jesus. But no.
As a not particularly Christian novel, it wasn't great either.
As a not particularly Christian novel, it wasn't great either.
justjoel's review against another edition
2.0
A bit of a mess, to be honest. There were so many things happening here that it felt like the author had just received word of a terminal illness, and she had so many different books she wanted to write that she combined them all into one.
I usually dig books about books, but this one missed the mark for me in a big way. The romance was great in the past, but felt forced in the present. The "twists" were all telegraphed far in advance.
2 out of 5 stars.
I usually dig books about books, but this one missed the mark for me in a big way. The romance was great in the past, but felt forced in the present. The "twists" were all telegraphed far in advance.
2 out of 5 stars.