kerryanndunn's review against another edition
5.0
“That is painfully kind. I might vomit. Or try to kiss him. Hopefully not both at the same time.”
This book is A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.
Two Jewish teenagers working in a mall bookstore over the holidays competing to see who can sell the most books and falling for each other in the process???? SIGN ME ALL THE WAY UP.
The girl has two moms and the boy has a single mom and there is an adorable friend group and teenage angst and banter and pining and hard crushing and a car named Barbra Streisand and dreidel cookie baking and Chinese food on Christmas day.
Walking in the busy mall together, Shoshanna thinks this about Jake, “Jake disappears momentarily as a man who must be at least six feet five sidles between us. I’m not above admitting my pulse skips at Jake’s seconds-long absence, then skips again upon his reappearance. I like Jake at my side. I like being able to look at him out of the corner of my eye while pretending to look at store marquees and holiday decorations.”
They are too cute.
This book is A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.
Two Jewish teenagers working in a mall bookstore over the holidays competing to see who can sell the most books and falling for each other in the process???? SIGN ME ALL THE WAY UP.
The girl has two moms and the boy has a single mom and there is an adorable friend group and teenage angst and banter and pining and hard crushing and a car named Barbra Streisand and dreidel cookie baking and Chinese food on Christmas day.
Walking in the busy mall together, Shoshanna thinks this about Jake, “Jake disappears momentarily as a man who must be at least six feet five sidles between us. I’m not above admitting my pulse skips at Jake’s seconds-long absence, then skips again upon his reappearance. I like Jake at my side. I like being able to look at him out of the corner of my eye while pretending to look at store marquees and holiday decorations.”
They are too cute.
zarak1125's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf @ 22%
Tried a 3 strikes until I’m done with this book tactic, and there was strike after strike so I just stopped reading
Strike 1) - the MC babbling and being annoying
“I turn the keys again. The grinding sound is worse this time, metallic shrieking. “Darn you!”
- Idk I’m gonna go in w low expectations bc this intro isn’t exactly hooking me in
1.5) “Marissa! That’s an awesome name.” I glance back at Jake. “Isn’t Marissa an awesome name?”
- Too much energy
Strike 2) the hypocrisy and entitlement
“Now how is that fair?” I ask.”
- Like it was so fair of you publicly announcing smth w the intent to embarrass him or just make him feel judged.. smh I’m grasping at straws w this book
Strike 3)
“I smile as I dump his coffee in the trash.”
- I can’t this is another level of petty, lol tbh I’m also just looking for any excuse to not finish this book so I’m just calling it here
Tried a 3 strikes until I’m done with this book tactic, and there was strike after strike so I just stopped reading
Strike 1) - the MC babbling and being annoying
“I turn the keys again. The grinding sound is worse this time, metallic shrieking. “Darn you!”
- Idk I’m gonna go in w low expectations bc this intro isn’t exactly hooking me in
1.5) “Marissa! That’s an awesome name.” I glance back at Jake. “Isn’t Marissa an awesome name?”
- Too much energy
Strike 2) the hypocrisy and entitlement
“Now how is that fair?” I ask.”
- Like it was so fair of you publicly announcing smth w the intent to embarrass him or just make him feel judged.. smh I’m grasping at straws w this book
Strike 3)
“I smile as I dump his coffee in the trash.”
- I can’t this is another level of petty, lol tbh I’m also just looking for any excuse to not finish this book so I’m just calling it here
buffywnabe's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my gosh, I’m not sure where to start so I can tell you how much I LOVED this book! It totally not only encompassed all the things about working at a bookstore, but also all the things about being the nerdy competitive girl working at the bookstore. Now, at the store where I worked, you get stuck using the intercom maybe before you want to, because I never have the desire to speak over it. However we got walkie-talkies last year, and I wanted so bad to make up code words like they had in this book to call for help when you have a difficult customer, or a customer you can’t get to go away, etc.
There were so many layers to this story, and I liked how really the characters were realistic. Even when they seemed like they might be unlikable or have an unrealistic grudge, there was always a reason for it, something that people in real life always seem to have for when they behave the way they do. Shoshanna’s home life again was not perfect, but I liked that it showed everyone can have issues. She had two moms, but things aren’t always perfect just because they are already different than the old-fashioned parents. But the still loved her, and showed her how they loved her. She also did things that caused problems with her friends and her mom, something a teen would totally do! And then there was her crush on Jake, and how Jake dealt with it, and her, and really it was just all perfect the way it fit together in the end. I also liked the fact of the Jewish traditions and even how they fit in with her friends and their Christmas or Christian traditions and all that. Now maybe the fact that this took place over such a short period of time might have made it a tiny bit unrealistic, but that’s okay, loved it anyway!
The author totally got the customers of a bookstore exactly on the nose, and then there was even Shoshanna’s views on things like the Funko Pop figures. She said she’d only given in and purchased the baby Groot one. Well, that’s where it all started for me as well. I honestly don’t know if I can fangirl enough about this book and how much I loved it!
Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.
There were so many layers to this story, and I liked how really the characters were realistic. Even when they seemed like they might be unlikable or have an unrealistic grudge, there was always a reason for it, something that people in real life always seem to have for when they behave the way they do. Shoshanna’s home life again was not perfect, but I liked that it showed everyone can have issues. She had two moms, but things aren’t always perfect just because they are already different than the old-fashioned parents. But the still loved her, and showed her how they loved her. She also did things that caused problems with her friends and her mom, something a teen would totally do! And then there was her crush on Jake, and how Jake dealt with it, and her, and really it was just all perfect the way it fit together in the end. I also liked the fact of the Jewish traditions and even how they fit in with her friends and their Christmas or Christian traditions and all that. Now maybe the fact that this took place over such a short period of time might have made it a tiny bit unrealistic, but that’s okay, loved it anyway!
The author totally got the customers of a bookstore exactly on the nose, and then there was even Shoshanna’s views on things like the Funko Pop figures. She said she’d only given in and purchased the baby Groot one. Well, that’s where it all started for me as well. I honestly don’t know if I can fangirl enough about this book and how much I loved it!
Review first published on Lisa Loves Literature.
bluebirdegf's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
ezwolf's review against another edition
Did not finish book. Stopped at 10%.
I am at a point in my reading decisions where I just don’t see the point in forcing myself to continue reading books I’m not enjoying.
I’m not a fan of the broody YA love interest, Harry Potter references, or scenes that make me feel a sense of second hand embarrassment.
It’s important to have Jewish representation of all kinds and I hope that it’s a good book for other people. It’s just not for me and that’s okay.
I am at a point in my reading decisions where I just don’t see the point in forcing myself to continue reading books I’m not enjoying.
I’m not a fan of the broody YA love interest, Harry Potter references, or scenes that make me feel a sense of second hand embarrassment.
It’s important to have Jewish representation of all kinds and I hope that it’s a good book for other people. It’s just not for me and that’s okay.
theaconner's review against another edition
There isn’t anything inherently wrong with this book, it just probably isn’t the right time for me to read it. I found myself getting annoyed with Shoshana’s optimism—I know, weird—so I’m gonna dnf and I’ll probably try to come back to it at a later date.
eh24's review against another edition
5.0
Having enjoyed both To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and You’ve Got Mail, I was very excited to read this new book! I’m pleased to say that this novel is just as good as (if not better than) what I imagined it to be! I really suggest reading To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and watching You’ve Got Mail because they’re amazing! Another book by Laura Silverman that you might enjoy is You Asked For Perfect.
Enjoy!
~ Cherry
Enjoy!
~ Cherry
naomischultz's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0