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kellyheet's review against another edition
3.0
I normally love her books, but this one I had trouble with. It was slow to get going, but once it did it was fantastic until the end. I felt like the ending just fell flat and was wrapped up in a hurry.
lostinfrance's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed reading this bookstore based chick lit.
This is the story of a young woman who ditches here "go nowhere job as a librarian" and buys a large van, fills it with books (that she manages to get for free) and drive around a region of Scotland selling them--- at the same time, she meets some intriguing men (of course), helps a kid, lives the perfect life...and possibly lives happily ever after.
This is not supposed to be a book I would love....the details were RIDICULOUS, but I was in the mood and it was nice to read something happy, fun....and in Scotland (someone adopt me, please!).
Read if you need a vacation from reading.
This is the story of a young woman who ditches here "go nowhere job as a librarian" and buys a large van, fills it with books (that she manages to get for free) and drive around a region of Scotland selling them--- at the same time, she meets some intriguing men (of course), helps a kid, lives the perfect life...and possibly lives happily ever after.
This is not supposed to be a book I would love....the details were RIDICULOUS, but I was in the mood and it was nice to read something happy, fun....and in Scotland (someone adopt me, please!).
Read if you need a vacation from reading.
lastbraincell's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely chick lit, in that the main character is someone in her twenties who starts out unhappy but then blossoms into her real personality, finds her life's purpose, and ends up with a stable guy. Wait, I mean farm guy.
It read more like a children's fantasy book in that it didn't really feel real. It was cute and charming, but felt a little like someone writing fanfiction with herself as the main character, as a means of wish fulfillment. Tbh sometimes I wanted to bonk Nina over the head for being such a starry-eyed dreamer. Don't expect realism here. It's a rural fantasy for bookish city girls: a trip to the country, beautiful scenery and weather, wide open spaces, fresh air, good food, music and dancing, hot rugged Scottish men in kilts.
A good, easy read for someone who is just looking for something light and tasty and airy.
It read more like a children's fantasy book in that it didn't really feel real. It was cute and charming, but felt a little like someone writing fanfiction with herself as the main character, as a means of wish fulfillment. Tbh sometimes I wanted to bonk Nina over the head for being such a starry-eyed dreamer. Don't expect realism here. It's a rural fantasy for bookish city girls: a trip to the country, beautiful scenery and weather, wide open spaces, fresh air, good food, music and dancing, hot rugged Scottish men in kilts.
A good, easy read for someone who is just looking for something light and tasty and airy.
l_vaa's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
bookly68's review against another edition
5.0
Such a cute, comfortable read. I loved how she matched books with people and changed things for the better in this small town in Scotland! I also enjoyed her descriptions of how beautiful it was there. I’ve heard many positive things about the Scotland country side. I had a friend who toured several countries and said her favorite was definitely Scotland. I’ve always wanted to go. I even have a book friend who lives in Scotland! This book made me want to go there even more!! Also, I think a book bus is an AWESOME idea!!!
marimbagirl22's review against another edition
4.0
Good read, quick ending
Book was good for the main character except for the last handful of chapters. Things happened very quickly without a ton of build up which is surprising compared to the rest of the book.
Book was good for the main character except for the last handful of chapters. Things happened very quickly without a ton of build up which is surprising compared to the rest of the book.
jorkal22's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
thaurisil's review against another edition
3.0
Nina, a librarian in a Birmingham library that is closing down, after a series of coincidences and decisions, steps out of her comfort zone to move to Scotland and set up a mobile bookshop in a large van. The bookshop becomes wildly successful as Nina seeks to find a book suitable for everyone. Along the way she has a romantic adventure with Marek, a Latvian train driver with a sweet soul, but breaks it off after realising he has a family back home. She then finally gets together with her completely unromantic farmer landlord Lennox.
I liked the first half of the book. It's one of those feel-good stories, where you know Nina will be brave, will step out of her comfort zone, will succeed in her business, and will find happiness. It's a joy reading the simple story, celebrating Nina's achievements and thinking, "Could I be as brave as her? Could I make a positive change? Could I impact a community?" Even the love affair with Marek is simple, romantic, and book-filled, fitting in nicely with the atmosphere of the story.
But then we get to the latter half, and Marek, in a somewhat racist twist, is discovered to be having an affair with Nina. The love triangle then intensifies as Nina then quickly falls for another man, a completely different man from Marek, and they develop a relationship that seems to be all about making out with each other. It gave a rather dirty taste, especially as Lennox was still technically a married man. Was the romance really necessary?
I liked the first half of the book. It's one of those feel-good stories, where you know Nina will be brave, will step out of her comfort zone, will succeed in her business, and will find happiness. It's a joy reading the simple story, celebrating Nina's achievements and thinking, "Could I be as brave as her? Could I make a positive change? Could I impact a community?" Even the love affair with Marek is simple, romantic, and book-filled, fitting in nicely with the atmosphere of the story.
But then we get to the latter half, and Marek, in a somewhat racist twist, is discovered to be having an affair with Nina. The love triangle then intensifies as Nina then quickly falls for another man, a completely different man from Marek, and they develop a relationship that seems to be all about making out with each other. It gave a rather dirty taste, especially as Lennox was still technically a married man. Was the romance really necessary?