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elise_b's review against another edition
3.0
This book had a very cozy feel to it, and I enjoyed it for that. However, the plot was extremely slow, and the stakes felt way too mild for this to be engaging. The supporting characters did not really add to the plot at all, the main character was weakly written, and the conclusion was anticlimactic. I get the appeal of the rugged and grumpy Scotsman, but this played way too much into stereotypes and clichés. Overall, this was a gentle read, which is why I’m giving it a halfway decent rating, but don’t expect this to be any sort of literary challenge or heart-engaging material.
sinskeep's review against another edition
4.0
Lighthearted, sweet, and exactly what I needed right now.
drmare's review against another edition
1.0
Oh, dear, I'm really an outlier here. That's probably because this was recommended to me and the person who did so is someone whose reading tastes I respect. I should have read some reviews before I checked it out of the library. This book is SO not in my wheelhouse.
I thought this was pretty insipid. It would have appealed to me back when I was fifteen, shy, awkward, and confused, but now? Uh uh. Scotland, where it's dark and cold for 4 months of the year is wonderful? You can buy a van as easily as showing up, meeting some guys in a pub, and handling over your money? You can't park the van outside your friend's home in Birmingham and then you can? You can cart books out of the library by the boatload, and IT'S OKAY?
And where is the detail: what happens to the lambs that Nina delivers? How is it a small community didn't know one of its own was in trouble until an outsider told them? How do three people move 70 boxes of books off a train in the middle of the night? How in the world can 70 boxes of books fit in a van with shelves along the sides? Details about finding books, shipping books, pricing them are omitted; Books just magically appear and get sold, Nina knows every single one of them and none of them are the awful sorts (The Speech Chain, True Genius) that sit unloved on bookshelves everywhere. Lennox is awful until he isn't, Malek is perfect until he isn't. Every single person in this book (except Kate and She's pure evil, right?) is a character to be loved. And despite her bumbling, everything Nina does ends well. Somehow, no matter what happens, roses (well, heather) bloom. And two people who've been fighting through their attorneys for two years come to a peaceful compromise after a five minute intervention by our heroine.
Does it bother anyone that the van is NOT on a corner????
I did love the Scotland she painted but fear it's the result of creative license. Sigh.
I thought this was pretty insipid. It would have appealed to me back when I was fifteen, shy, awkward, and confused, but now? Uh uh. Scotland, where it's dark and cold for 4 months of the year is wonderful? You can buy a van as easily as showing up, meeting some guys in a pub, and handling over your money? You can't park the van outside your friend's home in Birmingham and then you can? You can cart books out of the library by the boatload, and IT'S OKAY?
And where is the detail: what happens to the lambs that Nina delivers? How is it a small community didn't know one of its own was in trouble until an outsider told them? How do three people move 70 boxes of books off a train in the middle of the night? How in the world can 70 boxes of books fit in a van with shelves along the sides? Details about finding books, shipping books, pricing them are omitted; Books just magically appear and get sold, Nina knows every single one of them and none of them are the awful sorts (The Speech Chain, True Genius) that sit unloved on bookshelves everywhere. Lennox is awful until he isn't, Malek is perfect until he isn't. Every single person in this book (except Kate and She's pure evil, right?) is a character to be loved. And despite her bumbling, everything Nina does ends well. Somehow, no matter what happens, roses (well, heather) bloom. And two people who've been fighting through their attorneys for two years come to a peaceful compromise after a five minute intervention by our heroine.
Does it bother anyone that the van is NOT on a corner????
I did love the Scotland she painted but fear it's the result of creative license. Sigh.
holly2kidsandtired's review against another edition
4.0
Nina loves being a librarian and collecting books, but losing her job leaves her at loose ends. Needing something new and craving some adventure from her noisy London world, she heads to Scotland, purchases a large van and turns it into a bookmobile. Traveling around her new little village, she meets all sorts of people. People who crave books and knowledge and reading.
Putting her talents as a literary matchmaker to good use, Nina also finds magic in living in a small village with people who look out and care for one another.
Sometimes you just want a fun story and The Bookshop on the Corner was just that. Fun and entertaining. I'm a sucker for stories about books, especially when those stories are also filled with quirky characters and humor. The story is rather predictable, but that doesn't detract from its charm.
The original title was Little Shop of Happily Ever After which really does fit the book better and I wish it hadn't been changed.
Putting her talents as a literary matchmaker to good use, Nina also finds magic in living in a small village with people who look out and care for one another.
Sometimes you just want a fun story and The Bookshop on the Corner was just that. Fun and entertaining. I'm a sucker for stories about books, especially when those stories are also filled with quirky characters and humor. The story is rather predictable, but that doesn't detract from its charm.
The original title was Little Shop of Happily Ever After which really does fit the book better and I wish it hadn't been changed.
linrose's review against another edition
5.0
This book gets you to thinking of life’s real values. And compares real life fantasy and books. Very enjoyable quick read.
octoelle's review against another edition
4.0
Such a lovely light book - helpful after the rather traumatic Mississippi Blood by Greg Iles. No rape, racist killing or guns in The Bookshop on the Corner. Lots of books and romance. I guess this book could be classified as Chick Lit? Anyway, I enjoyed it. I loved reading about the backblocks of Scotland. For light reading.
mel4mil's review against another edition
3.0
This was SO close to a 4-star review!
The dedication was fantastic and made me simply excited to read this book. The first half of the book gelled well with the tone of the dedication. Then it shifted into romance gear, and the plot seemed to lose its charm. Nothing against romance; it just didn't feel cohesive with the previous half of the book.
The dedication was fantastic and made me simply excited to read this book. The first half of the book gelled well with the tone of the dedication. Then it shifted into romance gear, and the plot seemed to lose its charm. Nothing against romance; it just didn't feel cohesive with the previous half of the book.
jpgapp's review against another edition
5.0
This book was delightful start to finish! It was a cozy and fun read.
wildsnail's review against another edition
4.0
An easy read and a gentle story. This book was a really nice little escape.