A review by augustine_em
Bookshop Girl by Chloe Coles

3.0

This, I think, had a good idea for a story behind it but I just don’t love it.
I really hoped I would.
Yet, it’s not one of my favourites from this genre.


Paige Turner(yes that’s really her name) is a sixteen year old girl from the small town of Greysworth. A very fitting name for the place where most shops have closed and all there is for teens to do, is hang around the streets. Bennett’s Bookshop for Paige is naturally, a sort of sanctuary from the rest of the town. She takes up a part time job there with her best friend Holly during the weekends while saving up for art school. When she finds out that Bennett’s Bookshop is going to be closed, she knows she has to do something about it but then she meets dreamy, and very attractive, art student Blaine. Can she still save her beloved bookshop without Blaine getting in the way?





As a sixteen year old, I found that the writing was unrealistic and cringy. That’s not the way I or anyone I know speak. Paige and Holly spoke by shortening words like text speak and using phrases like LOLs and ‘oh em gee’ too frequently.

I think other parts were more relatable, yes Paige falling for a boy like Blaine (who is this dreamy ‘bad boy’) happens and the way that Paige feels is pretty accurate to me. Although at the same time, she was very naive and looked right past some pretty obvious red flags to me.
I liked that it had a realistic ending to the classic trope but writing of it just kind of ruined it for me. I think the characters were just not relatable enough and I’ve read better books similar to this.
So yes. I’m conflicted with this book. I’m still undecided on whether I’ll get the next one. This was good but cringy at times despite the fact I loved the bookshop setting which I think is what really kept me reading.

I think this is good for age 12+ if you don’t go into it expecting it to be great it’s a lighthearted easy read if a little cringy at times.