A review by lisaluvsliterature
Recommended for You by Laura Silverman

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.