A review by laheath
The Bookshop on the Shore by Jenny Colgan

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This seemed reminiscent of The Sound of Music to me (minus the singing and Nazis)--an uninvolved father, mother out of the picture, misbehaving kids, and a string of nannies who didn't last very long. Of course, things became much more complicated as the story continued, addressing a few very serious and complex issues, such as single parents and blended families, bullying, childhood mental illness, and selective mutism. All were portrayed realistically, with a variety of emotions dependent on the character, but the ending still managed to be happy. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Pregnancy

Minor: Self harm and Grief