This book is a delight to dive right into. The characters are a joy to spend time with and get to know. With many twists, turns, smiles and laughter, this book will leave you wanting more. Cannot put it down!

I really liked this book and even though the ending was predictable, it was good to share Verity and Johny's journey from helping each other out, friend and then a couple.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as the storyline was quite heartwarming.

I loved this book. It had some truly heart in mouth moments and the writing was well constructed and flowed well. The characters were recognisable and comforting though I found the setting to be a little jarring if not probable given today's society and views on dating and finding true love. The overall effect of this book is as expected, a little gem to lift the spirits and make you wonder if people are every truly like that in real life but then, perhaps grateful that life is exactly how you'd want it.

I was particularly drawn to this book and it's strong connection and references to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and the enigmatic and eccentric Bennett sisters; though I didn't see much of a parallel to Jane as Verity was supposed to be. If anything Verity and her sisters were a little to over-the-top and full of cliches,

I would recommend this book but only because it's simple and easy to read and doesn't take up too much time due to its easy-breezy nature and quick pacing. An enjoyable read, and definitely one I'd happily read again.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Fun, romantic and perfect for jane austen fan. Lovely reading.

A heart-warming, comical love-story but with a lot of predictability thrown in.

While romantic fiction isn't my normal cup of tea, I was drawn to this book due to the blurb. Jane Austen, imaginary boyfriends and mistaken identity all sound like perfect ingredients for blissful escapism. However, the main character Verity struck me as rather flat and and dull, and the rest of the characters never really lift themselves off the page. I admit I didn't realise this book is the second in a series and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first one and understood their backstory. I unfortunately gave up slightly over half way through this book. Perhaps romantic fiction just isn't for me.

Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes! A light read, ideal for a sunny beach or pool side, with characters whose fate is clear from the start, but the telling of the tale was deft and the book was fun.

A lovely light hearted easy read with a heartwarming story; wanted to keep on reading this. A real 'feel good' story.

When Verity, who works in a bookshop, devoted to raomantic fiction, gets fed up with her friends trying to set her up with a date, she invents a boyfirend - Peter Hardy, Oceanographer! this helps to get her out of endless parties etc. However, her friends become suspicious and are keen to meet this mysterious boyfriend, and one of them follows her to a restaurant she frequents to get away from it all, and impetuously Verity sits next to a young man sitting alone, and introduces him to her friend as her new boyfriend, as she has split up with Peter! This leads to hilarious episodes and a fun read. Verity is a real fan of Jane Austen, and her favourite book is Pride & Prejudice, she can quote it off by heart! This is where the fun begins and of course the romance. I really enjoyed this book and I will now read the first book, as I hadn't come ocross Annie Darling before. I am hoping it is as much fun as this one. Proper characters, a great plot with parallells to Pride & Prejudice, verity often asks 'What would Elizabeth Bennet do? I rather liked the idea of living my life like that to see what would happen! I say read this book.

I have never identified with a heroine as I have identified with Verity, and I absolutely loved her. Johnny, however, was almost despicable - he was pathetic, cowardly, and dashedly immature. It was disappointing to have to see Verity grovelling to him in the end, when it should have been the other way round.

So I chose to read this book based entirely on it's sweet cover, the Jane Austen references and the fact that it has a bookshop in it - what more do you need!

Verity Love is one of five daughters to a Vicar, and as such she is quite the introvert.  Obviously, she absolutely does not need a man in her life, despite what her match-making friends think.  In social situations she often finds her asking what Elizabeth Bennet would do (and who wouldn't - Elizabeth Bennet knew everything!). Verity is more than happy with her fake Oceanographer boyfriend Peter Hardy, however with it becoming increasingly difficult to come up with reasons for his absence she finds herself thrown into an unusual social situation with Johnny.

Johnny is becoming increasingly irritated with his friends attempts at matchmaking.  He is more than happy, particularly given the fact that he is already in love.  So when he finds himself cornered with Verity, he grabs the opportunity to create a mutually beneficial fake relationship that will cover them both for the entire summer, keeping both of their friends at bay with their matchmaking schemes.  There is only one rule in this arrangement - they must not fall in love with each other.  Which will be easy.  Right?

This novel is not one to read if you are looking for surprises.  You begin reading it and automatically know how it will end.  That is not the reason that I chose to read this novel though.  It is light-hearted, funny with some romance thrown in for good measure.  It's a great novel to curl up with on the sofa with a cheeky glass of wine on a Sunday afternoon.  I'm aware that this is the second novel in the Lonely Hearts Bookshop series, so I look forward to reading the first one!  As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, light a fire, grab a blanket and enjoy this lovely feel-good novel.

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, it was slightly predictable but that is not a problem.

The story is feel good and warms the cockles of your heart without being to sickly sweet.

Verity has sworn off love and romance forever, she likes peace and quiet, no drama. She then meets Johnny whose hear belongs to someone else, both Verity and Johnny have friends that want th both to find there perfect match, so decide they will pretend they are dating over the summer so they have a plus one for social engagements. S laugh out loud moving romance, I thoroughly enjoyed the book

Verity Love, our titular heroine, is a vicar's daughter. We know this because we are told it repeatedly, in lieu of providing her with an actual personality. She's also an introvert, something that we're again repeatedly told - with introversion presented here as a pathological condition unique to our heroine, instead of a way of being for approximately 50% of the population, Seriously, there's even a whole scene where she solemnly sits the hero down and explains this terrible affliction called introversion. She has a cat, likes Jane Austen, and is so much a romantic fiction cliche that I wanted to scream.

Anyway, one day she has a meet-cute with handsome architect Johnny which leads to a summer of being each other's dates at various weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs, etc. Love, of course, ensues. As does boredom, on the part of this reader at least. Romance is not a genre I know particularly well but one author I do like and respect is Sarra Manning, so it was on her recommendation that I decided to read True Love At The Lonely Hearts Bookshop. After this experience, I think I'll accept that romance isn't my genre and move on.

I'm not generally a reader of "romance" novels (well, modern romances that is - I adore the classics). However, in search of a light, relaxing read, I happened upon this book. To my surprise, I really enjoyed reading it, though a few of the characters are a little on the annoying side.

The book has a good plot, references to "Pride and Prejudice", and some nicely-drawn characters.

One to pop in your suitcase (or on your Kindle!) for an enjoyable holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in return for my honest review.

This is the sequel/companion novel to The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts, this time following the story of Verity, the extremely introverted but none the less lovely manager at the bookshop. It has long been Verity's practice to have a made-up boyfriend to get friends and family off her back, but when Verity's sister and friend follow her, expecting to see the fictional Peter, Verity panics and grabs Johnny.

Over the course of the summer, Verity and Johnny act as each other's plus-ones to social events, being introduced as friends but letting people think what they may - and thus getting them off their backs about sending them on blind dates.

It was so much fun getting to know Verity - all we really saw of her in book one was the shy, quiet and sweet woman who didn't like to get drunk and make out with random guys. But here, we could see how her past influenced her decisions, especially in her social and love life.

Then there was Johnny. He told Verity right off not to fall in love with him because he was in love with someone else. Bit presumptuous but whatever, consider Verity warned. But what Verity didn't know was who he was in love with and why they couldn't be together, and boy was it dramatic! I won't spoil anything but who it turned out to be was clever and hilarious and allowed for some funny and cringey moments.

Never the less, it was sweet and heart warming to see Verity and Johnny grow closer and begin to trust each other, not just with awkward social situations, but like when Johnny wanted to get out of his unhealthy relationship.

The whole story was equal parts hilarious and adorable, it was the perfect British summer romp and even though they hit several bumps along the way, I'm very glad Verity and Johnny could get over themselves and learn to love again.

I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced and although you could guess the ending there were a few twists along the way.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great feel good read and was just what I needed at that time. Highly recommend.

An uplifting intriguing read, perfect for book fans and those who love a happy ending