This is a delightful read. It is funny, and sad, and emotional; a perfect read for lifting the spirits! the path of true love never runs smooth, especially when Mr Johnny True, and Miss Verity Love don't intend to be in love at all. Johnny has an ex-girlfriend that he has pined for ever since she married his best friend, and Verity has vowed never to get involved with anyone again, she wants a peaceful, quiet life. She has invented a boyfriend, Peter Hardy, Oceanographer, so that friends and family will stop trying to pair her off. As an oceanographer Peter isn't around much, as he is away on the high seas so she can live her quiet life. She and Johnny meet by accident in a restaurant where they have both gone, separately, to dinner, and she has been followed by friends, thinking they will meet the elusive boyfriend. Once her friends leave they chat, and agree to act as friends, to accompany each other to various parties and gatherings, to fend off the match-makers.

In the course of their agreement they do become really good friends, looking out for ea.ch other. Like all good stories it builds to a mighty crescendo of emotion, and you really don't know whether you will get the happy ending you are expecting. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, and will look out for more books by Annie Darling.

Let's get straight to the point; Annie Darling set the bar extremely high with the first book in the series, which meant my expectations for this book were extremely high. #sorrynotsorry. At least I'm being honest about it, right?

Verity Love is an independent woman (if you're not singing the Destiny's Child version of that song....do I even know you?!) who just wants to be left alone to live her life as she pleases. With multiple sisters, however, Verity is constantly badgered about the 'state' of her relationship status. Why can't her sisters and friends, understand that she actually WANTS to be single? To keep the Spanish Inquisition at bay, Verity Love creates her own boyfriend, just so she can get some peace. Despite of Verity's on the ball planning (her fictional boyfriend just happened to be away for work A LOT), her foolproof plan falls through quicker than a pair of heels being dropped in a nightclub ready for dancing on a Saturday night. Will Verity Love ever find true love with anyone other than Jane Austen?

As you're aware, this is the second book in the #Littlebookshop series, and whilst it COULD be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend you reading the first book in the series beforehand, because there is a lot of background information in the first novel, which could hinder your enjoyment for the second book if not known. If you wish to get your hands on book one now, click here.

Verity Love's attitude to life and relationships always seems to make me giggle. Weirdly enough, it's not because it's funny, it's because she is absolutely bang on the money and if anyone else attempted to live their life just like her, they would fail miserably. What I did find hilarious however, was the name of Verity's cat. Even though I'm allergic to cats, I just want to get one so I can call it the same name....STRUMPET. Oh my god, what a fabulous name! The cat totally lives up to its name, although it's a greedy heifer and can usually be found sticking his paws into places which he shouldn't. No, I mean REALLY shouldn't - health and safety ring a bell?

Verity's fictional boyfriend was a genius move. I did feel quite sorry for her and how she constantly got bombarded about being single, all because those around her were either married, or giving the cat a run for his money in the name stakes. In this instalment, we find ourselves meeting a brand new character who certainly makes himself known during the storyline; Johnny True. Please, please say that you've just had a lightbulb moment and seen the connection between the two surnames?!

For me, Verity was such a relatable character who became the voice of single women around the world. Well, aside from the fictional boyfriend thing...that could get messy. She came across as such an honest, warm-hearted yet fiercely independent woman, who knew what she wanted, as well as knowing that she could ask herself one question and get the 'right answer'. So readers, what WOULD Elizabeth Bennett do?

Verity's need for peace and quiet was written beautifully. It wasn't just a case of 'leave me alone I have a headache', it was more of a case of sensory overload which drained her from top to toe. Some might find it funny, but it is actually a real thing. People out there do actually suffer with things like this.

So, the burning question for me regarding this book wasn't 'what would Elizabeth Bennett do?', it was 'did I enjoy the book as much as the first one?' Honestly? Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed 'True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop', it didn't blow me away as much as 'The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts'. Personally, I felt like there was something missing; a little bit more magic perhaps. The storyline, (whilst written truly lovely - sorry), felt like it was going through the motions without much element of surprise. Don't get me wrong I laughed, smiled and was completely engrossed with Verity's journey, but I found myself waiting for that extra something to pop up.

If I could describe Annie Darling's new book in one word it would be; cosy. If you're a romantic at heart who is a fan of Jane Austen - you will absolutely loved this book. If you're not a romantic at heart, don't stress because this book contains something for everyone. It has humour. It has a cat with a belter of a name. It has true friendship. It has true love. It has grabbing life by the bookshelf. It really is the perfect read to curl up with and forget all the hate that's going on in the world right now.

Thank you Annie Darling for yet another enchanting novel.

Enjoyed the tale of Johnny True and Verity Love who both had issues stopping them moving forward. It was great to see the slow realisation that there could be a different way of living. Read the story and didn't want to put it down then was sad when it had finished. The sign of a good book.

TRUE LOVE AT THE LONELY HEARTS BOOKSHOP is a fun, romantic read with an Austen-esque twist. It is the second book in the THE LONELY HEARTS BOOKSHOP series, although it can be read as a standalone story.

The story follows the life of Verity Love, a self-confessed Jane Austen fangirl and manager of London bookshop Happy Ever After. Fed up of her friends trying to hook her up with lonely individuals, Verity decides to make up a fictional boyfriend - Peter Hardy, Oceanographer - whose presence is very useful for getting her out of social events. But when a case of mistaken identity forces her to introduce a perfect stranger (Johnny) as her boyfriend, Verity’s life suddenly becomes much more complicated and by the end of the summer, there’s a bad case of heartache that even Verity’s beloved PRIDE AND PREJUDICE might not be able to cure.

With the main character as a self-confessed Jane Austen fangirl, it’ll come as no surprise that the book is peppered with references to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. In fact, Verity’s life philosophy is “what would Elizabeth Bennet do?” which she uses to help her out in times of stress.

The main character, Verity is a likeable yet complex individual. As an introverted woman, she struggles with the daily social interactions that most people take in their stride. She hates to be hugged or touched and she’d much rather prefer to spend time in solitude than interact with anyone she doesn’t know. As such, she comes across as a little abrupt and rude at times which can make her difficult to like at the start but by the end of the book, her kind heart and quirky ways have won you over.

The same can be said of Johnny, who initially comes across as arrogant and self-centred. Johnny is desperately in love with a woman he can't have and like Verity, his friends put him under constant pressure to find a girlfriend. It’s clear that the only woman in Johnny’s heart is his ex-girlfriend Marissa and as such, it’s easy to dislike him but by the end of the book, you’ll have warmed to his ways.

In contrast, Darling has created some wonderful warm characters with Verity’s family. The Loves are a modern version of the Bennets with Verity’s four chatty and loud sisters providing most of the light relief and some of the book’s most comical moments.

While TRUE LOVE AT THE LONELY HEARTS BOOKSHOP makes for a light-hearted and entertaining read, there are some parts of the storyline that are a little farfetched and the dialogue is a little cheesy in parts. Considering the story is set against the backdrop of a romantic book shop, I also expected more novels to feature in the storyline (even some of Austen’s other books would be welcome), especially as this was so prevalent in the first story in the series.

It is my stop on the blog tour today for True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop and it is a pleasure to introduce to you a book that was a real palate cleanser for me. As you can tell by my latest reviews, I have read a lot of gritty crime recently so it was nice to tuck into a novel that I didn’t have to think too much about, and for once I could have my head in the clouds a little bit.

Verity’s boyfriend is perfect in every single way, even her friends swoon at the thought of him, but there is just one slight complication, Peter Hardy is a figment of Verity’s imagination. Created by way of getting her friends off her back for not having a boyfriend. Verity doesn’t even want to be in a relationship anyway so why won’t everyone just leave her alone?! She has come to the conclusion that she is going to have to kill Peter off, but her friends being as nosy as they are, decide to follow her one day. This leads to Verity being thrown out of her comfort zone and sit with a complete stranger with the intention of pretending to her friends that this man is Peter Hardy. As luck would have it, he goes along with this funny little situation but in a completely unexpected way; he pretends that he is the “other man” in Verity’s life – hilarious, right?! Could this be a relationship in the making?! I sure hope so.

Verity in a nutshell is quiet, undemanding and would do anything for an easy life. She is in love with her job and her greedy cat, and the little things seem to please her the most like her Friday night routine of attending her local Italian restaurant and ordering a glass or two of red wine, and a dish of crispy topped cheesy lasagna. Annie Darling has created an adorable character that bookworms will love. Verity is laugh out loud and could easily be anyone’s best friend.

This is the second book in a series however, I haven’t read the first one yet, but nor did I need to (this doesn’t mean I won’t though!). True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop can be comfortably read as a standalone. It is the perfect piece of escapism that we all need once in a while.

Annie Darling writes a funny, beautiful, cozy little tale that is perfect to snuggle up with on the sofa sipping that obligatory cup of tea (or glass of wine!). This story will have you smiling until the end. It will make your heart feel a little lighter, and life a little brighter.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing me with an e-copy of this sweet little book in return for my opinion on this blog tour. It is the perfect feel-good book, a lovely summer read, so why not give it a try?!

My final word: Adorable.

I absolutely love the first book in this series: The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts, so I went into the second very optimistic. I was not disappointed. OK, granted it took me a while to adjust to the fact that the story was based around a completely new character, but once I had I loved this story as much as I did the first!

I’m not usually one for cheesy romances, this definitely one of them. I found the story really original, a really charming love story. The characters were fabulous – Verity’s family in particular – and obviously her amazing cat Strumpet!

The bookshop setting and all the bookish references were fantastic – I imagine any book lover would find them so and would also agree with everyone’s shock at the fact that Johnny hadn’t read Pride and Prejudice!

I was hooked from the first chapter, this is the perfect can’t-put-down summer/holiday read. I would recommend to any one who wants an original, wonderfully written, easy-to-read love story.

Although this is the second in a series, you definitely don’t have to read the first before this one, it can easily be read as a standalone!

Oh dear. Guys. I've fallen in love with "True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop" immediately - just like it happened when I've been reading the first book in the series "The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts". Those two stories are heart - breakingly funny, warm, they tug at all the right heart strings and are full of the best ever comments, one - liners and characters. I could read Annie Darling's books on daily basis.
This book was a little different to the previous novel, although I can't tell you exactly what was missing this time, maybe I just had too high expectations but still it was a brilliant, poignant and hilarious read. However, if you haven't read the previous book, I would highly recommend to do this before reading Verity's story, and not because you are going to miss on the characters or plot, because this book can be read as a stand - alone, but because the previous novel was just magical.

Annie Darling has - again - created some of the best characters in the fictional world. This time the story focuses on Verity Love, who works in Posy's bookshop. Verity may be a very extreme character - you know, there might be quiet and there might be quiet, and she was at the very end of the scale, but the descriptions of her introverted nature were so spot on, they explained her personality in such a perfect way that - even though I have my wild years behind me I am still an open person - I could just get Verity, I understood her with my whole heart and could see her need for peace and quiet. It was brilliant that she realised she's not the easiest person to be around but it was even more great that she was trying hard not to overwhelm people with her need to be alone, and I had a feeling that she tried so hard not to be a burden - but she was not a martyr! Oh no. She was a lovely, incredibly smart and funny person and I would love to have Verity as a friend.
I think that the best parts of the book involve Verity's family - her fours sisters, cats, dog and parents who also refers to themselves as Our Vicar and Our Vicar's Wife - loved it! The sisters couldn't be more different than Verity herself and they brilliantly complemented her, they were incredible, self - confident chatterboxes talking all the time. I laughed out loud at their antics and couldn't stop smiling when they were planning Con's wedding. They were all so warm and you could see they love each other incredibly.
The author also couldn't come up with a better name for the antagonist. As it happens, I know one Marissa and even though she's only a child, she's as devil as the Marissa from the story.
And then we have the main male character. Oh boy. But before I start gushing about Johnny please let me tell you that there was one moment at the end of the story when I felt SO disappointed with him! I thought I'm going to kill him with my bare hands. Also, him being in love with a woman he can't have, and the way he cling desperately to this illusion started to annoy me at some point and I wanted to shake him really hard. And he was a little like enigma to me, sometimes he just came across as self centred and arrogant, and sometimes he was so understanding and heartfelt. But whatever, I really liked him and the way he was around Verity, he was so patient with her and he had so much understanding.

What made me feel a little unsure was the fact that I was eventually asking myself if Verity and Johnny should really end up together? They worked brilliantly together in my opinion but there came a moment that we got to know Verity's feelings about the situation and didn't know about Johnny's, and then came this another moment that I've mentioned above about being unsure about Johnny, and I was simply afraid that Verity is going to be hurt, because I was not sure what it really is what Johnny feels. Nevertheless, I loved the way this friendship evolved, it felt very genuine and natural. They both had issues and demons and I loved to see how they open up to each other and how it helped them.

I am only afraid that slowly there is only so much Jane Austen I can take and that with this book I've maxed up my limit of reading books based on "Pride and Prejudice" - however it was one of the best "adaptations" I have come across.

So altogether, even though the first book in the series was magically brilliant, I adored "True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop" and I hope that Annie Darling is going to write another book about one of the characters! I will be the first in the virtual queue to read it, that's for sure. This book was full of a great, different romance, wonderful, larger than life characters and written in such a lovely way! The author has a great way with words, she always knows when it's time for something poignant or some fun and some of the situations are either heart - breaking or hilariously funny, and I loved this balance. If you need to loose yourself in a humorous, heart - warming novel about friendship, family, love and hope than treat yourself to this book. Highly recommended!

I haven't read the first book in this series, but this one is readable as a standalone. It's an OK, if predictable, story centred around Verity Love and Johnny True (yes, I'm afraid so), with a cast including Very's loud sisters, parents (I really didn't like them being called Muv and Farv, or Our Vicar and Our Vicar's Wife, both names were irritating), Johnny's unpleasant ex, his many dahling friends and a few others. Johnny wants a fake girlfriend, and his reasons are pretty poor, Very goes along with it too, but I'm not sure why, really. A lot is made of her being an introvert, yet she's at weddings and parties with Johnny non-stop all through the summer, despite many references to her need for solitude. There are also some pretty annoying stereotypes - the socks and sandals mansplaining curate, the do gooding vicar and wife, whose sermons are long and boring and who give all their children terribly holy names and have no TV, etc...

The ending is predictable and very possibly wrong. After ten years, ten years, of conducting an emotional affair with his ex-best mate's wife (admittedly said ex friend was a bit of a scumbag for pinching her from him straight after his mum died, hardly paints either of them in a good light, shades of Ross - "we were on a break!"), Johnny falls for Very, but he's hardly Mr Darcy. Just because he seems nice, we can ignore this major character flaw of obsession. Very, run a mile!

It's sort of engaging, but with an undercurrent of 'do I really care about these characters?' Probably a reasonable summer beach read, but not one to go back to for a second read. The tearoom sounds awesome though!

Thanks netgalley for the advance copy.

A lovely, charming book which is just as good as the first in the series. I can't wait for more to come out!

For my full review, please see the link to my blog post below.

The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts was one of my top reads of 2016 and I have found it impossible to let Posy and her quaint little Bookshop go so I was over the moon when I found out that Annie Darling was bringing us a sequel, True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop.

This time our main character is Verity, who you may remember from the first book even though she had a smaller roll. Verity is perfectly happy living the single life but her friends and family have other ideas and so to keep them off of her back and to stop them constantly trying to set her up she invents a boyfriend but when she is followed by her nosey friends who are keen to meet her mysterious man she has to think quick and enlists the help of an unexpected guy to help her cover her tracks.

Johnny never expected that evening to be that eventful but he sees a great opportunity for Verity and himself to help each other out over the next few weeks and so they agree to pretend date so they can get a break from blind dates and matchmaking.

The dangerous thing when you adore a book so much and long for a sequel is that you have incredibly high expectations and you expect to have all the feels from the first book flowing through the pages of the second book. This sequel is an enjoyable read that I found myself eagerly turning the pages wanting to see how Verity’s love life was progressing but I really felt like the book was missing that special spark that was found in the first book. I am sure if you were to read this book as a standalone you would thoroughly enjoy it but those reading this after reading book one will not be able to help but compare to the two. It didn’t have that warm cosy and community vibe going on that was so inviting in the first book but it does have a great sense of wit which I loved.

I loved seeing glimpses of the previous characters from the first book, I must admit that I was hoping that Posy was going to have a bigger role in this book but that is just because of how much I loved and related to her character. Verity herself is a difficult character to warm to as she has high barriers up and comes across as a prickly character at times but when she spends time with Johnny gradually I felt her guard coming down at times and I began to really care for her character and long for her to find the happiness she deserved. Johnny was also a character who had me on a rollercoaster as some times I loved him and thought he was just what Verity needed but then at other times he would say something that would throw my opinion of him in the complete opposite direction.

I did enjoy this book and I would recommend anyone who is looking for a light hearted romance to take away with them this Summer but I would just give anyone who fell in love with the first book a heads up that this although an enjoyable read, it doesn’t leave you with that longing for a follow on this time around.

True Love at the Lonely Hearts Bookshop by Annie Darling is the kind of book I wouldn’t usually go for actually, but you know what? I’m glad I did read it because sometimes this kind of book is just exactly what you need and this was one such time.

What I liked: It’s set in a bookshop, which, HELLO. I think Verity might be me, actually because I related to her on many levels. There’s a cat. And a lot of Pride and Prejudice. & I do like a good meetcute. It was a mostly fun, and very easy read. It was perfect for hot hot days when I wanted to be entertained but didn’t want to hurt my brain. & I want to eat cake in that shop, damnit.


What I didn’t like: Johnny. & I know that’s probably bad considering he’s the male romantic lead but I couldn’t help it. I thought he was a bit of a dick. Also I knew from page one how the story was going to end which is probably why I don’t usually go for books like this; I like my fictions to break free from the formula.

I did find myself thinking about Mary Wesley's books as I read this one. I find there is space in my life for snuggling up with an amusing love story which also generates a few tears, on a day when the weather outside is grey and wet. I really liked the idea of the bookshop and I thought it would end happily ever after but the author did keep me guessing about that until the end. All the characters were well drawn, I am not sure all 40 somethings have so much money but it did remind me of the life some had during the 80s and 90s.

A great feel good read.

Lovely, light fluffy romance. Villains (the awful and self centred Marissa), tortured heroes (Johnny) and an Elizabeth Bennet channelling leading lady (Verity) all blend together to make a delicious journey from accepting loneliness as your fate to embracing the joys and compromises of loving someone. You know what the end will be, but the route there is extremely fun. Give William and Elspeth a sequel!

This was an enjoyable romantic comedy with some engaging characters. My main gripe with the book is that the names are a bit twee; author - Darling, protagonists - Love & True! That aside it would make a great holiday read.

A book lovers dream, I thought this was quirky and heart warming. A fabulous romance set in the world of bookselling..

Now i am going to be honest, the cover of this book did not get my attention. Usually i like a cover with real people on, not drawings. what drew me in is the blurb of the book. A female lead who does not need romance but feels the need to lie about it, and instead of a man sweeping in to rescue her, he comes in needing her help as well. A fun and light read but it was great to read something quite different to what i would normally pick up. This books story had me smiling and routing for the characters especially Verity.

review on goodreads under the name kimothy
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This book is a great summer read. Really enjoyed it and the author made the places come to life.

I love reading this style of book as can lose yourself in it and just enjoy the story.

An easy read with characters that were both likable and complex. Dealt with some difficult issues included the perils of unrequited love and the pressure on young women to be part of a couple, sociable an outgoing etc. Also its tongue in cheek way of dealing the love/hate relationship that so many people have with romantic fiction

I was so excited when I found out that there would be a second book in the series for The Lonely Hearts Bookshop, as I adored the first book, and loved all of the characters. I jumped at a chance to read this book!

This installment sees Verity, who is feeling very pressured to have a boyfriend by her family and friends, so she makes up an imaginary boyfriend to keep them off her back and to stop pressuring her into dates. This, in turn, brings her to meet the handsome Johnny, who also would like to get his friends off his back for being single, and being in love with a woman he couldn't be with (which at many times made me want to jump into the book and knock his head against the wall for being such an idiot). Perfect time for them both to act as if they are together?

This book was a fab read but didn't quite hit the same notes for me as the first book. It felt a bit like a different story that was only slightly connected, as you didn't see as much as of the bookshop and the other characters as I would have hoped (especially Posy and Sebastian), but more time at weddings and parties. Saying that though I did really enjoy the story it just wasn't as much connected to the first book as I would have hoped. My only other complaint was the constant references to Pride and Prejudice, there was just way too many of them and I found it quite annoying at times.

Overall a fab read. I need to fit in some time now to re read both books back to back! Also keeping my fingers crossed for more books to the series.