This was so sweet. Exactly what I needed to read during this time. Would love to read more about all the residents of Ivy Lane and their stories.

Libby's relationship with her parents was a treat to read about. I'm so over people in women's fiction or romance books have a troubled relationship with their parents. This was a nice change.

Everything flowed in a seamless fashion and this made for a very distracting and entertaining read during this tough time.

It’s a cute book. More of an easy entertaining read than anything. The cadence it’s written in took me a minute to fall into but it’s not off putting.

If you’re visiting my blog then you’re probably a reader. You may have even loved books from a young age. Either way there’s a chance you’ll see yourself in Libby Quinn.

I received a free copy of The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book focuses on Libby as she buys a shop and plans to transform it into the bookshop her deceased granddad had always dreamed of owning in Derry. With the help of her friends, family and new neighbors she hopes to create something her granddad would be proud of.

This book wasn’t exactly what I was hoping. I thought we’d see a little of what happened to lead her to opening the store. I also thought it would be a little more city based due to get former job. But instead it’s focused on a small community on the edge of a city. If you’re a fan of Heidi Swain then this book will be for you. I still enjoyed it but it wasn’t exactly what I look for in chick-lit personally.

However this book has an excellent cast of characters. Libby’s best friend Jess is great, pub owner Noah is sweet and her new neighbors add some more colour to the community. Freya Kennedy has done a wonderful job with using these characters to tug at your heartstrings. You can tell how much Libby’s granddad meant to her and there’s a scene later on that brings back the hurt of his death and, man, it’ll make you tear up.

Noah was a perfect love interest. There was no moment where you questioned why him. He was the perfect gentleman and you can see how you’d fall in love with him yourself. I just wish there had been a few more romantic moments. There’s lots of build up but not many swoony scenes and I think it might have been beneficial to the book.

Even so this book was a typical cosy chick-lit. If you’re looking for a quick read or an easy distraction then you can’t go wrong with this book.

The Hopes And Dreams Of Libby Quinn is a fun and heartwarming book. To remain motivated and uplifted to make ones dream come true and to finally wind your way into love and happines.

I'd have to say that it is a bit misleading to simply call this book a romantic comedy because it was so much more than that. It was a book about hopes and dreams that ultimately leads to falling in love.

Libby Quinn is just like any other book lover whose love for reading is extremely special. A person she adores got her into it and its changed her life exponentially for the better. For a bookworm like myself, I can absolutely relate with her love of reading.

The romance was slow burn, slowly but surely. For Libby, she was already in a relationship but one that's failing. She thinks that it isnt the right time to simply jump from one relationship and into another. For that part, I absolutely agree with her. But be that as it may, love and relationships are complicated. Life is short so its better to just get the man and live happily ever after.

Sick of being boring and sensible, Libby decides to do something about it. What ensues is the most heartwarming, fun and romantic novel that you could wish to lose yourself in.

This is a charming easygoing read about the eponymous Libby Quinn who decides to take a chance and open a bookshop in honour of her much loved grandfather. This focusses on the the work required to bring the dilapidated building at Ivy Lane she has bought at auction into a cosy bookshop and flat and on Libby’s relationship with the other residents on Ivy Lane. There are some great characters of all ages and the plot is gentle and great to just escape into. This is a very cheery book which focuses of all the characters positive traits making it a very feel good book.

Although this was plenty predictable, it was still a very enjoyable read about a woman aiming to achieve a dream that she shared with her beloved grandfather - to open a bookstore in her little town. Libby will put everything into achieving that dream even if it costs her all her savings and her boyfriend. But lucky for her, there’s a hot pub owner across the street who seems quite willing to help her out.

One thing I liked about this is that there is no bad guy. The boyfriend is a good guy - just not the right guy for her. She has a fight with her best friend, but they’re both good people who want to make up and move on. There are lovable, quirky people on the street where her shop will be and they just want to be friendly and helpful. Her parents are loving and supportive. I realize how rare it is to have a novels where there are not bad characters, just decent people trying their best.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This is a gorgeous, uplifting, heart warming read that made a sunny Sunday afternoon all the better. I’m going to miss Libby and Noah and Jess and Jo and Harry, and all the wonderful characters that made this story feel like reading about family and friends.

Libby has dreamed about opening a bookshop for as long as she can remember, a dream she shared with her Grandfather who sadly passed away two years before the story begins. She’s determined to fulfill their dream and as the work on restoring the old building on Ivy Lane begins, so too does the healing of Libby’s heart.

The story gripped me from very early on and I won’t lie, I had tears in my eyes on numerous occasions. I became a part of this story as I read. I became Libby and felt her emotions run deep in myself.

This truly is a beautiful story and easy to give five stars. It reminded me why I love to read, why escaping into the pages of a good book is just what the mind needs every now and again, and of course with a happy ending, I finished this story with a smile and a tear.

I look forward to reading the next Freya Kennedy story.

There's lots to like about this lovely story. It was an uplifting, enjoyable read. The depth of Libby's feelings for her grandad Ernie is clear, both in the affection with which she recalls her memories of him and her desire to realise his dreams. The characters were all likeable, and the community setting made it a cuddle of a book. The male lead, Noah, is well portrayed and I could feel the growing affection between him and Libby. I frequently smiled as I read, and even shed a tear. Overall, it's a fab read.

Overall, a good story. I particularly liked hearing about Libby's journey in opening a bookshop. I liked most of the characters, although Libby's best friend was a bit hard on her at times, and I wasn't so keen on Libby's boyfriend either, but there was no doubt a reason for that! I do think there was a little too much said about Libby's granddad, sweet though it was that he was the reason she wanted to open a bookshop. Life on Ivy Lane sounds wonderful, and I can't help wondering whether another instalment is due because not much time was spent at the newly opened bookshop. I would have liked to read more about that, and about Noah too. That's the main reason I haven't given this book 5 stars.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Libby has this dream of opening a bookshop, it has been there forever, it’s the dream she shared with her grandad.

What I liked is the process of working on this bookshop and how Libby felt strongly about this dream
Strange how I enjoyed the talk about fixing this and repairing that and buying things and planing more than the characters.

But I didn’t like the characters or the relationships or how things where going with Libby personally.

I just didn’t see the point of it.

A lovely story of Libby. After losing her grandad who used to read her stories out of books. She decides to open a bookshop. It was a dream of his that she wants to make come true.
So he buys an old shop and re-fits it out to make it a place where the public can come and read, write books their books and enjoy being surrounded by stories and enjoy being in another world when they lose them in them.
But she also has issues with her personal relationship and starts to think maybe they’re not suited for each other. Her best friend is also on the outside as she puts all her time and effort into getting the shop ready.
She meets her neighbour Noah(who helps her getting the shop ready)and another business owner on the street Harry who tells her stories of times gone by.
I loved this book. Would definitely recommend it for avid book readers.

Great family saga! I thoroughly enjoyed this book about 4 strong women, the secrets they keep – often from each other. Heavily featured themes include the Catholic church (often in a negative light) and abortion rights in Ireland. I did think the book was a bit too long, and did not think the various pilgrimages the women undertook added to the story.

This book is basically the fantasy I have any time I daydream. Would love to run my own bookshop and I loved the sense of community that the book portrayed. It was such a feel-good read and was the perfect antidote to all the doom and gloom that's on the news at the moment. Can not recommend this book enough! Reminded me of books by Cathy Bramley and Heidi Swain.

I adored this book. It was such a gorgeous book & the perfect escape from the Corona virus. I loved all the characters & the way in which Libby reminsed about the relationship she had with her late grandfather The story put a smile on my face & was a beautiful uplifting read.

Set in Ireland, Libby has finally started to work on her idea of a bookstore, that has a coffee shop, used and new books, and places where people can come and write and relax. However, the building needs a lot of work, and her best friend and boyfriend are not overly helpful. Then she meets Noah and his sister Jo, who run the pub across the street. She also meets sweet Henry, who runs the shop nearby. A fun story, and one I found hard to put down. Highly recommend this one, and look forward to reading more by this author.

I loved this book so much, the parts where Libby was remembering her grandad Ernie were so beautifully written. I could picture Libby as a little girl curled up on her granddads knee listening to him reading to,her. Libby and her grandad always talked of opening a bookshop, they had even picked out where it would be, and after he dies Libby wants to fulfil their wish. When she buys the rundown shop to turn into their dream bookshop her boyfriend isn't supportive but she sees its potential. Noah, who runs the local pub, is always around to help and he and his sister become good friends with Libby. I also loved the character of the old gentleman who ran the nearby shop, who also made Libby feel welcome.

This is more than just romantic fiction it's like a trip down memory lane where you can remember your own childhood.

Super cute book! I love reading books about bookshops and their owners. Libby was such a cute character. I loved the relationship she had with her grandad Ernie and their dream of owning a bookshop together. Life is always about taking chances and that is what Libby did. The book chapter titles were the super fun. I loved seeing how they unfolded into the theme of that chapter. Great touch!

This book was so good! The characters were so well rounded, you felt like you actually knew them! The plot was so good you didn't want the book to end!

Disclaimer - I was sent a free digital copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I was so surprised at how quickly I became attached to this book and felt the need to just keep reading. The characters are all well thought out and written. The storyline was entertaining and enjoyable. I loved every minute spent with Libby Quinn and look forward to future works by the author.