Add a star if you like romance, but if you are like me, take away a star if you look for some depth. Any title with bookshop is always appealing, but the book is focused on the personal relationships three friends have with the men in their lives. Bree has had a neglected upbringing, ha closed herself off except for the bookstore in space she shares with Ashley and Mikki. Mikki is a divorcee with a gift shop, looking to start dating again, while Ashley is questioning why her boyfriend Seth has not proposed yet. This was just okay, nothing special. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a big Susan Mallery fan but this book's characters just didn't let me like them. Bree, Mikki and Ashley join forces and rent a shop on the boardwalk and open their bakery, gift store and bookstore. All three have some issues especially with men. They are very supportive of each other but sometimes you just want to lay the book down and forget about them. Of course there is a happy ending and many people will probably like this book better than I did.

This endearing tale of friendship between three women and how they support each other throughout their struggles had me fully invested from the beginning. Each of the woman are at a crossroads in their lives, including romantic entanglements. Through love, loss and heartbreak these characters are each other’s guiding lights, no matter how difficult the situation. I loved how this book is a prime example of female relationships and companionship. Divorce, emotional abuse and mental health were also highlighted, which I appreciated. The Boardwalk Bookshop is a perfect summer read!

Susan Mallery is one of my favorite beachy authors and this book is no exception!! I loved it! The Boardwalk Bookshop is about friendship and love. The two intertwined so nicely in this book, it makes you see how important both are together. Read this book!!

Been awhile since I read one of her books. Story of 3 friends and business owners. Each has a story of course. I guess I found the 3 main female characters a bit whiny. It's a good beach and summer read. Thanks for the advanced copy NetGalley. #NetGalley #BoardwalkBookshop

Sweet story but a little slow paced. I won’t get into specifics but I did think that one side character was being made into a bit of a villain when his line of thinking was just as valid as one of the lead characters opposing opinion, I wouldn’t tell anyone to run out and get this immediately but it makes for a decent beach read.

This is the type of book that reminds me why Susan Mallery has been one of my go-to authors for years. She has main characters that are realistic and flawed, but that are continuously looking to better themselves. She creates situations and stories that make sense and that you can see yourself in. While I wish there was a bit more romance, watching these three figure out what the next steps are in their lives was fun. It was emotional and funny and frustrating watching them come to terms with what was happening to them. Again, one of the reasons I have to come to rely on Susan's work.

Books, bakery, beach… new friends working together toward their dreams and working together to sort their lives out. An inspirational, romantic tale of friendship.

Susan Mallery has written another bestseller!!!!!!!!!!! Her style of writing is unique & I consider her one of the queens of romance.

I loved her book The Vineyard at Painted Moon and was glad this is the Brenda Novak book for June. I like most books that have Bookshop or Library in the title. I loved this book about female friendship, family relationships and was glad to see a good therapist!

Three strangers meet at a boardwalk rental space and not having the money to rent it independently, they decide to go in together. Bree owns a bookshop that she relocated there, that she inherited from her deceased husband. Mikki has been divorced three years, with grown children and a new desire to have her own gift shop; and Ashley is young, in love, and has a muffin bakery. Friday nights, they sit on the beach with a bottle of champagne from Ladies Know Wine reviews and discussed the week.

“This moment, this laughter, this friendship. It was unexpected, but she liked it. These women had, in a short period of time, become important to her. Their weekly ritual grounded her and made her feel she belonged.” P153

In the heaviness of the world, it’s nice to read a book of three women, who are very different, who can become like family to each other. I even had a few tears in my eyes at the end (and I’m not a crier.)

I loved Bree and her bookstore that didn’t carry literary fiction, because her parents are famous literary writers who didn’t have time for her.

“You’re a bookstore owner who loves books but hates writers?” P74

I've read a few books by Susan Mallery and unfortunately I have to see this was my least favourite. I just didn't connect with the characters and had a hard time getting into the story. I found there to be too many characters and they all just came across as either unlikeable or too good to be true. That being said I do enjoy Mallery's books and this won't be the last one I read.

This is the third book I’ve read by the author and it’s delightful! She understands female friendships and always makes me feel like I’m visiting with my girlfriends! An opportunity arises for Bree, Mikki, and Ashley to own a piece of The Boardwalk Bookshop - part bookstore, bakery, and gift shop! But along with this partnership comes past relationships they’re each learning from & through this they begin to form a strong bond! If you’re looking for a book to bring to the beach or on vacay than this is a wonderful addition to your summer reads! Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for a gifted copy.

I found "The Boardwalk Bookshop" to be a powerful story of women struggling with their lives and relationships. Each is at a different place in their life, yet each has a certain strength about them that allows them to appear successful outwardly, while still feeling at odds inwardly.

As they learn to trust each other and rely on one another's insight and wisdom, they find answers to their own burning questions about what they want for themselves and their futures.

The issues they wrestle with are similar to ones I've heard from friends and family at various stages in my life, so there is a realism to this book. Yet at the same time, hope permeates the story as well.

I truly enjoyed meeting these women and found myself cheering for them as they overcame the blindspots and obstacles in their lives.

Thank you Susan Mallery, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

A great friendship of friends who have to learn to lean on each other to survive. I found it refreshing, healing and another win for the author. I loved that I got three stories! Book provided by NetGalley.

A beautifully relatable story of finding a new meaning in life, a new path to journey with and new friends along the way. As three women come together to open a bookstore, gift shop, and cafe that brings them closer together. Their love lives are all unfolding in different directions. How will they all change and grow into these new versions of themselves.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Bookstore setting - perseverance - women finding their worth. These are s few of my favorite things!

Book was super cute. A fun beachy read that gives you all the feels!

Definitely pick it up.

Bree, Mikki, and Ashely are virtual strangers who end up renting a retail space to do their own shops to split the costs. The friendship that started from there would end up just what they need. All them are at different point of their lives and its amazing to see what becomes of that friendship.

I just really loved this book its the perfect summer beach read. I loved seeing the friendship and support each of those women had for eachother. I mean Bree had some cold hearted parents which lead to her locking her heart from people like her parents -authors- and figures she finds the right guy but she just cant get over this history she has with author parents and just not trusting authors in general. Mikki and her ex husband have a great and easy relationship but now she's looking to get back into the dating pool she meets a great guy but her relationship with her ex seems a bit iffy now falling into old habits. Ashely has a guy she wants to marry but he's refuses he wants the perks of a marriage without the legal part and Ashely doesn't think she can get over that.

While I had a hard time getting used to the differences between the characters eventually I was able to catch up and really enjoy and appreciate each character. I loved seeing how the women where just what eachother needed in hard times. They all were going through stuff with their personal lives and were going to need a push in the right direction and figure out if cutting ties with certain situations really is the right choice. I loved seeing the ups and downs and eventually how everything settled in the end. Overall great book I really enjoyed it.

Lighthearted story perfect for summer days and beaches. Good characters and plot points, interesting dialogue. Typical of the author, perfect for fans.

This was a feel-good beach read about three middle aged women who work together at a bookstore/giftshop/bakery and spend the year taking a second chance at love. Each of the characters has their own unique challenges and baggage to overcome but I loved how three dimensional they were and how relatable their problems felt. Full of some steamy open door scenes, this was a great summer read perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan or Debbie Macomber. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

Bree Larton, Mikki Bartholomew and Ashley Burton were strangers, all wanting to open a business in the same building. Meeting over a coffee, they came up with a solution - they would share the space as their businesses would compliment each other. The Boardwalk Bookshop made up of Driftaway Books, The Gift Shop and Muffins to the Max, was born, located on the beach in LA. It also begins a beautiful friendship. If only they could sort out their personal lives as well. Bree is adamant that she is not going to get hurt again. Between her parents and deceased husband, she has never been truly loved. Mikki is divorced and content with her life. She and her ex are friends, happily co-parenting and her mother-in-law even works with her, but what happens when a new man begins to show interest? Ashely is happily in love, but it seems he has no intention of marrying her. Can she stay with him without marriage, or should she move on? Three women, three friends, three different problems. Can they help each other find happiness?

Two of the things I love about Susan Mallery's books are the relationships and the character development. I loved seeing how the friends supported each other. Even the secondary characters played important roles in the lives of one or more of the main characters. The development of their personalities and character was excellent. It was revealed throughout the book letting us gradually get to know them, just like in real life. These were three ladies I would love to be friends with, have a coffee with and share conversations with. The men in their lives, relatives and romantic interests were also interesting characters, with their own past situations that effected their decisions. I enjoy seeing everyday, relatable situations that are central to the story. They are problems that anyone could encounter which immerses me in their story. There were times in this story where I laughed, got angry, felt sad and also was filled with happiness, all what I have come to expect when reading a Susan Mallery story.