Something New at the Borrow a Bookshop is the third novel in the Borrow a Bookshop series. The story itself can be read as a standalone, which is how I read it, but I do look forward to going back and finishing the rest of the series. The Borrow a Bookshop is a place where people can rent the space temporarily and run it in its quaint village setting. Joy Foley arrives in Clove Lore with her five-year-old daughter, Radia Pearl, where she will be bringing her tech expert background to the bookshop. Using her expertise, she will bring the bookstore into the 21st century with a website, digital stock system, and other higher tech elements.

Radia eventually befriends ex-fisherman and current cook at the local pub, The Siren’s Tail, Montague (Monty) David Bickleigh. Joy is hiding from ghosts from her past and Monty adds a new complex layer to her life. Joy and Radia have an incredible mother-daughter dynamic and I love how this is explored in the story. Each character was very enjoyable. While there were moments where Radia did not quite read her age, she was still a fun catalyst in the story. As Joy wants to be the best mother possible, a lot of her decisions are driven by Radia. This was a great dynamic as it gives the novel an extra layer aside from only focusing on Joy’s past. Now the romance that begins to develop between Monty and Joy is not as well-developed as I prefer, but I did enjoy their chemistry and the bond they form with each other.

Since I read this as a standalone, there were some pieces of the background missing, but I was still able to connect to the characters and story. As the three novels, and potentially more, all take place with the same bookshop and small town, it seems that each is unique. I can’t fully verify it since I haven’t read them, but the synopsis of each does it make it seem like it. In this novel, there is a great community of side characters and a nice setting, which gives an enjoyable element to reading. Dunbar’s writing is very easy yet still enjoyable. This is my third by the author, so I love how her style carries through each novel. Overall, this was a great read and I look forward to reading more from Dunbar in the future.

**I give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Hera, for the opportunity to read this entertaining novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

Wow what a good read I lovedthe setting it was very good and a book shop what more could you want I love the chef what a great characters your fall in live with the small Scottish village you see it all I'm your mind a easy to follow book lots of great characters I enjoy it

The word for the day is 'cozy'. That's exactly what this book is. Throw a blanket over yourself and settle into your favorite chair with a mug of tea, because this book flies by and just makes you want to disappear into the lives of Clove Lore's residents. I loved getting to know all the characters and while their plights weren't 'dire', it was just a lovely read all around. I knocked off one start just because this wasn't a 'must read right now' type of book, but rather a read to savior or use when you need a bit of a brain break from life.
Much thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and continued partnership.

A vacation at a bookshop sounds like a dream come true to me! Joy and her daughter are at the bookshop to bring it into the modern age. Joy learns that escaping the past isn’t always possible. She comes to learn the value of family, friends, herself, and love. Fun book for a cozy fun read.

A sweet story of love . Joy is always on the move with her little girl and has now taken a job in a village in Devon at the borrow a bookshop. She has a past and although attracted to Monty , a local fisherman and chef , things do not run too smoothly. Lots of local characters who are quite well portrayed. Radia , the little girl, is maybe a little too precocious .
An easy read which leaves you with a cosy feeling .
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This was the perfect relaxing escape I was looking for. I loved the idea of Joy’s job. The way the author explains the setting makes you feel like you are staying in the same beautiful seaside village. I believe this is why it made me feel like I was on vacation. I haven’t read the other books in this series but look forward to reading them soon! I would recommend Something New at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar!
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

This title is the third in the Borrow a Bookshop series, but if like me you haven't read the first two (yet) it works perfectly well as a standalone. I was utterly charmed by this book though, so I will definitely be reading books one and two tout suite.

The Devon village of Clove Lore is reawakening following a devastating flood. Joy and five year old daughter Radia are merely visitors, but are both soon falling for the beauty of the village, and its wonderful community. Joy describes herself as a digital nomad. She works around the world on techie stuff, and is installing all new digital systems at the local book store. But she keeps herself and Radia in a protective bubble after some trauma from the past. So when they are welcomed with open arms, it feels disconcerting at first. But not for the amazing Radia who can talk to anyone and approaches life with curiosity and wonder.

And there just might be someone in Clove Lore who shows Joy that she can open up her world and her heart again.

This book is like a warm hug on a cold and rainy day. Make a brew, put your feet up, open its pages. And enjoy.

I love the idea of borrowing a book shop and its always nice to have returning characters, the main characters were well written and very likable, I do wonder how many more stores can be written, probably a great deal if the writer has enough imagination.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: March 23, 2023

Something New at the Borrow a Bookstore is the third in a little Scottish town romance series by Kiley Dunbar. They can be read standalone as this is my first and I had no trouble following the story or back characters.

Set in a Scottish seaside village, this a clean romance with tons or quirky diverse characters!

Joy has taken a two week contract job in the small village of Clove Lore. Joy has spent the last 5 years taking short term work contracts allowing her to move around and not stay in any one place for too long.

Accompanied by her curious, smart five year old daughter Radia, they fall in love with the slower pace of the village and connect with some of the locals, something Joy never allows.

Running from Radia’s controlling father, and keeping Joy’s estranged family from knowing their whereabouts has been exhausting and lonely. When Joy meets Monty a local chef in town she starts to get this strange feeling of coming home.

Not one to trust easily and always on the run, can Joy connect with Monty in a way she hasn’t let herself in years? Joy so desperately wants to trust again but is afraid to open herself up.

This was a cute clean romance story! There was great LGBTQ+ representation and wonderfully quirky characters to get to know. I have never read this author before but will be adding the other books in this series to my tbr! I have rated this one four stars, super quick and easy read!

#NetGalley #kileydunbar #somethingnewattheborrowabookstore

Somehow, although I have read the first book in the series, I had missed book 2. Yet this third instalment worked well enough as a standalone story, reintroducing the town and some of its residents, many of whom I remembered. Joy's story has its sad and worrying moments, as she has travelled the world, working, with her young daughter beside her, to escape an abusive man she fears may find her. Her fortnight in the bookshop brings new friends, reunions, and romance, so she is finally able to make the right decisions for her future and that of her child. An easy read.

I was delighted to return to Clove Lore and discover what changes had occurred since the winter flood. While reading, I was mindful of how this book would seem to a new reader, who didn’t have the history from the previous instalments, but I feel that there is enough included to make it possible to be enjoyed as a standalone story. Of course, I would always recommend reading the other books, too.
Joy and Radia were a breath of fresh air. Not driven by reading, they had found their way to the Borrow a Book as result of Joy’s work as a digital nomad. As the name suggests, she travels the world fulfilling jobs where her specialist tech knowledge is most needed. After years of disorganisation and the effects of the flood, Joy has her work cut out.
As it slowly emerges that she’s escaping from the clutches of her ex, we get a sobering insight into the challenges that face a survivor of domestic abuse. Estranged from her family, Joy feels that it literally is her and her daughter against the world, and she needs to keep running.
We also get to learn more about Monty Bickleigh, the cook from the Siren’s Tail Pub. He’s appeared in previous instalments, but this book brings his story to the fore and I loved getting to know him. He’s a solid, grounded guy who is very aware of how fragile Joy’s life is. His gentle friendship introduces hope to Joy’s otherwise challenging life.
As usual, I will avoid spoilers and remain within the restraints of the synopsis, but I can guarantee that this is a truly satisfying read with a wonderful ensemble cast, made up from many now familiar characters.
Kiley Dunbar has created a community that invites the reader to visit and spend their time exploring the many joys that are on offer. As so many of the villagers are now settled, I do wonder if we’ll return, and hope that we do, but if this was our final trip, it’s been wonderful.

A nice, romantic read. I was hoping that Monty would get his own story as he seemed like such a sweet character in the previous books. I was interested in Joy's backstory and when it all came to light it was pretty horric. There were some real laugh out loud moments throughout (Minty is an absolute character) ans some real heart warming ones too...not to give too much away but a particular reunion had me welling up a bit. Overall, a really sweet read, no more than I expect from Kiley.

📚Close-knit village welcomes secretive single mother: heartwarming🌅

4.5🌟 stars
The author packs this book with lovable characters and makes the reading a lovely visit to a friendly village where no one is an island and romance is in the air. The general impression is positive, with love, family and friendship winning out.

I particularly liked the single mother and child on the run storyline, and how Joy could not resist being drawn into village life. And her young daughter Radia was a darling and a key source of my enjoyment of their story. She's open, loving and strong-willed. Monty, the male lead, is sadly sweet. He does not expect much out of life yet knows he's not content in his single state, leaving his brother to enjoy the family fishing business while he works all hours in the kitchen of the local pub. Monty is a perfect choice for the story's hero as he actually does help save the day at a critical community moment.

I had read one of the previous novels in Dunbar's Borrow a Bookshop series some months ago and vaguely recalled some of the villagers. But not clearly, which allows me to say that this story can be read as a standalone.

A heartwarming trip to a fictional gem of the Devon seaside.

Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Based on a wonderful village in North Devon finds us back there for this lovely story. This one starts after the winter floods where the bookshop needs help to get it back up and running. A child helps to make things happen and it is all for the best. Can't wait for the next in the series, this can be read as a standalone but it is good to follow the characters and their lives. Well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

This is the second title I've read in this series and I enjoyed it as much as the first one. I love the idea of a bookshop where people go to spend their holidays! This time, Joy is setting up the bookshop after a flood in the village. I liked Joy, although she took a while to warm to. Her daughter, Radia, is a wonderful character, very endearing. The romance was gentle. This is what I'd describe as a cosy read. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely book. Such a different them with a borrow a bookshop.
Move into the bookshop and run it for A week or so. What a fun concept.
Joy and her daughter Radia move into the bookshop for 2 weeks to set up all the electronics and security and online stuff. What Joy didn’t factor is how she would get so involved in the small community and fall in love in such a short time.
She is constantly moving around, scared of her past and not in touch with her family.
This little shop and the community may be the life saver Joy needs.
Loved this story

It was fantastic to be back in Clove Lore and the Borrow a bookshop. If you haven’t read the previous books you can still read this as a stand alone but reading the others will give a much greater understanding to the other characters and their personalities.
I’m so happy that Monty finally got his happy ever after, he’s just the safe, secure and loving person that Joy needs. Joys back story really pulled at me, emotional abuse is so hard to identify, even harder to move on from. Joy has give her daughter Rads everything and a world education that even some adults can never have, her love for her daughter is so pure and I could identify at times how she felt it was going to burst out of her.
Brilliant from start to finish and I can’t wait to see whose story will be next.

The latest Borrow a bookshop story, set after the flood that caused havoc in the village. Joy and Radia keep a low profile and move often - will that change when she meets Monty. I loved how it was told from various points of view and we get to meet all the different characters again.

Hi, I’ve shared my review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5408431088 just wanted to say thank you, it was such a wonderful treat to read!

This was lovely return to the bookshop we know and love from the previous two books. A cute and heartwarming story. It was wonderful to return to the little seaside town with its interesting and quirky local characters. I very much enjoyed the book! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.