Unfortunately, I have decided to not finish it this book, at least for now, at 51%. I was quite interested in the premise of the book and I was expecting a nice romcom book. However, I feel like that’s not what I got. I did give the book a chance, and I got to 51%, but decided not to continue as I was just skimming through the chapters. I felt that the story wasn’t flowing naturally, there were a lot of time jumps that were difficult to recognise, and I feel like it could have been structured better. During the first thing 12/13 chapters, Lexi keeps talking about how much she hates Sam because of everything that he has done, and how he is enemy number one. However, we don’t really get properly introduced to Sam’s character and some of the things he’s “done” to Lexi and her bookstore until chapter 14, where we get a bit of backstory. I think it would have flowed better to have some backstory at the start to introduce the characters and the setting. I also felt as most of the characters didn’t get properly introduced, they just appeared on the page, like all the booksellers, or Erin’s friends. I also could not relate to Lexi at all, as I felt she came across like a very self-centered person; she wasn’t happy for her friends when they get engaged, and only complains about how lonely she’ll be and how her friends are not paying attention to her because they are busy with their own life - when she mentions multiple times that all she does is work and not spend time with them. She just didn’t seem like a good friend. On top of that, I couldn’t understand the motivation behind her decision to seduce Sam as a way to save the bookstore, it just didn’t make any sense to me that the goal was to make him fall in love and then… what would happen? How would he stop being her competition? I just don’t see the logic. I was sad to be disappointed with this book, as I think the idea and premise is good and could be a good rom com story, but I think maybe it needs to be thought about a bit more and maybe restructured to make sure that the story flows nicely. I think other people might like this book, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

"Bookishly Ever After" starts off with promise—a tale of Lexi Austen, a bookshop owner dealing with drama in her dating life and competition from Sam Dickens, a rival bookshop owner. Initially drawn to the enemies-to-lovers dynamic, I hoped for a wild ride. However, the story quickly lost its allure as Lexi's tactics to win over Sam felt manipulative rather than charming. Her approach, especially given Sam's recent breakup, left me feeling uncomfortable, like she was playing games with his emotions.

The book's length and repetitive nature became glaring issues. Clocking in at what felt like too many pages, the constant reminders of Lexi's background and inner monologues didn't add depth but rather dragged the plot. Lexi herself came across as annoyingly self-important, making it hard to connect with her journey or root for her romantic endeavors with the bland Sam, who lacked personality and charisma.

Some scenes were downright cringe-worthy, like Lexi's inappropriate comparison of her father's death to Sam's father's life choices, or Sam's awkward greeting that focuses on Lexi's body. These moments detracted from what could have been a light-hearted, bookish romance, instead adding more discomfort to an already uneven storyline.

Despite my disappointment, I recognize that tastes vary. Readers who enjoy light, book-centric romances with a sprinkle of Jane Austen might find enjoyment here. The premise of rival bookshop owners navigating their personal and professional challenges amid economic woes and pandemic impacts has potential, though it ultimately fell short for me due to its forced dialogue and unnatural flow. While it wasn't my cup of tea, those seeking a quick, easy read might still find "Bookishly Ever After" a suitable choice for a cozy afternoon indulgence in literary-themed romance.

This really wasn’t for me I’m so sorry. I didn’t like the characters I didn’t like the way the dialogue was written. I also felt like there were so many unnecessary like pop culture references

I didn't really gel with this book.
The concept seemed ok, and I was looking forward to it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lexi was such a fun MC to follow and I thoroughly enjoyed living through her, her love for books and wanting to make her store succeed was amazing. Lexi and Sam are rivals and honestly, it just made this book so much better. Well worth the read, a perfect way to switch off from the real world and just enjoy where they story takes you.m

I had an absolutely divine time reading this book. From the moment we were introduced to Lexi, I adored her. Her love for books, dedication towards her shop and drive to succeed made her a fab female protagonist.

I mean, shock horror, but of course I fell in deep love with Sam - I mean who wouldn't? A book loving, piano playing god. There was so much substance to him too - his caring nature, his need for security and all around the generosity he shows, not always evidently mind you.

The way in which their relationship blossomed, all from Lexi's plan to make him fall in love with her and sabotage his career, was a stroke of genius and was executed so incredibly well.

An overall delightful read and one I would recommend to romance readers everywhere.

I had high expectations for this new read. It was a tale about two rival bookshop owners with a generous sprinkling of romance and humour—a perfect recipe. Despite my initial excitement, it sadly did not fully meet my expectations.

The narrative was a slow burn, taking its time to unfurl and only truly capturing my interest around the halfway mark. However, I attempted to delve into this story while under the weather, which might have unfairly coloured my perception and enjoyment. The characters were endearing and somewhat relatable, each possessing quirks and charm that added layers to the story's unfolding.

Despite some flaws, this book was a decent read, and I am still open to reading more from this author in the future. While it may not be perfect, moments still captured my heart and kept me invested in the story. Overall, I am satisfied with the experience and would consider giving this author another chance to impress me with their writing.

A book about books, what makes a better book!
Every now and then you just need to switch off from the world and read a book that you know exactly which way it’s going. Pure comfort reading. And this book is absolutely perfect for that. It was like receiving a bit literary hug.
Lexi and Sam are rival
Bookshop owners, sorry should I add Lexi Austen and Sam Dickens! What perfect names for bookshop owners!!
Dealing with the cost of living crisis and other financial issues, Lexi is not sure how much longer she can sustain running her beloved grandmas book shop especially when Sam keeps stealing her ideas!
The book is a perfect escape from the real world and a great enemies to lovers romance book. I could feel the sexual tension bouncing off the pages
I need book 2 to find out how it all worked out!
This would be a good book to take on holiday with you to read round the pool or when your brain needs something less complicated to process

Lexi and Sam run rival book stores, in this enemies to lovers romance. A great read, I love a book set in a book shop!

This was a cute, funny page turner that at its roots, is about loyalty, community and a love of books.
I did find the romance element a little underplayed in some areas - some more communication between the two characters would have given it some more depth!
Overall a fun, easy romance novel.

I unfortunately dnf this book, the pacing isn’t right for me and I’m finding it repetitive, but this doesn’t mean this isn’t a good book for others!

I really wanted to love this book, especially because the premise seemed so interesting. Sadly, the overall execution didn't work for me. The tone was quite juvenile throughout with some immature interactions between the MCs. Perhaps labelling the genre as YA would be more fitting. Lexi, the female lead, was very unlikeable because of the way she treated Sam, who didn't have much personality other than his stoicism. I think this novel could be a great success with concise editing and adjustment to the tone.

My Review of *Bookishly Ever After* by Mia Page (3 stars): A Cosy Enemies-to-Lovers Romcom with Great Banter and a Bookish Aesthetic

I really enjoyed this lighthearted romcom set in Washington, which follows two rival bookshop owners.

Our female main character, Lexi Austen, has inherited a bookshop in a lovely area of DC from her grandmother and is dedicated to keeping her legacy alive. Despite her best efforts, she’s struggling to keep the shop afloat while also juggling her dating life and her relationship with her best friend, Erin. Her biggest nemesis, Sam Dickens, owns a rival bookshop that’s not only stealing her customers but also her marketing strategies. To get back at him, Lexi develops a Jane Austen-approved plan to make Sam fall in love with her... to throw him off his game, get her customers back and increase her profits.

Full of romcom readers' favourite tropes, this is a fun and cosy read, albeit very predictable. I enjoyed the bookish aesthetic and references in this book. However, I found the ending way too convenient and very rushed. It’s a great relaxing read to take to the beach, but I would have loved for the ending to be more thought-through.

I had such high hopes for this book. I mean an enemies to lovers romance about rival bookstore owners is right up my alley... but unfortunately this one just did not deliver. Main characters always have a flaw - they would be boring and unrealistic without one. But Lexi was more flaw than character. She is self-centred (I mean who's first thought when their best friend gets engaged is to worry about never seeing them again??? Be happy for your friends!!), pompous, and honestly uninteresting. The only thing I know about her is that she has red hair, is British (this fact is reiterated approximately every two pages), and that her grandmother passed away. Her plan to woo the rival bookstore owner Sam is quite honestly horrible - especially once she learns more about him.

I loved this book and the characters! Bookish vibes and Enemies to Lovers 100% Amazing!

I would like to thank Avon and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

This book has so much potential but I really struggled to get through it 🙁

It feels like it needs a further edit to cut down some of the long descriptive paragraphs and to speed up the pace slightly. There are quite a few points in the book where it went off on a tangent for far too long which lost my attention.

I enjoyed the first part of the book and I really like the idea of the book. I think it just needs cutting down a bit

If you are a fan of You've got Mail then this is the book for you. I am not a fan of that film and I struggled with the balance of enemies and lovers in this book as when they are enemies they are trying to ruin each others livelihoods and stores which doesn't feel the same as some witty/sarcastic jabs. It was an easy read and I was happy to finish it but the romance wasn't for me and I have read books about bookshop owners and book lovers that I prefer and would recommend over this one.

Lexi inherited her grandmother's bookshop in Washington DC. All was good until Sam opened another bookshop close by. Can she win the war and are her tactics fair? A really enjoyable read, perfect for wet days or holidays.

This book was pretty disappointing. I doubt it tedious to read and I ended up speed reading the second half of the book.

I really enjoyed this book! It follows two bookstore owners, with surnames of Austen and Dickens (which I loved), as they battle against each other for their customers and to try not fall in love with each other. I loved the banter and humour in this book - its something I really appreciate in a romance book as i really feel like its something we all look for in a partner. It also really made me appreciate my local independent book store owners as the book shows just how difficult it can be to run one. This book also has biiiiig enemies to lovers vibes, and i was so frustrated at Sam as he kept doing all the wrong business moves which in turn put him well out of favour with Lexi!
My main negative about this book was the masses of miscommunication throughout. There were multiple occasions where the two characters argued and stopped talking to one an other and it could have been avoided if they had just spoken to one an other! It’s my least favourite thing to read in a book and i find it so frustrating to read!
All in all though, an easy read which had me laughing throughout. Would recommend to any of my book friends.
Thanks to Avon books, Mia Page and NetGalley for the arc of this book.