Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed this book. Very cozy and the authors descriptions really make you feel like you’re there with the characters. Would and will recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! The enemies to lovers shift was really sudden and didn’t feel organic. The pacing was overall a little off and I didn’t believe that the main characters were as in love as they said they were. The side plot however was engaging and I did enjoy reading this book.

If you’re looking for a cozy, seaside, literary, comfort novel, look no further!! I fell in love with the scenery of this story, but also loved the bookshop element even more. This is a bookish girls perfect cozy read that will transport you to a small town for all the good vibes. Thank you so much for the chance to read this early copy!

The main characters, Jules Capelthorne and Roman Montbeau, and the centuries old feud between the two families is an obvious and intentional allusion to Romeo and Juliet. I liked that the author embraced it by having Jules and Roman make Romeo and Juliet jokes. Jules is back in Portneath to help her Aunt Flo run Capelthorne's Books, after Flo, who is of advanced years, falls and breaks her arm and leg. Roman is also back in town for business reasons, which will directly conflict with Jules, as he is opening a competing bookstore across the street. The changing relationship between Jules and Roman is enjoyable as they go from enemies/rivals to friends to something more to enemies again (at least in Jules eyes, because of a devastating secret Roman has been keeping), and then find their way back to each other again.

The story behind the Brynlee character, which the author explains in the acknowledgements, is cute. However, my favorite aspect of the story is the discovery of the grimoire in the antiquarian books in the bookstore and the revelation that it belonged to a Capelthorne ancestor, Bridget Capelthorne. I enjoyed the discussion of the contents of the manuscript, the speculation about what her life would have been like, the speculation about why the manuscript takes a dark and paranoid turn and ends abruptly, the connection to the witch trials in England, the discussions of various spells and treatments that would have actually been helpful, or at least harmless, and some of the more fanciful spells, and the efforts by Jules and Charlie and others to find out more about her.

Who doesn't love a story with hints of Romeo and Juliet? Roman and Jules descend from two families with a notorious rivalry. After spending time in New York (Roman) and London (Jules), the two are reunited when they return to their hometown and the rivalry continues. This story about the two of them attempting to navigate their budding relationship while operating competing bookshops owned by each family is absolutely adorable. I loved the history of their families and their connections to the town. It was complete with British humor, secondhand books, and an ancient cat. Trust me when I say you will want to read this book!! (And then immediately buy your own book store.)

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

The book was slow and hard to get into but had Romeo and Juliet vibes

📚 The Battle of the Bookshops📚

2 ⭐️⭐️

I wanted to love this book, it just did not capture or keep my attention. It’s got Romeo & Juliet vibes. Rivals to lovers (but really the romance wasn’t there for me). I’m not sure if it was too slowly paced or what but something was just underwhelming . A positive is the book cover tho, it’s so cute & colorful & eye grabbing.

Thank you to NetGalley & publisher for an eARC for an honest opinion!

This was my second Poppy Alexander book and I adored it. It was kind of a Romeo and Juliet retelling and was such a cute read.

What is it like to live my dream? It was reading this book. The rivals to lovers book shop owners had my heart from the first page. I loved reading this and kicking my feet with joy as their relationship progressed. It was a great read and one that you won't regret taking the time to enjoy

I had never read anything by this author before but this book made me an immediate fan! Was such a quick read and I loved it!

The romance element was good, featuring a classic Romeo and Juliet trope that brought a captivating dynamic to the plot. However, I felt the ending was rushed and abrupt, which left me wanting a more satisfying conclusion.

A modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet. The first chapter really hooked me in, however I felt as if the “enemies to lovers” trope never really took flight. This book took a while to get going, but when it did, I found myself enchanted with the small town, Flo, and Bridget’s book. The eventual love between Jules and Roman was expected but did feel rather rushed.

I wouldn’t classify this as a romance but instead simply a fiction book.

3/5

The plot sounded good but I really struggled to get through the story, it just didn’t capture me and bring me in. As others have stated a little too much Romeo and Juliet retelling. Thank you netgalley for the arc.

This book was such a cozy, cute read. This was the type of book that was so enjoyable it made me not want it to end. The sweetest story of Jules, and her family’s long standing feud with her (very cute nemesis) Roman, and all of the following events when he opens a bookshop in direct competition to her family’s. I love all of the aspects of this story– the competing bookshops, evolving history of the family feuds, with the enemies to lovers scenario between Jules and Roman. My only gripe about this read is that I was wishing there was a little more romance that developed, just because I loved the characters so much I wanted them to be happy. I can’t wait to recommend this read when it comes out!

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager | Avon, Poppy Alexander, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley & publisher for the early copy.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book, but unfortunately this one didn’t do it for me. Very slow paced and for some reason I couldn’t focus long enough, it did not hold my attention at all. The premise had a lot of potential but I feel like the romance was lacking. It just felt flat, and I hate saying this.

This book was a little all over the place for me. The beginning was slow but I eventually got interested. Jules and Roman had so much potential but I felt the author didn’t invest in their relationship at all. They were somewhat enemies and then suddenly in love. I was missing the development of the in between. Aunt Flo was a fun character but the rest of the characters and side stories didn’t really do it for me.

A sweet Romeo and Juliet with a modern twist. Two book story owners battle and it's got some beat side stories. I enjoyed the romance side but also those side stories. Really fun.

Look at that captivating cover! This book about books and more captured my attention from the start. I enjoyed the characters and the setting very much. The story flowed well and was entertaining. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc! Too much Romeo and Juliet Easter eggs (if you can even call them that, pretty heavy handed) and not enough romance for what I was expecting and hoping. Pacing far too slow to keep interest. This one didn’t do it for me.

This was an enjoyable quick read. I wanted to read this book because I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance especially when rival bookstores come into play. While I enjoyed this book overall, I did struggle with the pacing. At times the story seems very slow. I loved the moments between Jules, her Aunt Flo and Charlie and I greatly enjoyed the side story about their distant relative. This was the first Romeo and Juliet retelling I have picked up and I found that element of the story to be really delightful. It was fun to see all the little references to it throughout the story.

You should read this book if you love the following:
-Romeo and Julet Retelling
-Rival Bookstores
-Enemies-to-Lovers
-Slow Burn

Thank you so much Avon Publishing and NetGalley for gifting me for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.