The premise of the story - and Romeo and Juliet tie in - was cute and fun, but the pacing and way it was told weren't the best. First, the book was too long. There were too many side plots and they didn't really come together that nicely. Also, Jules' reason for hating Roman to start was kind of silly and definitely juvenile. And the way they finally got together was just sort of abrupt - there wasn't much build up and he never really apologized. The ending was sweet, but I felt like I wanted more from some of the side plots. Overall - it was cute and I'm glad I read it, but it could have been better.

I was initially very excited for this one but as the story continued it stayed very surface level and I felt like the main characters had no depth. It was insta-love at its finest and although it wasn’t bad it would not be at the top of my list of books to recommend.

This was a cute, fun retelling of Romeo and Juliette. It was a quick read, and it was entertaining. Some parts felt a little too predictable and forced, but overall it was a good time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!

As someone who reads a lot of romances, this one was fine. I will not be thinking about it now that I have put it down. Overall, a cute and quick read.

I didn’t get to finish this book and I was afraid that was going to be an issue. I am an audiobook person because of my busy lifestyle and wrangling kids.

I did enjoy what I read of this book and plan to finish it when it’s published and can pick it up locally. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to gain access to this arc!

Summary
Granddaughter comes back home to help her injured grandmother get back on her feet and get her settled. Finds that the family bookstore is at risk and that it will be too much for her grandmother to handle on her own, she has some tough decisions to make.
All while the family’s enemy is opening another bookshop directly across the street!

Your typical Romeo and Juliette retelling. Definitely a super slow burn. Very cute but it felt like it took forever for the main characters to come together and for the book to get interesting. I’m so happy to know Capelthornes book store didn’t close.

This book was very cute. It was a pleasant, easy read with engaging characters and a lot of charm. The Romeo and Juliet theme was a bit on the nose and the romance felt like more of a side plot but overall, it was an enjoyable read. If you are looking for a cozy, low-stakes read, I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book.

The Battle of the Bookshops is a retelling of Romeo and Juliet with bookstores, all things British and a small town coastal setting!
The cute, seaside town of Portneath has been the home of Capelthorne’s Books for nearly a hundred years. When the owner great-aunt Flo becomes laid up after a fall, her great-niece Jules Capelthorne, a junior publisher in London, moves home to help out.
Taking over most bookstore duties, Jules realizes the bookstores finances are in even worse shape than she thought. Not only are they close to bankruptcy but they may not make it to their Centennial celebration.
Meanwhile, Roman Montbeau, Jules’s nemesis makes matters worse by opening a rival bookstore across the street from Capelthornes. Jules works hard to increase sales with new creative ideas, challenging Roman Montbeaus flashy, money filled promotions. The Montbeau and Capelthorne families have been fighting for centuries and now they are in a new fight, the battle of the bookshops!!
If you love an enemies to lovers trope then this is the book for you! I loved how cozy the setting of this book was, I would do anything to sit in Aunt Flo’s window seat and read a book!! It was a little slow moving in the middle but quickly picks up pace and the other aspects of the book make it a book to read!!!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This novel offers a charming and cozy story set in a quaint seaside town, with a heartfelt tribute to the magic of independent bookstores. Jules’s determination to save her great-aunt’s beloved bookshop creates a warm, nostalgic atmosphere, and the rivalry with Roman adds a touch of romantic tension. However, while the premise is appealing, the plot sometimes feels predictable and leans heavily on familiar tropes of family feuds and small-town charm. The characters are likable but could have benefited from deeper development to fully engage the reader. Overall, it’s a pleasant, light read.

Thanks to the publisher, author and Netgalley for the early copy!

This take on a Romeo & Juliet modern day retelling was cozy and perfect for a rainy summer day. The addition of the journal into the plot was interesting.

First off thank you NETGALLEY for this review !
What a fun read ! I did adore this book but I do feel like some things weee abandoned. It did fall a bit flat for me.
I’ve heard this author has other great books , I’ll circle back around the holidays to retry !
Also posted on goodreads “ michelle prewitt”

First off, the cover of this book is beautiful. I thought the storyline was promising, but unfortunately this book fell flat for me. I’m not sure if it’s the writing style or the fact that I’m American and don’t really understand some of the words used. I also felt like one second Jules and Roman hated each other and then the next second they were madly in love. I felt like there really wasn’t much of an in between to watch their relationship grow.

I was really hoping to enjoy this but it was a struggle to get through. The pacing was so slow and I didn’t really like Jules.

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

I had high hopes for The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander, but I was a little let down. The story follows Jules who heads home to help her Aunt Flo run the family bookstore and is reunited with someone from her past. It’s an enemy-to-lovers, slow burn, Romeo and Juliet retelling. I love enemies-to-lovers, but I feel that the Romeo and Juliet storyline is a little tired.

Her writing style is fun, and I loved the English setting and witty banter. I found a couple of her jokes to be in poor taste and had trouble getting past that.

She has a lovely way of writing characters, and I found both Roman and Jules to very likable. I liked both of their unique personalities, but I had a hard time seeing them together realistically.

Thank you Net galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a charming tale of rival bookstores and a hidden literary treasure. The premise was delightful, and I appreciated the nods to classic literature. However, I found the character development lacking, and the pacing felt uneven, especially towards the end. Despite these issues, the bookshop setting and the literary mystery kept me engaged.

If you're a fan of bookish settings and light-hearted rivalries, this might be worth a read.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

It is an easy summer read with cute characters and a predictable storyline. It is charming and well written.. i can see myself reading it on long journeys or while on vacation

3.75 stars

I received a free copy of The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I wish I liked this book more. There were so many plots that started at the beginning of the book that were completely abandoned half way through. Jules and Roman felt very juvenile as a couple and their ending felt very rushed. I enjoyed Flo as a character although I wish her name was literally anything else because every time I had to read
"Aunt Flo" it took me out of the story entirely. At first I thought her name was literally a joke. Parts of this book were interesting, but unfortunately as a whole I didn't love it. RIP to my diva Merlin, the only character I truly vibed with. Gone too soon.

Loved the character arcs and plot. Such a perfect book for the summer. I'm totally a sucker for anything bookish.

Cute, but predictable - not that that’s necessarily a bad thing! I just find that I tend to lean sort of picky in terms of rom-coms these days. Thank you for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am working through my backlog, and will be momentarily posting reviews for the stories I have yet to get posted but have finished reading.

The Battle of the Bookshops by Poppy Alexander is a quick, read with a few story lines. Most of the book is fairly predictable, there are a few surprises. Reminded me of You've Got Mail with a slight Romeo and Juliet vibe. Wasn't a favorite read but not disappointed by the pick up. Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy.