The premise of this book was so cute, and I was so excited to get a copy from Netgalley and the publisher. This book started off so strong. It gave me The Hating Game vibes, but with rival bookshop owners. However, the romance hit too quickly for me and never fully developed. They went from hating each other to immediately sleeping together and then falling in love extremely fast, and I just had a hard time investing in their relationship. They had the same fight over and over and Sebastian was so stubborn. I’m glad they were able to work it out in the end for their happy ending, and I loved the storytelling through the letters, but I would have loved a little more development to fully live this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for a review!

I had very high hopes for this book, but ultimately I was let down. The premise was promising. Who doesn't love a good grumpy vs sunshine that revolves around books? I thought I would be blown away but after I finished, I couldn't remember the names of the main characters.

I liked the idea of love letters from the past, but for it to be more compelling than the main characters, that's a flaw indeed.

So much potential, but ultimately it didn't hit.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Headline | Headline Eternal for the arc, all opinions are my own.

I requested Jackie Ashenden's Book People from NetGalley because of it's super cute cover and because I am an absolute sucker for books that take place in bookshops or with book people as the characters. In fact, I think this is my tenth book this year that was about people in the book or book selling industry!

There are parts of this story that I loved- the community, the bookshops (both of them), and at times the characters. They had wonderfully, witty banter and sometimes their relationship was cute. Kate, as the books states, is sunshine in human form; friendly, outgoing and a joy to be around. Sebastian was the exact opposite; reserved, introverted, downright grumpy and off-putting. I was most put off by his unending emotional constipation as he would swing wildly from loving and supporting to unable to communicate any sort of feelings to freakishly obsessive and angry. I kept waiting for him to say, "you won't like me when I'm angry" & grow into a giant green Hulk.

There is a mysterious box of love letters for the two of them to unravel together (the answer was stunningly obvious in my opinion, but still one of the sweeter parts of the novel), a festival to plan and of course, a decision about whether or not they will figure out themselves enough to have any sort of relationship.

This was a fun quick read, but if you're turned off by obsessive love, maybe skip it.

Thanks to Headline publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Book People will be published on January 28, 2025.

4.5 stars

After having only read fantasy books for the past couple of days, reading Book People was like a breath of fresh hair. A light hearted yet at the same time, emotional romcom, this is the story of two rival booksellers - Kate, who loves everything romance, fantasy and basically genre fiction and Sebastian who is one of those literary fiction aficionados. At the start they do not get along - both of them are stubborn, but also Sebastian is a tad bit rude. I did not like him at first, but he did grow on me (and also, he is kind of exactly my type lmao).

It is through their rivalry, you get to see the intense chemistry and what they could eventually share. Forced to organize a literary festival and work together to see its success, Kate and Sebastian have to put aside their differences. I think one of the reasons that I enjoyed this book because I could see parts of myself reflected in the pages. I am a bit like Kate, but also like Sebastian. I know what I want and I can fight for it, but I get scared too. And that is what endeared me to both of them.

Their relationship progresses quite nicely, and I loved their first kiss - it was definitely hot. I also loved how their relationship is kind of a mirror to what happened in their families. No spoilers, but there are some beautifully sad letters involved. But Kate and Sebastian together learn one lesson - you cannot escape the feeling of love. This would have easily gotten five stars from me, but I felt the ending was a little too abrupt and we could have at least a chapter or an epilogue to show how things are with them and their bookshops.

But, Book People was a delightfully charming read and I cannot wait to read more of what Jackie Ashenden writes!

Book People is perfect for romance lovers. It’s a nice easy read and it moves along quite quickly. While I didn’t love it, it was still a cosy little love story.

this was sooooo good that I’m upset it was an ARC and that i can’t make everyone i know read this right now. i didn’t realize how much depth there would be in this story, and how much would intertwine but i loved it. I loved the characters, and was glad we had a dual pov bc i honestly would have probably hated Sebastian otherwise but the author made you love him. A beautiful story!! Add to your TBR & please read when this is released !

I think this book had a great premise but sadly for me it fell a little flat. I immediately got the ick from the MMC Sebastian and I felt like he was whiny and elitist. I also didn't really feel the connection between these two and I felt like their intimate relationship moved really fast despite not having much of a relationship in between their intimate moments.

The story itself was fine but I just felt like there was something missing for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline | Headline Eternal for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

The premise of this book sounded so cute that I just had to read this! And it did deliver on some points. I loved the setting of the two competing bookshops, the small town vibes and Kate with her amazing bookstore. The story behind the little notes the main characters found was also really cute.

However, I wasn't the biggest fan of the MMC, Sebastian, and the relationship between him and the Kate. At first I was rooting for them, but after a while I got tired of him being so stubborn. They also kept having the same discussion over and over. Then the resolution of their conflict was wrapped up so quickly that I felt it was just too rushed.
One other, small, thing that bothered me was the use of male and female to describe things. To me, that's just too vague and just kinda weird to do??

Overall, this book was still quite a cute and quick read. I did enjoy it for the most part, so I would still recommend it.

A grumpy hero and a heroine with scars of her own trying to rediscover joy meet in “Book People”, by Jackie Ashenden, finding more affinities than the shared passion for books.
I loved the leads’ personalities and the clash between Sebastian’s grumpiness and apparent coldness and Kate’s optimism and openness.
They both have emotional wounds and react differently.
Jackie Ashenden’s talent at writing intense, fierce and deeply devoted heroes is shown through Sebastian’s character.
His intensity and honesty are fascinating.
The apparently fragile heroine turns out to be a strong individual fighting for her dreams after a period of loss and heartache.
I liked the balance, the dialogue between the two bookshops and the owners’ personalities in the small community, and how they cooperated in the end.
The secret love story in the past was intriguing and also very endearing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for giving me access to an eARC of this book.

This could’ve been so good but it sadly fell flat for me.

We have two, hot, rivaling bookstore owners who hates each other (or at least dislikes each other a little bit). Just there we have a recipe for a great love story. Instead we got smut. Which isn’t a bad thing but in this book it just feels like… eh…

The relationship between these two people move from hate to sex real fast. A bit too fast if you ask me. There’s nothing wrong with two consenting adults engaging in sexual activity because of lust. I just feel like their whole relationship is built upon that lust and nothing more.

And let me just write out how “alpha male” this male character is. Dude, this isn’t a werewolf romance book, you’re 30 years old please act like it. Stop being so creepily territorial of a woman you barely know. And when you’re at it please contact a psychiatrist, your friend obviously knows someone.

Overall it was a book I don’t regret reading but one that will not stay with me. I do think some of my friends would LOVE it. Because of the smut.

I didn't like it. I like a brooding and moody guy, don't get me wrong. But I don't like a brooding and moody guy who judges the MC for reading science fiction, thrillers, fantasies, or romance because it's 'not real literature' while also reading those genres himself and knowing full well he's being a hypocrite. Now, it could have been pulled off if there was a genuine exploration into the characters mental states instead of remaining surface level focused. But this book did not do that for me. Also, the twist wasn't a twist. I don't know if it was supposed to come across as one, but there's one line in particular that irritated me. Sebastien and Kate are trying to figure out who his great-grandfather's lover was - spoilers, it was Kate (Kate's great-grandmother). They spend some time through the book trying to consider it. And then Kate learns who it was and her immediate thought is 'I probably should have guessed it, but I didn't.' It felt lazy and underwritten.

This is an adorable story – very nicely tuned to appeal to book lovers! Misses being very memorable – my review will hopefully explain that.

Kate, has moved to the village of Wychtree and launched her bookshop “Portable Magic”. This was always her dream and she decides to use the property left to her by her mother who passed away 2.5 years back. Opposite her shop is “Blackwood Books”, run by Sebastian Blackwood. Thankfully the genres they cater to are different – she stocks romance, cozy mysteries, thrillers, escapist reads and some non-fiction such as cookbooks & biographies. He concentrates on mainstream novels including Booker prize winners and some true crime. Kate tries to strike up a conversation with Sebastian but he is terse and avoids speaking to her. Both of them have business challenges and are keen to get their bookshops to be successful. Sebastian has planned a literary festival and very reluctantly agrees to include Kate in the planning & hosting of the event. As they work with each other, they learn more about each other and their families. Kate has broken off with her boyfriend Jasper, who was very controlling. Both of them find the other attractive, but are not seeking another relationship.

The portrayal of Kate and Sebastian as two very different personality types is brilliant – he is circumspect & brooding (many issues constantly preying on his mind) while she is open, social & great with bonding with others. I loved the initial tensions between the two and the banter they engage in. There are nice, cozy backstories of both of their families. The only real disappointment for me was the stale descriptions of the sexual tension & attraction between the two. This really detracts from a very good story & excellent loveable characters.

A book I much recommend – it is brilliant for the most part and the characters are charming.

My rating: 4.25 / 5.

Oh my GOODNESS what a cute, cozy read! I loved every second of this book and can't believe I've never read anything else from Ashenden prior to this one! Kate and Sebastian had amazing chemistry, witty banter, and plenty of laugh out loud moments along the way. Not only was their relationship enjoyable to follow, but it was well developed and focused on more relatable and deeper themes that many romances tend to skim over. Regardless of the tropes you favor, any romance reader needs to pick this one up!

Perfect for book lovers! What’s more to want than a cosy romantic and funny storyline with some great characters! I really enjoyed this easy read and will definitely be recommending it. Very well written and grabbed me into the story from the very beginning.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC

Book People come in many different shapes, forms and convictions - in this cute romance we meet two of those from vastly different ends of the spectrum: Kate, the cosy fiction lover with themed bookshop windows and Sebastian, the literary lover with somewhat of an upturned nose against genre books - or so it seems. Both of these own bookshops that are as different from each other as their owners are but share the same road, as they are right across from each other. Cue a love story between two characters that should not get along.
I really enjoyed the bookish theme of this romance, as it sometimes feels like a bit of a meta read, but still is not too on the nose to verge on ridiculousness. Book People plays with the fact that even if two people love and live by books, there's still so much variety that they can be completely different at the same time. Both characters bring their baggage and own struggles so they have some stuff to get over but the way it is done in this book, especially with a backwards glance into the historic past of the town's shops is easily consumable and makes for a quick, cute and funny read.
At some point the baggage did get in the way of the story when the characters tripped over the same piece one too many times and it almost got to the point of being a little bit draggy, but the side characters and banter the main characters had made up for it in no time.
This is a book for book lovers who can't get enough of their love stories and books at the same time. I highly recommend!

Thank you to the author and publisher who provided me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book People is a rom-com perfect for book lovers. This is an enemies-to-lovers, small- town, grumpy-sunshine story of two rival bookstore owners.
The story is set in a charming small town with two competing bookstores owned by main characters Kate and Sebastian. Kate has a new bookstore in town and is a welcoming personality, while Sebastian is very reserved and keeps to himself.
Kate and Sebastian organize a literary festival together, providing opportunities for witty banter and growing attraction.
Book People is a sweet romance with humor and spice, which was a lot of fun to read as it celebrates a love for books.
.

I wanted to love this book desperately. The summary made it sound so good, and I was so eager. However the MMC is so unlikable, let alone someone I could imagine wanting to fall in love with. Sebastian is overly pretentious and really leans into the Grumpy trope. Kate is a joy, but even she can’t carry the whole novel by herself. At one point I found myself saying “he’s literally just a guy. Hit him with your car.” I had high hopes for this story, that unfortunately weren’t met.

With rival bookshop owners as the main characters, and the potential for an enemies-to-lovers dynamic, this story should have been right up my street. I did like the hint of mystery surrounding old love letters, which kept me interested for a while, but the main plot is a rivals-to-lovers story and the rivalry doesn’t last long. The characters have sunshine/grumpy personalities, although Sebastian isn’t too consistent as a grump. Overall, the story and characters are fine, but I found it didn’t hold my attention and I was easily distracted. I made it to the 50% mark but chose not to continue beyond that point. Thanks to NetGalley and Headline books for allowing me to get an early copy of this book, which is out on January 28, 2025.

“The one thing about books is that they never let you down, They offer solace and comfort, and knowledge and beauty. They offer an escape, even if it is only for a couple of hours.”

This book got me out of my reading slump and I read it in just a few days! I became immersed in the English village setting of Wychtree and I loved that it was focused on bookshops (I love any books that are about books!)

I was really rooting for the main characters and my favourite part of the story was the historical mystery element throughout which intertwined with the main plot of the book.

I think you’ll like this book if you’re an Emily Henry fan, specifically Book Lovers!

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc ☕️

Enjoyable read from Jackie Ashenden. Slow burn enemies to lovers between two book store owners in a small British town. the FMC is a sunny bright personable character who attracts customers, the MMC is the grumpy grump who is trying to keep their customers. There were parts of the book that frustrated me, but there were many parts I enjoyed, and the touch of mystery was a bonus. The character development is strong, and for anyone looking for an enjoyable rom-com to read, this one is not to be missed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!