This one is definitely for the book lovers and the romance girlies. Ryan is basically the excessively tall, romance reading book boyfriend of all of our dreams. His relationship with Josie has all of the good tropes - rivals to lovers, slow burn, forced proximity, only one bed. I also loved the epistolary element in the form of anonymous messages on a bookseller forum.

I was a bit thrown off in the beginning by the pop culture references and the talk about ARCs, but it did lessen as it went on. The competing bookstores storyline was so fun with all of the bookish events and eccentric characters. I loved Ryan & Josie’s tension and banter and the inside jokes for romance readers (STFUATTDLAGG, iykyk). The ending was really sweet and I appreciated how the author included conflict without making it into a whole third act breakup.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming ode to independent bookstores and happily-ever-afters, BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES follows Josie and Ryan, two Boston booksellers with wildly different tastes. Josie lives for the moody depths of literary fiction, while Ryan is a romance devotee who proudly stocks only love stories. When the owner of both shops decides to merge them, Josie and Ryan go head-to-head in a summer-long sales competition to see who will manage the new store.
This bookish rom-com is delightfully meta, packed with nods to romance tropes (yes, there’s enemies-to-lovers, fake-dating, and a grand gesture), and perfect for anyone who finds joy in a good bookstore bicker. As the stakes rise, so does the heat, and fans of open-door romance will not be left wanting.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-thrive on friendly competition
-believe someone’s bookshelf reveals their soul
-think there’s a perfect book for everyone

Many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🍿 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴: Battle of the Bookstores is my first time reading Ali Brady, and boy have I been missing out! I instantly loved this book as well as Josie and Ryan, and it made my bookish loving heart so very happy.

🤩 The Best Bits: This book SCREAMS You’ve Got Mail vibes, and since that happens to be my all-time favorite movie, I was here for it. Every reference to ARCs and various other book-related things is a bookstagrammer’s dream come true and I loved everything in Ryan’s romance bookstore. Especially the ‘pieces of flair’ and ahem, a couple of things they put out for sale 🤭 IYKYK. The humor is top notch as well and I loved the tension between Ryan and Josie.

🎧 𝒜𝓊𝒹𝒾𝑜𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: Karissa Vacker & Brandon Francis bring Josie and Ryan to life in the best way imaginable and you couldn’t ask for two better narrators. Francis captured Ryan’s voice perfectly in my opinion, and dare I say he had a sexy voice?! 👀

💭 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴: This book might be over 400 pages, but it never felt like that for a second, and I loved the slow burn romance! The building owner was a dirty no good 🤬 of a person, and I loved the way our MC’s ended up handling him and the ultimate combining of their two stores. Some of the moments are so cheesy but I loved that so much, and this is definitely all the things I could have hoped for from a sexy bookish romance.

T͏h͏i͏s͏ B͏o͏o͏k͏ i͏n͏ 5͏ E͏m͏o͏j͏i͏’s͏ o͏r͏ L͏e͏s͏s͏: 📚🐈🌶️💬

𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌶️🌶️

This latest book by Ali Brady was the best I've read by this fantastic duo. An enemies to friends to lovers centered around dueling bookstore managers was completely delightful and the perfect read for all book lovers everywhere. It had diverse characters with big hearts.

A HUGE thank you to @berkleyromance for the advanced copy of this AMAZING book!


"𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨." (quoted from ARC)


I can't even put into words the feelings for this book without giving away major spoilers...

So I'm just going to say that this book is definitely going to stick with me. It has absolutely everything and I just adored every piece of it.

I feel beyond blessed to have been apart of this book from the cover reveal to its coming release in a few weeks!

📚 Opposites Attract
🧋 Forced Proximity
📚 Workplace Romance
🧋 Online Relationship
📚 Competition
🧋 Boston Bookstores
📚 Family Dramatics
🧋 Opening Yourself Up
.
.
.
.
#bookstagram #booksta #books #booksbooksbooks #avidreader #ilovereading #thetwistedlibrarian #professionalbookworm #battleofthebookstores #alibrady #whatsnikkireading #book15of2025 #booksaboutbooks #oppositesattract #forcedproximity #workplaceromance #romancebookstore #romancereader #romancebook #berkleypublishing #berkleyromance #netgalley #arc

Battle of the Bookstores was super cute! Very You’ve got Mail. The characters were endearing, their romance was sweet and the banter so so good. And I’m very happy that the big reveal didn’t end up with a third act breakup. This was such a fun book for book lovers.

Thank you to Ali Brady and Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I can't believe how exceptional this book is! The perfect enemies to lovers story for all of us introvert bookworms, rounded out by intriguing characters, a high stakes competition plot, and steamy romance throughout.

I find enemies to lovers to be a very tricky trope to be done right in my eyes, but Ali Brady absolutely nailed it with this one! The tension was impeccable, the pacing was perfect, and our two main characters are such a delight. Josie and Ryan are so fun to follow and both of their perspectives throughout the book are amazing to read - I genuinely couldn't say if I liked one better than the other. That fact alone makes this book exemplary in my opinion, as I am usually slogging through one characters POV and waiting to get back to the other's, but I loved Josie and Ryan's voices and inner dialogue so much that I had so much fun reading every page of this book.

I love any book that uses writing, reading, or bookstores as a main plot point, and this may just be the best one I have read yet. I love the two bookstores and the complete opposition of their product, clientele, and management styles. Somehow they both feel like different sides of my personality and I am living for it. I want to live in this world that has these 2 bookstores right down the street from each other!

I will definitely be going through Ali Brady's backlog and devouring every single book immediately as I can't remember the last time I read a romantic comedy that was actually this flawless. Well done Ali Brady!

This book was so fun and sweet! A book about books is an almost immediate way to warm any booklover's heart.

The story centers around two rival bookstore managers, Josie and Ryan, who are experts in their respective genres. When they are told that their stores will be merging and that only one of them can keep their job, their rivalry enters the forefront – cue the enemies to lovers trope. Ali Brady executes this trope beautifully, balancing the tension with moments of humor and vulnerability. The banter between the characters is the perfect amount of witty, yet there is also real depth to their personalities, with each of them having valid reasons for their initial guardedness.

I really enjoyed the You've Got Mail vibe with the anonymous messaging. It was fun, yet added a level of depth and intimacy to these characters. It allowed us, as readers, to understand Josie and Ryan more, and it gave them the safe space to be themselves freely without judgment.

The chemistry between Josie and Ryan was undeniable. The banter was top-notch, and there was so much emotional depth to their relationship. I haven’t read a book with such strong character dynamics in a while, and this one definitely delivered. I was still thinking about Josie and Ryan days after finishing this book!

However, there were a couple of aspects that kept me from rating it five stars. The first is the heavy use of pop culture references, especially in the first half of the book. While some readers enjoy these references, I found myself wondering if they will age well over time. Similarly, while I understand the connection to the setting, there were occasional sexual references tied to Ryan’s romance bookstore that sometimes felt out of place in the overall tone of the story.

Aside from the two elements that prevented this from being a five star read for me, I really enjoyed it and would absolutely recommend this book.
Overall, this book is the perfect balance between lighthearted fun and emotional depth, making it an ideal choice for readers who love witty, character-driven romances.

Thank you to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to Berkley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I DNF’d the book before finishing the first chapter due to the Harry Potter reference.
A quick search showed that there is a second HP reference later in the book.

Given the author of HP’s rampant transphobia and bigotry, I refuse to read books that are recently written that include references to HP in a positive or neutral way. There is no way the authors are not aware of what JKR is actively doing to hurt people and yet they made the choice to include a HP reference.
There is zero need to platform books written by a hateful person.

This was a really solid read. I loved the whole premise. Two rival bookstore owners forced to merge, competing for control, and already having an unknown connection! The dynamic between Ryan and Josie had a nice balance of tension, banter, and chemistry. Plus no third-act breakup which I always appreciate. I read this in less than 24 hours!

My only real issue was that the characters read a lot younger than their actual age. They’re supposed to be around 30, but some of the dialogue and behavior felt more early 20s. It didn’t ruin the story but it made certain moments feel a little off.

Overall though this was a fun, insightful & emotional romance with a cozy setting.

Ali Brady, you've done it again!!! These two lovely authors just know how to write a romance that captures my attention from the beginning and has me rooting for the main couple immediately. Battle of the Bookstores felt like not only a love letter to readers in general, but a warm hug and kiss on the forehead for hopeless romantics like me, and many others, who appreciate the romance genre because of the emotions we experience and the character growth witnessed. Ryan was such a sweet bean and one of my favorite types of love interests. I felt a connection with Josie's high walls to protect herself and admired her steadfastness and selflessness for her family. The chemistry between Josie and Ryan was OFF THE CHARTS!! It was so present on the page, I couldn't stop myself from giggling and kicking my feet at several points. I also have to commend Ali Brady for how they wrote the big reveal, it felt like a very realistic reaction and one I would've had myself. This story was adorable and I loved every page! I need Ali Brady to write 500 more books so I can keep experiencing their fantastic story telling and swoon worthy romances. I honestly believe they've made it on my list of top favorite authors after this one.

Thank you to Berkley Romance, NetGalley, and the authors for sending me an early copy and a finished copy!

Such a cute read! Thank you Berkley Romance for my digital arc. This is a perfect enemies to lovers romance read. Especially for all the book lovers out there, Ali Brady puts in some awesome bookish trends, authors, and popular reads we all know and love. The banter is perfect nd they even included a little bit of spice. Absolutely loved this fun playful story!

rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.

this story was cute! i really appreciated the emotional depth that Ali brought to these characters while still keeping it fun, cute and ultimately a love letter to those that love books. the mmc’s were a bit clueless but we still love them anyways. i loved that the MMC was the romance reader while she stuck to more literary fiction, but as they opened up more to each other they opened up their eyes to other genres as well. ryan was the ideal book boyfriend - he was really the star of the show!

read if you like:
- enemies to lovers
- dual POV
- sweet & spicy slow burn
- very bookish
- only one bed

quotes:
“Want me to get on my knees?”

thank you so much to Berkley for allowing me to be an early reader. All thoughts are my own!

Another Ali Brady hit! I loved this book so much. All the literary references, enemies to friends to lovers! So grateful to have the chance to read early.

4.5 stars ⭐️ Thank you Berkley Publishing Group and PRH Audio for the free copies of this book!

“Those silly books show me that anyone can be brave and try again. It’s not that love makes everything work out perfectly, but love can create the perfect environment to face our fears.

This book was sooo cute!! If like me you loved You’ve Got Mail, Battle of the Bookstores is meant for you. It’s funny, sweet, swoon-worthy, and a downright riot at times.

Features my favorite tropes:
*Enemies to lovers
*One bed
*He falls first
*Bookstore kitties

Plus who doesn’t love a romance set in a bookstore!? A delightful read perfect for summer.

🎧: Loved the narrators! Their voices were perfect for the characters and incredibly engaging.

I read most of this at the beach (and ruined my copy there, too 😭😭😭), and it was the perfect summer read. Lighthearted, swoony, and absolutely adorable.

Josie and Ryan manage rival bookstores on the same Boston street. Her store focuses on literary fiction, while his is all about romance, and I loved the opposites attract, slight enemies to lovers setup.

The summer-long competition to see who could turn the most profit was such a fun twist. There were so many bookish nods throughout, and I feel like the bookish girlies are going to love this one.

One of my favorite parts was the “You’ve Got Mail” vibe. Ryan and Josie unknowingly form a connection online while feuding in person, and the text message exchanges were so good.

As their rivalry heats up in real life and their anonymous messages grow more personal, the walls between them start to fall. They slowly realize that happily ever afters don’t just show up in pages.

“𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙥 𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙡𝙡.”

This was a fun romance book.
Our 2 main characters Josie and Ryan both own bookstores within a close proximity. They are completely different - Ryan's is a romance bookstore and Josie's is more literary fiction. They don't believe they are in competition with each other until Xander tells them they will be combining stores and whoever makes the most sales within a specific time period will win manager of the new combined store. At first they don't get along, but they realize they might have more in common with each other than they think.
I liked both Josie and Ryan and appreciated having both their POVs. They came from quite different backgrounds, but both had struggles. Josie's mom was constantly absent during her childhood with sister Georgina. She would date, breakup and be so upset she forgot she had children for weeks on end. After having to drop out of school to help her sister after a car accident (where their mother just left her), Josie feels like a failure both with school and because she wasn't there when her sister was hurt. Ryan has the perfect family. His parents have been together 50 years and his siblings have high paying jobs and perfect spouses. Ryan feels like he has never lived up to the rest of his family. But he does have 2 bookstore cats.
I loved Josie and Georgina's relationship. They are so close and are always there for each other. I also loved Ryan's relationship with his employees. He was so determined to win so they could all keep their jobs. They were funny and obviously loved having him as manager. Josie and Ryan's relationship grew very well. They started out hating each other, though it was partially misunderstandings. They both assumed since they wanted the other to win, it meant they were purposefully trying to sabotage the other so they would lose. They then started to become friends and want to work together, which transitioned into romantic feelings.
This book kept me interested the whole time. It was very easy to listen to and kept me engaged. I enjoyed the plot. The competition was fun and the romance was cute. There was also a little anonymous online chat group where Josie and Ryan were talking to each other but didn't know it, and I thought that was handled well.
*Small Spoiler* I was really excited when there wasn't a third act breakup! It could have easily turned into one at a few points, but I thought the situations were handled perfectly, respectfully and thoughtfully. *End Spoiler*
This was quite an enjoyable book about books with a little competition and a lot of romance!

Battle of The Bookstores is for any true book lover. There are so many fun mentions of other books and to get to see two bookstores battling is a thoroughly enjoyable. The dual perspectives made for some great moments where I truly felt like I understood these characters. The role reversal of Ryan being the romance lover was inspired and just a total vibe. If you enjoy enemies to lovers, mix-ups and You’ve Got Mail, this one is for you. Thank you to @berkleypub for my gifted

Imagine You've Got Mail but instead of a chain bookstore vs indie bookstore, it's two indie bookstores vying for the same spot. It was so fun! Josie and Ryan are neighbouring bookstore managers who have no idea they've been anonymously messaging each other online. A classic setup that gets me every time!

Josie owns a literary fiction store full of carefully curated titles and very serious vibes. Ryan owns the vibrant romance bookstore next door, where customers are welcomed with open arms. When the building’s owner decides to combine both stores (meaning one of them will be out of a job) they're forced into a rivalry. The tension and bickering is fiery!

This was such a love letter to book nerds, with tons of name dropping and bookish discussions. I loved the stereotype flip with Ryan (a 6'7" guy, I'd like to add) as the romance store owner. He was so incredibly kind, thoughtful, and so intentional about wanting readers to see themselves in stories.

And of course, I adored the epistolary element. Their online friendship was so sweet and comforting, and I really appreciate how the big reveal was handled. Another winner from Ali Brady, and definitely their most romance-focused story yet!

This is such a wonderful romance and such a cute, modern, bookish take on You’ve Got Mail. I love that the guy is the one who loves romance and the woman is the cynical one. The narrators were great, the tension full of sparks, and such a cute take on several of my favorite tropes.