The cover and the synopsis of The Midnight Bookshop really drew me in. I’m a big fan of books about books and was very excited for a fantastical adventure through a bookshop. Unfortunately, this one didn’t really hit the mark for me.

In the first two or so chapters I could tell the writing style wasn’t for me. Not that there’s anything particularly wrong with it but it felt a bit random and choppy at times. The dialogue between the characters felt unrealistic and very teenage-like even though all of the characters were young-adults/adults.

The characters had dept and I do appreciate how different they all were from each other. It was interesting to learn of their lives and struggles. With that being said, it all felt a bit shallow and superficial in a way. Maybe it would have helped if we had a bit more background details on their lives - maybe a few flashbacks?.
On another note, the three main characters closeness felt a little too immediate. I would have appreciated more of a build-up in their friendship.

This book brought a lot of interesting ideas to light but the final product really wasn’t for me. Nevertheless, I thank NetGalley, the author and publishers for this ARC.

3.5/5 stars

Before my review, I'd like to quickly mention how, within the book, there are spoilers for multiple other book. While they are well known books, some may not have read them yet and will not appreciate this

I was drawn to The Midnight Bookshop by its enchanting premise - a mysterious bookshop that chooses its readers, promising transformative journeys. The idea of strangers finding solace and rewriting their stories through a midnight book club sounded magical.​

However, while the concept was captivating, the execution left me wanting more. The narrative strayed, and I found myself waiting for a deeper connection to the characters. Jo, Adelaide, and Kye had potential, but their development felt surface-level, making it challenging to fully invest in their journeys.​

The prose was lyrical at times, painting vivid images of the bookshop's ambiance. Yet, the pacing was uneven, with moments that dragged, causing my attention to waver. I appreciate stories that delve into the healing power of literature, but this one didn't quite resonate as I'd hoped.​

In summary, while The Midnight Bookshop offers a whimsical escape into a world where books hold transformative power, it didn't fully deliver on its promise for me. It might appeal to readers seeking a gentle, heartwarming tale, but I was left craving a deeper emotional connection and more dynamic storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amanda James for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review

Relatable, Inspiring, and Full of Heart
The Midnight Bookshop was such a comforting and inspiring read. I really connected with the characters—Jo, Adelaide, and Kye—each on their own journey, brought together by their love of books. Their personal growth felt authentic, and the idea that one book can change your life was both powerful and relatable.

The magical atmosphere of the bookshop itself was beautifully described—it truly felt like a place of healing and possibility. While the pacing was a bit slow in parts, the emotional payoff was worth it. This story reminded me how stories can bring people together and help us rewrite our own.

This book has a very pretty cover, where I just want to be in that cozy bookshop! This was a beautiful, heartwarming, cozy story. It is about a magic bookshop and the power of books, and how they can change a life. This is a story about a magical journey of 3 strangers. Fay, the quirky main character, shows them how a book can change your life and help rewrite your direction of your path/story. It is about friendship and courage.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley!

Three unlikely strangers find themselves drawn to a mysterious bookshop, where a midnight book club reveals the power of a single book to change lives. As they uncover new worlds within the pages, they realize their own stories can be rewritten.

I can see someone loving this, but I am not that someone. it felt trite and full of over reaching lessons to learn. I love magic, and books, but it felt kinda flat and was somewhat preachy? meh.
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Absolutely amazing. I loved this book. I will be recommending it to everyone on my Facebook group and in person as well. Strong five stars.

I thank HarperCollins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC they have shared with me for this review.

The Midnight Bookshop is a magical realism story where the line between the fantastical world of books and our mundane reality is blurred, and the three main characters are saved by reading, believe it or not!

I loved escaping through the bookshop, and was always looking forward to follow each character's adventures! The story is divided into three points of views, and is written is third person present, which was new to me. I must admit it felt unsettling at first as it felt like a teacher was telling me the story, and it became a bit too moralizing in some parts. I don't think it would have had this tone if another POV had been chosen.

As much as I connected with the characters of the book, I felt their storylines were too predictable. Some events were a bit crude and felt like an attempt to whip up some action, but I disliked these parts, especially the domestic abuse depicted in the book.

Overall I enjoyed the philosophy behind this novel and book collectors will love it, if only for its celebration of reading for all.

The Midnight Bookshop by Amanda James is a story with a touch of magic. This is my first book by Ms. James. Jo, Adelaide and Kye are the three protagonists along with the Bookshop’s owner Fay. Unfortunately the three main characters all appear to be positively unhappy with their lives. Each of the three find leaflets advertising The Midnight Bookshop. Ultimately three wind up meeting at the Bookshop. They meet the owner Fay. Fay says “You don’t choose the book. The Book Chooses you. So our main characters each find a book that chooses them. Now they fall under the spell of the Midnight Bookshop. Will the magic help them find the happiness they seek? While each of three have common problems, to our characters they are difficult problems that to them seem insurmountable. The story sees a lot of heart searching, lifelong friendships are made with the help of the proprietor and a little magic.

The book was enjoyable and uplifting. It will definitely make you smile and leave you feeling happier that you had read this book.

I would like to thank Ms. James, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was grateful to receive an ARC copy of "The Midnight Bookshop" by Amanda James, and it was a charming story! The idea of a secret bookshop that appears when you need it most is so fun, and seems to be catching as a trope. I would have loved to have seen some more character development.

One thing that really shone for me was the beautifully crafted atmosphere – it felt so cozy and inviting! It's worth noting that the significance of the specific books chosen for each character might be a little difficult to fully grasp if you haven't read those particular titles yourself, and there are spoilers shared from each of those books as well.

Title: The Midnight Bookshop
Author: Amanda James (@mandykjames)
Publisher: Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter
Release Date: May 16, 2025
Rating: 5⭐️

Jo, Adelaide, and Kye should never have met, let alone end up together in a book club. But all three are lost and the store has found them. Led by the store’s mysterious owner, they are guided not just to each other but to a book that will lead them down paths of change they never could have anticipated.


The Midnight Bookshop swept me away alongside Jo, Adelaide, and Kye. Surrendering to the story, I found myself immersed in the pages just as our three protagonists were. Told in a beautiful composition of magical realism, The Midnight Bookshop made me cry and cheer alongside this unlikely trio. I was swept up into a world where books could be saviors if we were willing to listen to their stories and find the bravery to change the things that haunt us. This was the perfect cosy read, set in beautiful Cornwall, and it definitely made me want to read more books by James! If you’re looking for a gorgeous, emotional, and atmospheric read, you’ve found it in The Midnight Bookshop.

Thank you so much @onemorechapterhc for the ARC!

Der Roman „The Midnight Bookshop“ von Amanda James umfasst 384 Seiten und ist im Verlag HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter erschienen.
Leider konnte ich mich mit dem Buch nicht so richtig anfreunden. Die insgesamt 34 Kapitel haben jeweils einen der drei Protagonisten Jo, Adelaide und Kye im Fokus, wobei die Geschichte aus dritter Perspektive im Präsens erzählt wird. Allein die gewählte Zeitform war für mich und meinen Lesefluss schon schwierig. Außerdem wurde gerade zu Beginn nsgesamt viel einfach nur erzählt, insbesondere was die Hintergrundgeschichten der Protagonisten betrifft, die anfangs wahrlich etwas düster sind. Probleme wie emotionale und körperliche Misshandlung, Krankheit und Drogenkonsum im unmittelbaren Umfeld der Hauptfiguren werden angesprochen. Damit hatte ich irgendwie nicht gerechnet, wobei die düstere Covergestaltung wahrscheinlich ein Hinweis hätte sein können. Nach den Vorstellungen der Figuren und langen reinen Erzählpassagen geht die Geschichte ab dem ersten echten „Auftritt“ des *Midnight Bookshop* aber endlich fantastischer, flüssiger und auch hoffnungsvoller weiter.
Die Idee dieses besonderen Buchladens ist wirklich etwas Besonderes und auch die Umsetzung ist gut gelungen. Die Geschichte war im weiteren Verlauf gut und auch interessant gestrickt, leider konnte die weitere Handlung den sehr holprigen und unerhofften Start für mich jedoch nicht wettmachen und mich insgesamt auch nicht mehr nachhaltig begeistern. Dennoch hat mich die emotionale Reise der drei solide unterhalten können.

Who doesn't love a book about books? And with a book club to top it off? Sign me up!

The Midnight Bookshop is a cozy, fluffy read perfect for the summer, say a rainy day in a sun garden or on the beach. It follows three people - Jo, Adelaide and Kye - who are all in a bad place in their lives right now. They find this mysterious bookshop that seems too magical to not be magical and it's owned by the exuberant Fay (Fae, helloooo?).

In the bookshop, the books choose their readers, and Jo, Adelaide and Kye all are provided with books that are relevant for where they are in their lives. It's very relatable, I think we've all read a book at some point where we feel like it hits home.

Amanda James has done a clever job writing a book about books, bookstores and booklovers for people who love books. Despite the light fluffiness of the book, there were times I felt moved by the way she writes about books. She captured the way that booklovers (me) feel about books and literature.

You don't have to be a booklover, or a literature grad, to read this book and enjoy it. It is a perfect beach read, which may motivate you to find your way back to love of books. Or it's just a book that you enjoy while reading it.

I received this ARC from One More Page and NetGalley. Thanks for allowing me to review it!

💭 #QOTD What place do you find comforting and safe?

Title: The Midnight Bookshop
Author: Amanda James
Pages: 332
Rating: 3/5
Spice/Romance level: 🩷 Talk of relationships and crushes.

#Arc eCopy ( #gifted ) - review left voluntarily
UK publish date - 16th May 2025

We are introduced to 3 characters and read from each of their perspectives. Each one has a difficulty in their lives. (Please be aware of drug use and DV) They all find solace in a magical bookshop that is not easy to see and they find a friendship and support towards each other.

This was a beautiful feel good book with gorgeous quotes. Positive vibes and just a lovely in-between read for when you're in a slump. This was very sweet. There was little to no tension/high stakes.

This was an enchanting story, giving you permission to edit your life to the outcome you want. No matter the difficulty. It shows the importance of friendship, support and asking for help.

This book offered hope, new beginnings, and magical realism.

Also, how gorgeous is this cover?

You'll love this book if you like
- feel good reads
- books about books
- lots of bookish quotes
- just sweet all round
- no high stakes
- friendship

The cover and title immediately drew me in, and I was excited to discover the magic promised by The Midnight Bookshop. Unfortunately, the story didn't fully meet my expectations.

While the initial idea was wonderful (a magical bookshop and its mysterious owner) the emotional depth I hoped for never quite materialized. The relationships between the three main characters developed very quickly but felt unconvincing, leaving me disconnected from their journey.

I found that the conflicts were resolved too easily, and conversations sometimes felt repetitive, slowing down the pacing. The magical elements I was looking forward to took a backseat to a friendship storyline that, for me, lacked the necessary development.

Despite my best efforts to stay engaged, I ultimately decided to DNF at 89%. I believe the concept had great potential, but unfortunately, it didn’t fully deliver the magic I was hoping for.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the ultimate escapist book journey. Everyone loves to be lost in a good book and a book that you can actually jump into is truly incredible. Great idea, great characters, great storyline.

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

A very beautiful magical read . Loved it. Three very different characters with very different lives meet and a lovely story follows . Books lead the story. Very well written. It is amazing. You will love it .

I really enjoyed this book! It features three main characters, all struggling in different ways, who are brought together by a magical bookshop. The book is well written, and the character development is excellent. Several well known books are read and discussed by the characters, which I also enjoyed. I also highly recommend the author's most recent book, The Garden of Memories.

DNF @ 40%. It's all just a bit...trite. The idea of Fay being a sort of avatar for the bookshop itself is intriguing, but it's not the focus of the book, and so it's not enough for me to keep reading. This is also trying for magical realism, but magical realism really relies on the characters treating the magic as a matter of course, which is not the case here, so I don't think it's a successful application.

I recently read Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop and think that's a great choice for someone looking for a story about the healing power of books and bookshops. It is cozy without being trite and also highlights some more niche books rather than going on about Harry Potter (in 2025, seriously?), Lord of the Rings, The Great Gatsby, etc.