The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday

A great read in a great setting.
Jude is on her dream holiday, running a bookshop for 2 weeks. Only it is ruined when she finds she is sharing her holiday with stranger Elliot.
He is keeping secrets, but that does not stop her falling for him, even though she is fresh from a break up with Mack who kept things from her too.
The villagers are betting on them getting together, but will the secrets drive them apart?

I’ve never read a book by Kiley Dunbar before but I’ll definitely be reading her back catalogue now! I absolutely adored this gorgeous book, which I read in a day. The story revolves around Jude who, after finishing her degree, and recovering from a disastrous affair, goes on a two week borrow a bookshop holiday for a fortnight in Devon. Here she is thrown together with Elliot, a tall dank and brooding stranger who is hiding a secret....... wonderful and perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Trisha Ashley and Katie Fforde!

This is the first time I have read one of Kileys books and it won’t be the last.   Following a recent break up Jude decides to go ahead with her planned holiday if running a bookshop for two weeks. Unfortunately for Jude someone has booked it too and she and Elliot decide to run it together despite the mystery that surrounds him.  Will it be a successful fortnight in more ways than one .....

A feel good romantic novel perfect for a summer afternoon read. My first Kiley Dunbar novel but will definitely look for others. I would recommend this book.

Gosh what a lovely story..Jude was a great character. Very careing. She deserved to find happiness. The bookshop sounded heaven with the cafe on the side .Minty was a lovely character. I would never in a month of sundays guessed Elliot's secret. . It was great that Elliot sorted Aldous. Grief is a strange thing

Can Clove Lore's Borrow a Bookshop be a real thing?  I would love the idea to travel to British seaside town to run a bookshop for two weeks.  But I am not sure how this bookshop remained in business with what seemed to be so little foot traffic.  I was also confused if they sold antique books. used books, or new stock.  Or was it a combination of all?  I would grade this book as B/B+ due to lack of fluidity of the story telling with the way the chapters are written and a lack of character development of secondary characters.  There is potential and a stronger editor could have pushed this story to A status with some rather simple suggestions.  I wanted a bit more from Minty, Jowan Anjali, and Mrs. C than an occasional drop in.  We were promised that volunteers from charity would be in to help but outside a quick drop of box of books from Minty, we never really saw any volunteers in the bookshop.  I wanted more interaction between locals, customers and Jude/Elliot.  The storyline focused on mainly on Jude and Elliot.  Jude seemed to make a 180 degree personality change in less than 2 weeks.  It just did not read realistic to me.  Is it just me but I wanted more from Jude's grandma and her yarn bombing posse.  Sequel maybe?  Christmas novella?

What a lovely story!

I loved escaping in this story with Jude on her dream holiday borrowing a bookshop which has a cafe in a beach side town in Devon. Selling books and baking for the cafe for a fortnight and getting to be a part village community sounds like a dream come true. Add a bit of romance and drama and you have the perfect mix.

Thank you NetGalley and Hera Books for this ARC which I received in exchange for an honest review.

Jude has discovered the man she thought she loved is a cheating dirt bag. She certainly doesn’t want to go with him on the getaway they had planned, a beautiful seaside spot where they would run a small bookshop for two weeks. But with the money being nonrefundable, Jude decides to take the trip by herself; books have always provided solace and comfort in difficult times. this trip is just what she needs. Solitude. however, is not on the menu as Jude discovers that Elliot has also booked the shop for the same two weeks. Books, as always, cast a spell over the two literature lovers. Might Jude find her real soulmate in the old bookshop? This is a delightful read, just the ticket for those of us worn down by the pandemic, bad news and crap politicians.

What a dream vacation it would be to run a bookshop/cafe in a cozy little village on the coast for two weeks!

After a couple non-fiction and literary fiction books, I was in need of a light, fun romance. The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday fit that need perfectly! This book was such a perfect quick read. I started it yesterday and finished before lunch. The writing was just so nice and easy and perfect.

I really don't like romances that provide tons of hot, steamy details; and this one fits that bill perfectly as well. Just enough detail.

I wasn't previously familiar with the author Kiley Dunbar, but I'll be looking adding some of her books to my To Be Read pile.

Minty's annual party was very creative.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Hera Books) and the author/Keley Dunbar for the opportunity to review the advance read copy of The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is 05 May, 2021.

What if I told you that you could rent an Airbnb that’s actually a tiny bookshop complete with a cozy cafe nook and a resident dog? How about in a historic Devonshire harbour village? for two weeks? Dreamy, right? That’s exactly where Jude Crawley and philosophy professor, Dr. Rupert Mackenzie-Aubyn, were headed on their dream vacation. That is, until she caught him kissing someone else behind the auditorium ON HER UNIVERSITY GRADUATION DAY! Jerk. 

She heads off on her own with a suitcase full of books (come on, you’ve done that, right?) ready to immerse herself in literature and heal her broken heart. As she settles in for the night, she hears a key in the front door and heavy footsteps coming up the stairs. Six foot tall, broodingly handsome Elliot has also booked the bookshop holiday for two weeks! Did I tell you there’s only one bedroom? Yep, he has to lump a mattress down to the bookshop each night. 

Is she prepared to make this work? Can they put their differences aside? or will she find out that her bookish holiday might have an unexpected twist in the tale?

This perfectly cozy, romantic read is a bookish delight! What’s not to love; seaside village, Devon, books, coffee? The perfect mix of mystery, intrigue, attraction, sights, books, coffee, baking and quaint village life. I loved every minute of this quick read and hope to see Jude and Elliot in another Kiley Dunbar book soon. 

Publishes May 5, 2021
Thank you to Kiley Dunbar, Hera Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this advance copy. I received it for free and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.