"How to Find Love in a Bookshop "--by Veronica Henry--the enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart (see my review)

How to Find Love in a Bookshop 

Everyone has a story . . . but will they get the happy ending they deserve?

Emilia has just returned to her idyllic Cotswold hometown to rescue the family business. Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers—a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father’s death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia's loyal customers have become like family, and she can't imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive.

The best stories aren't just within the pages of the books she sells - Emilia's customers have their own tales to tell. There's Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage—she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings.

Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future—and not just within the pages on the shelves. "How to Find Love in a Bookshop" is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.

And as for Emilia's story, can she keep the promise she made to her father and save Nightingale Books?

MY REVIEW:   Books are many things to many people: entertainment and enlightenment, comfort and companionship, suspenseful thrills, romance, and a certain satisfaction of the soul that can't be found anywhere else. Bookshops and libraries, now bobbing like little islands in the ever-encroaching digital seas, offer a personal connection for book lovers--a face-to-face rapport for those who drink words and keep reaching for books like candy in a dish. "How to Find Love in a Bookshop", by Veronica Henry, is a charmingly poignant tale of "Nightingale Books", long a treasured haven for its loyal patrons and now threatened by the pressures of property developers after the owner's death. Emilia Nightingale made a promise to her father to keep the bookstore open and keep the "family" of customers well looked-after. Those customers may as well be book characters themselves--each has a unique story to tell, and there are surprises and secrets and unpredictable outcomes all around. Can Emilia find a way to craft a happy ending for them all? Read on, and you will be enchanted by this captivating tale which celebrates the love of books, all things books. 

Book Copy Gratis Pamela Dorman Books via Blogging for Books

Reviews

 

“From unique characters to a charming romance, How to Find Love in a Bookshop is an absolute gem.”--HelloGiggles

“Absolutely delightful.” --People

“A romance for readers everywhere.” --Philadelphia Inquirer

“Engaging. . . In the great tradition of Ireland’s Maeve Binchy. . . Henry has created an engaging ensemble cast, placed them in a charming locale and interwoven their stories with that of a plucky central character. . . Need an engrossing light read to while away one of the last afternoons of summer? This is it.” --The Star Tribune 

"Few books are more soothing and more conducive to break taking than Henry’s new novel How to Find Love in a Bookshop." --Vox

“A love letter to books and the shops that sell them.” --USA Today

“Charming. . . A light romantic comedy well-suited for bibliophiles and Anglophiles alike.” --Kirkus Reviews

"Henry describes her novel as an ode to bookshops, and it is that. . . Readers who laughed and cried over ­Gabrielle Zevin’s The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove will love this one." —Library Journal

“Romantic, utterly heartwarming and a perfect treat for bibliophiles everywhere.”
--Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Café by the Sea

“Henry’s quirky cast of characters with their heartwarming intertwined tales of loss, love, and community make this a must-read for summer.” —Amy E. Reichert, author of The Coincidence of Coconut Cake 

“Henry’s sweet novel, filled with likable characters and shaped by a love of books, will appeal to fans of tender fiction who find bliss in bookstores and libraries.”
--Booklist

"A gorgeous escapist read." --Good Housekeeping (UK)

Veronica Henry

 

Veronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.  

http://www.veronicahenry.co.uk