Review of Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

First, a huge shoutout to Tyler at Berkley Publishing for always delivering delightful books to my inbox! Battle of the Bookstores is one that I was itching to dive into, especially with its charming premise set in the world of indie bookstores. But I have to be honest—this one had a bit of a rocky start for me. At first, I found myself stumbling over acronyms and phrases that threw me off a bit. Still, I pushed through and boy, am I glad I did! By the end, I was all misty-eyed and clutching my heart.

At its core, this book lures you into a charming competition between two equally likable protagonists: Josie, a dedicated bookseller and the elder sibling with a history of being the caregiver, and Ryan, a gentle giant with an unexpected passion for romance novels. The premise is simply delightful: both of their indie bookstores are owned by the scuzzy businessman Xander (or Xavier—but who’s counting?), who decides that only one store can survive the quarter based on sales. Naturally, the competition heats up, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.

What I loved most about Battle of the Bookstores is how effortlessly it channels You’ve Got Mail vibes, rich with online banter that will have you giggling and, dare I say, swooning. Josie is so relatable; her struggles with trust and intimacy are palpable, stemming from her challenging upbringing. I connected with her caring nature and felt a deep pining for her happiness.

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Ryan, on the other hand, was a delightful surprise. Initially, I was perplexed by the descriptions of him—was he studious with Clark Kent vibes or the typical brooding romance hero? There was something endearing about his gentle spirit, and he ultimately won me over with his caring nature and well-placed words. The chemistry between Josie and Ryan is slow-burn magic, and I cherished every moment of their evolving relationship.

Now, there was one side character named Cinderella, and while it initially made me cringe, I learned to ignore that quirk as the story unfolded. The pacing felt just right; it navigated sensitive themes of childhood and relationship trauma without sacrificing the lightheartedness of the narrative. Ali Brady strikes a fantastic balance here, which made me think deeper while still enjoying a cozy read.

As I closed the book, I found myself filled with hope and a renewed appreciation for the romance genre. This novel reignited a desire to revisit other lighthearted romances that I might have previously dismissed—maybe I was wrong about some of them!

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Review of Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady

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