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Bookishly Ever After
Two rival bookstore owners. One chance for a happily ever after…
Bookshop owner Lexi Austen’s problems are stacking up. Her dating life is a mess and Sam Dickens – devastatingly handsome, arrogant, and fiercely competitive rival bookshop owner – is hellbent on stealing all of her customers.
Frustrated, Lexi turns to her shelves for answers. And what have the classics taught her? That when lovers start as enemies, there’s no distraction quite like love…
Lexi plots to charm she invites him to a ball (well, a party), drags him to a dance class (does it matter if it’s not a quadrille?) and swoons into his arms while taking a turn in the park ( next time, make sure he isn’t holding a hot drink).
As their rivalry reaches scorching levels, it’s not just Lexi’s beloved bookshop at stake, but her heart too…
A charming, bookish enemies-to-lover romance, perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and Sally Thorne's The Hating Game.
- enemies-to-lovers
- small town
- opposites attract
- HEA guaranteed
Bookshop owner Lexi Austen’s problems are stacking up. Her dating life is a mess and Sam Dickens – devastatingly handsome, arrogant, and fiercely competitive rival bookshop owner – is hellbent on stealing all of her customers.
Frustrated, Lexi turns to her shelves for answers. And what have the classics taught her? That when lovers start as enemies, there’s no distraction quite like love…
Lexi plots to charm she invites him to a ball (well, a party), drags him to a dance class (does it matter if it’s not a quadrille?) and swoons into his arms while taking a turn in the park ( next time, make sure he isn’t holding a hot drink).
As their rivalry reaches scorching levels, it’s not just Lexi’s beloved bookshop at stake, but her heart too…
A charming, bookish enemies-to-lover romance, perfect for fans of Emily Henry’s Book Lovers and Sally Thorne's The Hating Game.
- enemies-to-lovers
- small town
- opposites attract
- HEA guaranteed
369 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2024
86 people are currently reading
1296 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
August 24, 2024
When I start reading "Bookishly Ever After" I had a high hopes for a wild, enemies-to-lovers adventure, but I ended up feeling pretty underwhelmed.
The story kicks off with Lexi Austen, the owner of a quaint little bookshop, facing a ton of drama. Her dating life's a hot mess, and to top it all off, she's got Sam Dickens, her rival bookshop owner, breathing down her neck, trying to steal all her customers.
At first, I was totally on board for the drama. I mean, who doesn't love a good enemies-to-lovers storyline, right? But as the plot unfolded, things started feeling a bit off. Lexi's plan to win over Sam felt seriously shady. I mean, the poor guy's just come out of a messy breakup, and here she is, playing mind games with him. It just felt kind of wrong.
But hey, I get that not everyone's gonna feel the same way I do. If you're into the whole enemies-to-lovers thing and don't mind a bit of drama, you might actually enjoy this book. Who knows, it might just be the perfect guilty pleasure read for you.
The story kicks off with Lexi Austen, the owner of a quaint little bookshop, facing a ton of drama. Her dating life's a hot mess, and to top it all off, she's got Sam Dickens, her rival bookshop owner, breathing down her neck, trying to steal all her customers.
At first, I was totally on board for the drama. I mean, who doesn't love a good enemies-to-lovers storyline, right? But as the plot unfolded, things started feeling a bit off. Lexi's plan to win over Sam felt seriously shady. I mean, the poor guy's just come out of a messy breakup, and here she is, playing mind games with him. It just felt kind of wrong.
But hey, I get that not everyone's gonna feel the same way I do. If you're into the whole enemies-to-lovers thing and don't mind a bit of drama, you might actually enjoy this book. Who knows, it might just be the perfect guilty pleasure read for you.
December 3, 2025
✮✮
I got this book in a blind date with a book and was really excited to read it since the premise seemed really fun but, unfortunately, I did not like this book.
At first I was pretty invested in the story and the drama that was being unfolded. Unfortunately, soon after I started noticing how annoying and inconsiderate the female main character was. I thought that this was surely about to change but that was not the case. The further I got in the book the more annoyed I would get at her and by the end of this book I just started hating her overall.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential to be a really fun and quick romance and I'm really sad that I did not get that.
I got this book in a blind date with a book and was really excited to read it since the premise seemed really fun but, unfortunately, I did not like this book.
At first I was pretty invested in the story and the drama that was being unfolded. Unfortunately, soon after I started noticing how annoying and inconsiderate the female main character was. I thought that this was surely about to change but that was not the case. The further I got in the book the more annoyed I would get at her and by the end of this book I just started hating her overall.
Overall, this book had a lot of potential to be a really fun and quick romance and I'm really sad that I did not get that.
April 28, 2024
This was…. not great.
first of all the book was waaay too long it could have been 100 pages less, we get a lot of repetition throughout every chapter (we get it you live in DC and you’re from england and you’re running your late grandmothers bookshop) and the internal monologue went on and on for pages at a time and contributed nothing to the story
the main character was so unbelievably annoying and full of self importance that i had to leave the book numerous times and come back to it. the mmc was so bland and has no personality whatsoever to the point where i wasn’t even batting for them to end up together.
there was also some extremely cringe and strange moments like when lexi basically just trauma dumps on sam that he should be glad his dad (who forced him into the business he didn’t want to be in) is alive because hers is dead??? what?? there’s also a weird part where he literally says “hello” to her boobs so.. there’s that.
anways i really didn’t enjoy this book went into it hoping it would make me laugh but i don’t even think i cracked a smile
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk sending me this arc
first of all the book was waaay too long it could have been 100 pages less, we get a lot of repetition throughout every chapter (we get it you live in DC and you’re from england and you’re running your late grandmothers bookshop) and the internal monologue went on and on for pages at a time and contributed nothing to the story
the main character was so unbelievably annoying and full of self importance that i had to leave the book numerous times and come back to it. the mmc was so bland and has no personality whatsoever to the point where i wasn’t even batting for them to end up together.
there was also some extremely cringe and strange moments like when lexi basically just trauma dumps on sam that he should be glad his dad (who forced him into the business he didn’t want to be in) is alive because hers is dead??? what?? there’s also a weird part where he literally says “hello” to her boobs so.. there’s that.
anways i really didn’t enjoy this book went into it hoping it would make me laugh but i don’t even think i cracked a smile
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books Uk sending me this arc
June 20, 2024
I found this book a little dull. The characters were very flat and the story just didn't really get going. A book about a bookshop always attracts my attention but, not this time. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 21, 2024
This had some cute moments, but the drama was kind of annoying at times.
October 15, 2025
Sono un po' confusa e per questo la mia valutazione è 3.75 ✨
La storia è stata molto carina e ho adorato i riferimenti letterari ad Austen e Dickens . A tratti un po' troppo lento e ripetitivo. Secondo me alcuni punti potevano essere sviluppati meglio e approfonditi magari, mentre alcune liti sono state gestite un po' così, ma alla fine è stato realistico.
Sam in fondo è un cucciolo e il finale è stato 🥹
Spicy solo accennato.
Voglio aprirmi una libreria adesso.
La storia è stata molto carina e ho adorato i riferimenti letterari ad Austen e Dickens . A tratti un po' troppo lento e ripetitivo. Secondo me alcuni punti potevano essere sviluppati meglio e approfonditi magari, mentre alcune liti sono state gestite un po' così, ma alla fine è stato realistico.
Sam in fondo è un cucciolo e il finale è stato 🥹
Spicy solo accennato.
Voglio aprirmi una libreria adesso.
May 18, 2024
Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t like writing bad reviews. And I really wanted to like this book more. An enemies to lovers story about rival bookshop owners? Couldn’t be more up my alley. But to be honest I found myself really disliking Lexi. It’s pretty rare for me to dislike a main character so much. I just…listen, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being proud to be British. But this book beat you over the head with it. Lexi’s character was so pretentious any time she compared Americans to Brits. For example, “Americans getting up early to ‘work out’ as they call it to feel ‘virtuous about life’.” I’m not a work out person myself, let alone a morning work out person, but people who do it aren’t trying to be virtuous. They’re probably trying to fit it in before working too many hours at their job. She mentions having the “sorry” trained out of her since being in the US and describes Americans being more direct compared to Brits; she uses examples like asking a question without preceding it with “can I ask a question,” emails with no “hope you’re doing well” or “don’t worry if it’s too much trouble.” Maybe I’m being an overly sensitive American but these are things I literally do always - apologize even if I didn’t do anything wrong, flower up my emails so they’re not too serious, and say “don’t worry if it’s not too much trouble” while simultaneously worrying that I’m asking too much of someone. Those are just the examples I took note of, I eventually had to stop or else I’d never get through the book. She even seemed pretentious about which part of DC she lives in vs where Sam lived. It would be one thing if it felt like good-natured ribbing. Hey I don’t mind being the butt of a joke. But that’s not how it felt to me.
There were points in the book where the characters would have lines of dialogue and then midway through there would be an unnecessary pause to summarize the conversation. For example when Sam is telling Lexi about Amanda and how she used him for his family/connections. The “summary” that happens between dialogue didn’t really do anything to save time because…well it was like 2 sentences of summary that could’ve just been 2 sentences of dialogue instead. It’s not like she was summarizing minutes or even hours of conversation and it ended up being annoying and distracting rather than helpful to move the plot forward.
I noticed a couple times, the author even used phrases that are not common for Americans. At one point Sam says “you’re not meant to be back here” which is not something I can picture an American saying really. They are more likely to phrase it “you’re not supposed to be back here.”
At times, it didn’t feel like the timelines were right. There was a point at which it’s meant to be Wednesday. The next chapter mentions a staff meeting “this week” and then the next chapter is “the next day” and it’s Wednesday but not a full week passes. There’s also the Tipsy Browsing event where she goes to the office to see how successful numbers are from Saturday’s event. Only to go on to refer to it having occurred on Friday.
Some of these things may be a bit nit-picky but they are things that I found to be distracting and impacted my enjoyment of the book. However, back to the characters and plot. While I found Lexi to be mostly unlikeable, I found Sam to be mostly likable. Even though he’s made out to be grumpy, this ends up being a misconception and he actually seems like a gentleman. However, I do agree with the assessment of one of the side characters that I think he was a bit self-sabotaging; then again so was Lexi. I do also feel like their “fights” were literally him overreacting and her not communicating and just accepting that it was over.
As a side note, not intended as author/book feedback, but the Kindle version of this was terribly formatted. Random sections were all right-aligned, the chapters had no space between them and the dialogue was sometimes hard to follow because of the way it was formatted. I did go between reading this directly from the NetGalley app and the Kindle app for this reason but found myself annoyed at the NetGalley version too as there was no table of contents and no option to read aloud which I sometimes like to do while doing household chores. I did, however, find there was at least one part of the book where there are two different versions of dialogue between Sam and Lexi which I found interesting.
I can’t state enough how I do not enjoy leaving bad reviews and I also know that I often write more about books I don’t like than I do about ones I like so if you made it this far I’m sorry. This book just wasn’t for me.
I don’t like writing bad reviews. And I really wanted to like this book more. An enemies to lovers story about rival bookshop owners? Couldn’t be more up my alley. But to be honest I found myself really disliking Lexi. It’s pretty rare for me to dislike a main character so much. I just…listen, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with being proud to be British. But this book beat you over the head with it. Lexi’s character was so pretentious any time she compared Americans to Brits. For example, “Americans getting up early to ‘work out’ as they call it to feel ‘virtuous about life’.” I’m not a work out person myself, let alone a morning work out person, but people who do it aren’t trying to be virtuous. They’re probably trying to fit it in before working too many hours at their job. She mentions having the “sorry” trained out of her since being in the US and describes Americans being more direct compared to Brits; she uses examples like asking a question without preceding it with “can I ask a question,” emails with no “hope you’re doing well” or “don’t worry if it’s too much trouble.” Maybe I’m being an overly sensitive American but these are things I literally do always - apologize even if I didn’t do anything wrong, flower up my emails so they’re not too serious, and say “don’t worry if it’s not too much trouble” while simultaneously worrying that I’m asking too much of someone. Those are just the examples I took note of, I eventually had to stop or else I’d never get through the book. She even seemed pretentious about which part of DC she lives in vs where Sam lived. It would be one thing if it felt like good-natured ribbing. Hey I don’t mind being the butt of a joke. But that’s not how it felt to me.
There were points in the book where the characters would have lines of dialogue and then midway through there would be an unnecessary pause to summarize the conversation. For example when Sam is telling Lexi about Amanda and how she used him for his family/connections. The “summary” that happens between dialogue didn’t really do anything to save time because…well it was like 2 sentences of summary that could’ve just been 2 sentences of dialogue instead. It’s not like she was summarizing minutes or even hours of conversation and it ended up being annoying and distracting rather than helpful to move the plot forward.
I noticed a couple times, the author even used phrases that are not common for Americans. At one point Sam says “you’re not meant to be back here” which is not something I can picture an American saying really. They are more likely to phrase it “you’re not supposed to be back here.”
At times, it didn’t feel like the timelines were right. There was a point at which it’s meant to be Wednesday. The next chapter mentions a staff meeting “this week” and then the next chapter is “the next day” and it’s Wednesday but not a full week passes. There’s also the Tipsy Browsing event where she goes to the office to see how successful numbers are from Saturday’s event. Only to go on to refer to it having occurred on Friday.
Some of these things may be a bit nit-picky but they are things that I found to be distracting and impacted my enjoyment of the book. However, back to the characters and plot. While I found Lexi to be mostly unlikeable, I found Sam to be mostly likable. Even though he’s made out to be grumpy, this ends up being a misconception and he actually seems like a gentleman. However, I do agree with the assessment of one of the side characters that I think he was a bit self-sabotaging; then again so was Lexi. I do also feel like their “fights” were literally him overreacting and her not communicating and just accepting that it was over.
As a side note, not intended as author/book feedback, but the Kindle version of this was terribly formatted. Random sections were all right-aligned, the chapters had no space between them and the dialogue was sometimes hard to follow because of the way it was formatted. I did go between reading this directly from the NetGalley app and the Kindle app for this reason but found myself annoyed at the NetGalley version too as there was no table of contents and no option to read aloud which I sometimes like to do while doing household chores. I did, however, find there was at least one part of the book where there are two different versions of dialogue between Sam and Lexi which I found interesting.
I can’t state enough how I do not enjoy leaving bad reviews and I also know that I often write more about books I don’t like than I do about ones I like so if you made it this far I’m sorry. This book just wasn’t for me.
June 19, 2024
I very rarely dnf but I cannot continue with this any longer (70%) ... the premise was great: two rival bookshop owners begin to fall in love. Who doesn't love an enemies to lovers, right?! The writing was repetitive, juvenile, and frankly needed a much more thorough edit.
Lexi's behaviour was immature throughout which didn't match her position as bookshop owner. Sam was stoic at best, showing little other personality traits. I really wanted to love this book and hopefully it'll find its right audience (imo should be categorised as YA, not NA).
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- 1 sad star 😢
Lexi's behaviour was immature throughout which didn't match her position as bookshop owner. Sam was stoic at best, showing little other personality traits. I really wanted to love this book and hopefully it'll find its right audience (imo should be categorised as YA, not NA).
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- 1 sad star 😢
February 9, 2025
Anyone who knows me, knows that I am obsessed with bookstore set novels. (As a full-time bookseller for more than a decade, it's pretty understandable.). I read them all. And my biggest complaint is that it's like these authors have never actually been in a bookstore. They certainly don't know how they work.
Hallelujah! Even before looking her up, it was obvious that Mia Page (not her real name) had worked as a bookseller. Now, many would argue that getting the business side of a romantic comedy right is not the highest priority. Those people may have a point. But, in this book, it's rather more relevant because the enemies to lovers romance is between competing bookstore owners. (Her name is Austen and his is Dickens. It's cute, and it is a plot element.) The reality of the difficulty of keeping an independent bookstore in business is exceptionally well depicted. I view this as a veritable public service to educate readers (and book buyers) on these facts within the context of a story.
How was the romance? It was okay. In truth, I was rooting for the survival of the store more than the survival of the couple. Your mileage may vary.
Hallelujah! Even before looking her up, it was obvious that Mia Page (not her real name) had worked as a bookseller. Now, many would argue that getting the business side of a romantic comedy right is not the highest priority. Those people may have a point. But, in this book, it's rather more relevant because the enemies to lovers romance is between competing bookstore owners. (Her name is Austen and his is Dickens. It's cute, and it is a plot element.) The reality of the difficulty of keeping an independent bookstore in business is exceptionally well depicted. I view this as a veritable public service to educate readers (and book buyers) on these facts within the context of a story.
How was the romance? It was okay. In truth, I was rooting for the survival of the store more than the survival of the couple. Your mileage may vary.
February 21, 2025
If there is one thing I take away from this book, it is that the protagonist is British. Living in Washington DC and running a bookstore, Lexi (who is British), feels that the success of what was her grandmother’s legacy, is slowly slipping away from her. (Did I mention, she is British?) Lexi needs to do all she can to make sure her bookshop stays open… as well as to continue reminding readers that she is a Brit living in America.
Alas, this really irritated me – if you hadn’t already guessed. I think the majority of chapters sees Lexi remind readers that there are some cultural differences across the Pond and I don’t think we need prompting of this quite so often. It gets in the way of the plot development, which I thought was a bit slow and repetitive as well. Not only are we reminded of Lexi’s home country, she sets her sights on the rival bookshop owner, Sam, devising a plan to woo him and then destroy him. Sounds fun, right?
Except, Lexi uses some of Jane Austen’s romancing to help her along the way, without envisaging that her heart might fall for Sam at the same time. Regardless of her failing bookshop (and that she is British and he is American), Lexi realises she has feelings developing for him. However, I could not get on board with their relationship in the slightest because Lexi’s original intentions were to use Sam in a way to ensure her bookshop’s future, and, despite admitting she is falling for him, I could not banish this from my mind.
Their relationship is predictably a rocky one. I thought moments in the plot started to get repetitive and I did want the book to hurry to its conclusion a bit sooner. Not only that, the backwards and forwards between these two characters just felt artificial and I thought that Sam was too good for Lexi. He isn’t an angel in the slightest, but I think Lexi’s original devious nature towards this relationship was something I could not move on from.
Despite being set in a bookshop, this failed to win my heart. Aside from disliking the protagonist, it felt like the writer was reminding readers about the struggles of the publishing world: from the writer, to the printers, to the suppliers and the independent bookshops. It felt a bit preachy in places and I didn’t want to be told about these struggles – it’s not as if the rest of us are having an easy time. As such, I think it established a bit of a negative tone which wasn’t helped by Lexi’s attitude, either.
Page did not create a page-turner for me and I was relieved to reach the Epilogue. There were some cute moments in this book and I loved the Austen references however, the main character was not particularly pleasant and I thought this “enemies to lovers” story quite underwhelming. Did I mention she is British?
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Alas, this really irritated me – if you hadn’t already guessed. I think the majority of chapters sees Lexi remind readers that there are some cultural differences across the Pond and I don’t think we need prompting of this quite so often. It gets in the way of the plot development, which I thought was a bit slow and repetitive as well. Not only are we reminded of Lexi’s home country, she sets her sights on the rival bookshop owner, Sam, devising a plan to woo him and then destroy him. Sounds fun, right?
Except, Lexi uses some of Jane Austen’s romancing to help her along the way, without envisaging that her heart might fall for Sam at the same time. Regardless of her failing bookshop (and that she is British and he is American), Lexi realises she has feelings developing for him. However, I could not get on board with their relationship in the slightest because Lexi’s original intentions were to use Sam in a way to ensure her bookshop’s future, and, despite admitting she is falling for him, I could not banish this from my mind.
Their relationship is predictably a rocky one. I thought moments in the plot started to get repetitive and I did want the book to hurry to its conclusion a bit sooner. Not only that, the backwards and forwards between these two characters just felt artificial and I thought that Sam was too good for Lexi. He isn’t an angel in the slightest, but I think Lexi’s original devious nature towards this relationship was something I could not move on from.
Despite being set in a bookshop, this failed to win my heart. Aside from disliking the protagonist, it felt like the writer was reminding readers about the struggles of the publishing world: from the writer, to the printers, to the suppliers and the independent bookshops. It felt a bit preachy in places and I didn’t want to be told about these struggles – it’s not as if the rest of us are having an easy time. As such, I think it established a bit of a negative tone which wasn’t helped by Lexi’s attitude, either.
Page did not create a page-turner for me and I was relieved to reach the Epilogue. There were some cute moments in this book and I loved the Austen references however, the main character was not particularly pleasant and I thought this “enemies to lovers” story quite underwhelming. Did I mention she is British?
With thanks to Avon books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2024
Cute read if you're just looking for fluff, but it's still hard to ignore that it is flawed. There were multiple times where I thought I'd missed chapters just because of skipped backstory and things happening exactly as is convenient to the plot with no depth what so ever.
May 8, 2024
Title: Bookishly Ever After by Mia Page
Release Date: June, 6th, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Bookshop owner Lexi Austen finds herself facing multiple challenges, including a messy dating life and fierce competition from Sam Dickens, a rival bookstore owner determined to steal her customers. Drawing inspiration from classic literature, Lexi hatches a plan to turn their rivalry into romance. She invites Sam to a ball, takes him to a dance class, and finds herself falling for him despite their ongoing competition. As their relationship heats up, Lexi must navigate the complexities of both her beloved bookshop and her own heart.
The story starts slow, taking some time for me to engage. The protagonists, Lexi and Sam, come off as somewhat immature at times, and Lexi's motivations for her actions remain unclear. The narrative also suffers from occasional issues such as disjointed conversations and unclear narration style, switching between first and third person. The timeline feels inconsistent, lacking fluidity between chapters, and the ending feels abrupt.
Despite these drawbacks, the book offers some enjoyable elements and incorporates appealing tropes, making it a fun read overall.
Tropes:
Rivals to Lovers
Miscommunication
Slow Burn Romance
Bookish
Thank you to the publisher Avon Books UK | Avon,The Author Mia Page & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.
November 4, 2025
Ah, Orgoglio e pregiudizio. Il libro che ha insegnato a tutti noi una verità universalmente riconosciuta: se all’inizio odi qualcuno, probabilmente finirai per sposarlo. Ma bisogna ammettere che accadeva prima delle app per incontri.
Ecco un'altra lettura che prometteva molto, soprattutto in tema di letture, librerie e quei microuniversi fatti di pile di volumi, scaffali caotici e copertine attraenti, in cui sogniamo sempre di perderci.
Purtroppo, anche stavolta chi si è occupato di scrivere la trama, l'ha resa più accattivante di quanto non sia la storia effettiva di oltre trecento pagine.
In realtà, non è proprio brutto come romanzo, ma ha due difetti notevoli: uno, è lentissimo, tanto che più che, anziché scaldare il cuore con un ritmo confortevole (o cozy...), risulta provocare gli effetti di una dose massiccia di melatonina direttamente assorbita nell'organismo dalle pagine, con pure eccessi di melassa spruzzata a caso; due, la protagonista è una lagna inglese senza speranza, che riesce persino a gestire come un peso (oppure a non trarne vantaggio) il fatto di avere lo stesso cognome di zia Jane (Austen).
Se considerate che lui si chiama Dickens di cognome ed è dieci volte più simpatico… avrete un po' l'idea della mia insoddisfazione finale (sì, due librerie indipendenti in lotta tra loro per accaparrarsi l’ultimo cliente, con al centro la coppia Austen/Dickens: e questo è un indizio del livello medio di humour british del volume, peraltro ambientato a Washington 😬😓).
La protagonista femminile che ha sempre bisogno di una spalla su cui piangere, che crede di essere adorabile perché è goffa e stravagante, e che risolve tutto soltanto perché l'eroe risolve tutto al posto suo, a mio avviso ha fatto il suo tempo.
Per fortuna, questo romanzo è autoconclusivo.
Ecco un'altra lettura che prometteva molto, soprattutto in tema di letture, librerie e quei microuniversi fatti di pile di volumi, scaffali caotici e copertine attraenti, in cui sogniamo sempre di perderci.
Purtroppo, anche stavolta chi si è occupato di scrivere la trama, l'ha resa più accattivante di quanto non sia la storia effettiva di oltre trecento pagine.
In realtà, non è proprio brutto come romanzo, ma ha due difetti notevoli: uno, è lentissimo, tanto che più che, anziché scaldare il cuore con un ritmo confortevole (o cozy...), risulta provocare gli effetti di una dose massiccia di melatonina direttamente assorbita nell'organismo dalle pagine, con pure eccessi di melassa spruzzata a caso; due, la protagonista è una lagna inglese senza speranza, che riesce persino a gestire come un peso (oppure a non trarne vantaggio) il fatto di avere lo stesso cognome di zia Jane (Austen).
Se considerate che lui si chiama Dickens di cognome ed è dieci volte più simpatico… avrete un po' l'idea della mia insoddisfazione finale (sì, due librerie indipendenti in lotta tra loro per accaparrarsi l’ultimo cliente, con al centro la coppia Austen/Dickens: e questo è un indizio del livello medio di humour british del volume, peraltro ambientato a Washington 😬😓).
La protagonista femminile che ha sempre bisogno di una spalla su cui piangere, che crede di essere adorabile perché è goffa e stravagante, e che risolve tutto soltanto perché l'eroe risolve tutto al posto suo, a mio avviso ha fatto il suo tempo.
Per fortuna, questo romanzo è autoconclusivo.
April 15, 2024
Lexi and Sam are rival bookshop owners who, due to the economic impact of the pandemic and rising inflation, struggle to keep their businesses afloat. In order to beat Sam, Lexi plans to seduce him - and who better to turn to, than Jane Austen for that matter? So Lexi plans to give a piano recital (but she must learn to play first), take him out dancing (but salsa, not quadrille), and swoon into his arms.
The outlandish premise sounded like a fun ride at first, but I have to admit that it quickly got tiresome. There was something off with both the flow of the book and the dialogue that felt unnatural and forced. And the sheer amount of mental gymnastics with Sam and Lexi’s thoughts and feelings really annoyed me. Still, this was a quick and easy read, so people who love lighthearted bookish books and Jane Austen sprinkled in might enjoy it.
Many thanks to publishers and NetGalley UK for this ARC.
The outlandish premise sounded like a fun ride at first, but I have to admit that it quickly got tiresome. There was something off with both the flow of the book and the dialogue that felt unnatural and forced. And the sheer amount of mental gymnastics with Sam and Lexi’s thoughts and feelings really annoyed me. Still, this was a quick and easy read, so people who love lighthearted bookish books and Jane Austen sprinkled in might enjoy it.
Many thanks to publishers and NetGalley UK for this ARC.
December 15, 2024
dnf @ 22%, I'm not really a fan of the plot or the characters and have no drive to continue. The early chapters feel like the author is telling us about a story that would have been much more enjoyable to read (i.e. taking over the bookstore and making it her own) than the current story.
June 27, 2025
Bookishly ever after was a cute book, easy to read and… that’s about it. It was a sweet, and enjoyable book but not exactly memorable🥱
Generally speaking, the story is fairly simplistic, with no great highs or lows.
The rivalry between the bookshop owners had potential but the execution was just meh… It felt like a missed opportunity because it could’ve been so much more fun - sharper banter, higher stakes, like something to make it stand out…but unfortunately it was kinda flat🥺
The main thing that bothered me about this book was the back-and-forth drama and the third-act breakup😅
Also, I felt like it dragged in places, making what should’ve been a breezy read feel sluggish.
There were some cute moments - a few charming scenes that made me smile but nothing more😬
So yeah, #Bookishlyeverafter is alright for when you want something light and undemanding - like… it’s fine…not bad, not amazing, just fine🙈
3⭐️
————-
Instagram : jc.cosybooknookx
Generally speaking, the story is fairly simplistic, with no great highs or lows.
The rivalry between the bookshop owners had potential but the execution was just meh… It felt like a missed opportunity because it could’ve been so much more fun - sharper banter, higher stakes, like something to make it stand out…but unfortunately it was kinda flat🥺
The main thing that bothered me about this book was the back-and-forth drama and the third-act breakup😅
Also, I felt like it dragged in places, making what should’ve been a breezy read feel sluggish.
There were some cute moments - a few charming scenes that made me smile but nothing more😬
So yeah, #Bookishlyeverafter is alright for when you want something light and undemanding - like… it’s fine…not bad, not amazing, just fine🙈
3⭐️
————-
Instagram : jc.cosybooknookx
October 31, 2025
E’ c’è posta per te senza essere c’è posta per te .
E’ le relazioni pericolose senza essere le lezioni pericolose .
E’ lei la red flag .
E fa tanto canto di Natale .
Ma la stoffa c’e .
Anche meno buonismo .
E’ le relazioni pericolose senza essere le lezioni pericolose .
E’ lei la red flag .
E fa tanto canto di Natale .
Ma la stoffa c’e .
Anche meno buonismo .
June 7, 2024
I’m currently in my bookish book era — books about books, so if you have any recommendations, please keep them coming!
What can I say? “Bookishly Ever After” by Mia Page totally blew me away. I know a book is something special when I find myself staying up until the wee hours, determined to see how the story ends for the main characters. For this one, I was up until 4 in the morning, trying to hide my giggles and silent sobs so I wouldn’t wake my sleeping baby girl and husband. I knew I’d regret the lack of sleep in the morning, but the book was just too good to put down.
Lexi Austen inherits a bookshop from her late grandmother and is determined not to let her grandmother’s legacy fade away. She pours all her time and effort into keeping the business afloat, leaving no time for dating or hanging out with friends. Everything is going okay until a secondhand bookshop nearby is bought by Sam Dickens, a businessman who seems more interested in profits than in sharing and recommending books. Sam's shop starts selling new books and everything Lexi has in her store, turning him into her direct competitor and causing her to lose customers.
Lexi decides to use Jane Austen’s strategies from her novels to make Sam fall in love with her. She takes up playing the piano, plans to take Sam dancing, and does everything Austen’s characters did to throw Sam off his game.
But is Lexi safe from the feelings her own strategies stir up? Will Sam fall for her, and can she navigate whatever relationship develops without getting hurt? Or will they end up falling for each other, living out the enemies-to-lovers trope that Lexi’s romance novels have taught her?
“Bookishly Ever After” is fantastic. I know it has mixed reviews on Goodreads, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it, laughing, crying, and falling in love with the characters. Lexi is so relatable as she fiercely protects her “baby” — her bookshop. Her internal monologues are entertaining, especially as she tries (and often fails) to sort out her feelings for Sam. I love her dedication in creating a good working environment for her employees and a welcoming space for her customers.
Sam, on the other hand, is a man carrying scars from past family issues and relationships. He’s a broken man willing to seek help and heal to be the right partner for someone. He’s a sharp businessman and an excellent pianist. The moments when Sam and Lexi are getting to know each other, sharing their pasts and understanding why they are the way they are, are some of the best parts of the book.
Plus, the story is set in Washington D.C., one of my favorite places I’ve visited in the USA. It’s refreshing to read about a place I’ve experienced, making it easier to relate to the characters' feelings and experiences.
And do I need to mention all the Jane Austen references? There are so many, especially from “Pride and Prejudice,” my all-time favorite classic. Sam felt like a modern Mr. Darcy, bringing back all the fond memories of when I first read Austen’s work.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. If you get a chance to grab a copy, I’d recommend avoiding reviews that downplay its charm. Dive in with an open mind, enjoy the story, and connect with the characters. I’m sure you’ll find it to be a hidden gem.
“Bookishly Ever After” hits the shelves on June 6th. Thanks to Mia Page, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK for the early access to this delightful read in exchange for an honest review. It was worth every smile, laugh, and tear!
What can I say? “Bookishly Ever After” by Mia Page totally blew me away. I know a book is something special when I find myself staying up until the wee hours, determined to see how the story ends for the main characters. For this one, I was up until 4 in the morning, trying to hide my giggles and silent sobs so I wouldn’t wake my sleeping baby girl and husband. I knew I’d regret the lack of sleep in the morning, but the book was just too good to put down.
Lexi Austen inherits a bookshop from her late grandmother and is determined not to let her grandmother’s legacy fade away. She pours all her time and effort into keeping the business afloat, leaving no time for dating or hanging out with friends. Everything is going okay until a secondhand bookshop nearby is bought by Sam Dickens, a businessman who seems more interested in profits than in sharing and recommending books. Sam's shop starts selling new books and everything Lexi has in her store, turning him into her direct competitor and causing her to lose customers.
Lexi decides to use Jane Austen’s strategies from her novels to make Sam fall in love with her. She takes up playing the piano, plans to take Sam dancing, and does everything Austen’s characters did to throw Sam off his game.
But is Lexi safe from the feelings her own strategies stir up? Will Sam fall for her, and can she navigate whatever relationship develops without getting hurt? Or will they end up falling for each other, living out the enemies-to-lovers trope that Lexi’s romance novels have taught her?
“Bookishly Ever After” is fantastic. I know it has mixed reviews on Goodreads, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it, laughing, crying, and falling in love with the characters. Lexi is so relatable as she fiercely protects her “baby” — her bookshop. Her internal monologues are entertaining, especially as she tries (and often fails) to sort out her feelings for Sam. I love her dedication in creating a good working environment for her employees and a welcoming space for her customers.
Sam, on the other hand, is a man carrying scars from past family issues and relationships. He’s a broken man willing to seek help and heal to be the right partner for someone. He’s a sharp businessman and an excellent pianist. The moments when Sam and Lexi are getting to know each other, sharing their pasts and understanding why they are the way they are, are some of the best parts of the book.
Plus, the story is set in Washington D.C., one of my favorite places I’ve visited in the USA. It’s refreshing to read about a place I’ve experienced, making it easier to relate to the characters' feelings and experiences.
And do I need to mention all the Jane Austen references? There are so many, especially from “Pride and Prejudice,” my all-time favorite classic. Sam felt like a modern Mr. Darcy, bringing back all the fond memories of when I first read Austen’s work.
I could go on and on about how much I loved this book. If you get a chance to grab a copy, I’d recommend avoiding reviews that downplay its charm. Dive in with an open mind, enjoy the story, and connect with the characters. I’m sure you’ll find it to be a hidden gem.
“Bookishly Ever After” hits the shelves on June 6th. Thanks to Mia Page, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK for the early access to this delightful read in exchange for an honest review. It was worth every smile, laugh, and tear!
September 15, 2024
This book was awful. It was so embarrassing to read about a full grown woman acting like that.
April 30, 2025
I'd say 3 1/2 stars
May 18, 2024
I do love a good bookish story.
This is an enemies-to-lovers story about rival book shop owners Lexi Austen and Sam Dickens, who vie for the most custom in their Washington, DC, book shops.
Both shops have coexisted fine over the years until Sam takes over Great Expectations, primarily a second-hand bookstore, and begins changing his offerings. This affects Lexi's business, a bookshop set up by her grandmother.
You have plenty of Britishisms, with Lexi's character originally having been from the UK, and comparisons. Obviously, there is a connection to two classic authors, given the names of our two main characters, but it was a bit predictable.
Yes, Lexi and Sam have chemistry, but ultimately, they come across as quite mature in handling situations, considering they are meant to be mature business-owning adults.
There's plenty of to-ing and fro-ing, will they, won't they situations, but it was a pretty long-winded read and could have been shorter.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.
This is an enemies-to-lovers story about rival book shop owners Lexi Austen and Sam Dickens, who vie for the most custom in their Washington, DC, book shops.
Both shops have coexisted fine over the years until Sam takes over Great Expectations, primarily a second-hand bookstore, and begins changing his offerings. This affects Lexi's business, a bookshop set up by her grandmother.
You have plenty of Britishisms, with Lexi's character originally having been from the UK, and comparisons. Obviously, there is a connection to two classic authors, given the names of our two main characters, but it was a bit predictable.
Yes, Lexi and Sam have chemistry, but ultimately, they come across as quite mature in handling situations, considering they are meant to be mature business-owning adults.
There's plenty of to-ing and fro-ing, will they, won't they situations, but it was a pretty long-winded read and could have been shorter.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon Books for an ARC.
April 15, 2024
Bookishly Ever After” is a fun enemies to lover rom-com. The story is set in the Capital Hill neighborhood of District of Columbia. Being a Washingtonian since birth, author Mia Page, did a wonderful job capturing the neighborhood and vibe of Capitol Hill area. I just adored this element. Also loved the story revolving around bookstores. The main character Lexi has
Inherited her grandmother’s book story and her love of Jane Austin. Rival bookstore owner, Sam, starts to poach some of Lexi’s customers with new marketing ideas. But yet there’s a spark between the two of them. Great, easy read to get lost in. Thank you to Net Galley and Avon publishing for this ARC. Put this on your list to read. Coming out June 6th 2024
Inherited her grandmother’s book story and her love of Jane Austin. Rival bookstore owner, Sam, starts to poach some of Lexi’s customers with new marketing ideas. But yet there’s a spark between the two of them. Great, easy read to get lost in. Thank you to Net Galley and Avon publishing for this ARC. Put this on your list to read. Coming out June 6th 2024
April 19, 2024
I'm a sucker for a book about books, and the premise of the story won me over. Enemies to lovers and rival Bookshop owners what more could I ask for.
After a slow start, the story does pick up pace, and I'm glad I perservered as it was quite a fun and enjoyable read. I also found the relationship between Lexi and Sam and a bit boring in the end as I think there was just a little much too-ing and Fro-ing. Honestly, I just never knew what was to expect next and thought I really couldn't relate in any way.
Writing wise, I wasn't sure if it was meant to be in 1st or 3rd person as I found it switched quite often. 🤔
Despite all of this, like I said, it was a fun read, and other people who enjoy bookish books and familiar tropes might enjoy it.
After a slow start, the story does pick up pace, and I'm glad I perservered as it was quite a fun and enjoyable read. I also found the relationship between Lexi and Sam and a bit boring in the end as I think there was just a little much too-ing and Fro-ing. Honestly, I just never knew what was to expect next and thought I really couldn't relate in any way.
Writing wise, I wasn't sure if it was meant to be in 1st or 3rd person as I found it switched quite often. 🤔
Despite all of this, like I said, it was a fun read, and other people who enjoy bookish books and familiar tropes might enjoy it.
June 17, 2024
A huge thanks to the team at Avon Books for this proof in exchange for an honest review.
I had an absolutely divine time reading this book. From the moment we were introduced to Lexi, I adored her. Her love for books, dedication towards her shop and drive to succeed made her a fab female protagonist.
I mean, shock horror, but of course I fell in deep love with Sam - I mean who wouldn't? A book loving, piano playing god. There was so much substance to him too - his caring nature, his need for security and all around the generosity he shows, not always evidently mind you.
The way in which their relationship blossomed, all from Lexi's plan to make him fall in love with her and sabotage his career, was a stroke of genius and was executed so incredibly well.
An overall delightful read and one I would recommend to romance readers everywhere.
I had an absolutely divine time reading this book. From the moment we were introduced to Lexi, I adored her. Her love for books, dedication towards her shop and drive to succeed made her a fab female protagonist.
I mean, shock horror, but of course I fell in deep love with Sam - I mean who wouldn't? A book loving, piano playing god. There was so much substance to him too - his caring nature, his need for security and all around the generosity he shows, not always evidently mind you.
The way in which their relationship blossomed, all from Lexi's plan to make him fall in love with her and sabotage his career, was a stroke of genius and was executed so incredibly well.
An overall delightful read and one I would recommend to romance readers everywhere.
May 21, 2024
If was a way an author could transport every dream and wish for the perfect book and put it down on paper then Mia Page has succeeded with Bookishly Ever After.
This is everything I want in a book. From enemies to lovers, bookshops, Jane Austen quotes and a love for the West Wing. I feel like this book was written just for me and I loved every single page.
I smiled, I laughed, I was rooting for Lexi throughout. I adored the characters, their struggles and the banter between Lexi and Sam was just superb.
All the love for this book.
This is everything I want in a book. From enemies to lovers, bookshops, Jane Austen quotes and a love for the West Wing. I feel like this book was written just for me and I loved every single page.
I smiled, I laughed, I was rooting for Lexi throughout. I adored the characters, their struggles and the banter between Lexi and Sam was just superb.
All the love for this book.
May 29, 2025
2.5 stars. Started this a few weeks ago and abandoned it due to the cliches and predictability. Picked it back up since I had bought it and was determined to get my money’s worth 😂
Warning: a few spoilers below!
I’m glad I finished it. The second time I picked it up I got much more drawn in and became invested in the characters. The third (and fourth 🙄) act break ups were annoying and unnecessary - more so than usual. But things came to a fairly satisfying - if predictable - conclusion. And even Sam’s Mr. Darcy proposal made me smile more than roll my eyes, though it was a close thing.
Warning: a few spoilers below!
I’m glad I finished it. The second time I picked it up I got much more drawn in and became invested in the characters. The third (and fourth 🙄) act break ups were annoying and unnecessary - more so than usual. But things came to a fairly satisfying - if predictable - conclusion. And even Sam’s Mr. Darcy proposal made me smile more than roll my eyes, though it was a close thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
This was a cute enemy to lovers about two rival bookshop owners. It was kind of slow at first but picked up about half way through. Lexi is trying to save her bookshop that she inherited from her beloved grandmother and Sam is her biggest competitor.
December 12, 2024
Was it predictable? Kinda. Was I kicking my feet giggling? Hell yes!
December 21, 2024
It was just so...... pretentious? While having a plot that drug on like 200 pages too many.
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