What If We Met In A Bookstore

by Callie McLay

She’s ready to turn a new page… He doesn't want the story to be over.

When Briar Verlice finds out her favorite bookstore in Homer, Alaska, is on the verge of closing, she jumps at the opportunity to save it. But her high school crush and former classmates are back in town, making her plans a lot more difficult. When an array of riddles comes into her possession, they trigger a memory from a time she disappeared without a trace. While digging into the clues, Briar discovers the reason for her disappearance might stray into the realm of fiction and magic.

Peter West, dreaming of becoming a successful escape room artist, is striving to build a career from crafting unique puzzles. When he gets the offer of a lifetime, he sets out to create an escape room worthy of his small town. But when riddles Peter never devised begin to surface before construction on the attraction even begins, so does a wild secret—one that demands the escape room be built as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly reunited with the girl who’s held his heart since high school, Peter’s reality is shattered when the bookstore becomes a literal place of escape. Can they unravel the mysteries before life as they know it comes to an end?

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Books About Books, Christian Fiction, Magical Realism, Christian

424 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2024

About the author

Callie McLay was born and raised in the beautiful state of Alaska. She spent most of her time as a teen writing fantastical stories in notebooks and raising a variety of farm animals. With fond memories of spending the night in haylofts, hiking through many Alaskan mountains, and opening wardrobe doors; she’s always had the hope of finding Narnia. When she’s not writing, she enjoys playing the violin, making watercolor paints, and discussing life & theology over a cup of chai.

You can connect with her on Instagram: @brynnthebooknymph

Reviews

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful portal fantasy putting into action the idea of books being portals into other worlds.

What I loved: The story has beautiful themes and rich world-building that transports the reader between worlds. There are delightful twists and turns as well as unnerving and unsettling ones. This world's magic has a Narnia-esque quality to it without copying that of Narnia or Tolkien's worlds.
McLay wraps up this first story completely while leaving you aching for more, too. There are other elements of the story that are likely to follow in subsequent books, and that gives the faint whiff of a cliffhanger, but the book can stand alone as it chooses.
While the story doesn't claim to be Christian fiction, and those without interest in matters of faith will likely not notice anything, those who do hold to Christian faith will see it woven into the story seamlessly. If it claimed to be Christian fiction, I'd be a little disappointed at how subtle it is, but since it doesn't, I am impressed by how well it is done.
What I didn't love so much:
Mostly I didn't enjoy the first-person POV for at least the first half. It improved dramatically in the second half, but in the first part of the book, the number of sentences beginning with "I...." became frustrating to read. They jumped off the page. I wasn't a huge fan of the present tense employed, but it was done well. I did appreciate that we got TWO POVs rather than just one. It definitely helped the story's pacing and avoiding info-dumpy moments. Still, as I said, it was far better by the end of the book and I look forward to the next.
Recommended for lovers of portal fantasy who just want a good, cozy, feel-good story with action and a bit of adventure, too.

[Abby (Reader of Clean Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75✨

The premise was cool. And the Pride and Prejudice references were funny.

[Callie McLay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm the author and I wanted to let you know that this book, What If We Met In A Bookstore is now available online in paperback, hardcover, and ebook. Audiobook to come in the future!

To get more updates, sign up for my substack (link in bio) or follow me on IG: @brynnthebooknymph
Can't wait to see this book in reader's hands!

If you like a few pop culture references, literary references, fantasy, and cozy small town vibes, then this book might be for you.

[★*☆♪Ev★*☆♪ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really great story. I was just unimpressed with the characters. They were a little immature, in my opinion.

[Charlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

my husband liked the title and cover and picked it out for me at a local bookstore. I had no idea this was Christian fiction until I read the acknowledgements. I guess it's subtle? but the acknowledgement hoping we all find Jesus was a bit much for me.

anyways this was cozy and an easy read. very low stakes.

the writing leaned too heavily on real world examples to explain things. what is someone never read lord of the rings or Narnia? the actual writing itself could have been stronger. I felt like it was 2 books mushed together. a small town romance and a fantasy world that's in turmoil. I never felt either got justice.

[Rachel Reads]

This book was…written by somebody who wanted to write Narnia fanfic but for a ~young adult~ audience who is ALSO obsessed with escape rooms? I never want to read an entire escape room solving hour-long experience. Why would anyone?? This book was so weird. And SO complicated and confusing - for no good reason??

****EDIT: I finished the acknowledgments and the final paragraph there is about how she hopes her readers find Jesus so. I guess that explains at least a couple things. Lol.

[Kate Willis]

I really wanted to love this book, and the VIBES were impeccable. Unfortunately, I felt my interest waning with the introduction of the other world. I'm not a huge fan of fairy stories. I also failed to connect with any of the characters and some of the descriptions were ponderous, making the book feel very slow.

[TransparentFilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a little hard to rate. While the story was intriguing, and I definitely think there are possibilities with the storyline, I wasn't as impressed as I hoped to be.
I was once again dismayed at how many typos there were in this story! They steadily grew worse as I neared the end of the book. I know that many books seem to be self-published or published through indie publishers, but proofreading is not an option. It is distracting from the stories. I have started removing half a star because of them.
I'm guessing the target audience is young teens since the characters talked of school nonstop, and none seemed to have developed into adulthood. Between absentee parents to unrequited love, I felt as if I were reading a fantasy Trixie Belden book.
Briar doesn't seem to have the charisma to draw all men (just how old was Wystan?) to love her. While it was so nice not to read the filth of fornication that is prevalent in so many teen books, the Worlder guys seemed rather flat, like they were out of children's books from the 1880s. Twenty-one and listens to Vivaldi, drinks hot tea, and kisses the hand of a fair lady?
I am guessing the writer was homeschooled; sourdough starter, tons of movie references, hand-knit sweaters and socks, gallons of chai tea, and the strangeness of the young men.
I did enjoy the story, and I think the writer will continue to develop as she goes. I look forward to the next chapter in the series.

[Leah Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll be the first to say i’m not the biggest fan of fantasy, but this one was a lovely adventure! Briar is a soft, sweet character who grabbed my attention, and Peter was just a cinnamon roll of a human. Mix those characters in with a cozy, book-centered plot, and this book crept into my heart. Even if you’re not a fan of fantasy, give this book a go and enjoy a world of owls, books, portals, and magnificent masquerades! 😍

[Rebecca Alexandru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a beautiful portal fantasy that had me longing for both places: both the real bookstore in Homer, AK and the fantasy world with its luscious landscape! I love how the author transported me into both worlds with her beautiful writing! I will be anxiously waiting for the sequel and more from this author.

[Becca Glick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished your book! It's great! So engaging and interesting. I could hardly put it down, it's a real page turner that displays the importance of being truthful and honest - no lies, the importance of being intentional in relationships with others and showing that light always overcomes darkness. I absolutely loved it! Thank you!

[MzDimitri · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars.
Things I didn’t like: This book was a portal fantasy book and I don’t like portal fantasy (unless it’s Narnia), plus the portal part was the main part of this book. The romance felt kind of forced and there might have been an attempted love triangle? Maybe? I’m not really sure if that was the case or not. This book also kind of felt like it was the author’s first book, not in a really good way. I also didn’t like the pacing of the chapters. For example, one chapter (POV 1) would go by over the length of a day and at the start of the next chapter (POV 2) it would be the beginning of the day and it would go through the whole day again.
Things I liked: I liked Breezewood itself, I think it was a really cool place and it definitely gave me Narnia and Lord of the Rings vibes. I also liked some of the plot twists that were implemented. Ooh! And I really liked how our MMC was an escape room builder, that was super cool. This was also a squeaky clean book, there wasn’t anything bad in it (that I can recall) and the characters were cool as well.
All in all, this book just wasn’t for me. It was a lot of little things that built up into making me dislike this book. I went into it expecting a cute, rom-com, type book and that’s not what I got. We did get a little bit of the cute romance, but it was not really part of the plot at all.

[Viola Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

This was a sweet, cozy portal fantasy that had a lot of cute moments.

I loved Breezewood, being there was definitely my favorite part. I wish that we could have spent more time in Breezewood with the characters there. It felt a little rushed and always like the characters from our world were freaking out and trying to figure out how to get back. I really wanted to just sit there for a while and enjoy the scenery and the people.

See this review on my blog: https://literarycottage.org/2024/06/2...

The love story between Peter and Briar was cute. They were both pretty adorable and I like that it didn't feel like it took them too long to start communicating, which is always nice to see. It was a little strange that it felt like Briar was admired by a couple of male characters. She was definitely not the only worthy female in the book, so I didn't like that it took Briar admitting she liked Peter in order for the story to allow the other males to pick other females.

All in all super cute, I want more time in Breezewood and less time solving puzzles, but that all is personal preference.

[Bailee Bentley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The blurb on the back of the book was a lot more exciting then the actual story.

It was not as well written as I would have hoped. We get a very superficial description of the world and any of the characters. Making it hard to really feel for any of it. No character growth, and certain parts of the plot were poorly constructed. To make it work it seemed like the author mashed a reasoning together. 

The author relied on other written novels for the reader to get a description of what this magical world was like, and to understand the action of the characters. 

The romance was cringe, and certain things that were said in the book were really weird, unless coming from a religious perspective. After reading the last paragraph in the acknowledgements, it confirms what I thought. But doesn't improve the way it was delivered.

[Kalie (Half of Pristine Prose) · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Substack reader) ARC review:


I've been looking for a good, cozy fantasy and I found it! This book has so many unique twists on familiar storytelling. I found it quite fun and relaxing every time I read a new chapter. Our main characters are college age but have chosen career paths outside of college, which I personally don't read a lot of in books, and it made a very nice difference. Their hometown of Alaska has a magical mystery that connects to a pivotal moment of their childhood. A great group of friends coming back together after years apart. And baking and tea (with a recipe inside!) I really enjoyed the mystery and the group of friends convening in a lighthouse to puzzle the pieces together. It gave Nancy Drew vibes and I was so here for it. They also took keeping this magical mystery a secret seriously and were smart about it, which was so nice to see. Characters tend to make dumb mistakes easy too often, but not these ones.

The magical world they discovered through a portal is so cool! There are scary monsters they run from a lot, a dark evil king they must dethrone, and GIANT OWLS THEY FLY ON! I must admit this may be my favorite part of the magic world.

And of course, there is the most important part of this story. The romance! This is the most adorable second chance romance I have read. It takes much longer for the two mcs to see each other than I originally thought it would. Like two ships passing in the night. But, once they finally do get together, it is so worth the wait. They are adorable, sweet, and charming. Peter is such a gentleman, and we need more of those in this modern world.

Over all I  enjoyed this cozy portal fantasy. I managed to have twists at the end, but I didn't see coming. I had fun reading, despite the amount of standing around and taking the characters do as they try to solve the mystery. It was a different pacing than what I'm used to, but I think I liked it. That made it a comfort read. There were lots of references and comparisons made to other books that I really enjoyed. For example,  inkheart and Narnia. The two characters are brilliant, tea loving sunshines that it was fun to root for. This is a story that every clean reader needs on their shelf.

Full blog review with content notes: https://pristineprose.wordpress.com/2...

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: What If We Met In A Bookstore by Callie McLay
​Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
​If you’ve ever walked into a local bookstore and wished you could disappear into the shelves—literally—then Callie McLay’s debut, What If We Met In A Bookstore, is exactly the kind of "bookish" magic you’re looking for.

​The story follows Briar Verlice, who returns to her hometown of Homer, Alaska, only to find her sanctuary—the local bookstore—is on the brink of closing. Briar is determined to save it, but her mission is complicated by the return of her high school crush, Peter West.

​While Briar fights for the store's physical survival, Peter is busy trying to build a career as an escape room designer. Things take a turn for the surreal when mysterious riddles (that Peter didn't write) begin appearing. Soon, the bookstore transforms from a place of comfort into a literal gateway to another realm.

​what I enjoyed
McLay does a fantastic job of capturing the cozy, slightly chilly vibe of Homer, Alaska. You can practically smell the old pages and the salt air.

The transition from a contemporary romance setting into a magical "portal" fantasy was handled beautifully. It felt reminiscent of classic childhood adventures like The Chronicles of Narnia, but with a YA romantic twist.

Seeing the story through both Briar and Peter’s eyes added depth to their history. Their shared past and the "riddles" they have to solve together keep the pacing tight and the tension high.

The book explores why we love stories—not just as entertainment, but as places we actually inhabit when our own world feels like it's falling apart.

​Reason for 4 stars:
​While the world-building is rich, the transition between the "real world" and the "fantasy world" felt a bit abrupt at times. I would have loved to see a little more development of the magic system in the first half to prepare for the wilder second half. Additionally, the romance is very "sweet" and leans into some familiar tropes, which might feel a bit safe for readers who prefer high-stakes "enemies-to-lovers" drama.

​Final Thoughts
​What If We Met In A Bookstore is a love letter to readers and puzzle-solvers alike. It’s a refreshing take on the "save the bookstore" trope that successfully pivots into a high-concept fantasy adventure. I recommend.

[Annie Lima · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of potential. The actual story concept is really good. The characters and their relationships are fun and well-thought-out.

Unfortunately, the poor writing and lack of professional editing ruined it for me. The book does a lot of showing instead of telling, and many concepts are not fleshed out clearly. Few sensory details are given, which is a pity, because the settings could otherwise be rich and fascinating. The characters often make assumptions and jump to conclusions that just aren't logical based on the information they have (even though they're correct), simply because the author knows that's how things are. The text is full of unnecessary words and even whole paragraphs that could be trimmed out without losing anything. At one point, there's even an entire recipe written out in full for absolutely no reason. (All readers need to know is that the protagonist made cinnamon rolls. Who cares exactly what amounts of each ingredient went in? And no, it didn't describe her going through all the steps as she prepared them. It just had the whole recipe sitting there on the page.) A good editor could have trimmed out the unnecessary parts and shown many ways to strengthen the book. And speaking of editing, this book desperately needs a proofread. The author has no idea how to punctuate direct quotations, and there are many grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and missing or misused words. Like many writers who use present tense, the author frequently gets mixed up and reverts to past tense for current story events, or confuses when to use simple past and when to use past perfect for events that happened previously.

I wanted to love this book, and I probably would have, if all the errors and problems didn't keep yanking me out of the story. If it were edited well, I would likely devour the rest of the series. As it is, though, I'm done.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited for this premise: a cozy maybe-romantasy involving a bookstore and an escape room? There has never been anything more up my alley. Turns out, that’s the only reason for the second star.

The writing is wooden (and riddled with typos), as if this were a first draft rather than the finished product. (I also got strong AI vibes, like in the lack of contractions for some characters.) And I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was a 60+ yo author writing about 20 yo characters, because they are both younger than their ages and yet wildly aged up, like 35 yo lifestyles with 15 yo decision-making.

The romance doesn’t even qualify as sweet (because it’s contained to glances, essentially, and is heavily conservative-Christian coded) and the book references, rather than making you feel nostalgic for favorites, were used as a shortcut to writing descriptions: why create your own world and scenery, when you can just mention Tolkien, right?

I am so sorry I hated it. Next time, please get some phenomenal editors because this could have been so much better.

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V.]

DNF at 86%. While there was a lot to like about this book that offers an interesting take on portal fantasy, what got to me and finally led to this decision to give it up are the inconsistencies in the second half along with the ridiculously naive romance that felt like the characters never grew out of their emotionally-driven idiotic teens even though they're ostensibly in their twenties and ought to have gained some life lessons and maturity. I'm disappointed at the missed potential, because there is a lot of that in this novel. Unfortunately, it's all unrealized and I just don't care enough to finish.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good writing, too many plots.

After a brief skim of the book blurb, I expected a second-chance romance set in a bookstore. That plot was there, but there's also a portal fantasy where a group of young adults is trying to save the fantasy world. I didn't understand why the characters were making the choices they made, which made it incredibly difficult to connect with them or get into the story. Overall, the book was good, but would have been greatly improved if it had more clearly decided what kind of book it wanted to be.

3 stars, average rating.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This may be my favorite book cover ever!

However, the story left a bit to be desired. The plotting could have been much tighter. The premise was solid, though, and I think if the author would have written this book after ten more years of craft study, it would have been a stronger book. I look forward to seeing her writing journey progress.

[Kouthar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Subjectively terrible writing.
Author kept using other books to describe breezewood.
The romance was so boring. I don't think the MC's ever had any real connection. The plot was filled with holes and just all over the place. This is NOT similar to Emily Wilde in the least.

[Tommy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in a bookstore in anchorage and loved how it was written by a newer author from Alaska. It quickly became a comfort book with my downtime. Briar and Peter forever and long live breezewood

[Blandi Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a surprise!

I picked up this book thinking it would be a book lover’s perfect romance and did it ever deliver! It was much more than I ever imagined I was getting into but am so glad I did!

[Cricket Muse]

A YA portal fantasy with slight romance.

[Anu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me ....

[SarieBerrie]

Soft DNF
this is really good, just really slow. 4 people are waiting for it on Libby so I am just going to pass it along and try again later.

[Ellie Doud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Briar and Peter 🩷🥰
If you are a fan of the Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett you will love this book.

[Autumn Maisy Raquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

looks very interesting really want to read it

[Karey C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn’t bad but don’t have an interest to continue the series.