The Romance Library

The Romance Library #1

by Olivia Spring

Two rivals. One battle. And an epic love story they didn't see coming.

When a virtual stranger unexpectedly leaves Jess one million pounds to create a romance library in gorgeous small seaside town Sunshine Bay, she can’t believe her luck.

Although Jess has no idea how to run a library and is in a massive reading slump, accepting the challenge means she could stop juggling three jobs and swap her crummy London bedsit for a dreamy life by the sea.

But wealthy, arrogant and handsome Henry Cavill lookalike Theo has other ideas.

The bullish property developer’s father has instructed him to buy the same coveted plot of land and failure isn’t an option. Theo’s future depends on it.

After the landowner insists that Jess and Theo stay in the town’s only B&B whilst they prepare a presentation to decide their fate, sparks fly.

But with so much riding on winning the pitch, these rivals can’t get involved.

Which is a problem, because the more time they spend together, the harder they start to fall...

Order this dual POV, steamy, enemies-to-lovers, small-town romcom now and get lost in a love story that will give you all the feels!

Tropes:
- Enemies-to-lovers

- Small-town romance

- Romance book lovers

- Forced proximity

- Work rivals/competitors

- Opposites attract

- Fish out of water

- Rich vs poor

- Forbidden romance

Genres: Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Chick Lit, Books About Books, Contemporary Romance

426 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2024

About the author

Olivia Spring is the bestselling author of fifteen romantic comedy and women’s fiction books.

Whether you want to fake date a hot Hollywood movie star in London, jet off to Paris with a handsome billionaire, enjoy some sun, sand and sea with a gorgeous Spanish DJ in Marbella or attend a castle wedding in the South of France, Olivia’s books will help you to escape reality and transport you to a dreamy romantic location. No ticket or passport required!

Olivia was born and raised in London and divides her time between the UK and Spain.

When she's not writing new steamy romcoms, Olivia can be found reading on the beach, enjoying cupcakes and cocktails and of course, seeking inspiration for her next book!

For exclusive updates, join the Olivia Spring VIP club at
https://www.oliviaspring.com/

Reviews

[mrsljgibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, if ever there was a perfect, sexy, uplifting, romantic, spicy, small-town rom com then this book is it!!

This book is, hands down, my most favourite book of the year and has absolutely everything i could wish for in a book!

The Romance Library is set in a little town at the seaside called Sunshine Bay - even the name of the town is perfect!!

I absolutely loved getting to know all the characters, not just Theo and Jess but also the constant supply of wonderful side characters too. I loved getting to know them all and where they lived and what businesses they run and what they all contribute to their community.

The book was very much community based and this definitely added to the whole heartwarming feeling of the story.

The two main characters, Theo and Jess were such amazing characters and i fell in love with Jess straight away. Theo took a little bit longer to worm his way into my heart but once he was there he cast a love spell on me and i was hooked!!

The banter between Theo and Jess was just hilarious and i found myself crying with laughter over and over again!

I also found this story to be very emotional too and it definitely gave my feelings a full on workout, which was extremely satisfying!

I really love how Olivia always intertwines previous book characters into her current story and we get lovely little snippets and updates of their lives too and this is a perfect little touch!

This was an absolutely amazing story and if i could give it more stars i definitely would, it deserves them…

The Romance Library contains everything that makes a book amazing and as i was reading it i got goosebumps several times - which is how i measure just how good a book really is!!

After reading The Romance Library i really want to go and visit Sunshine Bay and go to the Romance Library and soak up all its bookish goodness!!

And, as this is actually the first book in the new series i am now very excited to find out more about the library now that it is built and to learn more about all the wonderful residents of Sunshine Bay!!

[Hilary · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!!!! I LOVED everything about this beautiful book!

Jess and Theo were such fully developed characters, and their growth felt incredibly authentic. The town and its residents were so charming; I’d love to visit it myself! Olivia’s writing had me hooked from start to finish, and now I’m eager to dive into another story featuring characters from this book. I can't wait to start book two in the series—I'm beyond excited!

[Sherri Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should come as no surprise to anyone who has read an Olivia Spring novel that they are in for a wonderful and exciting adventure with The Romance Library. I adored Jessica and Theo and was rooting for them so hard to not let their competition come between them, as well as their emotional baggage and toxic relationships. How exciting would it be to inherit a million dollars to refurbish a historical building and turn it into a library that caters to the romance genre?

I had a lot of empathy for Jessica feeling overwhelmed as I would feel the same way. I also felt a lot of excitement for the project she is beginning to undertake and wanted to be there so I could help get the library going. The author does a brilliant job of building on the mutual hostility and dislike Jessica and Theo feel, slowly peeling back layers in both characters, revealing their vulnerability and eventually attraction for one another.

The supporting characters of the residents of Sunshine Bay add to the charm of the story. The town sounds so inviting and warm and I enjoyed seeing Theo’s initial discomfort at being forced to reside in this town that has none of the conveniences he is accustomed to in London.

The dual POV is expertly played out and I find I enjoy getting multiple points of view more than just one. This is the first book in the series so returning to Sunshine Bay will be something readers can look forward to. This story made me laugh, annoyed me (Theo’s father is a real piece of work) and got me a little misty eyed.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of the romance genre. This is great feel-good book and, like me, you will want to head straightaway to Sunshine Bay to visit The Romance Library.

Thank you to the author, Olivia Spring, for the invitation to read and review.

[Sienasummerrreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Books allow you to experience a million different adventures without leaving home. I couldn’t imagine a life without them.”

This follows Jess, who is working three jobs day by day to get by, one of them being as a home elderly support worker. She is trying out a new job with a lady named Mrs. Davis. When she steps into her home, she discovers thousands and thousands of romance books, with Mrs. Davis dreaming of opening a romance library for the public one day at a beautiful seaside view location. Then we have Theo, whose father owns Evan’s Enterprises, a company that buys and sells luxury properties. The perfect seaside view property has come on the market, and both Jess and Theo will have to win over the owner’s heart with a pitch on why they want it and how it will benefit the tight-knit community.

This was an easy, fun read that serves as a great palate cleanser. The rivals-to-lovers element was fantastic. This book is like a romance reader’s dream. Jess has been through a lot in her life, but being given this opportunity really sparked a love for the community, the town, and finding a love for reading again after it was ripped away from her. Once Theo got to know Jess, he was supportive, kind, and loved spending time with her. These two are great for each other. The rocking chair scene is illegal and is a scene I will remember. I will say I found parts of this story unrealistic. This is more of a personal preference, as I like to imagine if it would happen in real life. From the get-go, you knew who would win and who had no chance. I was cringing at how cheesy some bits were in the book, and I found myself reading quite a few exciting sentences ending with an exclamation mark quite often. Overall, I really enjoy Olivia Spring’s work, and this was lighthearted and refreshing.

If you love:

🔹Small Town Romance
🔹Rivals To Lovers
🔹Opposites Attract
🔹Forced Proximity
🔹Forbidden
🔹Perfect Amount Of Spice

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Kindle Read
Pages: 390
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟.5
Spice: 🌶️
Series or Stand Alone: Book One In The Romance Library
Tropes or Themes: Small Town, Rivals To Lovers, Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract, Forbidden, Slow Burn, Family Drama, Grand Gesture, Sexual Content, Some FTB Scenes and Public Play
Discusses: Loss and Grief
Check Triggers ⚠️ 💫

All Round Romance Reader 
Sienasummerrreads 💕📚
TikTok | Instagram | Goodreads | StoryGraph | Everand | Amazon | Audible Reviews 💫

[Nathalie Evele · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was this book written by AI? Genuine question. The writing style is choppy, lacks emotion and the characters are juvenile/no chemistry. It genuinely reads as though a robot wrote it. Unskilled.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Olivia Spring and Hartley Publishing for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

I have been a fan of Olivia Spring Rom Com’s for a while now. However, none of her books grasped my attention, felt relatable, and touched my heart the way that this one did. I felt we were seeing a different side of Olivia in this book.

What originally grabbed my attention was the fun bookish graphic on the front that very much represented the book well.

I can totally relate to Mr. Davis when she said that ‘Reading is like a holiday for the mind. Books allow you to experience a million different adventures without leaving home.’ We both couldn’t agree more and can’t imagine life without them.

Jessica seemed to be very passionate once about reading but it was taken away from her. I was very interested to find out what made her lose that fire within her.

I could not stop laughing when Mrs. Davis asked Jessica if she had a boyfriend. After I just entered into the dating pool after many years away I could vouch for Jessica's statement that real-life boyfriends aren’t as good as fictional ones.

Now, I am an open minded reader and little shocks me but there was one scene I was not expecting to see in Olivia’s book. I too wanted to knee that guy in the balls!!

It was mixed emotions along with Jes when we heard that she
had acquired Mrs. Davis dreams of building a romance library after only meeting her once. This is the story about bringing Mrs Davis' dream to become a reality no matter what the obstacles that stopped in their way.

Of course there has to be a little bit of romance in this book as that is what Olivia is best known for.

The Romance Library is definitely a book you must put on your TBR List as it is a must read.

[Hannah Clarke (Love Books Actually) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to visit the Romance Library! Gutted this place doesn’t actually exist, also gutted the book the characters were reading throughout the story also doesn’t exist.. I checked, it doesn’t 😆 Olivia you need to bring Office Delight out!

Book lover Jess is doing everything she can to keep afloat after escaping a toxic relationship. Working 3 jobs while living in a crummy bedsit isn’t what she planned for her life but when a job opportunity comes up, little does she know meeting Mrs Davis would change her life. When Jess gets the chance to open a Romance Library in the idyllic seaside town of Sunshine Bay she didn’t expect to have a rival. Property developer Theo, wealthy, arrogant and bloody handsome has plans of his own for the land. Pressure from his father and his future on the line for this, Theo cannot fail, he mustn’t.

Landowner Edwin Dickinson has a big decision to make so insists that Jess and Theo stay in the town, soak up the community and prepare a presentation to decide their fate. Even though they try to keep their distance from each other and stay rivals, it gets tough when they are forced together and an unlikely friendship blooms, one with a little spice 😉 I loved the chemistry between Jess and Theo, I loved the banter between them but I also enjoyed the emotional moments too. Especially for Theo, I loved how his character developed throughout the story and I loved all the special touches he did for Jess. Swoon! I won’t give away the ending but it was spot on, i wasn’t disappointed.
It was also a really nice surprise to catch up with previous book characters, I didn’t expect that at all and I love getting snippets and updates on what they are doing now.

Sunshine Bay was the perfect setting, with the best community. I’d love to visit May’s for fish and chips, pop to the Seaview arms for a drink before a walk along the beach. I love Olivia’s writing, I can fall very easily and quickly into her books and end up finishing with a book hangover so it’s a good thing this is part of a series and we get to re visit Sunshine Bay soon. Thank you Olivia for the ARC and for always inviting me along to your blog tours, roll on the next one!

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a contemporary romance because sometimes you just need to slip one in to remind your brain it’s not all darkness 🤭

We follow our FMC Jessica from meeting Mrs Davies into a war to win the right to purchase an old school, her opponent is a rich guy who at first comes across as arrogant but our girl is feisty. They have to spend three weeks in a quaint little town in the south of England. The build up to their presentation, the consequences of them being thrown together, the community who welcome them makes for a great read. Her never ending enthusiasm comes across and obviously the romance of it all (sigh!)

It’s well written, keeps you engaged, a few times it has you wondering, there’s spicy scenes and effective visuals of the area. Enjoyed my step into the light for this one and I know we’d all love for this to happen to us.

[Zoé-Lee O'Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book by Olivia I have loved, and so when she asked me if I wanted to read The Love Librarian, I jumped at the chance... But before that, I had to read The Romance Library... I wasn't ready for this.

I loved everything about this book and the fact that, it felt at times, the characters were breaking the fourth wall and explaining exactly how I felt! Everything I loved in a romance book was all in these pages. I loved that we got to go on the adventure with Theo and Jess. I loved how my heart sang for them both, how I cried for them and at the end I was smiling.

I adored the idea of a romance library, too!!! What a lovely idea, and the fact that it put Jess in and out of her comfort zone at the same time...well, I was here for all of it. Both characters dealing with grief, Jess' ex doing a number on her, Theo's dad being a narcissist, we had a lot to unpack and work through to get these two where they needed to be. It was worth everything. Plus, from Jess' reaction, I think I need to hear some audiobooks narrated by Theo!!

This is one of my favourite books this year. I just need a book by Olivia. She writes realistic love stories with just the right amount of spice too...and cor that spice 🥵🥵

I am now jumping straight into the Love Librarian. I want to know more about Jane!

[Frances Wilkinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok

I was looking forward to this book but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I expected.
I thought the main characters were a bit juvenile and didn’t really feel any chemistry from them. Jess was under confident after years with a coercive and controlling partner and Theo was super confident, or arrogant from having lots of money and being successful. They were set a challenge to spend two weeks in the town where Jess wanted to buy an old school to set up a library and Theo wanted knock the building down and put up luxury flats. At the end of the two weeks they were to give the owner a presentation of their vision of the future and he would decide which he liked best.
Overall the book was ok but I felt that they could have cut 100 pages and been a more enjoyable read.

[HyperBallad]

I feel bad, another dnf.

[Tiziana Langone · Rating 4 out of 5]

When rivalry starts, do love and romance have a chance?

Jess is struggling ever since leaving her boyfriend. She has several jobs just to survive but it’s not easy… 
So when one of those jobs brings Mrs. Davis on her path, Jess doesn’t yet know that this meeting will change her life. Because after Mrs. Davis suddenly passes, Jess is flabbergasted to learn that she has inherited not only the thousands of books, but also an astronomical budget to make Mrs. Davis’s dream come true: opening a Romance Library in Sunshine Bay. 
While Jess used to love reading, that passion disappeared since her ex – boyfriend…
But who is Jess to not give Mrs. Davis’s last wish a chance? However, she is not the only one with her eyes set on the chosen plot.
Because property developer Theo has clear instruction from his father to secure the same building, at any cost.
Between the rivals sparks start to fly, after the landowner makes it clear that he hasn’t decided yet who he will sell the property to, and that he wants that both Theo and Jess stay in Sunshine Bay and get a sense of what being part of the community means while preparing a presentation.
While they are finding it more and more difficult to resist the attraction, it will only end in heartbreak as one of them will lose the battle, right?

There are books in this world that just have you swept away from the first chapter. And there are books that need a few chapters before you fall completely in love with it.
With each new book that I start, I always wonder in which category this latest addition to my long list of read books will fall.
And when I pick up a book from a beloved author, there is always that tiny bit of trepidation, as my expectations are high but that also means that I have this tiny bit of fear that I will end disappointed in a way.
Luckily for me, and for Olivia Spring, the day that I am disappointed after reading one of her books, still has to come, and hopefully in a far far far far away future! 😊

Jess’s character gave me mixed feeling from the very start. Not in the sense that I both liked and disliked her from some reason. But I felt so sorry for her as it’s clear that something happened to her, and at the same time I liked her for her mindset, as she is not a quitter, and once she put her mind to something, she just goes for it.

We don’t know what exactly happened in her past, and what made her love for reading disappear, but clearly it’s something that truly traumatized her. And the more I got to know her, and more bits from her past very revealed, the angrier I got for what she had to endure.

Yet at the same time I also admired her, because no matter how much she is struggling at the present, she hasn’t lost herself, and she is still that kind, caring and understanding person she has always been.

Now, if you are just like me, you were a bit surprised by the generosity of Mrs. Davis. Because let’s be honest for a moment, who in their right mindset would do what she did? But of course, in a book is always more possible. And no matter how strange it may seems, it’s clear that Mrs. Davis has found a kindred spirit in Jess. And that not only Mrs. Davis hopes that Jess will be able to make her dream come true, but also that Jess will find the love and passion again for reading.
But fulfilling Mrs. Davis’s wish isn’t as easy, especially as there are rivals in the field. And this in the magnificent form of Theo!

Of course the first encounter with Theo is one where Jess clashes with him. Yet as a reader, we already see the potential in their relationship.
It is easy to ‘condemn’ Theo for being the bad guy, as he is clearly Jess’s rival. But there is so much more to Theo, he isn’t just the love/hate interest and with just one mission in mind.
Theo is the ‘typical’ guy who wants to do good for his family, but that also means that he allows his own father too much to ‘play’ him. Because Theo is obviously a hard worker and has great ideas. But he is also a bit opinionated in a way, as heat first clearly follows his father’s footsteps and even dares to look down at  the way of life in Sunshine Bay.

I found it hilarious how in this book all the clichés of a romance are being addresses, discussed and even a bit ridiculed (especially by opinionated people who don’t know better…). And then to see how the love I have myself for romance was put into words, expressing exactly my own thoughts! Just great!

The physical attraction between Jess and Theo is so palpable, and it was also funny to see how they are both attempting to avoid any interaction.
But on the other hand, it was so sweet to see how not only do they find an understanding, but also just understand each other, better than they would expect. And it was heart – warming how they are also there for other, for support, comfort and…

This book in general is filled with so much warmth, not only from the main characters, but also the whole community of Sunshine Bay. They show us what a real close community means, and how welcoming people also can be.
And we also see how not everything is about money, but about heart. And that people also have to learn that lesson.

But most important, this book is filled with so much laughter, love, and understanding. I truly devoured this book so quickly, as I just had to read more! Only to regret my speed, as the end was reached far too quickly! 😊

[Sunny D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let’s just say…..I will be reading this book multiple times throughout the rest of my life. You ever just read a book and go….YESSSS! Well that was me while reading The Romance Library. I loved every single moment of this book and I encourage anyone looking for a sweet, loving and lighthearted read to grab this book immediately.

From the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but all I saw was Romance Library, Henry Cavill look a like, and I was sold. To be honest, the book has soooo much more to offer. The story is so beautiful that at the end, I just felt so full knowing that this story existed. It’s beautifully written, and it takes you on the most fulfilling journey in a book. Jessica, who is so relatable is one of the strongest characters I have seen. She’s smart even though she doesn’t think she’s capable. But she’s bold and she is herself.

Theo is the book boyfriend of our dreams. He’s rough around the edges at first, but he’s truly a gem at heart. He also had the most beautiful turn around in the story. I felt like his character was well developed and really showed progress in growing to be a better person. His life was controlled, so thats all he knew but with Jessica, all of that changed.

I will say that this story made me remember why I love reading romance novels. It brought back those memories of that first book I picked up and why I loved it. There really is true romance in this story. I think the library piece is what connected me so well. It was what drew me into the story and I loved every single moment of it. The characters were great, and I can’t wait to read Mia and Liam’s story! I also can’t wait to read Jane’s story.

Aside from the most beautiful love story, I also love desk lol, rocking chairs, and beaches way more lol Thats all I’ll say for that. But this book was fun, and exciting and just made you love reading again. It was relatable, and even the drama was so real. The issues that each character dealt with made them feel very real. It made their love story even stronger.

I hope you give this book a chance like I did. Thanks to Olivia Springs for allowing me to read this ARC. I am excited to dive into this world more and I will be purchasing a paperback copy to add to my own library collection.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[CLorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Romance Library by Olivia Spring is the perfect book for avid romance readers! After leaving a toxic relationship, book lover Jess is merely existing and working three jobs just to survive. One of her jobs takes her to the home of Mrs. Davis and her many books. Mrs. Davis has a dream of opening a romance library in Sunshine Bay at the site where she met her late husband and after she passes, she earmarks Jess as the person to bring her dream to fruition. There are two things standing in the way of her plans, Jess’s joy of reading has been stunted by her ex and real estate mogul Theo has been taxed by his overbearing father to acquire the same property to turn into posh apartments for the wealthy. Jess and Theo are tossed into a competition that neither one wanted, and the stakes are enormous. At first glance, Theo and Jess have little in common, they come from very different backgrounds and their economic situations could not be further apart. However, underneath Theo’s elegant exterior is a kind and generous man but only one person can win the competition. Will they be able to salvage their budding friendship/romance when the dust settles? Ms. Spring has given readers a truly luminous story and her description of the Romance Library is the essence of a dream. It was amazing was awesome to catch up with Liam, Mia and Nico from previous books. I look forward to reading the next story in this series.
I rehttps://theretiredreader.com/read-for... an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cathleen Whillock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soon to be your new favorite romance!!!

This story is the sweetest relationship/romance story I’ve read in quite a while. I devoured the story of Jess and Theo in under 3 nights of reading. Does the phrase “I’m just reading one more chapter” mean anything to you? If it does, you know you will always read far more than one chapter! This book will keep you reading.

Jess is a sweet girl trying to make ends meet working three jobs, when she meets a wonderful lady who has well over 20,000 romance books in a personal library. Jess finds herself in the position of making that dream come true. Enter Theo to the story. Theo had his life prescribed for him and he’s not necessarily happy about it. He’s a real estate expert and is trying to purchase the same building where Jess is trying to put her library. The competition ensues and the relationship begins.

The story takes place in the sweetest town called Sunshine Bay. The author has written this town in a way that makes you want to move! Typical small towns are gossipy in usually a negative way, however Sunshine Bay is gossipy in a positive way. Everyone shows up to support each other.

I can honestly say I was left smiling every night I read this book. I was so sad to see the story end, but thrilled to know this is the first in a series. You won’t go wrong reading the story of Jess and Theo in Sunshine Bay. It’s a wonderful and quick read that will leave you wanting more.

**** I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Shreya Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for ARC

This was a feel good and wholesome story about Jess and Theo. Actually they are rivals and any type of relationship was not affordable professionally but they couldn't resist and this is the story about them getting together.

Jess met an old lady just once and she left a whole lot of romance books and money to Jess in her will to build a Romance Library. On other side, Theo needs same property to build luxury apartments for his family owned company. Due to the property owner's condition to stay in same town to feel the vibes of the town, Theo and Jess had to live there together. Although, they were rivals and pretended to stay away from each other initially but subconsciously they liked each other which was visible in their actions.

As the story gets deeper, their chemistry gets better. I don't want to reveal any spoilers but I would just say the ending was beautiful and couldn't get any better.

I loved the feel of gorgeous small seaside town Sunshine Bay. Firstly, I love sea anyday over any other place. And secondly, the friendliness and warmth radiating from the people living there was unreal. People always seem happy and ready to help. I wish people would be kind like that in real world too.

I enjoyed this romantic story thoroughly and felt tickles in my heart whenever the main characters feel for each other. The characters were well developed and the story is written in a gripping way. I couldn't put it down and finished it in just few sittings. It is definitely recommended to Romance readers.

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Romance Library by Olivia Spring is a bookish romance set in a community-spirited seaside town.

I loved the characters of Jess and Theo. They appear to be complete opposites, with their lives at opposite ends of the financial spectrum. The chapters alternate their points of view so we get to understand their thought processes. As direct competitors for the building for sale in Sunshine Bay, they both know they needed to keep their distance from one another, but their sizzling chemistry makes that impossible.

I loved getting to know the residents of Sunshine Bay, especially Edwin and Glenda. Everyone has such sunny personalities, which is entirely in keeping with the name of the seaside town. If you are familiar with Olivia's other novels you will also recognise some familiar characters, but this book does work as a standalone too.

I adored the concept of a Romance Library, and the description of it, with the pink and white colour scheme and comfortable chairs with blankets and cushions sounded idyllic, and a book lovers dream.

The sense of community in Sunshine Bay was so warm and welcoming, that as much as both Jess and Theo wanted to avoid it, they were soon roped into community events like going to a theme park and taking part in a talent show.

The romance was beautifully written, and it perfectly balanced the spicy times with care, consideration and wonderfullly bookish moments of peace. I wanted to curl up on the bench by the beach and read my book in peace, alongside Jess and Theo.

[hailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10

olivia spring’s newest romance follows jess, a hardworking woman struggling with her estranged love of reading, when she’s left some money in a woman’s will to open a romance library in the small town of sunshine bay. unfortunately (or fortunately depending on who you ask), the property she has to buy to claim the money is also sought after by Henry Cavill look-a-like, Theo, who intends to win the property for his father’s company in order to become the next CEO.

this book is set in Great Britain and holds all the charm of fish and chips and lovely banter while also serving as an ode to the Bookstagram/Booktok community, serving as the book in which every booktokker dreams would happen to them. it is indeed very smutty and strays from the usual vanilla deeds done in some other books while also keeping its sense of humor and silliness.

i was hesitant at first of the book when first beginning to read it as its quite different than other romances and really leans into the genre and how romances have really lent themselves to modern media. however, within 25% of the way through, i was hooked and excited to see how long jess and theo could hold out before they kissed (and other things..) each other senseless. a great romance read for people shrouded within the romance book community and full of everything you’d think of when you think romance.

i am pleased to say that i received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Romance Library to review honestly and truthfully.

[Marcia Vida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess had a challenging life, working multiple jobs and rarely finding time for herself. One day, she met Mrs. Davis, who had a large collection of books and had planned to start a library with them. Unfortunately, Mrs. Davis passed away, leaving Jess shocked. To her surprise, Jess learned that she was the main heiress to Mrs. Davis's collection on the condition that she continued with the library idea.

Feeling confused and hesitant, she reluctantly accepted this challenge after encountering the arrogant Theo. In return, she anticipated a more comfortable life and the opportunity to reconnect with her love for reading, something she had neglected due to her past.

On the other hand, Jess refrained from falling in love with Theo, even though she had been disappointed in her previous relationship. Her true desire was simply to honour Ms. Davis's wish and start a new chapter in her life.

This novel immediately piqued my interest with its captivating title. As I delved deeper into its pages, I found it increasingly difficult to tear myself away. The intricate details surrounding the library and its romance collection added a fascinating layer to the story, enriching it from various perspectives.

Worth a try.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Lizzie Hammang · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚The Romance Library - Olivia Spring📚

Today is my turn on Olivia Spring’s virtual book tour for her latest release ‘The Romance Library’. I am always so thrilled to be part of Olivia’s book tours, and this was one gorgeous book! 🥰

The premise of this book got me so good and I could not wait to get stuck in. All I kept picturing was the library in Beauty and the Beast and who wouldn’t want that right? 😍

I loved the rivalry and banter between Jess and Theo, and the side characters just brought so much fun energy to the story. Everyone knows everyone and I definitely love that about a small town romance 🥰

It was so refreshing to see the character growth these characters experienced throughout this book and I love the way Olivia brings in some of our favourite characters from previous books. It’s like I never have to say goodbye to them 😊

What you can expect:
❤️‍🔥 Opposites attract
❤️‍🔥 Forced proximity
❤️‍🔥 Henry Cavill look-a-like 🥵
❤️‍🔥 Fish out of water

You know I love a somewhat forbidden, small town rom-com, throw in enemies to lovers and a work rivalry and you got me good 🙈🔥 check it out now on Kindle Unlimited!

Thank you so much to @ospringauthor for sending me this to review and having me a part of your blog tour 🙏🏻 as always I had so much fun and can’t wait for the next one! 😍

[Arti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Romance Library by Olivia Spring is a story set in a small seaside town Sunshine Bay near London.
Jessica Johnson, Jess, juggles three jobs in a day to make her ends meet and lives in a bedsit in London. And during one of the jobs, she has to be the companion of old Mrs. Davis. She is overwhelmed by her collection of books and Mrs. Davis confides in her about her dream of opening a romance library in Sunshine Bay at the school where she met her late husband. And next Jess is informed that Mrs Davis has left Jess one million pounds to create a romance library.
But she has a competitor, wealthy Theodore Eaves, a real estate developer, whose father has instructed him to buy the same coveted plot of land, for whom winning this building means acquiring his father’s real estate company.
The landowner insists that Jess and Theo stay in the town’s only B&B and prepare a presentation to decide who wins the bid for the plot.
I loved all the characters, not only Jess and Theo, but also the other residents of Sunshine Bay. The entire town knows what goes on where and are always ready to pitch in whenever required. The story has fish and chips and also the Bookstagram/Booktok community.
The story is simple, and unputdownable.
Would love to read more books by the author.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this super-sweet small-town rivals-to-lovers romance, Jess and Theo compete to buy an unused building in a friendly seaside community. Theo's father, a real estate baron, wants to knock it down and build luxury condos, while Jess's benefactor has left money for the creation of a "romance library". The buildings' owner of the building insists that Jess and Theo prepare to pitch their ideas by living and working in close quarters, and despite their initial friction they soon find themselves drawn together.

The Romance Library is full of bookish references, tropes, and devices, and while this is cute, it's sometimes taken too far for my liking. The initial plot wrangling required to put Jess in charge of the Romance Library is implausible, and both characters' backstories feel like caricatures. But once the story gets going these issues fade, and the chemistry between Jess and Theo is wonderful, evolving from resentment to curiosity to lust and friendship and finally to love. Even the titular Romance Library acquires more depth and interest as the story progresses; initially I thought it was a silly idea, and now I want someone to build it so I can visit!

[I received a complimentary ARC from BookSirens. Opinions are my own.]

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess & Theo ❤️

📚When Jess does a care visit to an older lady who is known to be difficult, she definitely doesn’t expect the effect it will have on her life. The romance book lover dies a week later and includes a provision in her will to give Jess the chance to set up a romance library with her vast book collection.

📚The only catch is that the library needs to acquire the old school building in Sunshine Bay. And Jess isn’t the only one vying for the property.

📚Theo is the son of a wealthy property developer, who has tasked him with buying the school building. Theo and Jess should be rivals but the Sunshine Bay townsfolk are much better at keeping the pair together than apart!

📚I love how Olivia Spring has created a story focused on a romance library that weaves all the best parts of a happy ever after into the pages. There are not only references to tropes, much loved authors and the love bookstagrammers and booktokers have for the genre, central to the story is getting bank the love of reading. Henry Cavill-lookalike Theo comes across as an arrogant privileged guy at first but soon his warm and kind nature is showing through.

Read an eARC copy courtesy of the author
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Pub Date 22 Aug 2024

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great opening set the mood for a lovely romance😍

4.5🌟stars
I've read quite a few of the author's recent romances and this was definitely my favorite so far! It's a fun, easy read with leads that I really liked, each with his or her own set of problems, plopped down in a friendly seaside town where everyone knows your name and business and has your back. The spice was just right, not overpowering, and it had some fun side characters. I can't think of a single thing that I did not like about this romance and the plot, particularly the challenge of creating a successful, profitable romance library in a backwater small town, was refreshingly unusual.

The female lead is just scraping by when she meets a guy who seems blessed with wealth and looks. But he steals her parking space (!) and sets up a enemies to lovers situation and circumstances just keep throwing them together until bam!, the attraction can't be ignored. And the complications of their conflicting business interests and his overbearing father added some uncertainty on the way to the HEA.

Definitely recommended.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most perfect romance!
A romance book about a romance library? Genius! This book is absolute perfection, I want this library to exist, in that town, with those people.
Down-on-love (and luck) Jessica incredibly inherits a library’s worth of romance books, with the caveat that the library must be set up in a charming seaside village. What Jess doesn’t know is that wealthy real estate developer Theo is also vying for the same building. The building owner has a few conditions before he decides who to sell his beloved building to, and it involves Theo and Jess being thrown together over and over again. It seems as if the whole village is conspiring to match this pair up.
Per the romance rules, Theo and Jess stop fighting their attraction and begin the most delicious courtship ever written. I’m not sure I’ve ever loved a couple more, and the seaside setting, the romance books, the shops, and the townspeople, all contribute to a delightful and charming book that I couldn’t put down!

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute story set in a small coastal town in England!

First of all, everyone needs a Mrs. Davis in their life. I DESPERATELY need to meet a woman who has a library of nearly 18,000 romance books just sitting in their house, waiting to start a library! It’s a dream come true!

Jess and Theo, the MCs, start off seeming like they are going to be enemies to lovers, but they actually aren’t (okay, maybe for a few minutes!). I loved that once they understood each other fairly early on in the book, they respect and admire each other but are still competing for the same thing. The story is more about them trying to come to terms with their mutual attraction and admiration, but yet for each to accomplish their goals the other has to lose.

I love watching Jess change. She starts the story so unsure of herself and her abilities, but works so hard to overcome that because of the faith Mrs. Davis had in her. She really comes into her own by the end of the story.

The crazy cast of characters living in the community add so much to the story. They truly are a welcoming, supportive, happy bunch. I hope the author writes more about them, I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading about Sunshine Bay and the Romance Library!

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Reading is like a holiday for the mind.”

What a delightful book this was! Absolutely adorable, filled with everything a romance reader is looking for plus a library and book lovers!

Jess hasn’t had the easiest life, but when she has the opportunity to run a library, her whole life could change for the best! Except, she has to win her proposal for a new library and she’s up against Theo, a very wealthy man, working for his father, who also has his own business proposal for the same building.

This was a gorgeous romance novel! It was super cute, I loved the library concept, how the characters loved reading, their chemistry, the spice… it was all so sweet and was so fun to read! It was filled with the best tropes too!

💗 enemies to lovers
💗 small town romance
💗 forced proximity
💗 opposites attract
💗 romance book lovers
💗 work competitors

Thank you so much @ospringauthor for sending me a copy of your book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!

[Lindzanne1_bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

💕Enemies to lovers
💕“Workplace” romance
💕Forced proximity
💕Small beach town
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A book about books? Yes please!
A grumpy, but sweet MMC? Yes please!
A romance book loving FMC? Yes please!
He buys her books? Swoon
He reads spicy scenes aloud to her? Swoon
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What a fun rom com! This book checked all the boxes for me and I couldn’t have loved it more! 😍😍😍 It was an absolute joy to read!
And a book about romance books? Yes please! Theo and Jessica are from completely different worlds but there is no denying that they have a very intense connection!
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It was so entertaining to see them connect on a deeper level and get closer even though the circumstances are quite complicated. 👀 I loved all the spicy content and that the book was so much more than just the spice. The big romantic gesture at the end had me swooning!

Thank you so much Olivia for the arc!

[Heather Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital ARC of this book. This is the 2nd book I’ve read by Olivia Spring. She knows how to suck the reader in and not want to leave. I was just going to read a few chapters to relax a little, instead I stayed up until 1 am to read all 48 chapters. Jess is beyond down on her luck. Working 3 part time jobs and driving a car that runs on prayers. Theo, however was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Little do they know at their first encounter, when Theo goes around Jess to steal her parking spot, that they would meet again and be going after the same thing. Jess is representing a client who wants to purchase a building for a romance book library. Theo is representing his family’s company who want to buy the building to tear it down and build million dollar condos. When the man who owns the building throws in some crazy hoops to jump through, Jess & Theo must be around each other for weeks. You will not want to stop turning the pages of this enemies to lovers story with so many life lessons thrown in.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a new series by Spring and I loved it. A wonderful romance that's well written and captivating. Our main characters are Jess and Theo who find themselves pitted against each other for a winner takes all bid for a property in the quaint, community driven town on Sunshine Bay where the views are stunning, and the people are more like family. I love the roller coaster of events that take place for each of these characters, and I adore the character growth. A great balance of both sweet and steam as well. I also found that Spring did an incredible job with the dual point of view in this book too. Overall, a great read that is sure to warm your heart and provide a lil spice too! So excited for the start of this new series and can't wait for more!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.