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Not Quite by the Book
A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.
Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.
In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.
But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…
No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?
Emma Rini is in a rut so deep she could shelve books there. While her sister awaits her first baby, and her parents kick off retirement with vow renewals and travel, Emma stays put among the stacks of the family bookshop.
In fact, she can’t remember the last time she took a vacation. Or had a romance that hovered above disappointing. When her parents assume she’ll take over the shop for them without a break, she realizes she needs to get away—back to the nineteenth century. Channeling her favorite poet recluse, Emily Dickinson, Emma rents a crumbling manor house outside Amherst where she can learn how to be quietly, blissfully alone.
But becoming a world-weary spinster isn’t easy. She can’t start a fire or reason with the bunnies that are destroying the garden. She finds herself sparring constantly with the grumpy-hot architect who is renovating the manor. And then there’s the secret admirer who keeps sending her complicated floral messages…
No matter what she does, the outside world keeps knocking, and Emma starts to dream about the future. Will she forgo love for the family legacy? And will she shrink away or become the sort of bold person fortune favors?
307 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2025
6191 people are currently reading
18998 people want to read
About the author
Julie Hatcher
1 book100 followersJulie Hatcher is an award-winning and bestselling author of mystery and romantic suspense. She has published more than fifty novels under multiple pen names since her debut in 2013.
Writing as Julie Anne Lindsey, Hatcher has earned many accolades for her work, including the 2020 National Readers’ Choice Award for Romance Adventure and the 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award for Mystery/Suspense, among others.
When she’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, Julie can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life—and probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today she hopes to make someone smile. But one day she plans to change the world.
Writing as Julie Anne Lindsey, Hatcher has earned many accolades for her work, including the 2020 National Readers’ Choice Award for Romance Adventure and the 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award for Mystery/Suspense, among others.
When she’s not creating new worlds or fostering the epic love of fictional characters, Julie can be found in Kent, Ohio, enjoying her blessed Midwestern life—and probably plotting murder with her shamelessly enabling friends. Today she hopes to make someone smile. But one day she plans to change the world.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,409 reviews
February 11, 2025
Like Julie & Julia but with lots of gay erasure
I don’t get why this author keeps bringing up known or highly suspected gay relationships between historical literary figures (Dickinson, Melville, Wolfe) and never acknowledging that they were likely queer? It’s got to be deliberate and is terrible gay erasure. I can’t tell if the author is trying to allude to it but is too cowardly to say it outright or if she’s actively trying to rewrite known history. It required maybe a sentence of acknowledgment, to be historically accurate, and didn’t need to be a dissertation, but not saying anything and pretending that Dickinson was besties with her long time lover was the wrong choice. Either way, in the current reality where many are trying to squash LGBTQ voices and also their very existence, this is really gross for me.
That being said the story outside of the gay erasure was mediocre and kept introducing new conflicts. The hero was a liar who kept lying and then found new ways to lie and then ultimately was a selfish asshole masquerading as a nice guy and the heroine had brains slightly smarter than a bag of rocks.
As happens in so many women’s fiction or contemporary romance (and I don’t know which this one was trying to be), the conflicts were blown way out of proportion, easily resolved and depended very heavily on miscommunication and character stupidity. All of the conflicts kept cropping up and then amounting to nothing and made this feel way too long, frustrating and ultimately pointless.
All this soul searching for Emma to end up exactly where she was. Blah.
I don’t get why this author keeps bringing up known or highly suspected gay relationships between historical literary figures (Dickinson, Melville, Wolfe) and never acknowledging that they were likely queer? It’s got to be deliberate and is terrible gay erasure. I can’t tell if the author is trying to allude to it but is too cowardly to say it outright or if she’s actively trying to rewrite known history. It required maybe a sentence of acknowledgment, to be historically accurate, and didn’t need to be a dissertation, but not saying anything and pretending that Dickinson was besties with her long time lover was the wrong choice. Either way, in the current reality where many are trying to squash LGBTQ voices and also their very existence, this is really gross for me.
That being said the story outside of the gay erasure was mediocre and kept introducing new conflicts. The hero was a liar who kept lying and then found new ways to lie and then ultimately was a selfish asshole masquerading as a nice guy and the heroine had brains slightly smarter than a bag of rocks.
As happens in so many women’s fiction or contemporary romance (and I don’t know which this one was trying to be), the conflicts were blown way out of proportion, easily resolved and depended very heavily on miscommunication and character stupidity. All of the conflicts kept cropping up and then amounting to nothing and made this feel way too long, frustrating and ultimately pointless.
All this soul searching for Emma to end up exactly where she was. Blah.
March 28, 2025
3 Stars
One Liner: Family drama was good, but the romance wasn’t
Emma Rini doesn’t remember the last time she took a break or did what she wanted. Her younger sister is having her first baby and her parents are busy holidaying and planning retirement. Emma is too busy and single, managing the family bookstore with little to no help.
When her parents assume she will take over the shop, Emma decides she needs to get away. She books a six-week vacation at a manor, a place where her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, spent her time. Turns out, she isn’t too great with managing the manor and needs help from the grumbling architect.
What does this vacation have in store for Emma?
The story comes in Emma’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
While Emma wants love and HEA, the book focuses more on her growth, which I liked.
The character arc is realistic enough as the FMC tries to copy her role model (Emily Dickinson) and realizes that’s not how things are done.
Also, no one is bad. No Reddit stories here, though it starts like one (you can tell I’ve been spending too much time on that platform). Everyone is flawed and makes assumptions, something they finally discuss openly. Still, I like that the FMC’s family loved her as much as she loved them.
The setting is lovely as it should be. I like the descriptions of the place and the house. There’s something about old stone buildings, right? Even if you end up freezing in the middle of the night!
There’s quite a bit of detail about Emily Dickinson, though at times I felt it got a bit too much. But then, she’s not my favorite as such, so maybe I didn’t feel that interested. Still, it’s not a deal breaker.
The side characters (especially Cecily) were interesting. I wish Grace had a bigger role, though.
So, my main issue is with the love track or the romance. I don’t know what tropes to mention. Grumpy vs. sunshine maybe, but I didn’t vibe with it. Heck, I didn’t feel anything except a truckload of annoyance whenever the romantic track appeared.
This leans heavily on miscommunication tropes, lies, secrets, etc. Seeing the FMC excited about some developments feels weird. I still don’t see the connection the lead pair is supposed to have. It was just… all over the place.
The ending is nice enough, but I wasn’t interested in HEA by then. I still got it, though!
To summarize, Not Quite by the Book has a worthy premise and some of it is really good. I might have liked it more if the romance had been better handled.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #NotQuiteByTheBook
One Liner: Family drama was good, but the romance wasn’t
Emma Rini doesn’t remember the last time she took a break or did what she wanted. Her younger sister is having her first baby and her parents are busy holidaying and planning retirement. Emma is too busy and single, managing the family bookstore with little to no help.
When her parents assume she will take over the shop, Emma decides she needs to get away. She books a six-week vacation at a manor, a place where her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson, spent her time. Turns out, she isn’t too great with managing the manor and needs help from the grumbling architect.
What does this vacation have in store for Emma?
The story comes in Emma’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
While Emma wants love and HEA, the book focuses more on her growth, which I liked.
The character arc is realistic enough as the FMC tries to copy her role model (Emily Dickinson) and realizes that’s not how things are done.
Also, no one is bad. No Reddit stories here, though it starts like one (you can tell I’ve been spending too much time on that platform). Everyone is flawed and makes assumptions, something they finally discuss openly. Still, I like that the FMC’s family loved her as much as she loved them.
The setting is lovely as it should be. I like the descriptions of the place and the house. There’s something about old stone buildings, right? Even if you end up freezing in the middle of the night!
There’s quite a bit of detail about Emily Dickinson, though at times I felt it got a bit too much. But then, she’s not my favorite as such, so maybe I didn’t feel that interested. Still, it’s not a deal breaker.
The side characters (especially Cecily) were interesting. I wish Grace had a bigger role, though.
So, my main issue is with the love track or the romance. I don’t know what tropes to mention. Grumpy vs. sunshine maybe, but I didn’t vibe with it. Heck, I didn’t feel anything except a truckload of annoyance whenever the romantic track appeared.
This leans heavily on miscommunication tropes, lies, secrets, etc. Seeing the FMC excited about some developments feels weird. I still don’t see the connection the lead pair is supposed to have. It was just… all over the place.
The ending is nice enough, but I wasn’t interested in HEA by then. I still got it, though!
To summarize, Not Quite by the Book has a worthy premise and some of it is really good. I might have liked it more if the romance had been better handled.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #NotQuiteByTheBook
November 9, 2025
3.5
There was a lot to like about this sweet romance although I admit it took awhile to find its groove. Not one but two bookstores, historic places, Emily Dickinson, and several potential suitors or so Emma thinks.
Definitely inspired by “You’ve got mail,” the charm of this book lies with Emma aspiring to live like her literary hero, Emily. But she soon learns that’s not as easy as she thinks. Her aspirations and list of goals lead to some cute scenes, especially those related to cooking a la 1850s style.
Once those anonymous letters start arriving, I admit to a bit of swooning myself. By the end, the book was nearing 4-stars! And the happy ending was indeed happy! 😍
(Reviewed 4/1/25)
There was a lot to like about this sweet romance although I admit it took awhile to find its groove. Not one but two bookstores, historic places, Emily Dickinson, and several potential suitors or so Emma thinks.
Definitely inspired by “You’ve got mail,” the charm of this book lies with Emma aspiring to live like her literary hero, Emily. But she soon learns that’s not as easy as she thinks. Her aspirations and list of goals lead to some cute scenes, especially those related to cooking a la 1850s style.
Once those anonymous letters start arriving, I admit to a bit of swooning myself. By the end, the book was nearing 4-stars! And the happy ending was indeed happy! 😍
(Reviewed 4/1/25)
February 7, 2025
I loved Emma's growth, but the story really dragged in places and the romance was just okay.
March 17, 2025
Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this one! Julie Hatcher is also Julie Anne Lindsey, who writes cozy mysteries under that name, Jaqueline Frost and Bree Baker. I loved her books so I had to try this new women's fiction book by her!
I DEVOURED this audiobook in 1 day! Liked it so much, I bought a physical copy! It if was not for some of the language used in this book, it would be 5 stars. [5-6 F words, some S words etc.] But it was not so much language that it took me out the story too much.
We have Emma Rini as our main girl here who needs to take time for herself. Her sister is pregnant with her first baby, her parents are about to retire and travel and Emma is just taking everything in stride by being the one who continues to take care of everything! I related to that SO much because I am always having to take care of my parents/brother's stuff it seems like and try to keep the family together.
Emma can't remember the last time she was on a vacation or a romance worth anything. Her parents assume she will take over the shop without a break so she decides to stand up and take that break she needs. She loves Emily Dickinson so she finds a manor house outside Amherst where Emily resided and she gets off the grid for 6 weeks there, to learn how to rest and enjoy life without all the stress of family and work stuff. She struggles with some of the off the grid things though -- like being able to start a fire and take care of the manor's issues. In comes the handsome grumpy architect renovating the manor who is helping take care of the issues at the manor, Davis. They form feelings as things progress...but she has a secret admirer sending her flowers and letters too...is it Davis or someone else?
My favorite bits of this were the parts of Emma trying to dive into writing, letters, poetry, gardening, reading, and just enjoying her time at the manor. I loved the resolution between her and her family and the bookshop elements. I also loved the slow burn between Davis and her. They grew to really like one another. There were a few parts of their relationship I didn't love -- some things in the end, but overall I still loved their relationship together.
I also don't know much about Emily Dickinson and have never read her poetry, but this made me want to read some of them!
Looking forward to more women's fiction by Julie!
Thank you to the publisher for an ALC of the book to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content: cursing 5-6 F words, some S words, mentions of the universe type stuff etc.
4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this one! Julie Hatcher is also Julie Anne Lindsey, who writes cozy mysteries under that name, Jaqueline Frost and Bree Baker. I loved her books so I had to try this new women's fiction book by her!
I DEVOURED this audiobook in 1 day! Liked it so much, I bought a physical copy! It if was not for some of the language used in this book, it would be 5 stars. [5-6 F words, some S words etc.] But it was not so much language that it took me out the story too much.
We have Emma Rini as our main girl here who needs to take time for herself. Her sister is pregnant with her first baby, her parents are about to retire and travel and Emma is just taking everything in stride by being the one who continues to take care of everything! I related to that SO much because I am always having to take care of my parents/brother's stuff it seems like and try to keep the family together.
Emma can't remember the last time she was on a vacation or a romance worth anything. Her parents assume she will take over the shop without a break so she decides to stand up and take that break she needs. She loves Emily Dickinson so she finds a manor house outside Amherst where Emily resided and she gets off the grid for 6 weeks there, to learn how to rest and enjoy life without all the stress of family and work stuff. She struggles with some of the off the grid things though -- like being able to start a fire and take care of the manor's issues. In comes the handsome grumpy architect renovating the manor who is helping take care of the issues at the manor, Davis. They form feelings as things progress...but she has a secret admirer sending her flowers and letters too...is it Davis or someone else?
My favorite bits of this were the parts of Emma trying to dive into writing, letters, poetry, gardening, reading, and just enjoying her time at the manor. I loved the resolution between her and her family and the bookshop elements. I also loved the slow burn between Davis and her. They grew to really like one another. There were a few parts of their relationship I didn't love -- some things in the end, but overall I still loved their relationship together.
I also don't know much about Emily Dickinson and have never read her poetry, but this made me want to read some of them!
Looking forward to more women's fiction by Julie!
Thank you to the publisher for an ALC of the book to listen to and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Content: cursing 5-6 F words, some S words, mentions of the universe type stuff etc.
March 8, 2025
Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher
Contemporary romance.
Emma Rina has put the family bookshop business as top priority in her life since her mother recovered from an illness years ago. With her sister pregnant and her parents looking at retirement now, Emma realizes she hasn’t had a vacation or time off in more than six years. She decides to prioritize herself and books a six week stay at a cottage in Amherst, in the town where her favorite author, Emily Dickson, used to reside. She’ll be a hermit, just like Emily, during her vacation and make some decisions her future. But no internet or cell service, and a cottage that’s more than 100 years old requires skill that Emma doesn’t have. Like laying and starting a fire in the fireplace. Davis Sommers, the owner and handyman of the cottage is the best looking man Emma has ever seen, but he keeps catching her at her worst. And he’s a little cranky.
Emma finds she’s a people person and not really fit to follow Emily’s footsteps at being a recluse. She falls in love with the small town and the residents. She plants fall flowers and spring bulbs at the cottage. She’s also getting flowers delivered from someone and letters written in calligraphy that aren’t signed either.
Emma’s life has changed while on vacation. Now she needs to think about her future and what she wants in it to be.
A delightful realization that today and tomorrow can be more. Emma’s time away makes her self aware and also opens possibilities without changing everything. She can’t change her parents or sister, but maybe she can talk to them rather than shut them out. Love is more than a single person, place or thing.
The romance is there too, in the story. And it’s sweet and adorable and perfect.
I really enjoyed all the pieces including Emma’s growth and her realizing Emily Dickinson may not have had all the answers as they apply to herself. Plus the hottie that sends her handwritten notes is pretty special too.
Dreamy and delightful.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
Contemporary romance.
Emma Rina has put the family bookshop business as top priority in her life since her mother recovered from an illness years ago. With her sister pregnant and her parents looking at retirement now, Emma realizes she hasn’t had a vacation or time off in more than six years. She decides to prioritize herself and books a six week stay at a cottage in Amherst, in the town where her favorite author, Emily Dickson, used to reside. She’ll be a hermit, just like Emily, during her vacation and make some decisions her future. But no internet or cell service, and a cottage that’s more than 100 years old requires skill that Emma doesn’t have. Like laying and starting a fire in the fireplace. Davis Sommers, the owner and handyman of the cottage is the best looking man Emma has ever seen, but he keeps catching her at her worst. And he’s a little cranky.
Emma finds she’s a people person and not really fit to follow Emily’s footsteps at being a recluse. She falls in love with the small town and the residents. She plants fall flowers and spring bulbs at the cottage. She’s also getting flowers delivered from someone and letters written in calligraphy that aren’t signed either.
Emma’s life has changed while on vacation. Now she needs to think about her future and what she wants in it to be.
A delightful realization that today and tomorrow can be more. Emma’s time away makes her self aware and also opens possibilities without changing everything. She can’t change her parents or sister, but maybe she can talk to them rather than shut them out. Love is more than a single person, place or thing.
The romance is there too, in the story. And it’s sweet and adorable and perfect.
I really enjoyed all the pieces including Emma’s growth and her realizing Emily Dickinson may not have had all the answers as they apply to herself. Plus the hottie that sends her handwritten notes is pretty special too.
Dreamy and delightful.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley.
February 12, 2025
"you've got mail" in a book. the characters are stereotypes and the situations are predictable. the ending was a given from the moment the male protagonist stepped onto the page. don't bother unless you are snowed in and have nothing else to read.
March 9, 2025
2.5 Stars for Not Quite By The Book (audiobook) by Julie Hatcher read by Julie Anne Lindsey.
The story was cute but the premise just wasn’t believable for me. There’s no way that someone who’s running a small business can take six weeks off like that. And the guy who’s going to remodel the house is trying to run off the guest so he can get started sooner is extremely unprofessional.
The story was cute but the premise just wasn’t believable for me. There’s no way that someone who’s running a small business can take six weeks off like that. And the guy who’s going to remodel the house is trying to run off the guest so he can get started sooner is extremely unprofessional.
February 19, 2025
It was sooo slow. The main character was painful daft. She lived 40 miles from Emily Dickinson’s home but never went as a super fan? The writing was just bad. I honestly finished it because it was entertainingly awful.
December 21, 2025
There is quite a lot going on in this book. Emma runs her family's bookstore while her parents do their own thing. Her younger sister is pregnant and honestly a brat so before the baby's birth, Emma decides to take a sabbatical, staying in a historical home in Amherst, where she went to UMass, as did her whole family. She has a list of what she wants to accomplish, one is to give up on love, She does grow a lot with trying various activities, mostly things that Emily Dickenson did. She made lots of friends, even some male friends and along the way, acquired a secret admirer, providing some mystery. While slow at times, the story ended on a positive and upbeat note, including healing of relationships.
I borrowed from Prime Reading. 3.5 stars
I borrowed from Prime Reading. 3.5 stars
October 22, 2025
I have loved every book that Julie has written and it seemed like a natural for her to write this book. She is wonderful at making us care about the characters and feel their emotions, I didn’t want the story to end. I want to know what happened next , maybe continue but have Cecily be the main character ….
I look forward to reading all Julie’s future novels and highly recommend to all my book loving friends.
I requested and received an advance reader’s copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
I look forward to reading all Julie’s future novels and highly recommend to all my book loving friends.
I requested and received an advance reader’s copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.
did-not-finish
April 13, 2025DNF: 25%
Emily Dickinson needs to get a restraining order against the FMC
Emily Dickinson needs to get a restraining order against the FMC
February 13, 2025
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @julieannehatcher for the gifted book
TITLE: NOT QUITE BY THE BOOK
AUTHOR: Julie Anne Hatcher
PUB DATE: 03.01.2025
A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.
THOUGHTS:
I absolutely love reading books about books and how I devoured this charming story about Emma who is taking over her family bookstore. There is a bit of everything in this book - from family drama, to Emily Dickinson, to a mysterious admirer, and an unexpected slow burn romance, there is something for everyone. Such a joyous and charming read I enjoyed.
TITLE: NOT QUITE BY THE BOOK
AUTHOR: Julie Anne Hatcher
PUB DATE: 03.01.2025
A bookstore owner discovers that life as a recluse isn’t for everyone in this sharp yet sweet novel about how sometimes you need to abandon the quest for love to find your true passion.
THOUGHTS:
I absolutely love reading books about books and how I devoured this charming story about Emma who is taking over her family bookstore. There is a bit of everything in this book - from family drama, to Emily Dickinson, to a mysterious admirer, and an unexpected slow burn romance, there is something for everyone. Such a joyous and charming read I enjoyed.
February 10, 2025
I DNF'd at 30%. It felt so repetitive and just dragged on.
I read so much, yet so little happened.
The main character was so annoying.
Like duh your family isn't thrilled that you told them the NIGHT BEFORE YOU LEFT FOR 6 WEEKS WHEN YOU LITERALLY RUN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. RUN AWAY INSTEAD OF TALKING TO THEM LIKE A GROWN ADULT. Her obsession with Emily Dickinson got old QUICK. Have you ever had an original thought, Emma? Doubt it. Also, my last gripe... I thought her relationships with her online friends was weird and how she just decided she immediately loved people she met after one writing class.
I read so much, yet so little happened.
The main character was so annoying.
Like duh your family isn't thrilled that you told them the NIGHT BEFORE YOU LEFT FOR 6 WEEKS WHEN YOU LITERALLY RUN THE FAMILY BUSINESS. RUN AWAY INSTEAD OF TALKING TO THEM LIKE A GROWN ADULT. Her obsession with Emily Dickinson got old QUICK. Have you ever had an original thought, Emma? Doubt it. Also, my last gripe... I thought her relationships with her online friends was weird and how she just decided she immediately loved people she met after one writing class.
March 21, 2025
This is a cozy, find yourself and maybe love, book I enjoyed immensely. I think this would have been a five-star if it had been just a little shorter. This is: cozy, will they or won't they, find yourself, repairing relationships, finding possible love, being your best life.
September 14, 2024
Julie Hatcher's first book club read is a delight. Emma Rini has been toiling away at her parents' bookshop for years. As the only person running the store, she's working around the clock, from the moment she wakes up in the apartment above it to the moment she crashes. She's disconnected from her parents, and her sister is starting a family. Meanwhile, Emma can't find love either. So when she finds a creaky old mansion in Amherst, Massachusetts, she decides to take six weeks off and live like Emily Dickinson. There's another bookstore owner there, so it'll be perfect for her sabbatical. Emma's family grumbles--after all, her parents have to start working again!--so Emma takes off without a look back.
Emma brings a list of Emily's favorite things to do, but she fails miserably, burning baked goods and getting her garden overrun by bunnies. And then there's the last item: give up on love. It's hard for Emma to do that with a hot handyman running the mansion. Davis Sommers is grumpy at first but reveals himself to be much more than he seems. As their bond grows, Emma wrestles with the next direction for her life.
If you've read any of Hatcher's mysteries, specifically those under the name of Bree Baker, you'll know how sparkling and funny her writing is. However, here she gets the chance to go deeper, not having to rely on a formula to grow character. Emma's journey is the heart of the novel. Davis is a dream, of course, and their story dovetails with Emma's. But this book is really about a woman reclaiming her life from what others expect of her. A fun, easy, yet complex read.
Emma brings a list of Emily's favorite things to do, but she fails miserably, burning baked goods and getting her garden overrun by bunnies. And then there's the last item: give up on love. It's hard for Emma to do that with a hot handyman running the mansion. Davis Sommers is grumpy at first but reveals himself to be much more than he seems. As their bond grows, Emma wrestles with the next direction for her life.
If you've read any of Hatcher's mysteries, specifically those under the name of Bree Baker, you'll know how sparkling and funny her writing is. However, here she gets the chance to go deeper, not having to rely on a formula to grow character. Emma's journey is the heart of the novel. Davis is a dream, of course, and their story dovetails with Emma's. But this book is really about a woman reclaiming her life from what others expect of her. A fun, easy, yet complex read.
March 15, 2025
DNF 40%. Bored. And if I have to read the name 'Emily Dickinson' in this book one more time.. 😵💫. Holy crap the FMC immature and amateur OBSESSION with Dickinson was so ridiculous and cringe. She sounds like a teenager trying to figure out who they are. Also, at 40% can we at least introduce the romance by now please?! Or is this just a book of some woman's (boring) soul searching? I'm too bored and uninterested to find out.
April 5, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Emma Rini has been left to run the family bookstore while her sister and her husband get ready for the birth of the first child and her parents celebrate another vow renewal and travel while planning to retire from the bookshop soon. These changes won’t change anything for Emma because her entire life has been the bookstore. No vacations, no romantic relationships, just shelving and selling books. After she sees her family all having fun without her and assumes she will keep the store going after their retirement Emma hits a breaking point. If she ever has a chance of any “me time”, it is now.
Emma’s favorite poet is Emily Dickinson and she has the chance to stay in a deteriorating manor house in Amherst, Dickinson’s hometown, and find her inner Emily. She quickly books a six-week stay. But living a reclusive life isn’t as easy as she thought. The manor is cold and can’t build a fire. She planted a garden but the rabbits decided it was planted as their lunch. The handyman’s visits to help her are contentious. Plus she keeps receiving flowers with unsigned cards. Did she have a secret admirer?
She finds herself pulled in several directions. She has some big decisions to make. Does she finally put herself first? or will she return to what she had hoped to leave behind?
I have read several of Emily Dickinson’s poems over the years so the theme of this story made me excited to read this book.
I immediately felt for Emma. Family businesses are hard when everyone is on the same page but horrendous when one person is left responsible for everything. Emma is just like I was, not wanting to make waves, so she holds everything in but I was still upset with her family for making assumptions and decisions and not including her in the conversations. The people she met in Amherst were interesting and felt true to life. She met several at a letter-writing class at the local bookstore and I love the whole idea of the class. Davis, first known as the “handyman” turned out to be her landlord and an architect with a plan to renovate the manor as soon as possible. He is also very easy on the eyes. Plus, he has an adorable dog.
Emma tries so hard to do things Emily Dickson did but she does start to open up slowly. She is unsure about a lot of things, putting more pressure on herself every day. Davis also deals with pressure and strife within these pages. I had fun watching them grow right up to the final page. One mystery in the story was evident to me quickly but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this story. Another was a mystery until it was revealed.
Not Quite by the Book is a fun entertaining read. I was drawn in more with each chapter. The pacing was perfect. The world-building created great imagery and loved that the wi-fi was nonexistent in the manor. For me, it was A Perfect Escape.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Amazon for providing me with an ARC through their First Reads Program.
Emma Rini has been left to run the family bookstore while her sister and her husband get ready for the birth of the first child and her parents celebrate another vow renewal and travel while planning to retire from the bookshop soon. These changes won’t change anything for Emma because her entire life has been the bookstore. No vacations, no romantic relationships, just shelving and selling books. After she sees her family all having fun without her and assumes she will keep the store going after their retirement Emma hits a breaking point. If she ever has a chance of any “me time”, it is now.
Emma’s favorite poet is Emily Dickinson and she has the chance to stay in a deteriorating manor house in Amherst, Dickinson’s hometown, and find her inner Emily. She quickly books a six-week stay. But living a reclusive life isn’t as easy as she thought. The manor is cold and can’t build a fire. She planted a garden but the rabbits decided it was planted as their lunch. The handyman’s visits to help her are contentious. Plus she keeps receiving flowers with unsigned cards. Did she have a secret admirer?
She finds herself pulled in several directions. She has some big decisions to make. Does she finally put herself first? or will she return to what she had hoped to leave behind?
I have read several of Emily Dickinson’s poems over the years so the theme of this story made me excited to read this book.
I immediately felt for Emma. Family businesses are hard when everyone is on the same page but horrendous when one person is left responsible for everything. Emma is just like I was, not wanting to make waves, so she holds everything in but I was still upset with her family for making assumptions and decisions and not including her in the conversations. The people she met in Amherst were interesting and felt true to life. She met several at a letter-writing class at the local bookstore and I love the whole idea of the class. Davis, first known as the “handyman” turned out to be her landlord and an architect with a plan to renovate the manor as soon as possible. He is also very easy on the eyes. Plus, he has an adorable dog.
Emma tries so hard to do things Emily Dickson did but she does start to open up slowly. She is unsure about a lot of things, putting more pressure on herself every day. Davis also deals with pressure and strife within these pages. I had fun watching them grow right up to the final page. One mystery in the story was evident to me quickly but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this story. Another was a mystery until it was revealed.
Not Quite by the Book is a fun entertaining read. I was drawn in more with each chapter. The pacing was perfect. The world-building created great imagery and loved that the wi-fi was nonexistent in the manor. For me, it was A Perfect Escape.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Amazon for providing me with an ARC through their First Reads Program.
May 18, 2025
Undertones of Christianity pushed through along with historical gay erasure. Sunday church, the need to be married, ignoring historical authors who were probably gay or bi.
The need for the FMC to be in a relationship and how that’s everyone’s focus on her. When she tells her messy family she has news instead of asking about her, they ask if she met someone.
Like this FMC is so fixated on being in a relationship and how her life is worthless without one but she’s going to give up on love because she’s been so obsessed with it. The first man that’s introduced that isn’t a relative is her love interest. The writing itself is so cringey. She curses and screams the f word but then a few pages later, the male character “began to cuss”. There’s also this: “He’d even rolled up the sleeves of his button-down shirt to expose his forearms. I loved that. But I’d compete specifically not to think about men.”
Also you decide to take six weeks off randomly and the only thing you want to do is a rent a house less than an hour away from you that you’ve never been to? Even though it’s less than an hour away and this is your first vacation in 7 years? Also how does the manor 40 miles away in a Massachusetts suburb not have cell service or WiFi but it’s right next to a bookstore that surely uses internet? I get that it’s a historical home but you can’t just exclude cell service because “there’s no WiFi and cell service cuts out about halfway up the lane”
The pacing is also really off and slow. The most exciting part is when the FMC almost burns the historical home because she’s an idiot and the caretaker left no instructions.
There’s no point to this book
The need for the FMC to be in a relationship and how that’s everyone’s focus on her. When she tells her messy family she has news instead of asking about her, they ask if she met someone.
Like this FMC is so fixated on being in a relationship and how her life is worthless without one but she’s going to give up on love because she’s been so obsessed with it. The first man that’s introduced that isn’t a relative is her love interest. The writing itself is so cringey. She curses and screams the f word but then a few pages later, the male character “began to cuss”. There’s also this: “He’d even rolled up the sleeves of his button-down shirt to expose his forearms. I loved that. But I’d compete specifically not to think about men.”
Also you decide to take six weeks off randomly and the only thing you want to do is a rent a house less than an hour away from you that you’ve never been to? Even though it’s less than an hour away and this is your first vacation in 7 years? Also how does the manor 40 miles away in a Massachusetts suburb not have cell service or WiFi but it’s right next to a bookstore that surely uses internet? I get that it’s a historical home but you can’t just exclude cell service because “there’s no WiFi and cell service cuts out about halfway up the lane”
The pacing is also really off and slow. The most exciting part is when the FMC almost burns the historical home because she’s an idiot and the caretaker left no instructions.
There’s no point to this book
September 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book before it's release! As always, this is my honest review:
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it is technically a romance book but it's way more subtle than others. It felt like the romance wasn't the main part of the story. It's a story about Emma's way to finding herself and finding happiness again after only working at the family bookstore for years and getting more miserable. She spontaneously decides to stay in an old manor in another town for six weeks, and even though she wanted to be alone and become her best Emily (Dickinson) she made new friendships along the way whilst trying new hobbies and dealing with how she's feeling deep down. It also did make me think about my own life whilst reading.
All in all I really enjoyed it and I'd definitely recommend it. Also I don't know if that's only me, but I got some "You've got mail"-vibes from the story. :)
What I really enjoyed about this book is that it is technically a romance book but it's way more subtle than others. It felt like the romance wasn't the main part of the story. It's a story about Emma's way to finding herself and finding happiness again after only working at the family bookstore for years and getting more miserable. She spontaneously decides to stay in an old manor in another town for six weeks, and even though she wanted to be alone and become her best Emily (Dickinson) she made new friendships along the way whilst trying new hobbies and dealing with how she's feeling deep down. It also did make me think about my own life whilst reading.
All in all I really enjoyed it and I'd definitely recommend it. Also I don't know if that's only me, but I got some "You've got mail"-vibes from the story. :)
February 6, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ cute story but clunky FMC with questionable chemistry.
March 29, 2025
It’s giving Cinderella Story where Hilary Duff is only wearing a tiny mask at the ball, yet Chad Michael Murray doesn’t recognize who she is 😅🤦🏼♀️
February 8, 2025
Free from First Reads | Enjoyable but frustrating | I did like this, which is saying something when I generally prefer not to read romance. It's just that the revelation of the last two pages was so obvious from the moment the reader meets Davis, SO obvious, that it makes Emma seem really dense. In turn, her cluelessness makes the story drag. Everything else needed the time it was given, and the other pacing was good, but I was entirely done with the will-they-won't-they after a couple of chapters. As a side note, I don't think "Davis" and "Carter" were great first name choices. Those are both common surnames, so it really read as if there was a strange formality going on.
February 18, 2025
Very sweet romance! However, three stars because it's: a bit scattered, very predictable, contains a few pointless scenes, and the whole living like Emily Dickinson mission gets old fast. That said, I didn't want to quit reading at any point, although I will admit to skimming quite a few chapters due to redundancy, and the ending is exactly what you're rooting for.
March 8, 2025
Predictable story, the hero is a villain but he's hot so the heroine falls for him anyway, the whole "be like Emily" thing got boring af even to the main character but never really stopped, the cutesy small town characters are kind of annoying, no one seems capable of an adult conversation, and the queer erasure sucks. This just wasn't a good book. At all.
March 16, 2025
Is it predictable? Sure. Does it have all the tropes you normally see? Sure.
But this book spoke to me in ways I did not expect. I needed this book - I’m glad I found it.
But this book spoke to me in ways I did not expect. I needed this book - I’m glad I found it.
March 11, 2025
Има какво да се желае от стила на писане в No Quite by the Book , но игнорирам това и се съсредоточавам върху нещата, които почувствах близки.
Емили Дикинсън, книжарниците. Малко любопитни факти: авторът на " Моби Дик " - Херман Менвил и на " Алената буква " - Натанаил Хоторн, всъщност са били добри приятели за известно време? Желанието да оставим за малко ежедневните задължения, продължили години, за да отделим внимание и мисъл върху себе си, натрупаните недоразумения, премълчани истини и умората, която изкривява реалността и създава усещане за недооценяване.
* " Do you think the real reason I’m unhappy lies within me? Would I be sad wherever I went because I was the problem? Not my family, my job, or my singleness? "
Всеизвестната истина, че където и да отидем, ние вземе там себе си. И причината да не сме щастливи и удовлетворени в дните си сме самите ние. Не се познаваме достатъчно добре, за да се борим за мечтите си, но и понякога реализирането на мечтите ни разочарова. Не сме си представяли точно такъв резултат. Не сме имали миг покой, докато ги гоним. И всъщност най - много сълзи са се проливали заради сбъднатите мечти.
* " Choices are power
The decisions are all mine
No more feeling weak. "
Изводът?
Трябва да живеем днес и сега! Да вземаме емоциите в момента и да елиминираме мисли : какво , ако? Да сме достатъчно гъвкави , за да се отдадем на новото , което завладее съзнанието ни. Да сме последователни и да надграждане постигнатото, но и да сме честни с хората около нас , когато вече не сме щастливи. Заедно с тях или отделно можем да намерим пътя към следващото нещо, което ще ни накара да се чувстваме живи.
Все пак пълно щастие няма ! Вечно - също!
Щастието е с нас , докато съзнанието и цялото ни същество са насочени към човек, дейност, емоция. След това сезонът на потребностите ни се сменя. Дали заради опит, възраст или пренасищане и трябва да облечем съзнанието си по нов начин. В нов стил.
Така се случи, че въпреки слабите места в книгата на Julie Hatcher, имаше какво да взема за себе си от нея. Така е с всяка книга. Но най - важното е, може би , идеята, че трябва да разговараме за вълненията си. Най - вече със себе си!
* " That’s how people are. We share what we love with the people we love.”
Емили Дикинсън, книжарниците. Малко любопитни факти: авторът на " Моби Дик " - Херман Менвил и на " Алената буква " - Натанаил Хоторн, всъщност са били добри приятели за известно време? Желанието да оставим за малко ежедневните задължения, продължили години, за да отделим внимание и мисъл върху себе си, натрупаните недоразумения, премълчани истини и умората, която изкривява реалността и създава усещане за недооценяване.
* " Do you think the real reason I’m unhappy lies within me? Would I be sad wherever I went because I was the problem? Not my family, my job, or my singleness? "
Всеизвестната истина, че където и да отидем, ние вземе там себе си. И причината да не сме щастливи и удовлетворени в дните си сме самите ние. Не се познаваме достатъчно добре, за да се борим за мечтите си, но и понякога реализирането на мечтите ни разочарова. Не сме си представяли точно такъв резултат. Не сме имали миг покой, докато ги гоним. И всъщност най - много сълзи са се проливали заради сбъднатите мечти.
* " Choices are power
The decisions are all mine
No more feeling weak. "
Изводът?
Трябва да живеем днес и сега! Да вземаме емоциите в момента и да елиминираме мисли : какво , ако? Да сме достатъчно гъвкави , за да се отдадем на новото , което завладее съзнанието ни. Да сме последователни и да надграждане постигнатото, но и да сме честни с хората около нас , когато вече не сме щастливи. Заедно с тях или отделно можем да намерим пътя към следващото нещо, което ще ни накара да се чувстваме живи.
Все пак пълно щастие няма ! Вечно - също!
Щастието е с нас , докато съзнанието и цялото ни същество са насочени към човек, дейност, емоция. След това сезонът на потребностите ни се сменя. Дали заради опит, възраст или пренасищане и трябва да облечем съзнанието си по нов начин. В нов стил.
Така се случи, че въпреки слабите места в книгата на Julie Hatcher, имаше какво да взема за себе си от нея. Така е с всяка книга. Но най - важното е, може би , идеята, че трябва да разговараме за вълненията си. Най - вече със себе си!
* " That’s how people are. We share what we love with the people we love.”
February 24, 2025
Bookstore owner-to-be, Emma, is reeling when her parents tell her they plan on retiring and passing along their family bookstore to her and her sister was on board with this plan. All Emma has set out to do was successfully run the bookstore because that was always her role, while her sister went on to do other things, like start a family. In her almost tailspin, she embarks on an adventure to channel her inner Emily Dickenson in a secluded historical home for 6 weeks. During this time, she meets some wonderful people, as well as people she has met online through a bookseller group chat. I loved seeing Emma progress through her self discovery journey while balancing her family expectations and always around Davis. Along with the romance, there is a hint of mystery with who her secret admirer is who keeps sending flowers. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted eARC. All opinions are my own.
February 11, 2025
This was a fun read. It reminded me a little of Katherine Center. It is a book about a woman feeling lost and trying to figure out her path, but she is obsessed with Emily Dickinson. She decides to try to be more like her and goes to historic manor in Divkensons’ hometown. I liked all the characters. The reason this fell a little flat for me was the romance. I thought they were not together enough with enough dialogue.The level of miscommunication trope in this got old. Emma is a smart, strong, independent woman and she could not figure out that it was Davis in most instances. It took too long for them to get together. It felt like a Hallmark movie which is fun and romantic, but not enough substance on the romance side for me. There were some beautiful moments and quotes.
May 3, 2025
⭐ 4.5
🌶️ 0
📚 Tropes/Themes: chick lit, mistaken identity, books about books, epistolary, trauma healing, finding yourself
👀 Single POV 1st person
🎙️Single narration
⏰ Approx 8 hours
🛍️ Available: Now
💬 Wow, this was such a satisfyingly good book! It was so heartwarming and emotional.
Originally I was given this as an ebook ARC through NG, but because life got in the way, I ended up listening to the audiobook instead (KU read and listen!) and I really think that made so much difference. If I had just read it I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it so much but the narrator (Mia Hutchinson-Shaw) did an INCREDIBLE job bringing this to life.
It was predictable and a little scattered but I still enjoyed it. That just made it a cozy, easy read which is what I'm looking for sometimes. I'm not a snob about the books I read anymore 😅. And actually, even though I knew the ending, I still got sucked into the will they won't they literally until the very end.
I loved the letter writing class, and the subtle mystery of who is writing Emma letters/sending her flowers.
I also enjoyed watching as Emma figured out who she is and where she's going in her life. I will admit there is a petty Betty part of me that wanted her to be more dramatic and mean about calling out her parents and sister and give them the middle finger but it's probably best that that didn't happen 🤣
And because I'm a sucker for romance I loved Davis, and the whole story line there. I did get a little frustrated with how slowly it moved and I wish there had been more to it overall but it was still enjoyable.
As I said overall I enjoyed this book, but the narrator was the star of the show here. And based on the reviews I think that if people were to listen to it they would have had a better experience 😅
🌶️ 0
📚 Tropes/Themes: chick lit, mistaken identity, books about books, epistolary, trauma healing, finding yourself
👀 Single POV 1st person
🎙️Single narration
⏰ Approx 8 hours
🛍️ Available: Now
💬 Wow, this was such a satisfyingly good book! It was so heartwarming and emotional.
Originally I was given this as an ebook ARC through NG, but because life got in the way, I ended up listening to the audiobook instead (KU read and listen!) and I really think that made so much difference. If I had just read it I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it so much but the narrator (Mia Hutchinson-Shaw) did an INCREDIBLE job bringing this to life.
It was predictable and a little scattered but I still enjoyed it. That just made it a cozy, easy read which is what I'm looking for sometimes. I'm not a snob about the books I read anymore 😅. And actually, even though I knew the ending, I still got sucked into the will they won't they literally until the very end.
I loved the letter writing class, and the subtle mystery of who is writing Emma letters/sending her flowers.
I also enjoyed watching as Emma figured out who she is and where she's going in her life. I will admit there is a petty Betty part of me that wanted her to be more dramatic and mean about calling out her parents and sister and give them the middle finger but it's probably best that that didn't happen 🤣
And because I'm a sucker for romance I loved Davis, and the whole story line there. I did get a little frustrated with how slowly it moved and I wish there had been more to it overall but it was still enjoyable.
As I said overall I enjoyed this book, but the narrator was the star of the show here. And based on the reviews I think that if people were to listen to it they would have had a better experience 😅
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