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Shut Up and Read: A Memoir from Harriett’s Bookshop
The author of It’s Me They Follow chronicles the improbable true story of how she left an abusive past to build a bookshop that survived the Covid pandemic and become an international sensation.
Jeannine Cook always thought she’d open a bookshop in her old age. Raised by a blind librarian, books were integral to her life, and she expected she would eventually write one as well. Instead, Jeannine found herself a burnt-out workaholic with three jobs and no time to read or write, feeling like she hadn't fulfilled her purpose.
In her journal, Jeannine began an imaginary dialogue with Harriet Tubman, “Q&As” she dubbed Conversations with Harriett. Jeannine wondered how Harriet became a “wade through waist-high water in the type of woman—and how she could become one too.
On February 1, 2020, Jeannine fulfilled her dream and opened a bookstore in Philadelphia which she named after her hero and inspiration, Harriet Tubman. Harriett’s Bookshop would be a place to celebrate women authors, artists, and activists. While the name was ironic—Harriet could neither read nor write—it was also fitting. The City of Brotherly love was one of Harriet's first stops to freedom on the Underground Railroad. But in only six weeks, Jeannine would be forced to shut the shop’s doors when Covid turned the world upside down—not knowing whether her dream would survive.
Five years later, this small independent bookshop is thriving, with satellite stores in unconventional places, from movie theaters to horse trailers. Despite global death and destruction, book bans, the downward spiral in readership, the lack of physical customers, AI, and more, Jeannine's shops have survived. Shut Up & Read is her story—the story of the little bookseller who could, and of the woman who has been the driving force behind it all.
Jeannine Cook always thought she’d open a bookshop in her old age. Raised by a blind librarian, books were integral to her life, and she expected she would eventually write one as well. Instead, Jeannine found herself a burnt-out workaholic with three jobs and no time to read or write, feeling like she hadn't fulfilled her purpose.
In her journal, Jeannine began an imaginary dialogue with Harriet Tubman, “Q&As” she dubbed Conversations with Harriett. Jeannine wondered how Harriet became a “wade through waist-high water in the type of woman—and how she could become one too.
On February 1, 2020, Jeannine fulfilled her dream and opened a bookstore in Philadelphia which she named after her hero and inspiration, Harriet Tubman. Harriett’s Bookshop would be a place to celebrate women authors, artists, and activists. While the name was ironic—Harriet could neither read nor write—it was also fitting. The City of Brotherly love was one of Harriet's first stops to freedom on the Underground Railroad. But in only six weeks, Jeannine would be forced to shut the shop’s doors when Covid turned the world upside down—not knowing whether her dream would survive.
Five years later, this small independent bookshop is thriving, with satellite stores in unconventional places, from movie theaters to horse trailers. Despite global death and destruction, book bans, the downward spiral in readership, the lack of physical customers, AI, and more, Jeannine's shops have survived. Shut Up & Read is her story—the story of the little bookseller who could, and of the woman who has been the driving force behind it all.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 29, 2026
What a joy to read this very inspiring story. No matter the obstacles and there were many, she never gave up.
March 10, 2026
Is this collected essays or something? There are a lot of repeated bits that feel like that. And I never really felt like I got my hands on the creation of the bookshop, or the shape of the author's life. Some inspiring bits here and there but not what I was expecting.
March 19, 2026
Shut Up and Read: A Memoir from Harriett’s Bookshop by Jeannine A. Cook reminded me that bookstores are never just bookstores. At their best, they are sanctuary. They are meeting place. They are testimony. They are a way for people to find themselves, each other, and the words they need to keep going.
What I loved most about this memoir was learning about Cook’s life through the building of Harriett’s Bookshop, her advocacy, her vision, her pain, her persistence, and the deeply personal journey that shaped the space she created. You can feel that this bookshop was born out of longing, purpose, and a refusal to let the world make small what was always meant to be expansive.
One line that stayed with me is:
“I realize now that part of building the bookshop is me seeking to build a home for those who need one again and again.”
And truly, that is the spirit of this whole book.
This memoir reminded me that hosting events, making space for conversation, and putting the right books into the right hands at the right time is sacred work. That kind of work changes people. It affirms them. It can even help save them. Shut Up and Read feels like a testimony to that truth.
If you love bookstores, literary community, and memoirs about building something meaningful against the odds, this one is worth your time. It is tender, visionary, and deeply rooted in the power of books to make a way out of no way.
For the people who believe books can hold us.
For the people doing community work through stories.
For the ones trying to build something bigger than themselves.
This one will speak to you.
What I loved most about this memoir was learning about Cook’s life through the building of Harriett’s Bookshop, her advocacy, her vision, her pain, her persistence, and the deeply personal journey that shaped the space she created. You can feel that this bookshop was born out of longing, purpose, and a refusal to let the world make small what was always meant to be expansive.
One line that stayed with me is:
“I realize now that part of building the bookshop is me seeking to build a home for those who need one again and again.”
And truly, that is the spirit of this whole book.
This memoir reminded me that hosting events, making space for conversation, and putting the right books into the right hands at the right time is sacred work. That kind of work changes people. It affirms them. It can even help save them. Shut Up and Read feels like a testimony to that truth.
If you love bookstores, literary community, and memoirs about building something meaningful against the odds, this one is worth your time. It is tender, visionary, and deeply rooted in the power of books to make a way out of no way.
For the people who believe books can hold us.
For the people doing community work through stories.
For the ones trying to build something bigger than themselves.
This one will speak to you.
May 8, 2026
The Pros:
- This is an unapologetically earnest book; you can tell how passionate Cook is by the way she writes about her community and her bookish ventures!
- I’m impressed by Cook’s vulnerability. She’s incredibly open about spirituality, family/relationship struggles, the financial reality of owning a bookstore, and more.
- She touches on a very wide variety of topics and, even though the book is short, she ensures that every area she covers is given the respect it deserves.
- Cook is a fascinating person to read about. Her voice is so distinct and I loved learning about all of the ways she shows up for her community—and how the community shows up for her!
- Some of the descriptions of her relationship with her father, Lazarus, made me tear up. She describes things so matter-of-factly, but she manages to capture the bittersweet humor of life so well. I definitely want to read the book she writes about her mother when the time comes!
The Cons:
There’s really only one big one that kind of threw off my whole experience: Shut Up and Read feels so disjointed. Although there is technically an overarching narrative, we jump back and forth from topic to topic without a clear order or reason a lot. There’s also a lot of repetition, which is only emphasized by the fact that it’s a short book.
I found that there were many times where I would be drawn in to a certain description or event, and then right as I started to really fall into it, Cook moved onto something else. It was hard to let myself sink into the book because we shifted so much sometimes.
- This is an unapologetically earnest book; you can tell how passionate Cook is by the way she writes about her community and her bookish ventures!
- I’m impressed by Cook’s vulnerability. She’s incredibly open about spirituality, family/relationship struggles, the financial reality of owning a bookstore, and more.
- She touches on a very wide variety of topics and, even though the book is short, she ensures that every area she covers is given the respect it deserves.
- Cook is a fascinating person to read about. Her voice is so distinct and I loved learning about all of the ways she shows up for her community—and how the community shows up for her!
- Some of the descriptions of her relationship with her father, Lazarus, made me tear up. She describes things so matter-of-factly, but she manages to capture the bittersweet humor of life so well. I definitely want to read the book she writes about her mother when the time comes!
The Cons:
There’s really only one big one that kind of threw off my whole experience: Shut Up and Read feels so disjointed. Although there is technically an overarching narrative, we jump back and forth from topic to topic without a clear order or reason a lot. There’s also a lot of repetition, which is only emphasized by the fact that it’s a short book.
I found that there were many times where I would be drawn in to a certain description or event, and then right as I started to really fall into it, Cook moved onto something else. It was hard to let myself sink into the book because we shifted so much sometimes.
March 14, 2026
Quick, delightful memoir and peek into the life of a Philadelphia indie bookseller.
June 19, 2026
Recently reading a book about the history of American bookstores and the role they play in society gave me a newfound appreciation for my favorite type of store and curious about the stories of the bookstores not covered in the earlier book. As a Philadelphia-area resident I knew of Harriett’s Bookshop and was pleasantly surprised when I learned there was a memoir about it.
“Shut Up and Read” covers both Jeannine A. Cook’s founding of Harriett’s, her plans for the store and others she is working and other aspects of Cook’s life. I found the central story of a Black woman’s struggles to open and run a bookstore (shitty contractors, the legal hurdles of trying to buy the building) to be interesting and very compelling. I’d say this was my favorite part of the book. The other parts of the book like her travels to Paris and other tangents related to her fiction book to be less so and did make the book lose momentum, particularly with how the store’s story is told out of order and broken up by these tangents. Nonetheless, the parts where Cook goes into her health and family struggles were worth reading as well and beyond showing how open Cook is about these it demonstrates the same resolve that goes into her vision for Harriett’s (and beyond).
It’s a short read and a bit uneven but “Shut Up and Read” was a nice read for a Philadelphia-area bibliophile like myself (who appreciates Cook’s descriptions of Philly life and the draw the city has) and makes me appreciate Harriett’s Bookshop all the more.
“Shut Up and Read” covers both Jeannine A. Cook’s founding of Harriett’s, her plans for the store and others she is working and other aspects of Cook’s life. I found the central story of a Black woman’s struggles to open and run a bookstore (shitty contractors, the legal hurdles of trying to buy the building) to be interesting and very compelling. I’d say this was my favorite part of the book. The other parts of the book like her travels to Paris and other tangents related to her fiction book to be less so and did make the book lose momentum, particularly with how the store’s story is told out of order and broken up by these tangents. Nonetheless, the parts where Cook goes into her health and family struggles were worth reading as well and beyond showing how open Cook is about these it demonstrates the same resolve that goes into her vision for Harriett’s (and beyond).
It’s a short read and a bit uneven but “Shut Up and Read” was a nice read for a Philadelphia-area bibliophile like myself (who appreciates Cook’s descriptions of Philly life and the draw the city has) and makes me appreciate Harriett’s Bookshop all the more.
March 21, 2026
I think the prose was beautiful and the author is doing such wide-ranging and important work but this book felt soo discombobulated. I agree with others it would’ve been great as a set of short stories instead. Lots of unanswered questions where we were thrown into these interesting scenarios — her struggling to afford making it through college, living in Paris, opening the bookstore — without full context of WHY or HOW. The chapter reading a news article was the most informative one for obvious reasons but wish it had a stronger editor throughout!
March 31, 2026
I read this book after reading someone else's review and because I loved the title and the cover. From the first to last page, the author pulls you in with her wit, passion for books, author's, writing, and unique vision for starting bookstores in the States and also in Paris. I like her activism and loved the stories about her dad and her interesting friends. Reading this book may inspire you to write.
April 15, 2026
I needed to sit down.
I needed to be quiet.
I needed to read.
Instead, I was trying to edit a book while the internet was going crazy—ignoring that still, quiet voice telling me to pause… to do something I hadn’t done in a while.
Be still.
Be silent.
Just read.
The signs were there, but I kept moving—like those words weren’t meant for me. Like I didn’t need them. Like I could outrun the message.
But I couldn’t.
So I finally sat down.
I searched for a space—somewhere I could breathe, learn, and let the silence wrap itself around me. I needed it to calm the storm that had been building all day.
“Sit still. Be calm.”
The instruction was simple.
But I didn’t listen.
And now—frustration.
Because the truth is, I didn’t just need to read words on a page. I needed to be reminded:
Big dreams do come true.
But only if you believe in yourself.
If you don’t… those dreams start to look like unfinished conversations with yourself.
The kind where you already know the answer.
The kind that whispers:
You got this.
You already know what to do.
And sometimes… what you need to do is simple:
Be quiet.
And read.
Read the room.
Read your life.
Listen to your own voice—the one that can get loud, the one that tries to lead you, even when you resist it.
“Shut up and read” is more than a command.
It’s a mirror.
It’s you, looking inward.
It’s you recognizing that even in moments when giving up feels close… there are still people waiting to hear your voice.
But first—you have to pour into yourself.
You have to be still.
You have to stay the course.
So I put my phone down.
And I returned to the journey.
Reading.
Grounding.
Listening.
I am grateful—to the ancestors, and to Jeannine Cook for the vision, for the courage to listen, and for the strength to follow direction even when it’s hard.
Even when it’s exhausting.
Even when challenges show up uninvited.
Still—she continues.
Still—she fights.
And that kind of resilience… it lights the way for all of us.
So I remind myself:
Keep pushing.
Keep fighting.
Your work is not done.
Wonderful reminder from this Author!
I needed to be quiet.
I needed to read.
Instead, I was trying to edit a book while the internet was going crazy—ignoring that still, quiet voice telling me to pause… to do something I hadn’t done in a while.
Be still.
Be silent.
Just read.
The signs were there, but I kept moving—like those words weren’t meant for me. Like I didn’t need them. Like I could outrun the message.
But I couldn’t.
So I finally sat down.
I searched for a space—somewhere I could breathe, learn, and let the silence wrap itself around me. I needed it to calm the storm that had been building all day.
“Sit still. Be calm.”
The instruction was simple.
But I didn’t listen.
And now—frustration.
Because the truth is, I didn’t just need to read words on a page. I needed to be reminded:
Big dreams do come true.
But only if you believe in yourself.
If you don’t… those dreams start to look like unfinished conversations with yourself.
The kind where you already know the answer.
The kind that whispers:
You got this.
You already know what to do.
And sometimes… what you need to do is simple:
Be quiet.
And read.
Read the room.
Read your life.
Listen to your own voice—the one that can get loud, the one that tries to lead you, even when you resist it.
“Shut up and read” is more than a command.
It’s a mirror.
It’s you, looking inward.
It’s you recognizing that even in moments when giving up feels close… there are still people waiting to hear your voice.
But first—you have to pour into yourself.
You have to be still.
You have to stay the course.
So I put my phone down.
And I returned to the journey.
Reading.
Grounding.
Listening.
I am grateful—to the ancestors, and to Jeannine Cook for the vision, for the courage to listen, and for the strength to follow direction even when it’s hard.
Even when it’s exhausting.
Even when challenges show up uninvited.
Still—she continues.
Still—she fights.
And that kind of resilience… it lights the way for all of us.
So I remind myself:
Keep pushing.
Keep fighting.
Your work is not done.
Wonderful reminder from this Author!
March 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC of Shut Up and Read by Jeannine Cook. I loved the premise and the glimpse into bookstore life, but the memoir felt a bit scattered at times. I found myself wishing for a stronger focus on the bookshop itself, though it still offers an honest and personal perspective, seeing as it is a memoir.
March 29, 2026
Jeannine A. Cook tells the story of her independent bookstore in Philadelphia. In 2020, despite COVID, her love of words and her commitment to serve her community resulted in a shop that became a haven and a home for ideas. The name, Harriett's Bookshop, was inspired by Harriet Tuman who Cook looks to as a mentor and spiritual guide. Josephine Baker is another hero who Cook looks to for guidance and inspiration.
Cook's writing is delightful. Her story is inspiring. Throughout her tale, she weaves episodes from her life that create a tapestry that is beautiful. It is easy to see how her shop must be more than just a place to buy books. It is a cultural center and place to expand minds. I love the idea of shopkeeping as activism. And don't be fooled, this is Jeannine A. Cook's memoir. Her family struggles and personal tragedies are all here. She even manages to open a satellite store in Paris!
This book is full of emotion, drama, spirit, humor, love, and so much more. It could have easily been a novel, but it's the true story of the author making Philadelphia and the world a better place, one book at a time. I suppose it's also a "how to", Ms. Cook is obviously a clever businesswoman and there is much to learn from her about life, the human spirit, and how to run a bookshop! This is a really good book - check it out.
Cook's writing is delightful. Her story is inspiring. Throughout her tale, she weaves episodes from her life that create a tapestry that is beautiful. It is easy to see how her shop must be more than just a place to buy books. It is a cultural center and place to expand minds. I love the idea of shopkeeping as activism. And don't be fooled, this is Jeannine A. Cook's memoir. Her family struggles and personal tragedies are all here. She even manages to open a satellite store in Paris!
This book is full of emotion, drama, spirit, humor, love, and so much more. It could have easily been a novel, but it's the true story of the author making Philadelphia and the world a better place, one book at a time. I suppose it's also a "how to", Ms. Cook is obviously a clever businesswoman and there is much to learn from her about life, the human spirit, and how to run a bookshop! This is a really good book - check it out.
March 16, 2026
I enjoyed this memoir. I honestly knew nothing about her and I loved learning about her bookshop and all the other community activism she does. So inspiring.
I did find the book jumped around a lot so at times I found it hard to follow.
4/5 stars
I did find the book jumped around a lot so at times I found it hard to follow.
4/5 stars
May 12, 2026
Wow! What an inspiring life! A beautiful look at life, family, hopes and dreams, history, ancestry, legacy.
May 19, 2026
Fast and great read. Got a few book recommendations from it too. Someone mentioned the audio is a must listen and I agree.
Did Not Finish
July 6, 2026Memoirs are already out of my comfort zone and the author's narration is making it too harder to get through this.
April 18, 2026
I feel like I have a better sense of who Cook is than what her story is. Her personality shines through strong, but the organization felt disjointed. Maybe if it had been spit into sections based on her guides, Harriet, Ida, and Josephine, then the bouncing timeline would have seemed more deliberate
May 7, 2026
There's magic in these pages.
March 13, 2026
Listen to the audiobook. Narration was excellent. I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts that were impactful and made you think ……..and then there were parts that seemed to ramble on and completely lost me.
March 16, 2026
I first became acquainted with Ms Cook during the pandemic when I read her single post on a social media platform indicating that she was in her bookstore one day and had not received any book sales and her fear of having to shut down her bookstore. As a result of that post gaining national attention ,people began to go to the store as well as purchase merchandise on line. The outpouring of support was aspiring. I was intrigued. I personally purchased a book and I went to the sister bookstore in Haddonfield NJ to support that as well. Because I believe in community bookstore. Especially Black Owned bookstores.
So when I had the opportunity to read her memoir I was ecstatic. Her memoir did not disappoint. the book was an easy read full of details of her life and her love for books and the importance of spreading the love of knowledge with many people.
Her work and love of her community is aspiring. And community for her is a action word. In her memoir we are taking behind the scenes of her opening not one but two bookstores. And the trials and tribulations that ensued as a result. Her riding on horseback to deliver books to people during the pandemic, her traveling to Paris to complete her book. and the friends she met to help her along her journey, her organizing a event to take underserved youth in Philadelphia to take a trip abroad to Paris. Her relationship with her father and her health concerns. At the end of reading her memoir I was not only intrigued but I was in awe. And you can see for Jeannine A. Cook: Community is an action word.
So when I had the opportunity to read her memoir I was ecstatic. Her memoir did not disappoint. the book was an easy read full of details of her life and her love for books and the importance of spreading the love of knowledge with many people.
Her work and love of her community is aspiring. And community for her is a action word. In her memoir we are taking behind the scenes of her opening not one but two bookstores. And the trials and tribulations that ensued as a result. Her riding on horseback to deliver books to people during the pandemic, her traveling to Paris to complete her book. and the friends she met to help her along her journey, her organizing a event to take underserved youth in Philadelphia to take a trip abroad to Paris. Her relationship with her father and her health concerns. At the end of reading her memoir I was not only intrigued but I was in awe. And you can see for Jeannine A. Cook: Community is an action word.
Read
May 31, 2026‘Shut Up and Read’ is part memoir, part love letter to books, and part reflection on the power of literature, community, and representation. In it, Jeannine Cook shares her journey from entrepreneur to founder of Harriett’s Bookshop, a bookstore dedicated to celebrating women authors, artists, and activists.
Rather than following a traditional memoir structure centered on personal milestones and life events, this book focuses on Cook’s mission to create spaces where stories can foster connection, conversation, and change. Along the way, she explores the role books have played in her life, the challenges of building a business, and the importance of amplifying voices that have historically been overlooked.
I found the strongest sections to be those that highlighted Cook’s passion for books and the impact independent bookstores can have on a community. Readers who love bookstores, literary culture, and conversations around literacy, representation, and social change will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
This is a memoir best suited for readers who enjoy books about books and who are interested in the intersection of literature, community building, and advocacy. If you’re looking for a deeply personal, character driven memoir, this may not be quite what you expect, but readers drawn to stories of mission, purpose, and the transformative power of reading may find it especially rewarding!
Follow @annie_lukey on Instagram and TikTok for more book reviews and content!
Rather than following a traditional memoir structure centered on personal milestones and life events, this book focuses on Cook’s mission to create spaces where stories can foster connection, conversation, and change. Along the way, she explores the role books have played in her life, the challenges of building a business, and the importance of amplifying voices that have historically been overlooked.
I found the strongest sections to be those that highlighted Cook’s passion for books and the impact independent bookstores can have on a community. Readers who love bookstores, literary culture, and conversations around literacy, representation, and social change will likely find a lot to appreciate here.
This is a memoir best suited for readers who enjoy books about books and who are interested in the intersection of literature, community building, and advocacy. If you’re looking for a deeply personal, character driven memoir, this may not be quite what you expect, but readers drawn to stories of mission, purpose, and the transformative power of reading may find it especially rewarding!
Follow @annie_lukey on Instagram and TikTok for more book reviews and content!
June 9, 2026
A fast-paced narrative that elevates the first-person perspective. An engaging writer that keeps you interested in each segment of the story. You will be turning page by page to find out the meat of the memoir here. This is a unique memoir that feels directly like a conversation. The conversation keeps you both engaged and craving the rich intricacies of Cook’s descriptive narrative. The meat of the narrative is how she persevered to set up the bookshop.
A captivating conversation that will have you leave the narrative feeling inspired. The passion is in the craft of her writing. Writing about writing and writing about selling books is going to entice any book lover. Her register to keep you engaged while creating a poetic conversation is my favorite part of the narrative itself. Of course I was delighted to read about the bookshop, but I stayed reading for the quality of writing. Everything flows asynchronously and meets together for the finality of perseverance.
Would love to read more from Cook and how she engages in future writing pieces. Many chapters are brief, but they say a lot without saying too much. We, the readers, are not reading between the writing but given enough information to truly understand the scope of her mindset. Truly a fun read. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
A captivating conversation that will have you leave the narrative feeling inspired. The passion is in the craft of her writing. Writing about writing and writing about selling books is going to entice any book lover. Her register to keep you engaged while creating a poetic conversation is my favorite part of the narrative itself. Of course I was delighted to read about the bookshop, but I stayed reading for the quality of writing. Everything flows asynchronously and meets together for the finality of perseverance.
Would love to read more from Cook and how she engages in future writing pieces. Many chapters are brief, but they say a lot without saying too much. We, the readers, are not reading between the writing but given enough information to truly understand the scope of her mindset. Truly a fun read. All opinions are my own.
For tarot readings, recommendations, and reviews, visit my blog, https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com/
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Like her heroines, Harriett Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Josephine Baker, Jeannine A. Cook is a visionary, rebel, community builder, activist, and complex Black woman. Listing the roles she fills—writer, shopkeeper, mentor—doesn’t begin to encompass the breadth and depth of her life and all the people she impacts. From a young age, people saw Jeanine’s creativity and potential, she’s learned to believe it herself.
"Shut Up and Read" is a love letter to books and writers and Cook’s adopted city of Philadelphia. She shares four months of her life in 2024 when she was writing her novel, buying the building that houses her bookstore, dealing with an chronic illness, traveling between Paris and Philadelphia, worrying about her father’s health, preparing to interview an author, and spending time with sister-friends, sometimes doing all of those tasks in the same day.
Cook invites us into her life and shares enough for us to want to know more but never too much. Her writing is electric, raw, honest, and poetic. This astute, expertly-written memoir flows and stays with you.
Any reader who has ever dreamed of owning a bookstore or making an impact on their community will find insight and hope from Jeannine’s story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad/HarperCollins for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
#netgalley #shutupandread
"Shut Up and Read" is a love letter to books and writers and Cook’s adopted city of Philadelphia. She shares four months of her life in 2024 when she was writing her novel, buying the building that houses her bookstore, dealing with an chronic illness, traveling between Paris and Philadelphia, worrying about her father’s health, preparing to interview an author, and spending time with sister-friends, sometimes doing all of those tasks in the same day.
Cook invites us into her life and shares enough for us to want to know more but never too much. Her writing is electric, raw, honest, and poetic. This astute, expertly-written memoir flows and stays with you.
Any reader who has ever dreamed of owning a bookstore or making an impact on their community will find insight and hope from Jeannine’s story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amistad/HarperCollins for sharing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
#netgalley #shutupandread
March 14, 2026
If you need a memoir about a fearless and inspiring woman, as she brings not one, but three black female-owned indie bookstores to life, then this should absolutely be your next read. She self narrates the audiobook which I can’t recommend enough! I loved hearing her story with her own voice!
Not only is this an incredible accomplishment on its own, but she did this all while battling a chronic illness, actively participating in bettering her community, being called to activism, writing her own novel, traveling between Philadelphia and Paris, and being challenged to keep her business in tact during COVID.
The mentors along the way both, past and present, historical and personal, are a beautiful touch to her journey. Jeannine derived her bookstore names from three of her own heroines: Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Josephine Baker. Similarly to their trailblazing legacies, Jeannine stands on her own as a woman all should know about and learn from. She creates her own path as a true visionary and activist-often found marching alongside the George Floyd & Breonna Taylor protestors, handing out books; as a mentor-inspiring her youth conductors as future community leaders; and always fighting for herself, and the black community.
Her passion of making reading and black stories accessible while supporting independent bookstore owners translates throughout her novel. Her family and personal friendships are also major themes that add a poignant touch to her journey throughout. At the heart of this beautifully crafted and raw memoir, is a story about the power of books that shape us, the mentors who inspire us, and the woman who believed in herself to not only make her own dreams come true but continues to make a positive impact on her community and the people around her.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Jeannine A. Cook
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: March 10, 2026
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Memoir • Nonfiction
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audio (6h 2m) 🎧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Author
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★☆ 𝟒.𝟓
{ rounded up to 5 on GR }
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: A great memoir on audio about an inspirational woman!
✨Thank you @librofm @amistadbooks for my free ALC 🎧 Happy pub week! 🎉
Quotes can be found on my instagram review post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DV05JV4lN...
Not only is this an incredible accomplishment on its own, but she did this all while battling a chronic illness, actively participating in bettering her community, being called to activism, writing her own novel, traveling between Philadelphia and Paris, and being challenged to keep her business in tact during COVID.
The mentors along the way both, past and present, historical and personal, are a beautiful touch to her journey. Jeannine derived her bookstore names from three of her own heroines: Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Josephine Baker. Similarly to their trailblazing legacies, Jeannine stands on her own as a woman all should know about and learn from. She creates her own path as a true visionary and activist-often found marching alongside the George Floyd & Breonna Taylor protestors, handing out books; as a mentor-inspiring her youth conductors as future community leaders; and always fighting for herself, and the black community.
Her passion of making reading and black stories accessible while supporting independent bookstore owners translates throughout her novel. Her family and personal friendships are also major themes that add a poignant touch to her journey throughout. At the heart of this beautifully crafted and raw memoir, is a story about the power of books that shape us, the mentors who inspire us, and the woman who believed in herself to not only make her own dreams come true but continues to make a positive impact on her community and the people around her.
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Jeannine A. Cook
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: March 10, 2026
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Memoir • Nonfiction
𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭: Audio (6h 2m) 🎧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: Author
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★☆ 𝟒.𝟓
{ rounded up to 5 on GR }
𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭: A great memoir on audio about an inspirational woman!
✨Thank you @librofm @amistadbooks for my free ALC 🎧 Happy pub week! 🎉
Quotes can be found on my instagram review post: https://www.instagram.com/p/DV05JV4lN...
April 26, 2026
I love books about books and bookstores and Jeannine A. Cook’s voice shines throughout this one! What really stayed with me is just how determined her journey feels. I went into this not knowing anything about her, and came out completely invested in her story and what she’s built.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley, and this ended up being such a meaningful read. There’s nothing overly polished about it, in a good way. It’s like a conversation with her! You feel every setback, every risk, and every small win along the way. Opening a bookstore right before a global shutdown is one thing, but finding ways to keep going and even grow from that? That’s something else entirely.
What I appreciated most is how rooted the story is in purpose. This isn’t just about running a business, it’s about creating space, uplifting voices, and staying connected to something bigger than yourself. The inspiration she draws from Harriet Tubman and other figures adds depth without ever feeling forced.
Definitely recommend, especially the audiobook, since hearing it in her own voice adds another level of connection.
I received an advance copy from NetGalley, and this ended up being such a meaningful read. There’s nothing overly polished about it, in a good way. It’s like a conversation with her! You feel every setback, every risk, and every small win along the way. Opening a bookstore right before a global shutdown is one thing, but finding ways to keep going and even grow from that? That’s something else entirely.
What I appreciated most is how rooted the story is in purpose. This isn’t just about running a business, it’s about creating space, uplifting voices, and staying connected to something bigger than yourself. The inspiration she draws from Harriet Tubman and other figures adds depth without ever feeling forced.
Definitely recommend, especially the audiobook, since hearing it in her own voice adds another level of connection.
June 20, 2026
This reader/writer's work showed up as balm for me at a time I was in pain. So profound was "It's Me THEY Follow" that I drew-wrote Jeannine Cook's words on the front of my bedroom door. Writing when you are a writer. I mean when words are that which sustains your soul. It's challenging to live in a world that requires that you not write in order to live. Life be life-ing. I get stuck in a fear of telling truth in a world that exists and thrives on lies. Cook is a truth that took me by surprise.
This is the second work and again it is tincture. It is wild roots, banshees howling, soft landings and a placenta of afterbirth. Only Cook can give the inner city child in us, that everyone else has written off, a hope. An awakened renewal of worthiness. This is one of her Spirit-Soul elements. Only a Sagittarius can wield an arrow and strike at the heart of the matter. BOOKS MATTER. A SPACE TO READ/WRITE/ THINK that WANTS OUR PRESENCE,matters. Young people matter. Community matters. We Are A World Community.
" The path with no beginning...is worth Beginning "-J.Cook- She Began A Dream. My Sister Dreaming Keeps All Dreams Alive!
This is the second work and again it is tincture. It is wild roots, banshees howling, soft landings and a placenta of afterbirth. Only Cook can give the inner city child in us, that everyone else has written off, a hope. An awakened renewal of worthiness. This is one of her Spirit-Soul elements. Only a Sagittarius can wield an arrow and strike at the heart of the matter. BOOKS MATTER. A SPACE TO READ/WRITE/ THINK that WANTS OUR PRESENCE,matters. Young people matter. Community matters. We Are A World Community.
" The path with no beginning...is worth Beginning "-J.Cook- She Began A Dream. My Sister Dreaming Keeps All Dreams Alive!
May 10, 2026
This memoir felt like none other I have ever read - it was not linear and it felt like it barely scratched the surface, in a good way. Although this is billed as a memior it could easily have been placed in the business section because it is a masterclass on the joys and challenges of being an entrepreneur. She speaks about her love of books, vision as a bookseller, and opening (and closing) Harriett's Bookshop in the early days of the pandemic. When speaking about herself as a writer, she gets most vulnerable and discusses her family especially her relationship with her father, her travels to Paris, friendships, her health and abusive romantic relationships. I can see other parts of this memoir being published to explore her childhood, her mother, relationship with her sisters, her grandparents, and so much more. I highly recommend this memoir especially to writers, entrepreneurs, or anyone balancing their dreams and the realities of a world trying to take it from them. Highly recommended.
March 10, 2026
In this memoir we follow Jeannine's journey of accomplishing her dream of opening Harriett's Bookshop in Philadelphia. Low and behold a few weeks after opening this bookshop on February 1, 2020, the covid pandemic hit, forcing the doors of Harriett's to close. Hope was not lost and Jeannine found creative ways to keep her book store alive despite the challenges while expanding her reach.
I absolutely adored Jeannie's tenacity to see things through. She encountered all the right people to push her forward and achieve her dreams. It's amazing how beneficial it was to have a community that really poured into Jeanine and she continues to pour into others forming her own overground Underground Railroad.
With Harriet Tubman and the ancestors as her guiding lights, Jeanine has turned her love of books into a legacy of literature for all to share in.
Read this if you like stories that are inspiring that are rooted in community, purpose, and activism.
I absolutely adored Jeannie's tenacity to see things through. She encountered all the right people to push her forward and achieve her dreams. It's amazing how beneficial it was to have a community that really poured into Jeanine and she continues to pour into others forming her own overground Underground Railroad.
With Harriet Tubman and the ancestors as her guiding lights, Jeanine has turned her love of books into a legacy of literature for all to share in.
Read this if you like stories that are inspiring that are rooted in community, purpose, and activism.
April 27, 2026
Ever google your name to see what comes up? I found a bookseller in Philadelphia with my name (or do I have hers?). So when I saw she had a autobiography out, this librarian on the West coast just had to read about the bookseller in the East.
Rather than a chronological view of her life, Cook jumps from one time period to another, concentrating on how she has created several community involved bookstores, the important programs she started, a trip to Paris to write a romance books, and how she has met lots and lots of fascinating people in her bookstores' communities. Her personality and voice come through loud and clear, and make you feel like you're on an adventure with an amazing friend. Success for Jeannine Cook is not making money (though making ends meet is nice), but in creating change in her community - change for the better - and raising up many who would not otherwise have much opportunity. A very worthwhile experience.
Rather than a chronological view of her life, Cook jumps from one time period to another, concentrating on how she has created several community involved bookstores, the important programs she started, a trip to Paris to write a romance books, and how she has met lots and lots of fascinating people in her bookstores' communities. Her personality and voice come through loud and clear, and make you feel like you're on an adventure with an amazing friend. Success for Jeannine Cook is not making money (though making ends meet is nice), but in creating change in her community - change for the better - and raising up many who would not otherwise have much opportunity. A very worthwhile experience.
June 2, 2026
I really hate to give this rating because I was so looking forward to this and I admire the work that Cook is doing. It is absolutely crucial right now and learning about that was so powerful. However, this book was easily one of the most confusing streams of consciousness I’ve ever read. I have been wondering if it should be categorized as a collection of stories or essays but to be honest even the stories she told lacked depth and cohesion. I would get really invested in a story or just start to understand the time and place she was describing (that was radically different from the previous chapter) and the short chapter would abruptly end and catapult you into a new one. There were multiple times I was listening to this and thought my audio cut out but it was the abrupt end to a chapter in mid-thought. I am so grateful for the work Cook is doing but this book clearly needed a lot more editing before it went to print.
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