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The Rainy Day Bookshop: A Contemporary Small-Town Story of Family, Community and Books
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jun 26Sandwiched between caring for her mother and rebuilding the relationship with her estranged daughter, Emma, Rosie Lucas’s life is full. In the best way. With Emma and her 3-year old daughter, Olive, back home, Rosie has a partner for The Rainy Day Bookshop, the family business, and a chance to fix the past. What she doesn’t have time for is a romantic relationship. And even if she did, Andrew Morgan is the last person she’d choose. Not only is he an arrogant and reclusive writer, but he’s a single dad with two young kids. She’s already been there, done that. Still as an irresistible flirtation builds between them, he becomes her unexpected confidante on the distance Rosie can’t seem to overcome with Emma, a secret she can’t quite unravel…
Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. Rosie and Emma will have to navigate an unimaginable path forward. Together.
Emma isn’t proud of her past. But she’s pulled herself up by the bootstraps, caring for her own daughter, and protecting her mom at all costs. Just as she always has. She never told Rosie what she saw all those years ago and she never will. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and sometimes the truth is more shocking than fiction. Rosie and Emma will have to navigate an unimaginable path forward. Together.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 2, 2026
8 people are currently reading
8638 people want to read
About the author
RaeAnne Thayne
323 books3,917 followersI'm not one of those people who knew from birth she was destined to become a writer. I always loved to read and throughout my childhood I could usually be found with a book in my hands. To the disgust of my friends, I even enjoyed creative writing assignments that made them all groan. But I had other dreams besides writing. I wanted to be an actress or a teacher or a lawyer.
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
Life took a different turn for me, though, when my mother made me take a journalism elective in high school (thanks, Mom!). I knew the first day that this was where I belonged.
After I graduated from college in journalism, I took a job at the local daily newspaper and I reveled in the challenge and the diversity of it. One day I could be interviewing the latest country music star, the next day I was writing about local motorcycle gangs or interviewing an award-winning scientist.
Through it all -- through the natural progression of my career from reporter to editor -- I wrote stories in my head. Not just any stories, either, but romances, the kind of books I have devoured since junior high school, with tales about real people going through the trials and tribulations of life until they find deep and lasting love.
I had no idea how to put these people on paper, but knew I had to try -- their stories were too compelling for me to ignore. I sold my first book in 1995 and now, more than 30 books later, I've come to love everything about writing, from the click of the computer keys under my fingers to the "that's-it!" feeling I get when a story is flowing.
I write full-time now (well, as full-time as I can manage juggling my kids!) amid the raw beauty of the northern Utah mountains.
Even though I might not have dreamed of being a writer when I was younger, now I simply can't imagine my life any other way.
I love to hear from readers. You can reach me at my email address, raeannethayne@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
April 20, 2026
Everything looks soft and cozy on the surface, but underneath? This book is quietly wrecking hearts, exposing old wounds, and stitching them back together one messy truth at a time—and I was not emotionally prepared. RaeAnne Thayne’s The Rainy Day Bookshop pulled me in with that charming, small-town bookstore glow and then hit me with the kind of emotional depth that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, thank you for the gifted ARC via NetGalley.
This story centers around Rosie, who is balancing grief, responsibility, and the slow unraveling of the life she thought she’d have, and Emma, her estranged daughter who returns home carrying years of guilt like it’s part of her identity. Their relationship? Strained, fragile, and painfully real. Watching them try to reconnect felt less like reading and more like quietly witnessing something deeply personal. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s layered with things unsaid—and that’s exactly what makes it hit so hard.
Then you have Olive, who is pure sunshine in human form, and Sylvia, who says exactly what everyone else is thinking but won’t admit. And somehow, in the middle of all that emotional weight, the story still finds space for romance. Rosie and Andrew have this slow, hesitant connection that feels earned, not rushed—two people who have been through enough to know love isn’t simple. Meanwhile, Emma and Bryce bring that hopeful, “maybe we get a second chance if we’re brave enough” energy that had me rooting for them harder than I expected.
“Sometimes the hardest stories to tell are the ones we’ve been carrying the longest.”
That line? Yeah… it stopped me in my tracks. Because this book isn’t really about the romance (even though it’s there and it’s good). It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about the quiet, uncomfortable process of facing the past and deciding whether you’re strong enough to move forward anyway. And I loved that it didn’t rush that journey. It let the characters sit in it. Feel it. Work through it.
What surprised me most is how emotionally immersive this felt. It’s not overly dramatic, but it carries weight. The kind that builds slowly until you realize you’re fully invested in these characters finding peace—even if it’s not perfect.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
If you’re someone who loves women’s fiction that leans into family dynamics, second chances, and emotional growth—with a cozy bookstore setting as the backdrop—this is absolutely for you. Especially if you like stories that feel like a warm hug but also gently call you out and make you reflect on your own relationships.
So tell me… are you picking this up for the cozy bookstore vibes, or are you ready for the emotional damage that comes with it? ☕📚
#TheRainyDayBookshop #RaeAnneThayne #BookReview #WomensFiction #RomanceReads #BooksAboutBooks #CozyReads #Bookstagram #CurrentlyReading #NetGalley #ARCReview #SmallTownRomance #SecondChanceRomance #FamilyDrama #EmotionalReads #CoffeeAndBooks #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram
This story centers around Rosie, who is balancing grief, responsibility, and the slow unraveling of the life she thought she’d have, and Emma, her estranged daughter who returns home carrying years of guilt like it’s part of her identity. Their relationship? Strained, fragile, and painfully real. Watching them try to reconnect felt less like reading and more like quietly witnessing something deeply personal. It’s messy. It’s complicated. It’s layered with things unsaid—and that’s exactly what makes it hit so hard.
Then you have Olive, who is pure sunshine in human form, and Sylvia, who says exactly what everyone else is thinking but won’t admit. And somehow, in the middle of all that emotional weight, the story still finds space for romance. Rosie and Andrew have this slow, hesitant connection that feels earned, not rushed—two people who have been through enough to know love isn’t simple. Meanwhile, Emma and Bryce bring that hopeful, “maybe we get a second chance if we’re brave enough” energy that had me rooting for them harder than I expected.
“Sometimes the hardest stories to tell are the ones we’ve been carrying the longest.”
That line? Yeah… it stopped me in my tracks. Because this book isn’t really about the romance (even though it’s there and it’s good). It’s about healing. It’s about forgiveness. It’s about the quiet, uncomfortable process of facing the past and deciding whether you’re strong enough to move forward anyway. And I loved that it didn’t rush that journey. It let the characters sit in it. Feel it. Work through it.
What surprised me most is how emotionally immersive this felt. It’s not overly dramatic, but it carries weight. The kind that builds slowly until you realize you’re fully invested in these characters finding peace—even if it’s not perfect.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)
If you’re someone who loves women’s fiction that leans into family dynamics, second chances, and emotional growth—with a cozy bookstore setting as the backdrop—this is absolutely for you. Especially if you like stories that feel like a warm hug but also gently call you out and make you reflect on your own relationships.
So tell me… are you picking this up for the cozy bookstore vibes, or are you ready for the emotional damage that comes with it? ☕📚
#TheRainyDayBookshop #RaeAnneThayne #BookReview #WomensFiction #RomanceReads #BooksAboutBooks #CozyReads #Bookstagram #CurrentlyReading #NetGalley #ARCReview #SmallTownRomance #SecondChanceRomance #FamilyDrama #EmotionalReads #CoffeeAndBooks #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emma Lucas had been a model daughter and student. After her father died in an accident she blamed herself for, her life went downhill quickly and she left home. She eventually ended up in Las Vegas. When she gets pregnant, she decides to keep the baby even though the father wants no part. She has still vowed to not go home to her small town.
Then Emma gets an urgent call that her grandmother has been injured and can no longer run the family store, The Rainy Day Bookshop. She picks up and moves back home with her daughter Olive in tow.
Emma’s mother Rosie, who started the bookshop, can’t take care of the bookshop. After her husband died, Rosie had to step up and take over Lucas Construction that she had really paid very little attention to. For a while things look rough, but with help from other employees and more jobs things are getting better.
Rosie’s latest project is renovating a large home that she once wanted. The owner is a famous author who has moved from California after his home and belongings were totally destroyed by wildfire. Andrew has two young children who he is raising after his wife died. Rosie is attracted to Andrew, but he has young children and she has already been through that. Can they ever be they ever be more than project manager and employer?
Emma takes on the bookshop as a project. It is in desperate need of a huge overhaul and renovation. It’s much more than she can do alone, especially on top of raising her sweet daughter Olive. Bryce, who she barely knew in high school, now work for her mother’s construction company. He had a big crush of Emma in high school, despite their very different backgrounds. Even though he is already working long hours, he volunteers to help Emma with the bookshop renovations. Can they ever be more than friends and will Emma stay in town after the bookshop is fixed?
I loved that this story was one of two different generations and how they dealt with family and romantic relationships. All the characters had serious past baggage and weren’t sure they would able to move on. It was great that children were important and woven into the plot.
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew I would love it. Books about books are one of my all time favorites. It was wonderful how the author showed the importance of independent bookshops.
Then Emma gets an urgent call that her grandmother has been injured and can no longer run the family store, The Rainy Day Bookshop. She picks up and moves back home with her daughter Olive in tow.
Emma’s mother Rosie, who started the bookshop, can’t take care of the bookshop. After her husband died, Rosie had to step up and take over Lucas Construction that she had really paid very little attention to. For a while things look rough, but with help from other employees and more jobs things are getting better.
Rosie’s latest project is renovating a large home that she once wanted. The owner is a famous author who has moved from California after his home and belongings were totally destroyed by wildfire. Andrew has two young children who he is raising after his wife died. Rosie is attracted to Andrew, but he has young children and she has already been through that. Can they ever be they ever be more than project manager and employer?
Emma takes on the bookshop as a project. It is in desperate need of a huge overhaul and renovation. It’s much more than she can do alone, especially on top of raising her sweet daughter Olive. Bryce, who she barely knew in high school, now work for her mother’s construction company. He had a big crush of Emma in high school, despite their very different backgrounds. Even though he is already working long hours, he volunteers to help Emma with the bookshop renovations. Can they ever be more than friends and will Emma stay in town after the bookshop is fixed?
I loved that this story was one of two different generations and how they dealt with family and romantic relationships. All the characters had serious past baggage and weren’t sure they would able to move on. It was great that children were important and woven into the plot.
As soon as I saw the title of this book, I knew I would love it. Books about books are one of my all time favorites. It was wonderful how the author showed the importance of independent bookshops.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A heartwarming story about womanhood, heartbreak, healing, and family. Emma and Rosie are picking up the pieces of their tumultuous relationship. Both mother and daughter work to heal their wounds after the death of Gary, a loving father and husband. Emma moves back to her hometown in Oregon with her little three-year-old Olive. She takes over her mother Rosie's beloved bookstore and does her best to prove herself by renovating it. Besides the conflicting feelings of returning home, running businesses, and mending their broken relationship, Emma and Rosie unexpectedly come across the possibility of finding love. Andrew, a widower and best-selling author, can't seem to stay away from Rosie, the project manager for the construction of his new home. Bryce can't believe Emma is back in town, after secretly being in love with her since high school; he can't help but hope he gets his chance. Together, each person navigates the tricky, messy feelings of change in this quaint small-town romance story.
I really enjoyed this book, especially its narration. The different points of view from the four main characters added depth to each of their stories. The main characters, including the great-grandmother Sylvia and Olive, were fun and relatable. A secret throughout the story complicates the healing process of our characters. It is a relatable story written through the lens of a small town environment where everyone knows everyone. Although it is a low-stakes story, it still evokes a range of emotions as we learn more about the characters. It is a nice read and would make a great book to take on a flight or trip.
For readers who enjoy reading about women healing their relationships with the other women in their family, low-stakes small town romance, and second chances
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
I really enjoyed this book, especially its narration. The different points of view from the four main characters added depth to each of their stories. The main characters, including the great-grandmother Sylvia and Olive, were fun and relatable. A secret throughout the story complicates the healing process of our characters. It is a relatable story written through the lens of a small town environment where everyone knows everyone. Although it is a low-stakes story, it still evokes a range of emotions as we learn more about the characters. It is a nice read and would make a great book to take on a flight or trip.
For readers who enjoy reading about women healing their relationships with the other women in their family, low-stakes small town romance, and second chances
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is an advance reader copy (ARC) and may contain errors or changes before final publication. My review is voluntary and reflects my personal thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is another warm hug from Ms. Thayne! It was such a wonderful treat to read about couples of all ages putting themselves out there…or at least trrrryyyyyiiiiiinnnnngggg to. It is a story of one person trying to protect another. It is a story of one/each person trying so very hard to protect themselves. It is a story of great love of your children, or all children. I loved Rosie and her daughter Emma, Sylvia (Rosie’s mother, Emma’s grandmother) and Olive, Emma’s daughter. Grandma Sylvia is great – totally honest and out there. Just ask her, she’ll tell you what she thinks! And the kids, OMG, they are adorable! Andrew and his children, Zara and Finn, have a lot of life “stuff” to deal with but their dad really is doing a great job of helping them cope. It is amazing when they move near their own grandmother and Rosie and reading about them changing and enjoying life? And watching how much they love their father (and how much their father loves them)? Perfect! And there is Bryce…an employee of Rosie’s but he is so much more.
Emma has some pretty big things to deal with in life. First of all, her relationship with her mother needs a lot of work. Second, SHE needs to come to terms with how good a person she is – it takes a lot for her to believe in herself again. And Bryce helps! He, too, has a journey he needs to take, and believing in himself first is a very big part before he can even consider helping Emma with hers. And Olive is adorable! Precocious doesn’t even begin to describe her.
No spoilers from me however I guess I’m way more vindictive (than these characters) but in my opinion, there weren’t enough consequences for some folks in this story to feed my sense of justice. Or it’s more likely that I’m just not as nice as the author. I always love Ms. Thayne’s books and this one does not disappoint. I loved every part of it and highly recommend. Great read!
Emma has some pretty big things to deal with in life. First of all, her relationship with her mother needs a lot of work. Second, SHE needs to come to terms with how good a person she is – it takes a lot for her to believe in herself again. And Bryce helps! He, too, has a journey he needs to take, and believing in himself first is a very big part before he can even consider helping Emma with hers. And Olive is adorable! Precocious doesn’t even begin to describe her.
No spoilers from me however I guess I’m way more vindictive (than these characters) but in my opinion, there weren’t enough consequences for some folks in this story to feed my sense of justice. Or it’s more likely that I’m just not as nice as the author. I always love Ms. Thayne’s books and this one does not disappoint. I loved every part of it and highly recommend. Great read!
Review of advance copy
I was fortunate enough to be able to join RaeAnne Thayne’s “Street Team” receiving an advanced copy of the Rainy Day Bookshop in advance of its June release date. The book’s dedication page starts with this wonderful quote ringing true for me “For those who find comfort, courage, and joy between the pages of a book…and for the booksellers who make discoveries possible.” I loved this.
This is a wonderful story filled with family heartache and drama, mistakes made along the path of growing up and old and new relationships. Emma and her daughter Olive move back to help her Mom, Rosie and Grandmother, Sylvia with the Rainy Day Bookshop. The store is in need of some TLC and updating. In the process Emma meets Bryce who works for her Mom’s construction company. Andrew, a popular author, moves to town with his daughter Zara and son Finn who are struggling to move forward after a life changing event.. This sets the stage for potential romantic entanglements that are fun to watch develop. There were so many things that spoke to me throughout this book. Emma is struggling with poor life choices unable to forgive herself and move forward with her life. Watching her embrace the bookstore renovations made me want to move to town and help her run the store. The references to the importance of bookstores, not only to individual readers but, to the whole community was something all reading enthusiasts will understand. Having just lost my Mom, the messaging around dealing with grief was also personally helpful.
I loved the book and all the characters and am grateful for this opportunity. Don’t miss this wonderful book. Enjoy!
This is a wonderful story filled with family heartache and drama, mistakes made along the path of growing up and old and new relationships. Emma and her daughter Olive move back to help her Mom, Rosie and Grandmother, Sylvia with the Rainy Day Bookshop. The store is in need of some TLC and updating. In the process Emma meets Bryce who works for her Mom’s construction company. Andrew, a popular author, moves to town with his daughter Zara and son Finn who are struggling to move forward after a life changing event.. This sets the stage for potential romantic entanglements that are fun to watch develop. There were so many things that spoke to me throughout this book. Emma is struggling with poor life choices unable to forgive herself and move forward with her life. Watching her embrace the bookstore renovations made me want to move to town and help her run the store. The references to the importance of bookstores, not only to individual readers but, to the whole community was something all reading enthusiasts will understand. Having just lost my Mom, the messaging around dealing with grief was also personally helpful.
I loved the book and all the characters and am grateful for this opportunity. Don’t miss this wonderful book. Enjoy!
March 19, 2026
Thank you to RaeAnne Thayne & HarperCollins/MIRA Publishers for an advanced reading copy of The Rainy Day Bookshop to review. Rosie Lucas is the widowed owner of a construction company and small bookstore in coastal Wood Briar, Oregon. She took over running the construction firm when her husband died in a car accident and had her mother, Sylvia take over being in charge of the bookstore. When Sylvia is laid up with a broken ankle, Rosie's daughter, Emma & her preschool granddaughter Olive, move back home to manage the bookstore while Sylvia rehabs. Emma moved as soon as she graduated from high school ten years earlier, and her relationship with Rosie is very strained. Emma was driving the car in the accident that killed her father, and her life derailed after that. Rosie & Sylvia hope that Emma & Olive stay home for good, and they are not above a little push in that direction. Emma decides to remodel the bookstore and add a coffee shop with the help of old friend, and an employee of Rosie's construction firm, Bryce Kendall. Bryce has always had an enormous crush on Emma, and he has grown into quite an attractive, responsible man. Rosie, meanwhile, is very distracted by famous author Andrew Morgan, a widower who just moved to town with his two young children and has hired Rosie's company to completely remodel an old mansion on the coast. This book is about family, secrets, and a lot of romance for Rosie & Emma. RaeAnne Thayne always writes with so much heart, relatable characters and lovely small town settings that I wish I could visit. She is one of my must read authors and I encourage everyone to spend some time in the world of The Rainy Day Bookshop.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Four people find themselves transformed in different ways by the Rainy Day Bookshop in a small town along the Oregon Coast. I love reading books by this author! She always delves into the emotions of people that are realistic and heartfelt. I rarely can put down one of her books when I begin. Rosie bought talked her husband into buying this bookstore long ago, but when he died, her desire to keep it going died with it and she had their construction company to keep afloat plus a teenage daughter to attend to. Emma has felt responsible for her father's death ever since it happened. She's been holding on to a secret that would destroy her mother, so she rebelled and left town as soon as she graduated high school. Now, her mother needs her to run the bookstore while her grandma recuperates so she brings along her preschool daughter to see if she can have a relationship with her mom again. Bryce has had a crush on Emma for as long as he can remember. He works for her mom now and maybe if he can help Emma with the bookstore renovations, he can show her he can be dependable and help her out. Andrew is a famous author and widower with two young children who moves to town after losing everything in a wildfire. When he meets Rosie, he can't understand how she makes him feel. He has so much going on, what is happening to him?!
These 4 people's lives will intertwine, and secrets will be revealed but how will everything turn out?
These 4 people's lives will intertwine, and secrets will be revealed but how will everything turn out?
April 3, 2026
First off, I would to thank RaeAnne Thayne & HarperCollins/MIRA Publishers for an advanced reading copy of The Rainy Day Bookshop to review.
Once again, we have a great stand alone book by this author, who is an auto-buy for me! The location is along the Pacific Northwest and the description of the town and seashore makes you want to visit. We have a bookstore that’s in need of a rebirth of sorts, and which ties the 4 generations of women at different points in their lives.
There is the grandmother Sylvia, who was running the bookstore into the red, not purposefully. Then her daughter Rosie, whose dream was to run the bookstore, but tragedy made the decision for her, and instead had to run the family’s construction company. Then there is Rosie’s daughter Emma, who was estranged from her mother for 10 years; then Olive, Emma’s daughter.
These ladies are together at last as they work through the challenges of grief, a long-buried secret and new found love. I am most please by how this story was told through multiple perspectives; it added a complexity to all the characters throughout the book. However, my one issue with the book was with the outcome of Pam (and her lunches with Vic). I wanted more accountability. That’s all I am going to say about that!
Without giving too much away and having spoilers, if you like the small town vibe, romance and some drama, this story is for you.
My review is voluntary and reflects my personal opinions and thoughts.
Once again, we have a great stand alone book by this author, who is an auto-buy for me! The location is along the Pacific Northwest and the description of the town and seashore makes you want to visit. We have a bookstore that’s in need of a rebirth of sorts, and which ties the 4 generations of women at different points in their lives.
There is the grandmother Sylvia, who was running the bookstore into the red, not purposefully. Then her daughter Rosie, whose dream was to run the bookstore, but tragedy made the decision for her, and instead had to run the family’s construction company. Then there is Rosie’s daughter Emma, who was estranged from her mother for 10 years; then Olive, Emma’s daughter.
These ladies are together at last as they work through the challenges of grief, a long-buried secret and new found love. I am most please by how this story was told through multiple perspectives; it added a complexity to all the characters throughout the book. However, my one issue with the book was with the outcome of Pam (and her lunches with Vic). I wanted more accountability. That’s all I am going to say about that!
Without giving too much away and having spoilers, if you like the small town vibe, romance and some drama, this story is for you.
My review is voluntary and reflects my personal opinions and thoughts.
March 24, 2026
I was lucky enough to be a picked for an advanced reader copy. I throughly enjoyed this book I’ve turned to thriller books they seem to move faster. But there are a few authors I still read that write romance. This book is about a mother,daughter,and grandma. So they daughter and grandma are keeping a secret that will change the moms life . Both the mother and daughter have men that come into their lives and they both try to make themselves and the men think they are not ever going to have relationships but they both get fooled. I felt like I was part of the book watching this all unfold. I felt most connected to Emma the daughter but I could also feel the mom’s pain as she found out a secret that was tremendously difficult. Then the book shop had a fire. I did not see that coming and was glad it was not a total loss. Just the description and the way the author told it made me feel like I’ve been there before. Seems like the most amazing bookshop and the Rainey day part just made it perfect to me . Rain is def my fav weather to visit a bookstore. I can’t wait for this to come out as I will be reading it again. Def a wonderful book !!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 27, 2026Emma Lucas has come back to town with her daughter after years away. She doesn’t realize how her life will change after the decision to come home. Her mother, Rosie, is in for some big changes in her life in ways she didn’t expect as well. An old high school friend and some new friends help heal the hurts of the past.
This author has another hit to add to her many others. She has such a way of telling a story that draws you in from the very beginning until the last page. This wonderful town along the beach is a character in the book unto itself. It sounds like such a lovely place to live as well as the people in the story sound like they would be fun to know. Emma has had a tough life some for reasons of her own making but others just weren’t fair. An old high friend helps her see that she is worth the risk for a new love. Emma’s mother after 10 years of being a widow finds a new love as well. The Rainy Day Book Shop is a beautifully written story that has a plot that is well written while pulling together a lovely ending that gives the reader all the good feels of a nice book. I highly recommend this book!
This author has another hit to add to her many others. She has such a way of telling a story that draws you in from the very beginning until the last page. This wonderful town along the beach is a character in the book unto itself. It sounds like such a lovely place to live as well as the people in the story sound like they would be fun to know. Emma has had a tough life some for reasons of her own making but others just weren’t fair. An old high friend helps her see that she is worth the risk for a new love. Emma’s mother after 10 years of being a widow finds a new love as well. The Rainy Day Book Shop is a beautifully written story that has a plot that is well written while pulling together a lovely ending that gives the reader all the good feels of a nice book. I highly recommend this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rainy Day Bookshop is a sweet intergenerational small town story set in coastal Oregon. We hear from 4 different points of view, as we read about Rosie, who is in her forties and has had to drop her dream of running her just purchased bookshop to bring her husbands construction company back from the brink of going under after he is killed in an auto accident. We also get to know her daughter Emma, who fell off the rails after her father died, but who is called back to her home town with her small daughter Olive to run the bookstore when her grandmother, who has taken it over after the accident, has an accident herself. Add to this a handsome, successful fantasy writer with two small children and a young man who has loved Emma since their childhood, we have the makings of a sweet romance full of strong women, interesting characters, lovely children and even fun dogs. If you have enjoyed this authors previous books I am sure you will love this one too, and if not, I would encourage you to give it a try.
Thank you to net galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e galley. My opinions are totally my own.
Thank you to net galley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this e galley. My opinions are totally my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story has it all… a bookstore, an author, heartache, heartbreak, secrets, family, budding romances, and all the good stuff in between.
Rosie owns the Rainy Day Bookshop but her mother Sylvia has been running it while Rosie took over her husband’s construction business after he died.
Emma comes back home after being gone for several years, with her daughter Olive to help with the bookstore after Sylvia’s accident.
Emma has been keeping a secret from her mom since the day her dad dies. Emma blames her self for the accident that killed her dad and almost killed her too. She thinks her mom blames her too…
Andrew moved to town after losing his wife and then losing their home in the California wildfire. He bought Rosie’s dream home that she sold to keep the construction company going. Her company is doing the renovations.
Bryce went to school with Emma and had a BIG crush on her. He is now Rosie’s right hand project manager.
This was one of my favorite stories to read and I’m hoping for another book so I can learn more about all these characters and where they end up
Rosie owns the Rainy Day Bookshop but her mother Sylvia has been running it while Rosie took over her husband’s construction business after he died.
Emma comes back home after being gone for several years, with her daughter Olive to help with the bookstore after Sylvia’s accident.
Emma has been keeping a secret from her mom since the day her dad dies. Emma blames her self for the accident that killed her dad and almost killed her too. She thinks her mom blames her too…
Andrew moved to town after losing his wife and then losing their home in the California wildfire. He bought Rosie’s dream home that she sold to keep the construction company going. Her company is doing the renovations.
Bryce went to school with Emma and had a BIG crush on her. He is now Rosie’s right hand project manager.
This was one of my favorite stories to read and I’m hoping for another book so I can learn more about all these characters and where they end up
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There's something undeniably comforting about a story centered around a bookstore, and this book delivers cozy, heart-healing atmosphere with depth and emotion.
Rosie Lucas, a widow juggling grief, family responsibilities and the long postponed dream of running her beloved bookshop. When her estranged daughter, Emma, return homes with her young child, the story unfolds into a layered exploration of forgiveness, motherhood and second chances. Add in a romance with a guarded author for Rosie and a romance with a childhood friend for Emma you get a story that is both tender and real.
What stands out is how deeply the book leans into a family dynamics. The relationship between Rosie and Emma feels raw and authentic but messy in a way of real healing. There is emotional tension that is driven by long held secrets and unresolved guilt giving the quiet but the powerful weight.
This is romance is a slow burn but it never overshadows the heart of the story.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC
Rosie Lucas, a widow juggling grief, family responsibilities and the long postponed dream of running her beloved bookshop. When her estranged daughter, Emma, return homes with her young child, the story unfolds into a layered exploration of forgiveness, motherhood and second chances. Add in a romance with a guarded author for Rosie and a romance with a childhood friend for Emma you get a story that is both tender and real.
What stands out is how deeply the book leans into a family dynamics. The relationship between Rosie and Emma feels raw and authentic but messy in a way of real healing. There is emotional tension that is driven by long held secrets and unresolved guilt giving the quiet but the powerful weight.
This is romance is a slow burn but it never overshadows the heart of the story.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Two for the price of one! Yes, this book has two romances in it, but it is more about family relationships. After a tumultuous past relationship between mother, Rosie, and her daughter, Emma, the daughter has finally come home again with her darling 3 year-old daughter, and Rosie is desperate to have Emma want to stay. Emma had agreed to come and help in the bookstore when her grandmother, Rosie’s mother, breaks her ankle and can’t manage the bookstore anymore. When Bryce begins to help her renovate the store, sparks begin to fly and Rosie is delighted. In the meantime, Andrew, a bestselling author, moves to a home being renovated by Rosie’s construction company and they are immediately attracted to each other. Past secrets and mistakes cause each couple’s relationship to struggle. Lovely story of the power of love, forgiveness, second chances and hope. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins, I received an ARC copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Rainy Day Bookshop is a beautifully written heartwarming story that brings out many emotions. RayeAnne Thayne has woven together an intricate story with all the feels.
The epicenter of the story is an old bookshop. Four generations of women at different points in their lives are bound together by this shop. When a secret that has been hidden for years comes to light, a journey of healing begins bringing them closer together than they'd been in many years.
I loved all the different emotions felt throughout the story. Stories centered around bookshops are always a favorite for me. The characters are very well thought out and real. The different aspects of the story were well paced and kept my attention throughout. This was a total page turner and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Mira Books for the advanced copy
The epicenter of the story is an old bookshop. Four generations of women at different points in their lives are bound together by this shop. When a secret that has been hidden for years comes to light, a journey of healing begins bringing them closer together than they'd been in many years.
I loved all the different emotions felt throughout the story. Stories centered around bookshops are always a favorite for me. The characters are very well thought out and real. The different aspects of the story were well paced and kept my attention throughout. This was a total page turner and I highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins Mira Books for the advanced copy
April 4, 2026
This book was a little different than what I normally read but the perfect book for me to switch things up. It took on a more serious tone than the lighthearted romances I normally read. It pulled at my heartstrings and made me think of my own rough relationship with my mom, making me really connect with the characters. I loved watching Emma and Rosie not only heal from their own grief but heal their relationship as well. It was also fun getting to watch them both fall in love and see the parallels between the two love stories. I really admired the different points of view we got, not only getting Rosie and Emma, but Bryce and Andrew too. This book made me smile and laugh but also made me cry and relate with some of the hardships the characters went through. This is definitely a book I’ll think about again and again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rainy Day Bookshop is a story of three strong women who have had to weather some strong storms in the last ten years. But with strength, healing and most of all; the love they have for each other, they show they are stronger than any of their storms.
I loved all the characters. The three generational women, Sylvia, Rosie and Emma start out like “walking on eggshells” as my grandmother would say, but as the book progresses, so does the rebuilding and healing of their strained relationship.
If you enjoy reading books filled with tentative relationships, a long simmering secret and sweet, slow burning love that leads to second chances, then this is a must read.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins/MIRA for the eARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book without remuneration and this review is my own opinion.
I loved all the characters. The three generational women, Sylvia, Rosie and Emma start out like “walking on eggshells” as my grandmother would say, but as the book progresses, so does the rebuilding and healing of their strained relationship.
If you enjoy reading books filled with tentative relationships, a long simmering secret and sweet, slow burning love that leads to second chances, then this is a must read.
Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins/MIRA for the eARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book without remuneration and this review is my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was able to get an ARC of this great book by Author RaeAnne Thayne. All Rosie wanted when she was married was to have her own Bookstore, so she talked her husband into buying one even though he already had his own business. Tragedy struck when their daughter Emma was driving and her husband was killed. Emma really took it hard and started rebelling, then finally left when school was done for the year. 8 years later she comes back when her grandma fell and her mom needed help with the bookstore. A handsome author moved into town and Rosie was smitten while Emma was falling in love with the carpenter that was renovating the store. Can mom & daughter be friends again? Will they all live happily ever after? You'll have to read it to find out!
April 24, 2026
The Rainy Day Bookshop
By Raeanne Thayne
A heartwarming story about womanhood, heartbreak, healing, and family. Emma and Rosie are picking up the pieces of their tumultuous relationship. Both mother and daughter work to heal their wounds after the death of Gary, a loving father and husband.
Four people find themselves transformed in different ways by the Rainy Day Bookshop in a small town along the Oregon Coast.
The Rainy Day Book Shop is a beautifully written story that has a plot that is well written.
This was a total page turner and I highly recommend it. I absolutely loved this book!
Thank you RayAnne for selecting me for your street team! This is my opinion of the book.
By Raeanne Thayne
A heartwarming story about womanhood, heartbreak, healing, and family. Emma and Rosie are picking up the pieces of their tumultuous relationship. Both mother and daughter work to heal their wounds after the death of Gary, a loving father and husband.
Four people find themselves transformed in different ways by the Rainy Day Bookshop in a small town along the Oregon Coast.
The Rainy Day Book Shop is a beautifully written story that has a plot that is well written.
This was a total page turner and I highly recommend it. I absolutely loved this book!
Thank you RayAnne for selecting me for your street team! This is my opinion of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a treat! I always love RaeAnne Thayne’s books and I’m thrilled I got to read this one early. It’s my pleasure to write a review of such an enjoyable story. I rarely read books that have parallel love stories so I was pleasantly surprised to find such a great one to read. (Of course it's no surprise that it was written by my favorite author.) One of my favorite parts was Emma’s judgment of her own actions and how her criticisms of herself made her a very believable character. This book was a standalone story that left me wanting more to read. I couldn’t really put it down and my yardwork was ignored as I read most of the day instead!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this story. It was one of those books that you struggle to have to put down to do your adulting. It was a comforting, cozy read but with a lot more depth than I expected. The family dynamics—especially between Rosie and her daughter—felt real and sometimes messy in a way that made the story more meaningful.
I also liked that the romance didn’t take over the whole book. It was there, but the focus on healing, second chances, and rebuilding relationships is what stood out to me most.
Overall, it was a warm, easy read with just enough emotion to keep me invested. Perfect for when you want something heartfelt but not too heavy.
I also liked that the romance didn’t take over the whole book. It was there, but the focus on healing, second chances, and rebuilding relationships is what stood out to me most.
Overall, it was a warm, easy read with just enough emotion to keep me invested. Perfect for when you want something heartfelt but not too heavy.
Review of advance copy
Received an advance copy.
Rosie reconnecting with her estranged daughter and young granddaughter is a beautiful story.
While trying to run a construction company and renovating a dream house she once owned, Rosie may run herself ragged. Her other love, a local bookstore is being renovated as well. That's where her daughter Emma comes in. All this while Rosie is taking care of her own Mother who is recovering from a leg injury.
Can the Mom and Daughter make peace? Can positive things come their way? Will they find love that they deserve?
Pick up this book and enjoy the journey of these women. You'll love it!
Rosie reconnecting with her estranged daughter and young granddaughter is a beautiful story.
While trying to run a construction company and renovating a dream house she once owned, Rosie may run herself ragged. Her other love, a local bookstore is being renovated as well. That's where her daughter Emma comes in. All this while Rosie is taking care of her own Mother who is recovering from a leg injury.
Can the Mom and Daughter make peace? Can positive things come their way? Will they find love that they deserve?
Pick up this book and enjoy the journey of these women. You'll love it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Rainy Day Bookshop by RaeAnne Thayne is an exceptional read!!I was able to read this thanks to NetGalley. Rosie is a widower who runs a construction company. She also owns Rainy Day Bookstore. Her mom Silvia runs the store. Silvia has an accident that brings home Rosie’s daughter Emma and granddaughter Olive. Bryce has had a crush on Emma forever. He also works at the construction company. There is also a new writer in town. Andrew recently moved into the area from LA with his kids. Throw in a couple of dogs, and watch the sparks fly. There are secrets, beach days, book clubs, and lots of kissing. I enjoyed this book so much. I was sorry to see it end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Rainy Day Bookshop really tore me up. The heartache, grief, secrets, family, drama and love. RaeAnne Thayne really delivers an emotional but extraordinary story.
The story is told in multiple POV's, which lets us as the reader experience it from all sides.
It's so hard to try and stick to just telling you how much I loved this story without giving anything away. You do not want to be spoiled on this one.
If you have read this author before, you know the story will be emotional and so full of love.
RaeAnne Thayne writes the BEST heartwarming stories and The Rainy Day Bookshop is all heart.
I will always recommend a book by this author.
The story is told in multiple POV's, which lets us as the reader experience it from all sides.
It's so hard to try and stick to just telling you how much I loved this story without giving anything away. You do not want to be spoiled on this one.
If you have read this author before, you know the story will be emotional and so full of love.
RaeAnne Thayne writes the BEST heartwarming stories and The Rainy Day Bookshop is all heart.
I will always recommend a book by this author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and RaeAnne Thayne for the advanced reader copy of this one.
This heartwarming small-town story follows Emma and her mother Rosie as they navigate grief, repair their relationship, and open themselves up to new love after a family loss. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel adds depth to its relatable, likable characters while exploring themes of healing, second chances, and family dynamics. It’s an emotional and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of cozy romance and stories about women rebuilding connections.
This heartwarming small-town story follows Emma and her mother Rosie as they navigate grief, repair their relationship, and open themselves up to new love after a family loss. Told through multiple perspectives, the novel adds depth to its relatable, likable characters while exploring themes of healing, second chances, and family dynamics. It’s an emotional and enjoyable read, perfect for fans of cozy romance and stories about women rebuilding connections.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This slow churning, chaste, small town romance features 4 povs from mother Rosie, daughter Emma and the two leading men, Andrew and Bryce. There were a lot of dynamics going on in the book: widowers, estrangement, family secrets, fires, struggling businesses and more. I think that’s why this book felt really long to me. It’s not that it was badly written. The author did a nice job. This just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Life has a way of rearranging people lives, and this is what is happening in this story. Four generations of females, and life is saying they aren't on the right path, and is going to get them there. Oh, what a read it is, with all the things happening, and life is determined to change their courses, but these are some stubborn females. It is a most entertaining, and one I had to finish before getting anything else done. It was a rainy afternoon, which made it even better.
I received an ARC from MIRA through NetGalley.
I received an ARC from MIRA through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A charming story set in the Pacific Northwest filled with family, loss, healing, books, and most of all, love and second chances.
A mother and daughter reunited after years apart both have to face the tragedy in their past to find the happily ever after they didn’t know they needed.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book. Raeanne Thayne writes stories filled with heart, and The Rainy Day Bookshop is a perfect example of this.
A mother and daughter reunited after years apart both have to face the tragedy in their past to find the happily ever after they didn’t know they needed.
I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of reading this book. Raeanne Thayne writes stories filled with heart, and The Rainy Day Bookshop is a perfect example of this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a great book that revolves around so many relationships. The biggest relationship is the mother/daughter relationship that has been fragile and strained for 10 years since the accident that took the husband/father. Mending the relationship causes more pain and heartbreak for both as secrets are exposed. The mother, Rosie, is also drawn to the “new man” in town. And the daughter, Emma, struggles to remain distant from the man pursuing her. It all takes place in a beautiful beach town.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free copy of, The Rainy Day Bookshop, by RaeAnne Thayne, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.This book is told from multiple points of views, I prefer one maybe two, but this has more than that. The book mainly focuses on Rosie and her daughter Emma, and then Andrew and Bryce, too many voices, to be told. This was a heavier read then I expected it to be, there is a lot going on, in this book.
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