Blind Date with a Book

Dreaming Spires #1

by Emily Kerr

Molly Bramble thought running a bookshop on a narrowboat would be a dream come true – until her biggest challenge turned out to be her new neighbour, Jack, a former city trader with a penchant for crashing boats and hearts.

When a "Blind Date with a Book" night goes awry, Molly finds herself reluctantly paired with Jack and his lack of literary knowledge. Will their rivalry over mooring fees and a missing sign lead to a sinking ship – or a love story with a plot twist?

As Molly and Jack navigate the choppy waters of romance, sabotage, and the occasional dog rescue, will their blossoming romance prove that sometimes the best stories are the ones we never see coming?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Enemies To Lovers, Books About Books, Contemporary Romance

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2026

Reviews

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Kerr’s Blind Date with a Book is a nice easy read that feels as refreshing as a breeze on the Oxford canal which is where this story occurs. The book cover is sweet, perfectly hinting at the charm of Molly Bramble’s life aboard her narrowboat bookshop in Oxford. Being a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice is very clever, as it reimagines the iconic friction between Elizabeth and Darcy through the lens of Molly and her new neighbour, Jack.

The story hits all the right notes of the classic trope - misunderstandings, forced proximity, and a growing chemistry that neither of them wants to admit. Watching them deal with sabotage on the water and even an occasional dog rescue makes for a delightful, breezy journey. It’s a witty and heartfelt tribute to finding love in the most unexpected of places which book lovers are sure to enjoy.

‘…he's in possession of a terrible personality and there's nothing that will make up for that."
'Is he really though? Or are you prejudiced against him, Miss Elizabeth Bennet, because he hasn't read your favourite book … Remember how it works out for our lovely Lizzy.’
I snorted. ‘Well, I've been on board his barge, and trust me when I tell you it's no Pemberley. And despite his terrible steering, he's yet to have a wet shirt moment in the canal.’

[TheBookishVirgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars round up to 4

[Maria P · Rating 4 out of 5]

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓛;𝓓𝓡 ✧˖°
A mysterious contemporary romance perfect for readers looking for a sweet love story in a unique bookish setting, a resilient FMC with her cheeky rescue and a plot that'll have you holding your breath the whole way through!

° ˖✧ 𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
3.75 ⭐
0 🌶️

° ˖✧ 𝓠𝓾𝓸𝓽𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
"...The right book always has a way of finding the reader who needs it."

"Have fun. Don't do anything I wouldn't."
"Oh, my darling. I'll do much worse," she replied with a cackle.

"I'm making out that she's some scruffy beast, which she is, but she's my scruffy beast and I love every part of her."

"I like it when you blush," I said, without thinking.

° ˖✧ 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ✧˖°
Molly’s narrow-boat bookshop is disrupted by chaotic neighbour Jack. After a disastrous “Blind Date with a Book” pairs them, rivalry turns to chemistry as they navigate sabotage, mishaps, and an unexpectedly sweet romance.

° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓸𝓹𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
❤️‍🔥 Rivals to Lovers
🏠 Neighbour Romance
🔍 Mystery Sabotage
🔗 Forced Proximity
🧲 Opposites Attract
🔥 Slow Burn
🫶 Small-Town Community
 
° ˖✧ 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 ✧˖°
😖 Emotional Manipulation

° ˖✧ 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
+ Unique, Charming Setting
+ Easy to root for FMC
+ Immersive Storyline
+ Wholesome Community
+ Satisfyingly Predictable
+ Sweet Romance

° ˖✧ 𝓓𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓼 ✧˖°
- Constant sense of anxiety (highs not as high as the lows)
- Slow burn romance was too slow for me (overshadowed by mystery)
- FMC's initial behaviour felt a bit immature at times
 
° ˖✧ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ✧˖°
I love any sort of bookshop-based story, but I'd never read about a canal boat bookshop before! It was such a charming idea, and reminded me a lot of the concept behind Jenny Colgan's The Bookshop on the Corner (a loved book of mine!).

I was immediately sucked into the story - Molly's struggling to make ends meet especially after her mooring fees have gone up. Money troubles are something everyone can relate to! Also add to it that she's trying to honour her nan's time on the boat after she's been moved to a home, well, anyone would feel the pressure!

As a result, I was already rooting for Molly right from the start. When she has her first blind date with a book event, I'm there alongside her crossing my fingers! She has a good time mingling with customers familiar and not, but when Jack joins the story he's immediately aggravating.

I didn't like him at all at the beginning! He's arrogant and snobbish in a way that I really felt defensive of Molly. She holds her own, but it ruins her night and makes her very insecure. Especially when she finds out he's setting up shop next to her spot. In the meantime, we meet Liam (a fellow boater and influencer) who Molly sets up with her best friend Flick.

All the characters in this story have distinction and depth - I loved Molly's close community of allies and especially her dog, Hilda. She's a big girl but such a softy, and her personality shines throughout! Also, the setting was so idealistic - away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, but close enough when you need it. Plus getting to spend all day with books, people who love books, and a dog who always wants attention and it sounds heaven!

As the story progresses, I'm caught up in the mystery of everything happening with Molly's boat. There's a lot of neighbourly drama that I don't want to spoil, as well as just a general air of anxiety throughout - I so desperately wanted Molly to come out the otherside unscathed, but my gosh she's been through a lot!

It's this sensation that I didn't particularly enjoy from the story. I understand that some lows are required to make the highs that much more impactful, but any highs that Molly did experience weren't even close to outweighing the difficulties she faced. I couldn't put the book down, but I had my heart in my mouth most of the time and personally, I prefer stories to be a bit more balanced.

I also found some of Molly's behaviour early on to be quite childish. The initial meeting behind her and Jack felt true to them both, but the more the story progressed Jack became less antagonistic and more neutral yet Molly remained volatile for most of the book. I was pleased when she started to let go of her immaturity and started thinking before reacting.

While I love a slow burn, this felt too slow even for my taste. There were a couple of moments drip fed to the reader, but the mystery plotline overpowered the romance until the last 15% of the book it felt like. Don't get me wrong, I loved it when the romance fell into place (and it was sweet and meaningful) but the romance seemed more of a subplot than the blurb had made out.

Despite this, I still really enjoyed the story. The writing had me caught up in all of Molly's emotions and the community around her was so wonderful. The mystery was suitably foreshadowed, and had me holding my breath at times (if you've read you know what I'm talking about!). Overall, it was a solid book.

Thank you to Emily Kerr and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for the opportunity to receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[BookishKB]

📚💘 Blind Date with a Book 💘📚

📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

🩷 What to Expect
• Enemies to lovers
• Forced proximity
• Oxford setting
• Bookish romance
• Rival neighbors
_ _ _
📅 Pub Date: April 10, 2026
📝 Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Liz Fenwick]

What a joy. I loved this clever Pride and Prejudice retelling. It swept me away and kept me smiling as I watched the journey of Molly and Jack from friends to lovers. Pure joy.

[Lucy Neil]

It was just too repetitive to me with the modern retelling of pride and prejudice and Molly i just couldnt vibe with her at all

[Lara happy_spinster_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Blind Date with a Book is a contemporary Pride & Prejudice retelling set in Oxford on a narrowboat. Molly lives and operates a bookstore on her narrowboat in a permanent spot. Molly sets up a "Blind Date with a Book" singles night, when she meets her new neighbor, Jack who is planning to open a wine bar on his narrowboat next to Molly's bookstore. Molly and Jack have to navigate sabotage, mishaps, dog rescues, and possibly romance.

I really enjoyed this retelling. I appreciated that this wasn't an exact retelling but more of a tribute. To me, Jack was certainly sweeter and more vulnerable than the Mr. Darcy we know and love. I also appreciated that Molly also had some missteps of her own in this story that she had to own up to. I loved the side characters of her grandmother and Flick.

Side note with no spoilers: being the Dog mom of a very beloved golden retriever, I adored Hilda and I would have handled her side story with far less grace than what happened in the book. Murderous intent might be used to describe my own actions toward the person(s) involved.

Being from the states, there were some references that I didn't fully understand but those did not detract from the story in any way. I have seen videos of people who live on narrowboats in the canal system in the UK so I was familiar with that aspect and I would so love to see a bookstore set up like Molly's in real life. I'm sure they exist somewhere.

I hope that readers in the US have a chance to read this sweet romance because I think many would enjoy it, particularly Jane Austen fans.

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly runs a book shop on a canal barge and lives with Hilda, her horse of a dog. Jack is an ex-finance bro and Molly's new barge-neighbor, looking to start a new career by opening a wine bar next door. Things between Jack and Molly get off to a rocky start, but will they be able to overcome their differences to find their happily-ever-after? This gentle and sweet romance had a great premise: I love the idea of a book shop on a boat, and the titular "blind date with a book" concept was fantastic. I would absolutely go to a book store on a barge hosting an event like that! However, the book didn't ultimately grab me. The pacing was slow and Jack and Molly's relationship development was choppy. It started out antagonistic, and while I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance Molly held on to her semi-justified anger for longer than seemed warranted. The book was engaging enough to stay with it, and things did even out eventually. But despite some well-defined sources of tension in the plot (and the clear presence of a villain to spice things up) the storyline was a little too low-stakes for my taste. It's the first in a series and it appears to be part of a larger book universe by the author since characters from other books showed up in this one (Kat and Leo from Read Between the Lines make a brief appearance). While ultimately I wasn't quite the right audience for this book, readers who like gentle enemies-to-lovers closed door romance stories with an HEA will love this book. 3.5 stars (the extra half star is for Hilda). This review is based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Date with a Book is a clever Pride and Prejudice retelling where you meet Molly, the owner of the Oxford Bookship, who is struggling with finances and needing to figure out how to earn enough money to pay her mooring dues in a couple months.

In an attempt to increase business, Molly hosts the first Blind Date with a Book event that ends up selling out thanks to the help of a boat social media influencer, Liam.

During the event there happens to be one extra book left, meaning one of the customers doesn’t have a match. Molly takes it upon herself to be the match and it turns out to be her brand new neighbour Jack, who isn’t thrilled about being at the event and is very snarky and rude.

After a whirlwind of events and one problem after another, Molly starts wondering if someone is out to get her. Blind Date with a Book takes you on the adventure of Molly trying to save her Bookship and getting to the bottom of all the strange events. Will Molly save the Bookship?

The moment I saw the cover and title for the Blind Date with a Book, I was sold on the concept and I really wanted to love this book because who doesn’t love the idea of a cozy bookstore on a boat?

I ended up rating it a 3.5/5 star(rounded up to a 4) due to the pacing and for how difficult I found it to get into the book. I would say the first 40-50% of the book was difficult to get through for myself as I wasn’t finding myself fully captivated. I’m really glad I pushed through and finished the book, as soon as I hit about 60% everything started picking up and I was really intrigued, and wanting to know what happened next.

Blind Date with a Book is a really cozy, closed door romance, and I look forward to reading more by Emily Kerr.

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, NetGalley and Emily Kerr for the Arc in exchange for my honest review

[☆Laura☆]

RTC

[Beatriz H · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bookstore on a boat tucked into the Oxford canals? Yes, please!

Molly is a struggling business owner who buys her grandmother’s boat, with dreams of turning it into a cozy, floating bookstore. To keep her dream afloat, she starts a "Blind Date with a Book" night, wrapping matching copies and letting strangers mingle to find their match. Once again, yes please! It’s going well, until a "Mr. Darcy" type sets up shop next door. He’s snooty, ambitious, and the perfectly dull for Molly's sunshine. Theres banter, sabotage, heroism and love!

This was such a breezy, heartwarming romcom. The setting is practically made for Instagram, and the banter is just right. It’s the perfect weekend pick for a book club. Ideally read while sitting near the water!

Special thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5
Spice: 1/10, very YA
Emotional: 4/10
Read: Kindle

[Marlies Rasinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the main characters is a dog so this book is a winner from the get go 🙌🏻
I really love the story of the bookship and Holly making those „blind date with a book“ nights. I think this idea is super-creative and would work perfectly in real life.
This book is ultra slow-burn. Holly is sooo deep into hating Jack and believing other people‘s opinion that you do not see them getting together ever.
I really enjoy Holly‘s character. She is a strong person, has the greatest book categories at her shop and she can also accept and apologize for mistakes/misjudgements.
Jack is a great MMC as he always has a snarky comment to fire back and he always helps her out no matter what.

I really enjoyed the plot and the overall story. The only aspect I would have liked more of is how their feelings developed in the end.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cozy rendition of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, but with its own unique spins. A mystery winds itself through the majority of the book shrouding itself in all of Milly’s unfortunate mishaps.
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect and Milly’s relationship with Jack. However, this is not primarily a romance. I would categorize this as fiction with a subplot of romance. We mostly focus on Milly and her struggle to keep the Bookship afloat. I admired Molly’s drive and how FINALLY towards the end of the book she starts to judge people correctly!!

Overall, super cute just don’t go in expecting romance to be the main theme!

[Tulip_OnTheTBR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly Got on My Nerves So Bad I Wanted to Toss My Kindle Over the Roof!

First things first, I think the "Blind Date with a Book" idea was genius and a great premise for this story. I wouldn’t be surprised if booksellers, all over, adopted this strategy in some kind of way. HEY BOOKSELLERS, READ THIS BOOK! There are lots of great sales and marketing tactics in here! 💰💸

Now, in other news, Molly Bramble is probably the most immature, jump-to-conclusions, juvenile, annoying, aggravating, simple-minded, and naive FMC that I have ever had the displeasure of meeting in a book. Full stop! 😳

Although, she was rather resourceful, innovative, and relentless in her pursuit to become a successful entrepreneur. I, too, am self-employed and she definitely inspired me to keep going when times are tough! But damn, she was annoying! At one point I started to think, before the 60% mark, "Molly just needs to get laid, plain and simple. She needs a big one right up the middle, front and back, and a shuddering orgasmic release. The poor lass." SMH. 🤭

Shout out to Nana Rose for keeping me entertained. Without her cameos throughout the book, I don't know if I would have finished it so quickly. I looked forward to her appearances and wanted more...

...AND less of Liam. But the author was spot on with how she portrayed what people will do for clout. We must not lose hope for humanity because even the worst of the worst deserve a second or third chance. Once you read the book, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. 🌎✌️

On another note, this was a closed-door romance with no spice... more so fiction with a dash of romance which was fine with me, no matter.

The pacing was slow and while this book was not my cup of tea, I am open to reading another title on the author’s backlist. Kat and Leo have their own story in Read Between the Lines, so I'll be checking that one out in the future.

The Aftermath 🌷:
This book gets 3 stars from me not because I enjoyed the story or liked it all that much, but because Emily Kerr did an excellent job evoking emotions and feelings in me that lingered with every page I turned. Molly got on my nerves so bad that I wanted to toss my Kindle over the roof of my house, two stories by the way, let gravity shatter it to pieces after hitting the pavement, then will a garbage truck to run over the damn thing and finish it off! 🙌

I wonder if the author knew this story would grind so badly on the nerves of innocent people. Shameful Emily Kerr! Shameful! 🤔😉


Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter (HarperCollins), and Emily Kerr for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Gabe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blind Date with a Book by Emily Kerr follows Oxford Bookship owner Molly Bramble as she struggles to find success with her small business. She turns a canal boat in Oxford once owned by her grandmother into a home and bookstore. Jack leaves his high stakes business job to open a wine bar on a canal boat in Oxford and ends up mooring next to Molly. They get off on the wrong foot during their first meeting and things go downhill from there.

Jack and Molly must learn to work beside each other peaceful while also trying to get their businesses to thrive. Other key characters in the book are Boaty Liam (another resident of the canal), Flick (Molly's best friend), Nana Rose (Molly's Grandma), and last but not least, Hilda (Molly's Irish Wolfhound and my favorite character). The main tropes in this book are grumpy/sunshine and forced proximity. While both are tropes I usually enjoy, I felt that the grumpy/sunshine one went a bit over the top, made me start to dislike Molly's character, and let the first half of the book drag on for way to long.

While I initially viewed Molly's character as creative, someone who thinks a bit differently than others, kind, and thoughtful, I started to view her more as anxious, dishonest, and overly grumpy. The continual lying to Flick and Nana Rose about what is going on with her business I found odd since they are supposed to be two of the most trusted people in her life. Her anxiety also became quite stifling.

With that said, Hilda's quirks really added to the book and really reminded me of my own dogs. While I love an adorable dog character and Hilda was no exception, I found what happened to her later in the book quite mean and stress provoking in an unnecessary way. Overall, I would say this was an average read for me. Lastly, I LOVE the cover of this book. I think it is so pretty and well done.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early release copy of this book!

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 4 out of 5]

Molly Bramble lives and works on her canal boat in Oxford, having purchased her beloved grandma's home and created her dream bookshop (or rather bookship) inside it. Unfortunately business is slow and having a permanent mooring is expensive. Molly needs to raise several thousand pounds to pay the yearly mooring fee or she'll lose the spot her grandmother has always called home. She comes up with the idea of a book-themed blind date event, but on the evening of the event realises that there are an odd number of people and Molly steps in.

Jack is a former city trader who has decided to pursue a quieter life and open wine bar on a boat (or rather a wine barge). He unfortunately knows very little about canal boats! When he turns up at Molly's book event, he is a tad rude and immediately annoys her, particularly as he's never read her favourite book - Pride and Prejudice - and can't even tell her which TV adaptation is better! Then there's Liam, an influencer who seems to be helping Molly's events to do well, but is he really all he seems? When Molly's boat is mysteriously sabotaged, she must work out who is behind it and what they're trying to achieve.

This is the first Emily Kerr book I've read, despite her being a local author to Harrogate and me having most of her previous books. I think she might have even been inspired by one of our local indies, Hold Fast Books, which is actually a bookship! I loved the cosy vibe of this romcom, with lots of banter between the characters, a wolfhound called Hilda who has lots of personality, and the obvious links to my favourite book, Pride and Prejudice (Liam's boat is even called Lydia!). The spice is all off-page and the story is sweet and easy going. If Emily ever fancies writing a regency romance, I'm sure she could given how Jack in particular phrases things not unlike Mr Darcy! I can't wait for the follow up to this book.

[Demi Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️
Tropes: Enemies to lovers, Forced proximity, Book lovers, Rivals to friends to lovers, fade to black romance, slow burn

This was a sweet rivals to friends to lovers romance that followed Molly a bookshop owner of the Oxford Bookship and Jack a the new owner of Jericho Wine Barge. Unfortunately in romcom fashion they had a not so cute meet cute at Molly’s first bookish event that had Molly wishing she never had to see him again…. Except shortly after she learned that Jack and his “booze cruise” were moving in next door. Not only was Jack moving in a huge stress, but now Molly had to add that to her long list of stuff she had to deal with. Stressed to keep her business afloat, make ends meet and live to keep her business doors open past September, now she also had an annoying neighbor too.

You know what they say, don’t judge a book by its cover? Molly definitely miss judged Jack and let other things contribute to her hating him and wanting nothing to do with him. Molly was used to navigating her problems alone until jack. He proved her wrong again and again by showing up, but not without infuriating and hilarious banter between them.

Also a honorable mention for Hilda, Mollys dog! She reminded me so much of my dog and I adored her! Mollys best friend and her sassy nana were also great! I did enjoy the mystery aspect to this that kept me on my toes and I liked the way Molly handled her own but also learned to accept help.

I’m obsessed with the overall concept of a bookish boat and how cute the setting was! Loved the bookish events and the huge bookish theme of the book overall.

My first book by Emily Kerr and I really enjoyed her writing. Mark your calendars for April 10th, 2026!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann-Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blind Date with a Book
by Emily Kerr

I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover and title and the unique concept of a blind date with a book, which promised an intriguing reading experience. However, as I delved into the story, I found that it fell short of my expectations in several ways. The primary conflict was so transparent that it diminished the overall romance and character development surrounding Molly Bramble, the main character. The narrative heavily echoes the themes of *Pride and Prejudice*, which I found both familiar and somewhat predictable. Despite its flaws, the charming setting and whimsical elements kept me engaged, making it a worthwhile read for those who enjoy lighthearted books; however, I would have preferred more romance to give it a better star rating.

Molly Bramble is painted as a creative, kind, and thoughtful individual, yet I struggled to connect with her due to her immaturity, annoying tendencies, and naive outlook on life. Her journey includes transforming a charming canal boat in Oxford, which once belonged to her grandmother, into a cozy home and a quaint bookstore. While this concept is imaginative and has great potential, Molly's character development feels stunted, leading to moments where her actions and decisions leave readers exasperated.

On the other side of the equation is Jack, who leaves behind his high-stakes corporate job in search of a simpler, more fulfilling life. He opens a wine bar on a canal boat, eventually mooring right next to Molly's. Their initial interactions are filled with tension as they clash over their differing lifestyles and perspectives, setting the stage for what could be a delightful romantic rivalry.

One of the bright spots in the narrative was the character of Hilda, whose quirky personality added some much-needed colour and depth to the story.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Emily Kerr for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Molly Bramble thought running a floating bookshop would be her perfect escape until her chaotic new neighbour, Jack, starts turning her peaceful life upside down. A former city trader with zero literary knowledge (and questionable boating skills), Jack quickly becomes both her biggest annoyance and unexpected companion.

After a disastrous “Blind Date with a Book” event forces them together, Molly and Jack find themselves navigating more than just narrowboat life. Between rivalry, mishaps, and reluctant teamwork, their tension begins to shift into something neither of them anticipated.

Set against the charm of bookshops and waterways, this enemies-to-lovers story blends humour, heart, and a touch of chaos proving that sometimes the best stories are the ones you don’t plan.

Review:

This had such a fun rom-com vibe, but what I really loved was how much the story centred on Molly and her life rather than just the romance. Watching her navigate running a bookshop on a narrowboat, dealing with unexpected chaos, and figuring things out for herself made the story feel a lot more grounded and engaging.

The romance is definitely there (and adds some great tension and humour), but it doesn’t take over the plot, which I really appreciated. It felt more like a natural extension of Molly’s journey rather than the main focus.

I also really enjoyed the storyline as a whole. There were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard, which kept things interesting the entire way through. The writing style made it super easy to get pulled in, and I found myself flying through it without even realising.

Overall, a really enjoyable read with heart, charm, and just enough unpredictability to keep you hooked.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blind Date with a Book
by Emily Kerr

Molly’s Oxford Bookship is drowning in debt. She had hoped business would improve over the past year, but instead she keeps receiving overdue notices. To make matters worse, the boat association has increased its fees, and if Molly can’t come up with the money, she’ll lose the mooring spot her grandmother once held when she owned the narrowboat.

Desperate for a way to attract customers, Molly comes up with a creative idea: a “Blind Date with a Book” event. Just like how she helps others pick books, she plans for local singles to each choose a wrapped book and then meet the person who selected the matching one. It’s meant to be fun, unique, and hopefully bring new attention to her struggling bookshop.

Things take an unexpected turn when Molly ends up paired with a snarky and judgmental man named Jack. Soon she discovers that Jack is not only her match—he’s also her new neighbor, opening a wine bar nearby. As Molly’s problems begin piling up and things around her start going wrong, she can’t help but wonder if some of it might be intentional. Is Jack really who she thinks he is? And will Molly be able to save her beloved bookshop before it’s too late?

I really enjoyed Blind Date with a Book. It was fun, cozy, and had just enough mystery to keep me turning the pages. The idea of a bookshop on a boat is charming, and the “blind date with a book” concept made the story even more enjoyable. I found myself easily drawn into Molly’s world and rooting for her along the way.

I gave Blind Date with a Book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Elizabeth Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the premise of this book the main character Molly Bramble has a bookstore on water the Oxford Bookship. But all threatens to go wrong (or right) when her new neighbour arrives and they rival over moorings and signs. Full of sabotage and love.

I loved this book. It was cute and the characters were so good. They had wit and personality, but most important they had good sides and bad sides. The difference is they were able to talk about it and solve their problems eventually together. I really liked Jack as a character he had a lot of growth and he really added to the story. My personal favourite though is obviously Hilda the dog.

The plot was well written, it had a lot of intrigue and stakes. Although not too high a stakes to still make it a nice and cosy read. It was wel developed and most of the time I found it well paced. Something in between medium and fast paced, but it was the perfect sweet spot. One thing I did find which made me rate this slightly lower than I would have liked is the fact that the romance felt really rushed towards the end. Don't get me wrong it was really nice and sweet, you just didn't really get to see much of it. That is my only minus point to this book.

All in all I really love this book and would definitely recommend it. It is sweet and cosy and perfect for all book lovers. (maybe something for your spring TBR) Also last minute, just one moment for the beautiful cover of this book. I can't wait to see what else Emily Kerr will write to keep us entertained.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Date with a Book is author Emily Kerr‘s cozy romance between rival business owners. This story is set in a small coastal Oxford, England and is the first in her Dreaming Spires series.
Molly Bramble is a six foot tall underachiever who has inherited her beloved Nana Rose’s narrowboat and slip on the Oxford Canal. Since Molly was let go from her job and Nana Rose is now living in a care home, Molly converted the boat to a floating bookstore, The BookShip. Unfortunately, Molly isn’t getting many customers until she brainstorms with Nana Rose. They hatch a plan to host “Blind Date with a Book” nights, hoping that Molly can generate enough sales to pay her annual slip fees.
Molly’s plans are thwarted by her new neighbor, Jack, a former city trader who’s opening a wine bar on his boat. They are paired together at Blind Date with a Book, and she’s disappointed that he’s unfamiliar with her favorite novel, Pride and Prejudice. There are several misunderstandings as they transition from rivals to friends to romantic partners, and some sabotage and issues with mooring fees.
Blind Date with a Book is a cozy British romance for book lovers, especially Jane Austen fans. The story was a Pride and Prejudice re-telling, and Molly was definitely a Bridget Jones-like character. I struggled to like Molly, who spent more time reading than actually working to make her BookShip successful. Nana Rose and Hilda, Molly’s dog, were my favorite characters.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Molly receives a letter from the Oxford Boating Association: the mooring fees for her book boat have gone up. But since business isn’t going great and she doesn’t want to worry her grandmother, she looks for a way to boost her income and plans a “Blind Date with a Book.” The event will feature books to be paired with readers. The aim is to find a connection between the book and the person—and perhaps, who knows, between the people themselves. But she miscalculates, and one book is left on its own: “Pride and Prejudice” has been paired with the grumpiest guy of the evening, so she takes the other one, just to save face. The event draws a large crowd because an influencer tagged Molly and her book boat. And the grumpy guy will be her new… canal neighbor.
Spoiler, but not too much: the book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice, wicked Wickham included.
It was an enjoyable read. I liked the adventures of Molly and Hilda, her big dog, and some of the literary references. I say “some” because usually when I read books about books, I expect references to books that are a bit more… unusual. In this one, there are a few, while others are the “usual” ones.
On the other hand, I just didn’t get Molly’s interactions with her neighbor, Jack. ok, he introduced himself with one sour opinion about her event, but she’s super hyperaggressive toward him despite the fact that she has a dog—and animals usually know best—which, spoiler alert, adores him.
In any case, it’s a recommended read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Mrs · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a joy it was to read this book and so a holiday read. Molly runs a bookshop on the Thames from a large narrow boat and this has been her passion for a long time and eventually she is able to start this. In comes Jack in the next mooring opening a wine bar. Molly’s first evening to pair like minded people together with books goes well. Molly decides to emerge herself in the experience and is paired with Jack. She is completely bewildered by her mixed emotions but mainly she is annoyed with his attitude and feels he will ruin her book store. They bash heads on many things. His opening night is the same as her second “Blind Date with a Book” evening and she feels she will lose trade to the wine bar. To make matters worse she is struggling financially as her mooring fees are going to be increased and she needs all the revenue she can get. The boat was gifted to her by her nan and she is concerned that she is letting her down which puts more pressure on her and in turns dislikes Jack as his business is going well. Liam, another member of the boating community enters the story and Molly finds out that he knows Jack from another life. Liam spins stories about Jack which Molly believes wholeheartly which makes things even more difficult. The book continues at a great pace and a lovely read on holiday as mentioned above. I enjoyed all the characters even Liam in is own way – sad and lonely

[Arthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you, like me, were drawn, bound and mesmerized by the pages of Pride and Prejudice, slightly breathless at the sign of Colin Firth, re-read the letter scene a million times, and crushed on the retorts sizzling between Luzzy and Darcy, then you had better grab this with both hands and start immediately!!
Oh, and jrep the original Pride and Prejudice handy, you will be hankering for a read later, trust me!
The tale follows the exploits of Molly Bramble, who runs a floating bookshop on the Oxford Canal, with her Irish wolfhound, trying her hand at matching books to readers with her 'Blind Date with a Book' endeavor. Enter the hoity toity Jack Sidall, who turns his nose up at the enterprise and turns out to be her new neighbor!!
Rife with misunderstanding, mystery and the banter we so love, this romcom will delight any purists heart!
The ideation that readers find their books and the concept of subconscious influencing is soo true and creates the necessary book lovers draw for indulging in this charming retelling!
And of course, the peerless Emily Kerr, who doesn't miss a beat in throwbacks to the original snd infusing a modern twist to the traditional mores that define Jane's masterpiece...

Huge shoutout to the sponsors of this arc - HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter and, if course Netgalley, for making this Austen fan's retelling dreams come true!!

[Lottie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’ve ever read Pride and Prejudice and thought, “this needs more narrowboats and awkward romantic tension on water,” then congratulations, this is your moment.

I read this in two days, which is always a good sign. It’s genuinely enjoyable, easy to sink into, and sprinkled with all the classic romance tropes like a perfectly curated checklist. Enemies to lovers? Present. Forced proximity? Of course. Rival neighbours with simmering chemistry? Absolutely thriving.

The canal boat setting is honestly adorable. Against all odds, this book almost convinced me that I too could overcome my vague fear of canals for the chance of a meet-cute involving books and brooding neighbours. That’s character growth, frankly.

Where it lost a bit of its sparkle for me was the predictability. You can see the beats coming from quite a distance, which takes a little of the emotional punch out of those key moments. It’s comforting, yes, but not particularly surprising.

That said, it’s still a charming, cosy read with a strong romantic core and a setting that does a lot of heavy lifting in the best way. Perfect if you’re in the mood for something familiar, tropey, and gently escapist.

Thank you Emily Kerr and Netgalley for providing this ARC of Blind Date with a Book in exchange for my review.

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so first of all… a bookshop on a boat???

I was already sold before I even met the characters. This whole setting is just SO cozy and whimsical and slightly chaotic in the best possible way. I just kept picturing tea, stacked books, floating drama, and me absolutely refusing to leave this fictional world. It feels like one of those stories where the setting is basically a character too—and I loved that.

Now let’s talk about Molly and Jack because OH my goodness. She’s trying so hard to keep her dreamy floating bookshop life together and he is just… there. Existing. Annoying her. Looking like a problem but also slowly becoming her problem 😭 Their tension was fun, flirty, and just the right amount of messy. I loved their banter and that gradual shift from “I can’t stand you” to “…wait, why am I thinking about you??”

This isn’t quite a five-star just because a couple moments felt a little over-the-top for me, but honestly I was having too much fun to care. It’s light, funny, cozy, and has that warm fuzzy rom-com feeling where you’re just smiling at your book like an idiot. If you want something whimsical and feel-good with books, chaos, and romance on the water—this one totally delivers 📚✨

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me the eARC of "Blind Date with a Book" in exchange for my honest review!#arc #arcreader #netgalley

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷 Blurb-
Molly Bramble thought running a bookshop on a narrowboat would be a dream come true – until her biggest challenge turned out to be her new neighbour, Jack, a former city trader with a penchant for crashing boats and hearts.
When a "Blind Date with a Book" night goes awry, Molly finds herself reluctantly paired with Jack and his lack of literary knowledge. Will their rivalry over mooring fees and a missing sign lead to a sinking ship – or a love story with a plot twist?
As Molly and Jack navigate the choppy waters of romance, sabotage, and the occasional dog rescue, will their blossoming romance prove that sometimes the best stories are the ones we never see coming.
🩵 Review -
This was such a lovely story. I was hooked from the very first page and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know if Molly had the happy ending that she deserved. I loved the idea of Molly having a bookshop on a boat and I wanted her to do well with it. It made for a cute and entertaining read. I loved the characters and the place settings in the story. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to One More Chapter, the author Emily Kerr and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cedy Redcay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Molly Bramble thinks running a cozy bookshop on her narrowboat will be a dream until her frustrating new neighbor Jack, a clumsy former city trader, keeps stirring up trouble. After a chaotic “Blind Date with a Book” event forces them together, their rivalry over mooring fees and mishaps slowly turns into unexpected chemistry. As they navigate small-town drama, sabotage, and a few dog rescues, Molly and Jack discover that the best love stories are often the ones you never planned.

I really wanted to like this book, I LOVED the premise but I had a hard time connecting to the main character. I was hoping that Molly would grow one me, but I found her to be a bit mean. Even after Jack’s initial apology she continued to make judgements based on one interaction and the opinion of someone she did not know well. I understand her being unlikeable in the beginning, but her attitude and straight rudeness was apparent through a majority of the book which made it hard for me to root for her. Honestly, I was rooting for Jack to be with anyone else because of how mean she was.

I know it was meant to be a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but again Molly was a bit much. I did love Nana Rose and Hilda. They brought me a lot of joy and were good comic reliefs.

[Caitlin Forcier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK, and NetGalley for providing me a free e-book in exchange for an honest review of this story. All opinions are my own ❤️

The premise of this book had my name written all over it. A cozy romance about a bookshop owner who lives on a little boat?? She has a dog who doubles as her best friend? She’s a mood reader!? She has a new hot neighbor who might be grumpy? I mean, sign me up!

I enjoyed a lot about this story and found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next. It had quite the cozy atmosphere and didn’t feel too high stakes or dramatic, and no third act breakup is ALWAYS a plus for me.

My main complaints about the story are that the main character felt too naive and trusting of one character over the other, and this trust felt artificial, therefore making the main conflict feel a bit off. I also felt like the primary conflict was painfully obvious to me as the reader and detracted from the overall romance and character development of Molly. The ending was also very abrupt and caught me off guard. I would have enjoyed a bit more development at the end. Still, this story was a lot of fun and I’ll be looking up where I can own a permanent mooring now ❤️