The English Bookstore in Bologna: A Novel

by Boo Walker

Against the sunlit backdrop of Italy, five expats discover each other—and rediscover themselves—in a charmingly funny and poignant novel by the author of An Unfinished Story and A Spanish Sunrise.

Tucked away on a cobblestone street in enchanting Bologna, Italy, is the only English bookstore in the city. It’s owned by prickly Sandy Cooke, who keeps love, and even romantic fiction, at a distance. Her employee, timid and hopelessly optimistic Moira, dreams of transforming the struggling shop into a vibrant community hub. Against the odds, one Bolognese summer, it becomes a haven for fellow expats at their own crossroads.

Bianca is a psychotherapist escaping both a breakdown and withering reviews of her new self-help book. On her heels is her father, George, wrestling with retirement—and regrets. He’s had a few, but the light of his life has always been his daughter. Then there’s Harold, a young and awkward barista from Denver recovering from his first belly-flopping high dive into love. Maybe it’s time for reinvention.

At the only English bookstore in Bologna, paths converge for five damaged souls who discover that healing doesn’t require much—just honest connection and an open heart.

Genres: Fiction, Italy, Books About Books, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Amazon

422 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 18, 2026

About the author

Bestselling author Boo Walker initially tapped his creative muse as a songwriter and banjoist in Nashville before working his way west to Washington State, where he bought a gentleman’s farm on the Yakima River. It was there amongst the grapevines and wine barrels that he fell in love with telling stories that now resonate with book clubs around the world. Rich with colorful characters and boundless soul, his novels will leave you with an open heart and a lifted spirit.

Always a wanderer, Boo currently lives in Valencia, Spain with his wife and son. He also writes thrillers under the pen name Benjamin Blackmore. You can find him at boowalker.com and benjaminblackmore.com.

For a free copy of his Red Mountain cookbook, updates, and other goodies, sign up for his newsletter at boowalker.com.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook]

My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Book Review Crew Blog


⭐⭐⭐⭐
The English Bookstore in Bologna
Boo Walker
Publication Date: August 18th, 2026
Lake Union Publishing
443 Pages
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Women's Fiction

This was such a warm-hearted story set in Bologna, Italy. It’s about five Americans who meet inside the city’s one and only English bookstore. Sandy is the owner of the shop. She isn't interested in romance or friendships and can be considered a bit grouchy. Moira is her employee, who is the exact opposite; she's somewhat shy, but she wants the shop to be a hub for the English-speaking community. Bianca is a therapist who is running away from her own breakdown and the bad reviews of her self-help book. George is Bianca's loving father who goes to Italy with her while dealing with the changes his retirement entails. Finally, Harold is a barista from Denver running away from a broken heart who wants to reinvent himself.

This story was so lovely. I liked how the bookstore became a sanctuary for these lost humans. The way they came together felt completely natural in such a faraway place, and over the course of the summer, these five people find refuge in the shop and in each other. What is a more perfect way to do that than over coffee and books? I loved that they eventually felt comfortable enough to share their vulnerabilities after finding a place where they belong.

I love books that take on difficult subject matter but still manage to turn out to be comfort reads, and there are enough lighthearted moments here to balance out the more serious issues. It’s a very character-driven story with well-rounded, thoughtful individuals, and their journeys of self-discovery feel unique.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the lovely setting of Bologna. The descriptions are vivid, and the food mentions made me so hungry! The cozy vibe of the bookstore paired with the atmosphere of Italy itself gave the entire book a strong sense of place. Of course, the story is filled with well-worn found family tropes, making the resolutions easy to see coming, but that didn't make the book any less charming or pleasant to read. I loved this escape to sunny Italy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.



Goodreads ratings reflect reader demographics and
popular enthusiasm rather than objective literary merit.

[theliterateleprechaun]

I shouldn’t have liked this book; I don’t really enjoy character-driven stories, and I don’t enjoy a large cast of characters. BUT…I LOVED THIS STORY!

I put my confidence in a trusted author and ended up absolutely getting sucked into a GREAT story and the relationships between the ex-pats. One thing I loved about the way Boo Walker structured this story is that he gave the reader time to get to know each character before adding a new one to the mix. I also appreciated that each character he added was necessary and contributed to the story. The characters come to Bologna, Italy, broken, and the city heals them.

The character that resonated most with me was Bianca. She arrives in Bologna running on empty after devoting everything to a career and is focused on repairing the damage she caused by neglecting herself. Her ‘recalibration’ encouraged me.

I appreciated a spotlight on these thoughts:
✔️Have a warrior mindset, not a victim mindset
✔️Look at problems as challenges
✔️Stop performing for applause
✔️Plug yourself in and go
✔️The community of book lovers
✔️Having a purpose
✔️Live in the ‘now’, don’t wait for things to improve
✔️the Italian version of A.S.A.P!

Don’t miss out on this wonderful book; it’s filled with encouragement and bookish goodness. The characters’ growth will astound you. I was filled with compassion and empathy as I closed the final page. This would translate well to the silver screen!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Lupe Farkas]

In 2026, opening a book set in another country with a stereotypical judgment about its people is, frankly, disappointing.

Especially when the city in question is Bologna.

Bologna is not some sleepy Italian postcard where people sit around enjoying la bella vita while barely working. It is one of Italy’s most important industrial, academic, and cultural cities. Its university is the oldest in the Western world, and the Emilia-Romagna region is responsible for industries, craftsmanship, and foods recognised and exported all over the world.

As an Italian, I found the suggestion that Italians essentially work less because we prioritise enjoying life genuinely offensive.

We Italians tend to do things at 100%. When it is time to work, we work with passion, pride, and an almost obsessive attention to quality. There is a reason Italy is internationally known for excellence in everything from food and fashion to design, engineering, cars, art, and craftsmanship. And yes, when it is time to eat, rest, celebrate, and enjoy the people we love, we tend to do that with the same intensity.

That is not laziness. It is not a lack of ambition. It is simply a different relationship with life.

And in 2026, I am tired of seeing entire cultures reduced to these convenient little stereotypes.

What makes this particularly frustrating is that I actually liked many things about this book. The descriptions of Bologna, the food, and the atmosphere were lovely. I enjoy flawed and even unlikeable characters, so that was never going to be a problem for me. The bookstore setting, the multiple characters, the themes of reinvention and connection, this book had almost everything that normally makes me fall in love with a story.

But being offended as an Italian immediately at the beginning of the book left a bad taste in my mouth that I simply couldn’t shake.

There was also something particularly strange about reading a foreign expat in Italy complaining about tourists, considering how important tourism is to the Italian economy and how complicated the relationship between residents, expats, and visitors actually is.

I wanted to disappear into this story and enjoy Bologna through these characters. Instead, I became increasingly aware that I was reading an outsider’s idea of Italy.

This book had everything I love, everything a 5-star read must have for me. But I’m Italian 🇮🇹 and I just couldn’t …

I’m giving this three stars because, ultimately, it is not the author’s fault that an Italian reader happened to receive the ARC and reacted so strongly to the cultural stereotypes.

Authors do better. If you want to offend a country, write about your own country and people. THANK YOU! Or just don’t do it. We are in 2026, let’s just stop with the stereotypes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kirsten Clason]

The English Bookstore in Bologna by Boo Walker is a novel set in Bologna, a historic Italian city full of cobblestone streets,hidden cafés, and a slower, reflective pace of life. The bookstore itself feels like a quiet refuge, slightly worn, a bit forgotten, but full of potential.
This book is completely character driven and basically focuses on second chances and making peace with the past. We are introduced to Sandy, the owner of the bookstore, who is emotionally guarded and stuck in her routines.She owns the bookstore but doesn’t really love it anymore. She avoids deep relationships and keeps people at arm’s length. Her past has shaped her into someone who expects disappointment.
Moira is Sandy’s employee—and her opposite. She’s warm, hopeful, and deeply empathetic and believes the bookstore could be something magical. She sees potential in people, even when they don’t see it themselves. She acts as the catalyst, gently pushing everyone (including Sandy) toward change.
Bianca is a therapist and author who arrives in Bologna running from her life. She’s struggling with burnout and feels like she’s lost control of her own life.
George, Bianca’s father, represents regret,aging, and is struggling learning to deal with retirement.
Lastly, there is Harold who is younger and emotionally lost. He’s Recovering from heartbreak and feels disconnected and unsure of his future.
It’s fun to see how these characters all become intwined each others lives after meeting in the bookstore.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ALC in exchange for an honest review. This book releases on August 18. I’m giving it 3.5 stars.

[Amy K]

Feel Goods

This is a charming story about broken people finding their way while emotionally supporting one another along their journeys. The book begins with a brief introduction about each of the main characters. It was a brilliant idea and a tremendous help as I began the audio version.

Boo Walker's books always leave me with the feel goods. Looking forward to his next one.

[Sharon]

Thank you to Over the River Campaign and Boo Walker for the opportunity to read this book.

Set in Bologna, Italy, the story centres around a struggling bookstore owned by Sandra. She and her son once envisioned running the shop together after he completed his military service, but in recent years business has slowed. Sandra has been dipping into her retirement savings to keep the bookstore going, and she’s beginning to wonder how much longer she can continue.

Working alongside her is Moira, an introverted book lover who may not be a natural at sales or marketing but has a genuine love for the shop and the books inside it.

Then there is Harold, an American who followed his true love, Alice, to Bologna and is trying to find his place in his new life. Bianca has also come to Bologna after leaving behind a successful career in the United States. She is trying to regroup and move past the disappointment surrounding a book she wrote. Her father, George, who is struggling with severe depression, eventually comes to stay with her temporarily while work is being done on his home in the United States.

As their lives begin to intersect, the bookstore becomes the place that connects them. Each character arrives with their own struggles, disappointments and hopes for what might come next.

This is a wonderful book for readers who enjoy character driven stories told from multiple points of view. Although there are several characters and storylines, I never found them difficult to follow. Each character had such a distinct personality and set of challenges that I quickly became invested in what would happen to them.

I especially enjoyed Sandra’s prickly personality and watching the different characters evolve throughout the story. George is struggling with depression and the quiet in his life, Bianca is searching for happiness and trying to determine what she wants next, Harold is yearning to find his place and come into his own, and Moira slowly begins to find her voice.

What I enjoyed most was that these characters are all at very different places in their lives, yet each of them is searching for something. Their stories come together through the bookstore, creating a lovely sense of connection between people who might otherwise never have become part of one another’s lives.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and I would absolutely pick up another one by him. I read this over just a few days because I genuinely wanted to know where each character’s life was heading. By the end, I felt invested in all of them.

I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy character driven stories, multiple points of view, bookstores and stories about people finding their way through different stages of life.
And as an added bonus, this book made me want to pack my bags and travel to Italy. Bologna was never particularly high on my travel list before, but it certainly is now!

[Cassie’s Reviews]

There’s something magical about a story that reminds you that sometimes the people we meet when we least expect it can change our lives in ways we never imagined. Set against the beautiful backdrop of Bologna, this novel brings together five imperfect, hurting souls who are each searching for something—healing, purpose, connection, or simply a fresh start.
I absolutely loved the setting of the little English bookstore and the way it slowly becomes so much more than a place to buy books. It becomes a safe haven, a gathering place, and a reminder that you don’t have to have everything figured out to find your way forward.
The characters are wonderfully flawed and relatable, and watching their paths intertwine was both funny and touching. There’s humor, heart, second chances, friendship, and plenty of those quiet moments that make you stop and think about your own life.
This was such a feel-good read with a beautiful message: sometimes healing begins simply by allowing other people into your life. ❤️
If you love books about starting over, unlikely friendships, found family, and a gorgeous European setting, definitely add this one to your TBR!

[Heather Brewer]

This would make a great movie.

[Sherri Brewer]

He did it again! I laughed I cried I could smell the bookstore I can picture each & every character & I’ve started Italian via Duolingo (thanks Harold)

[Alysa Blum]

Thank you, Netgalley for this ARC!
I really liked this book. I especially enjoyed how the different characters each had their own stories and struggles, yet their lives slowly intertwined in a way that felt natural and beautifully paced. Even though they were often working through things separately, it all came together so well that I found myself cheering for every single one of them.

The resolution was especially lovely, and I always appreciate a book that leaves you with that warm, satisfied feeling when you reach the end.

I also personally loved the setting in Italy. Having just traveled there, I felt like I was right back on the Italian streets again, wandering the vie and soaking up that unmistakable atmosphere. The setting added so much charm for me.

Overall, this was a heartfelt story with some really beautiful themes about connection, second chances, and the ways people can unexpectedly become part of each other’s lives. It had depth without ever feeling overly heavy, which made it such an enjoyable read. A lovely, feel-good book that I’m very glad I picked up!

[Alison]

This author is another of my go to writers. He creates wonderful stories, with great characters.
This story follows five Expats in Bologna, Italy, who all get to know each other and their challenges through The English bookstore in Bologna.
Sandy, the owner of the bookstore, and kind of a downer.
Moira, a quite girl, and Sandy's employee, who is always trying to bring new Ideas to the store.
Bianca, a Psychotherapist and Author.
George, Bianca's father who has been having, a hard time with Retirement.
And Harold an awkward young Barista from Colorado.
All of these people have issues with their selves and what they want for their lives.
The characters a well developed and drew me into the story really quickly.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book.

[Mona Sami]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *The English Bookstore in Bologna* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

*The English Bookstore in Bologna* is a warm, thoughtful and uplifting novel about loneliness, reinvention and the unexpected communities we find when our lives have not gone according to plan. Set against the beautiful streets of Bologna, the story brings together five very different people whose paths cross inside the city’s only English-language bookshop.

The bookstore is owned by Sandy Cooke, a guarded and somewhat prickly woman who appears determined to keep both her customers and her emotions at a safe distance. Sandy has little interest in romance, whether in her personal life or on the shelves of her shop, and seems to have accepted that solitude is safer than allowing anyone to become important to her. Although the bookstore has enormous potential, it is struggling, and Sandy appears more comfortable protecting it from change than considering what it might become.

Her employee, Moira, sees the shop very differently. Timid but endlessly hopeful, she dreams of turning it into a welcoming place where people can gather, form friendships and feel less alone. She understands that a bookstore can be more than somewhere to buy books; it can become a refuge for people searching for familiarity, connection or simply somewhere they feel understood.

The contrast between Sandy and Moira provides much of the emotional foundation of the novel. Sandy resists both change and intimacy, while Moira believes deeply in the possibility of community. Their relationship is sometimes frustrating and occasionally touching, particularly as Moira begins to find the confidence to express what she wants for herself and for the shop.

The bookstore gradually becomes a meeting place for several expats who have arrived in Bologna carrying their own disappointments. Each of them is at a point where the life they expected to have has become impossible, leaving them unsure whether they are running away from something or moving towards a new beginning.

Bianca is a psychotherapist who has built a career advising other people how to manage their lives, yet she is unable to hold her own together. Following a breakdown and the humiliating reception of her new self-help book, she escapes to Bologna hoping for distance from both her professional failure and the expectations placed upon her.

I found Bianca particularly interesting because her profession creates an immediate contradiction. She possesses the language and training to understand emotional distress, but that knowledge does not protect her from experiencing it herself. She is used to occupying the role of the person with answers, and her breakdown forces her to accept that insight and recovery are not the same thing.

Her embarrassment over the response to her book also feels painfully believable. Public criticism is difficult for anyone, but for Bianca it attacks not only her writing but also her professional identity. She has presented herself as someone qualified to help others, and the negative reviews make her question whether she has misunderstood both her work and herself.

Following her to Italy is her father, George, who is struggling with retirement and with regrets he has spent years avoiding. His love for Bianca is obvious, but love does not automatically mean understanding. Their relationship contains affection, frustration and the complicated history that develops when a parent continues trying to protect an adult child who no longer wants to be managed.

George’s difficulty with retirement adds another meaningful theme to the novel. Work has provided him with routine, identity and a sense of usefulness. Without it, he is forced to confront who he is when he is no longer defined by his career or by his responsibilities as a father. His time in Bologna becomes an opportunity to reflect on the choices he made and the relationships he may have neglected.

Harold is the youngest and perhaps the most openly vulnerable member of the group. An awkward barista from Denver, he has come to Bologna following his first painful experience of love. He is trying to recover from rejection while also working out what kind of person he wants to become away from the familiar expectations of home.

Harold brings humour and tenderness to the story. His heartbreak may appear less complicated than the problems faced by some of the older characters, but it is no less significant to him. The novel treats his pain with compassion rather than dismissing it as youthful drama, while also allowing his awkwardness and optimism to provide some lighter moments.

What connects all five characters is the feeling that they no longer fully belong to the lives they previously occupied. Bologna offers them temporary distance from their failures, but the city cannot solve their problems simply because it is beautiful. Each character eventually has to decide whether they are genuinely willing to change or whether they have merely moved their unhappiness somewhere more picturesque.

The bookstore is the perfect centre for this story. Books provide comfort, escape and a way for strangers to recognise parts of themselves in one another. The shop begins as a struggling business, but as the characters spend more time there, it becomes something far more important: a place where they are permitted to arrive unfinished.

I particularly enjoyed the idea of an English-language bookstore becoming a refuge for expats. Living abroad can be exciting, but it can also create a deep sense of displacement. Familiar books and shared language offer the characters a connection to home while allowing them to create a new community in Italy.

The Bologna setting is another major strength. The descriptions of cobbled streets, cafés, food and sunlit neighbourhoods create a vivid sense of place without entirely overwhelming the characters. The city feels warm, lived-in and inviting rather than merely serving as a decorative backdrop.

Food naturally plays an important role in the atmosphere. Meals and coffee become opportunities for conversation, honesty and friendship. The characters often reveal more while sitting around a table than they do when deliberately attempting to discuss their feelings. The everyday pleasures of Bologna help them begin reconnecting with life.

Although the novel contains romantic possibilities, romance is not the only or even necessarily the most important form of love explored. Friendship, parental love and community are equally significant. The characters do not simply need romantic partners; they need people willing to see them honestly and remain present when they are not at their best.

I appreciated this emphasis because it prevents the story from suggesting that every personal crisis can be solved by falling in love. Some of the characters need to forgive themselves, confront their past or find a new sense of purpose before they can form healthier relationships with anyone else.

The novel also explores the difference between advice and genuine connection. Bianca has spent years offering professional guidance, but what ultimately helps the characters is not a perfect piece of wisdom. It is the experience of being listened to, accepted and occasionally challenged by people who care about them.

Sandy’s development is particularly satisfying. Her guarded personality can initially make her difficult to warm to, but the reasons behind her behaviour gradually become clearer. She has created emotional distance as a form of protection, and watching the bookstore become a community forces her to reconsider whether avoiding pain has also prevented her from experiencing happiness.

Moira’s journey is quieter but equally rewarding. Her optimism could easily have made her seem naïve, yet it becomes a form of courage. She continues believing that the shop and its owner are capable of more, even when Sandy dismisses her ideas. Over time, Moira begins to recognise that kindness does not require her to remain invisible.

The relationships between the characters develop gradually, which suits the story. They do not become an instantly perfect friendship group. There are misunderstandings, personality clashes and moments when one person’s attempts to help are not welcomed. This makes the eventual sense of community feel earned rather than artificial.

The pacing is gentle and highly character-driven. Readers expecting a dramatic plot or constant twists may find parts of the novel slow. Much of the story focuses on conversations, personal reflection and small changes rather than major external events.

For me, that slower pace generally suited the themes of healing and reinvention. However, there were sections in the middle where the narrative lost some momentum, particularly when several characters remained trapped in the same emotional patterns. A slightly tighter structure might have made the story even more effective.

Some developments are also predictable. It is not difficult to anticipate that the struggling bookstore will eventually bring the characters together or that people who arrive emotionally lost will begin to help one another. A few of the relationship developments follow familiar comforting-fiction patterns.

Nevertheless, the predictability did not significantly reduce my enjoyment because the appeal lies more in the characters’ journeys than in being surprised. This is the kind of novel where the reader may understand the likely destination but still enjoy travelling there.

There are also moments when the book approaches sentimentality, particularly when emphasising the healing power of friendship and books. However, the characters’ flaws and personal difficulties prevent the story from becoming excessively sweet. Their problems are not solved instantly, and connection does not erase the mistakes they have made.

I especially enjoyed the range of ages and life experiences represented. Reinvention is not presented as something available only to the young. George must reconsider his life after retirement, Sandy has to decide whether she can still open herself to love and change, while Bianca and Harold are rebuilding after very different kinds of emotional collapse.

The novel’s greatest strength is its belief that people can begin again without pretending the past never happened. The characters do not become entirely new people in Bologna. Instead, they begin understanding themselves more honestly and recognising that failure does not have to become a permanent identity.

The bookstore itself reflects this idea. It does not need to abandon what it was in order to survive, but it does need to become more open, welcoming and connected to the people around it. Its transformation mirrors the emotional changes taking place within the characters.

The later chapters bring the individual journeys together in a satisfying way. The characters are forced to decide whether the friendships and lessons of the summer will influence the lives they return to or whether Bologna will become only a temporary escape.

The ending is hopeful without suggesting that every problem has disappeared. Some relationships require continued work, some regrets cannot be undone and some choices still carry consequences. However, each character leaves the experience with a clearer understanding of what they need and what they are prepared to change.

Overall, *The English Bookstore in Bologna* is a charming, emotional and uplifting story about five imperfect people who find connection at precisely the moment they need it most. The Bologna setting is beautifully drawn, the bookstore is an irresistible centre for the story and the characters’ struggles with failure, retirement, heartbreak and loneliness give the novel genuine emotional depth.

Although the pacing is occasionally slow and some developments are predictable, the warmth of the characters and the celebration of books, friendship and second chances made this a very enjoyable read.

This will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven fiction, beautiful Italian settings, stories centred around bookshops and novels about people rebuilding their lives through unexpected friendships.

[Letty]

4.5/5

This was a delightful story set in Bologna. I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and pretty much loved them all, especially Sandy who had some pretty humorous lines. Good audiobook with excellent narration. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Ivy Lee]

Some places have the unique ability to bring people together and help them form bonds and build strong communities. The Only English Bookstore in Bologna is just that kind of place. In this character-driven literary fiction, five expats coming from different paths of life end up becoming a found family. Within this group, there is a famous psychotherapist whose book seems to have tanked, her heavily depressed father who just turned back from the brink of taking his own life, a middle-aged bookstore owner who seems to have mastered the art of building walls to keep people at a distance and is seemingly allergic to romance novels, an overly enthusiastic bookstore clerk with a mysterious past, and a young, hopeless romantic who is having an identity crisis. At Bologna’s only English bookstore, these five damaged souls cross paths and discover that healing can be found in something as simple as genuine connection and an open heart.

I am a first-time reader of Boo Walker’s work, and I am regretting not discovering his books sooner. As someone who enjoys character-driven literary fiction, this book felt like it was specifically written for me to fall in love with it. First of all, it is impossible not to get lost in the cobblestoned Bologna streets that Walker so vividly describes, and it makes it all the more easy to dive into the story. At first, it might seem like the characters have nothing in common, which also seems to be the point initially, but as the story progresses, we, and the characters themselves, discover that they have so much more in common than meets the eye.

Each character is created with significant emotional depth, and each has a unique lesson to teach through their own transformation. Personally, I adored George and Harold-or Aroldo- and I can easily say that those two are my favorite characters in this book. George is wise, but not in the way his daughter needs him to be, and Harold is too timid and innocent to turn into the man he wants to become. What they have in common is that they are trying, and the book in its entirety proves to us that opening your heart and trying to make a change is more valuable than anything in the journey of life.

Boo Walker’s prose is smooth, easy to follow, and very enjoyable. It is not easy for me to read pages with a smile on my face, but this book managed to get that smile out of me and kept it there until the end. Was I not annoyed by some of the actions and choices of the characters? Sure, I was! But that is the point of this whole story, and I really hope readers appreciate it as a contrasting element instead of seeing it as a drawback, more so because their questionable choices and embarrassing moments are the things that bring these five strangers together and make them look out for and heal each other.

Overall, this is the kind of book that demands your time and open heart. It is not one to be rushed, and I absolutely enjoyed the time I spent with it. If you love found family, bookish and Italian settings, healing through bonding, and second chances at life, this book is a gem for you.

[Nichole]

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read The English Bookstore in Bologna by Boo Walker, narrated by Barrie Kreinik and David de Vrie, in exchange for my honest review.

This should have been such a perfect book for me. An Italian setting, a bookstore, and a found family? Loving it. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.

The descriptions of Bologna were probably my favorite part and honestly what kept me reading. The bookstore itself was wonderful too. The characters, though, were a completely different story. I honestly don't remember the last time I read a book where I couldn't stand a single character. Their flaws felt like their entire personalities, and most came across more like stereotypes than actual, fully developed people. With multiple POVs, I found myself spending a lot of time with characters I simply didn’t want to spend time with.

I wasn't a huge fan of the way the differences in Italian and American work culture were portrayed. The suggestion that Italians work less because they prioritize enjoying life came across as implying laziness or a lack of ambition, when I think it’s much more about having a different relationship with work and life outside of work.

I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators did a perfectly fine job. I don’t blame the narration for my lack of enthusiasm, but nothing about it particularly stood out either.

I really wanted to love this one, but unfortunately, I spent more time wanting to leave the bookstore than wanting to stay.

[Kari Braun]

This book was such a pleasure to read! All the characters resonated with me, even the grouchy, unreasonable ones. The character development made me laugh, then gasp, then cry, then sigh with contented resolution. Some of them were corny but that made it even better. I have just gotten back from Italy and am still feeling very romantically connected to the country. The setting in Bologna was just what I needed. I highly recommend if you would like a fun journey into a rollicking adventure of a bunch of hilarious (some don’t know they’re funny yet) misfits brought together by this crazy life. So fun!!!

[Shari Tompkins]

When you sit down to read a Boo Walker book you always find yourself catapulted into the story. boo creates complex characters with a series of human flaws. You can find yourself in each character. Pick this up today you will enjoy the characters the adventures and the love.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books)]

Finished reading: August 17th 2026

"Sandy knew she herself wasn't the best bookseller in the world - let's just say she'd lost her mojo about eight years ago - but she also knew she wasn't the worst. Because Moira held that crown, unquestionably the worst bookseller on planet Earth. Maybe the worst salesperson of any product in the multiverse."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

REVIEW

WARNING: it's another unscheduled stop of the unpopular opinion train!!

Oh boy, it seems like Fickle Frieda is here to stay this month... The English Bookstore In Bologna turned out to be yet another unexpected miss. On paper, this book should have been a perfect fit for me. I love books with an Italian setting, I love books with a bookish element and I love books with a found family trope. It's true that I hadn't tried this author before, but when I saw that his books have been consistently receiving high ratings in the past, I couldn't resist adding this newest story to my shelves. Unfortunately, I ended up clashing considerably with this book instead, and I'm suspecting his writing simply isn't for me.

First things first, and I can't deny that the general idea behind this book is very promising indeed. I think that the descriptions of the Bologna setting were mainly what kept me reading, as it made me wish I could travel there myself... It sounds like such a wonderful city to visit and live. I also loved the idea of the English bookstore itself, and the community it could represent for the expats living in Bologna. Having a story at least partly set in a bookstore is always a bonus! This story could have been SO wonderful, if it hadn't been for the cast of characters themselves.

And yes, here is where it went completely wrong for me: it's been a while since I've come across a cast of characters THIS unlikeable. For a story that is mainly character driven, this is basically a death wish, as it gave me zero motivation to keep reading. I get that the characters have to have some flaws to keep the story interesting, but in The English Bookstore In Bologna it often seems like the flaws of the different characters are the ONLY or at least the main defining aspect of their personality. They mainly felt like stereotypes, and sadly of the wrong kind. It's honestly hard to decide on which character is the worst... I think it might be a tie between Sandy (who is basically a bitch to everyone), Harold (who literally stalks his ex-girlfriend) and George (absent father who almost committed suicide and tries to control his daughter's life).

Having a bigger cast and multiple POVs is something I don't mind as long as the characters are memorable and ultimately likeable... But as we've already established, the cast was anything but likeable instead. Sure, some of them might be memorable, but it's for all the wrong reasons! I honestly detested having to spend time with any of them, although Harold's POV is probably the worst with the active stalking going on. This book started to feel like a mix of a villain origin story and an extended therapy session, and I don't mean this in a positive way. In fact, I started to make excuses to NOT pick up my kindle, and this is never a good sign.

There was also something about the writing itself that I failed to connect with personally. I can't put my finger exactly on the why, but there were parts and dialogues that didn't feel completely natural. My main issue was with the characters though, and I honestly started to dread having to spend more time with them. I confess that I started skimreading long before the halfway mark, and I probably should have just DNFed it instead... All in all, it comes as no surprise that The English Bookstore In Bologna and me most definitely didn't get along. If you like slower-paced and character driven stories with plenty of drama and don't mind unlikeable characters, this book will probably work better for you though.

[Alexander]

A big thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the copy.

Medium: Audiobook

My thoughts: I had hoped that this book would be an emotional yet light listen that I would simply enjoy and have very few thoughts on. That was not the case. I was about 8% in when I first considered abandoning the book, and I probably would have if I hadn't requested it through NetGalley. I don't necessarily want to be that person, but I have to point out that I found most of the characters deeply unlikable, and those that weren't straight-up unlikable were pitiful. I didn't feel like I had any character to fully root for and enjoy reading about.
A lot of the writing felt lazy. Having an intro for the characters may be less worrisome in a physical book or an ebook but it overall seemed like the author didn't know how to introduce the multiple POV characters in a way that would be memorable and distinct enough to not need an intro for them. That insecurity was also shown through the multiple repetitions and overexplanations for basic concepts that were introduced into the story only pages ago. Another thing I noticed about the writing in this book was that time skips were handled very awkwardly. We'd start a new chapter and someone would unnaturally mention in the conversation how many days it's been since the previous chapter.
Now, about the actual content of the story, I had complaints for that as well. First of all, I have to mention that as a non-American, this is a deeply American book. Even if I hadn't looked up the author or even if there was no mention of where the majority of characters are from, you can very clearly tell and it makes the characters feel more like caricatures rather than the fully developed people that they could have otherwise been. I also found the contemporary references a little jarring, making me question if an average reader will cringe while reading this in a couple of years. That alone isn't all that concerning. What is concerning, however, are the multiple mentions of ChatGPT. Having multiple characters mention that they "ChatGPT it" (in the same way someone would say they'd look something up by Googling it) made me cringe and worry that the author is using AI. The conversation about what is acceptable usage of AI in the writing process is a long and convoluted one. I personally fall towards the side of believing that AI should have absolutely nothing to do with writing or any kind of creative endeavor; therefore, the multiple mentions of ChatGPT were jarring. It also made me doubt the character's intelligence (either fairly or unfairly).
The last thing I want to talk about is my view on the father-daughter relationship that is one of the main relationships discussed in the book. Although the relationship refers to two adults, I feel like the focus on the daughter was deeply problematic. It felt like the story or the writer wanted us to think that it is only natural that the daughter should forgive her father for being absent from her life until his main preoccupation, his job, was taken from him. It literally didn't occur to him that he should not commit suicide so that he could be there for his daughter until she texted him mid-attempt. Yet, the story is about her going through a transformation and learning to love him. He does go through a big change throughout the story (even though very near the end, he's still controlling and secretive) but every other character is putting the pressure on her to accept and forgive him.
Overall, I can't say that this is the worst thing I ever listened to but I am still grieving the almost ELEVEN hours that this audiobook took.

[Elaine]

What a wonderful book!

The whole premise revolves around an English Bookstore in Bologna, Italy.

The owner Sandy has had the store for several years, but her heart is really NOT in the bookstore anymore, and it’s very apparent. She does not want to build it up, and in fact seems to constantly put it down. The sales are not good. No one is buying. She’s running at a loss… etc. Sandy is emotionally withdrawn, sarcastic, and puts down any and everyone… but this seems to just be WHO she is…. She is not at all interested in love or any kind of relationships… not even in her bookstore!

Moira is her ONE employee. She came from Britain a few years ago and absolutely LOVES the bookstore. She is constantly trying to come up with ideas to promote it and not only keep it afloat, but make it the BEST bookstore in Italy! She is kind, shy, warm, witty and totally dedicated! She would love to have a storybook romance like in the books… the total opposite of Sandy.

Bianca is a psychotherapist who basically blew up her practice back home, and has now come here to escape! She is also a new author. Of a self help book. One that is NOT getting good reviews… So she’s decided to go back to Italy where she once had a wonderful time and life… hoping to get back some of the good vibes she once had. She is absolutely taking a break from her real life!

George is Bianca’s father. He decides to come for a visit… kind of unexpectedly and after a tumultuous life where he lost his wife (divorce) and daughter many years ago, because work was his whole life! He now has retired, not really by choice, and doesn’t know what to do with his time…

And lastly is Harold. A quiet, shy barista from Denver who up and left his world when he met eyes with a beautiful girl who was visiting from Italy! 😮. His whole life has now been turned upside down when she changes her mind…

You’d never think that these characters could ever form the plot of a book, but here we are! And what a wonderful book this is! Add to that the fact that they also venture to Venice and Florence and Ischia (basically our once in a lifetime trip last year!), and this was pure gold for me!

It has not been released yet, but look 👀 for it soon! Release date is August 18, 2026!

5 bold, bright, witty, charming, Italian, Duo-Lingo, transformative stars for me! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

#TheEnglishBookstoreInBologna by @BooWalker and narrated beautifully by @BarrieKreinik and @DavidDeVries.

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, @BrilliancePublishing and @BrillianceAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!!

And as always, thanks for reading along with me! 📚⭐️📖🩷

[Jeff]

Quite Possibly Walker At His Absolute Best. I've been reading Walker's books for a few years now, and they've pretty consistently been rather amazing. Truly.

This one, even with its perhaps a touch disjointed start (though well within established norms of many different versions of multi-character tales such as this), is quite likely his best to date - which is saying much, given how powerful his earlier stories were as well.

Here, every character is flawed. If you're looking for perfect people, you're in the wrong place. *Nobody* is a saint, and sometimes some will view some of their actions as varying levels of (garden variety at worst, ultimately) monstrosity.

But they all have their motivations for all of their actions, and these motivations are *all too human* in absolutely every case. Indeed, this is the core strength of this book - Walker's deep understanding of the overall human condition and his ability to use that understanding to craft such flawed characters yet give them such meaningful and relatable arcs.

To the level that one character in particular, I had to point blank tell him as I was reading this book: "Not me sitting here reading English Bookstore (sorry for the delay) and [this] character is saying a lot of the same things I already think about [this subject]. (Not [directly connected to this character]. At all. To be crystal clear. Just interesting to be [in an eerily similar overall position to this character] these days.)".

Yes, this is ultimately meant as - and I think it absolutely achieves - an at least somewhat heartwarming book. Meaning that this isn't one of those books that will ultimately leave you depressed, though your mileage will absolutely vary on how you perceive each character and their actions based on your own experiences, and yes, some of those experiences may make you lean toward possible desires of defenestration of even this spectacular book. Stick with it anyway. Yes, some aspects may be difficult for some readers for varying reasons. But as a whole, this book is one that can offer at least a modicum of catharsis and perhaps even understanding of those of different situations and views.

And there's even a decent amount of humor in it, as is usual with Walker... including, in this case, one of those cringey trainwreck type scenes, but again, ultimately used to great effect for the main character involved here. Also, there is a cat. Sorry, dog people, but this cat has enough personality - and is used exactly just enough - to really flesh out its human "owner" that much more. Which was also cathartic for me, losing my own cat of nearly two decades just three weeks ago as I write this review.

Overall truly an excellent read, a very emotional one that may make rooms quite dusty indeed for some readers.

Very much recommended.

[Beau]

*Thank you to Lake Union and Brilliance for a complimentary arc and alc of The English Bookstore in Bologna. All opinions expressed are my own.*

There are certain books that pull you in with a mystery you desperately need to solve, a major romance you can’t look away from, or a plot that keeps you guessing. The English Bookstore had none of those things, and yet, somehow I found myself completely swept up in it.

For a character-driven story, I was intrigued surprisingly quickly. The characters are wonderfully written, each feeling complex, authentic and entirely their own. Despite their differences, I found myself invested in them almost immediately, and their individual journeys gave the story plenty of heart, perspective, humour and moments that made me stop and think.

Having lived as an expat more than once, I also found this book relatable in ways I wasn’t expecting. Living abroad can be wonderful and liberating, opening your mind to different perspectives and ways of life, but it can also come with loneliness, uncertainty, and challenges that aren’t always visible from the outside. Walker captures both sides of that experience beautifully, and I really appreciated how he portrayed that in the story.

One of the biggest surprises for me was the audiobook. It’s a very rare occurrence when narration makes me feel more invested in a story, but after listening to a few chapters, I ended up switching from reading to listening almost entirely. Barrie Kreinik and David de Vries’ narrations completely drew me in, particularly how they managed to provide distinct voices for each character, and I found the whole audiobook every bit as endearing and immersive as Walker’s writing - they complemented each other perfectly.

What struck me most, though, was how I completely stopped looking for the things I normally rely on to keep invested in a story. Usually, I need suspense, stakes, or some unanswered question constantly pulling me forward. With this story, I wasn’t trying to work out what would happen next. I was simply too absorbed in the sentence I was reading or listening to, that I wasn’t trying to guess what would come in the next one.

I think that’s what makes The English Bookstore so special. It doesn’t need a twist or a dramatic hook to capture your attention. It quietly works its way into your heart through its characters, its observations, its humour, the way it makes you think and the very human journeys at its centre.

This is a stunning story that I think will warm the hearts of many. I already know several family members who are going to find them selves forced to jump into this after opening their Christmas presents this year.

[Jan]

This is a good summer read for a specific audience. If you enjoy books set in bookstores, have a passion for the magic of Italy, and enjoy reading about budding romance, this is a good one for you. It is an immersion into the beauty of the language, food and history of Bologna with some additional travel to the canals of Venice, beaches of Ischia, and a quick tour of Rome.

But I felt the intent was meant to be a character driven novel and that is where the author lost me. It was hard for me to feel much compassion for any of the characters in their struggles (and there were many) and I felt it overwritten and repetitive.

The characters:

Sandy is the book store owner. She is caustic, negative, and has no interest in having her store succeed. We imagine there are reasons for her unhappiness and find that to be true. But ouch. She truly earned the porcupine moniker.

Moira, her one employee, is abused by Sandy on a daily basis. She is described as a mousy young woman with thick glasses and a groveling demeanor. However, she is determined to build a bookstore community and becomes someone Mousy Moira is not—determined, outspoken, and an articulate community builder. She too has a dark secret.

Bianca, perhaps to be considered the main protagonist , is a very successful therapist with a lucrative practice in Austin. She works very hard and has written a self help book that has bombed. She runs from all of that to find the Bianca she once was ten years ago and to craft a new and different life.

Bianca’s father, George, a tireless workaholic has retired and has no clue how to fill his life. He aborted his own suicide attempt and decided to go to Bologna to save Bianca from herself. George is an ugly American who doesn’t grasp the Italian joie de vivre. He thinks he is right about everything ad nauseum, until he doesn’t. There is hope for everyone.

I think the Harold character could have been eliminated altogether. Unless he was needed to fulfil Sandy’s thwarted maternal instincts. The whole Harold/Aroldo scenes didn’t work for me. Maybe I should have more empathy for a young boy seemingly without options propped up by a community he never experienced before.

All in all, while this book was not for me, readers who gravitate to this genre will love the Italian ambiance, the budding romances, and the lifting of broken spirits into a supportive community.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for the opportunity to read this ARC and write an honest review.

[kw]

★★★★☆
The English Bookshop in Bologna is a warm, character-driven novel about five Americans who cross paths inside Bologna's only English-language bookstore, and gradually become something like a found family. Sandy, the shop's owner, is prickly and closed off to both romance and friendship; her employee Moira is her opposite, shy but determined to turn the store into a real hub for the English-speaking community. Bianca, a therapist quietly unraveling after a breakdown and a string of bad reviews for her self-help book, arrives with her father George, who's navigating his own reckoning with retirement, and Harold, a barista from Denver nursing a broken heart and hoping to reinvent himself. Each of them carries their own regrets and uncertainty into the shop, and watching them slowly turn a struggling business into a place where they actually belong is the heart of the book.

Bologna itself is practically a character in its own right. The setting is rendered with real warmth and specificity, slow-paced, sun-drenched, food-obsessed in the best way, and it's easy to feel completely transported into that unhurried Italian rhythm. The bookstore-as-sanctuary conceit works well too: there's something inherently comforting about a story built around books and the people who find connection within them, and the novel leans into that without ever feeling saccharine. It handles genuinely difficult material, grief, breakdown, heartbreak, the disorientation of starting over, while still functioning as a cozy, hopeful read, with enough lighter moments to keep the tone balanced.

The character work is the novel's strongest asset. Watching the complicated relationship between Bianca and George unfold alongside the wider ensemble's intertwining arcs is genuinely engaging, and the found-family dynamic feels earned rather than forced, even if the tropes themselves are familiar enough that you can often see the resolutions coming. That familiarity keeps the book from ever being surprising, but it doesn't undercut its charm.

The main drawback is pacing: the novel runs a touch long, and a few of the storylines don't land with quite the same force as the central ones, so the middle stretch drags in places. It feels like the same emotional depth and sense of place could have been achieved with some judicious trimming.

Still, this is a lovely, cozy read for anyone who loves bookshops, Italy, and stories about people finding their way back to themselves, and to each other, when they least expect it.

[Samantha Johnson]

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced review copy.

This is my first book by Boo Walker. He writes a good character and moves the story forward well. I loved learning about Bologna, the sites, sounds, and food while I followed the characters around the city while they navigated their lives, relationships, etc.
I appreciated that he wrote characters who, through different paths and trajectories, were all just looking to find themselves, some connection without having to change who they were deep down, and figuring out what their next steps in life would be.

We're introduced to a. handful of characters, each with their own backstory that ends up landing them in Bologna - all tied to each running from something (and maybe with hope of running to an answer). I appreciate the list of characters with their brief backstory that is provided in the beginning of the book.

Things I liked: I love found family tropes. Love them. This one fit the bill well. It also does a good job with the grumpy meets 'sunshine' trope (but with a caveat... I'll get to that in a minute). There's a second chance at love storyline. And a 'the love you're looking for is right in front of you trope'. All good. You root for the characters, laugh at some of the goofiness, and the story kept me invested for the most part... but that leads me to

Things that made it tough for me: While I did root for the characters and sympathized with struggles - I felt that at times Walker *really* leaned in to highlighting the flaws and it felt like overkill at points. Sandra for instance - she owns the bookshop that connects everyone to each other - and she's been through a tough time, but at times she is so mean that it became off-putting. The relationship between Bianca and her father got tedious. And Harold - there were points that the second hand embarassment was almost too much, and the basic stalking of his ex-girlfriend and his flippant using of his mom's money was a bit much.

And now that leaves me here - were the cons enough to dissuade me from continuing to read? No - but sometimes the flaws were so much that it almost pulled me out of the story - I rooted for the characters, but also it became tough to do so at times.

If you like a character driven, slow-paced story in a charming setting, that has a fairly happy, if not predictable ending, this is for you. But be forewarned - the character flaws may make or break the story for you.

[Danielle]

nominally about a bookstore, but it’s all about the characters (each connected to the bookstore somehow) and their sense of identity. there’s someone rediscovering herself after years in corporate america, a guy contorting his entire personality and lifestyle (twice) to chase after a girl he meets in a coffee shop and follows to italy, an unhappy retiree trying to carve out a place for himself in his adult daughter’s life, a bitter bookstore owner who hasn't spoken to her son in years, and her employee yearning to establish a stronger sense of community.

the prose keeps it simple, clearing the way for the characters and their thoughts and dialogue. i thought the book really shined when it came to character combinations. sandy and moira, moira and harold, bianca and george, sandy and george. over the course of the story, how each character sees themselves shifts substantially, and that's only possible because of the others impacting them. then that renewed self-perception allows them to enact huge changes in their own lives. loved that!!!

the relationship that stuck with me the most was the father-daughter relationship: vocal expectations running one way, and quiet resentment in the opposite direction. it felt so cathartic when those two came to a head.

harold is… a lot. i almost couldn't handle him. stalking his ex and her new boyfriend, lying to himself and to her, trying to be someone he's not??? i got secondhand embarrassment reading it, especially bc he KNOWS how cringeworthy it is and does it anyway. the lack of self-control made me itch on its own, but even worse was how no one actually called him out on it. but even if none of them were outwardly judging him, i was doing it from the other side of the page.

the reveal about sandy’s son wasn’t a surprise to me (since i think i’d picked up on the dogtag/coral detail early on), but that anticipation made her voicemails hit harder.

overall, this book shows how no one lives in a vacuum: who you are and who you become is a direct result of who you allow yourself to be vulnerable with, and who’s close enough to make an impact on you. lovely!

[Jo]

THE ENGLISH STORE IN BOLOGNA
By Boo Walker

This is a relatable story about 5 lost souls who come together one summer in a neighborhood of Bologna Italy. They center around this bookstore, named the same as the title of this book. They each bring their hardship stories, each with differing motivations to experience and explore in this story.
There is the owner of the bookstore, Sandy, who hasn’t been lucky with love, and, in fact, refuses to even have romantic novels in the store to sell. This bookstore started as a dream for her, but she’s been disillusioned and become cranky with everyone, and really doesn’t care anymore. Then, there is Moira, her clerk, who really holds the store together. She wants to make the bookstore a hub for ex-pats in Italy by designing activities to bring them together, one being a book club because she’s learned of a newcomer from the States who is the author of a recent best seller.
This newcomer is a psychotherapist Bianca, from Texas who also hasn’t been lucky with love, but is also licking some wounds from reviews of this latest best seller which she sees as a flop, and is embarrassed about it. Her father, newly retired and divorced doesn’t know what to do with himself in Texas, besides belonging to a golf club. He really doesn’t like golf or the games that the community requires very much. He’s feeling empty. He joins his daughter in Bologna, but their relationship is strained too.
Then there’s Bianca’s neighbor, Harold, a young barista from Colorado, who is obsessed in love and living with Alice, a young, sophisticated beauty. He lives a fantasy life with her, telling her he works globally online, when in fact he’s not. He’s being supported by his mother back in the states. But he also has a relationship with Duolingo, trying to learn Italian so he can continue to impress Alice.
How do they, or do they, each resolve their broken heart and self-esteem issues, and do they become friends? This is a fun read, and having been to Bologna, it was fun to feel I was visiting again. Boo Walker writes good novels with believable characters and real-life problems. I recommend this book to anyone.

[Debbie]

One thing that I love about all Boo Walker books is his ability to create characters that live, breathe, and experience life the same way that I do, and as you read, they take you on the journey with them. By the time I finished this book I felt as if I knew them well enough to invite them out to share a nice glass of wine. What not all of these characters realize is that they are on a journey of self discovery. They all come into the story with self-doubts, lots of baggage, regrets from the past, and fear of the future, but somehow, these very flawed human beings find a way to become a better version of themselves. Some are kicking and screaming the whole way, convinced that their way is the best way, while others practice a more introspective way of hitting the next level. Some aim too high, some are rudderless, but in this novel, they somehow manage to find friendships that allow them to take their next steps in the world.

Set in the sun kissed streets of Bologna, Italy makes it easy for the reader to get lost in the beauty of the quaint streets, the local artwork, and the fabulous foods and wines that Italians do best. But having a story centered around a bookstore is just over-the-top joy for avid readers. The author writes, “…once you put a book out into the world, it becomes the possession of the reader or the one experiencing it.” This is a perfect description of this book. If you allow yourself to enter this book, you will experience the highs and lows of the characters. You will feel sadness at their losses and cheer their victories. When I can experience that in a book, I know that it was created with the sole purpose of adding a new layer of understanding to our journey through life while telling a very fine story.

My only regret is that my journey with them is over. However, the lessons that they learned, and some of the profound realizations that they arrived at will continue to resonate with me for a long time to come.

[Talli]

This was not a bad book, just maybe not for me. It was a little bit saccharine in a way that didn't feel sincere or authentic. If the author meant for it to feel like a novelization of a self-help book, he achieved that. Very meta take. But not for me.

I think one of my biggest problems was with Harold. He lies to his "girlfriend" and everyone he meets in Balogna about who he is and borrows money from his mom who he admits doesn't have money to spare in order to fund this farce and then is upset for the entirety of the book about the fact that this girl he lied to from the very moment they met no longer wants to be with him because she found someone else. I also don't love that it's insinuated that her new older boyfriend is abusing her and the last we see of them looks like Harold is the only good guy in that trio as if she deserves to be in an abusive relationship because she broke up with one of the main characters in the book.

Harold's actions negatively affect everyone around him, but he is lauded as a good guy who's just a little heartbroken and hasn't found himself yet. I wasn't 100% sure if the author was a man or a woman (it's not a common name either way), but it was this take on Harold that clinched it for me that the author must be a man. We've been talking about rape culture long enough I would hope most people know about the dangers of coercion and misleading women to do something they wouldn't normally do if they had all the information.

I get that everyone in this book was flawed and in their own mental health crises and I think we should give grace to everyone. But that doesn't mean you just let them off the hook and explain that it's fine because everyone makes mistakes. Of all the flawed characters here, Harold did the least amount of self-reflection and certainly the least amount of reconciliation with the people he hurt. He got off really easy considering I think he was the worst offender.

[Chelsie]

This novel felt like a new friendship over coffee. Five characters are all in different parts of their lives but yet they are all struggling to move forward. Sandy loved the first few years with the bookstore but now she’s just in a routine. Is there more to this dream she once thought she’d achieved? Moira is a soft spoken introvert who works at Sandy’s store. The lowest sales of probably all book sellers everywhere, but put her in front of a favorite author or discuss a favorite book and she opens right up. Although her and Sandy are quite opposites, they’ve become comfortable in each other’s habits. Bianca has done nothing but focus and work, work, work to achieve all her goals. So when sales and reviews for her first book flop, she’s lost. All the psychotherapy she gives others doesn’t seem to help her in her life. Who is she? What does she really want? George, the father of Bianca is struggling with retirement. All his loyalty to a company meant nothing and now his life is nothing but sitting around. Is there anything left living for? Harold is still trying to figure out life and has just had his first real relationship crash and burn. He doesn’t even understand why? He gave her gifts, he showed her attention, he started doing more as she asked but in the end it wasn’t enough. This quaint little bookstore in Bologna unexpectedly brings all five expats together. Although each very different, they all seem to be yearning for the same thing while rehashing the past. Food, drink, friendship and a place of comfort is all it takes for each to open up and realize the decisions they’ve made and have yet to make. Thank you to the author and publisher for the complimentary novel and to Over the River Public Relations for the tour invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.