The Book Lover's Bucket List

by Hannah Claire

A bucket list to change her life.
Gabriella Brookes has spent years quietly loving Zach Osborne, knowing he only sees her as his best friend’s bookish little sister. He’s charming, successful, and only back in their Derbyshire village for the summer before his next big move.
When Gabby stumbles across her long-forgotten teenage bucket list, Zach proposes a together, they’ll tick off her book-inspired challenges, if she helps him complete a few fun tasks of his own.
What starts as a perfectly sensible plan quickly turns into something far more complicated, when real life refuses to stay neatly tucked between the pages.
But as Zach’s past resurfaces and his future pulls him away, Gabby is forced to face a harder dreams don’t come true if you only ever read about them.
Ticking off the challenges was meant to be easy.
Admitting what your heart wants is the real risk.
A cosy, small-town romantic comedy about courage, love, and rewriting your own ending.

284 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2026

Reviews

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Book Lover's Bucket List' by Hannah Claire

CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULES AND GRAB THIS ABSOLUETLY STUNNING PAGE TURNER TODAY!! ONE THE MOST STUNNING, BIBLIOLIPHIC AND BEAUTIFUL BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!! GRAB YOUR COPY NOW!! I CAN GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT!! YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!!!

This is the second beauty I have read by this absolutely AMAZING author plus the first book in Hannah's The Millbrook Series!! I am landed it is just the first book in this series and what an absolutely INCREDIBLE introduction to an absolutely fantastically promising series it is!! What a blooming stunning read!! Seriously, if you are looking for a beautiful, uplifting and unforgettable read THIS is it!! I have also read 'Until The Next Letter' by Hannah which I would also HIGHLY recommend and you can check my review for that previously on my social media as well as on Amazon!!

OMFG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIVE AND EPIC BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING PAGE TURNING MUST READ!!!

BOOK PACKED, BEAUTIFUL, UPLIFTING, AMAZING CHARACTERS, WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR??

The first thing I have got to say is another absolutely HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to the AMAZING author Hannah Claire on yet ANOTHER incredibly gorgeous read!

THIS BOOK IS FREE WITH KINDLE UNLIMITED NOW SO GRAB YOUR COPY AND GET HOOKED ON THIS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC, BOOK PACKED PAGE TURNER TODAY!! WHY ARE YOU STILL READING THIS....GO,GO,GO!

OMG!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK, AN ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, HILARIOUS AND PAGE TURNING MUST READ!!! I MEAN IF YOU SEE THE WORD BOOK OR ANYTHING RELATED TO BOOKS IN A TITLE OF A BOOK OR IN THE SYNOPSIS AND DONT AUTOMATICALLY GO TO READ IT, CAN YOU REALLY CALL YOURSELF A BOOK LOVER??!!! BOOKS WITH BOOK IN THE TITLE OR FILLED WITH BOOKS, BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIES, AUTHORS OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH BOOKS (OR ANIMALS) ARE JUST THE ABSOLUTE BEST! AND THIS BEAUTY HAS BOTH!! WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR???

OMG Hannah, how are you doing this!! I am always dubious reading a second book by an author when I LOVED the first book wondering if I could love it as much as the first book but I obviously had absolutely nothing to worry about with this incredible page turner!!! I don't care how you do it, witchcraft, magic, whatever you are doing just keep bringing out these amazing books!! I mean SERIOUSLY!?!? A bucket list page turner where our protagonist is a LIBRARIAN, runs BOOK CLUBS, and has a BOOK inspired bucket list I mean HELLO if you haven't just grabbed your copy after just reading those then why not??? What more could a book lover ask for than a book surrounded by books, book lovers and adventure!!

This book has absolutely stunning and evocative descriptions that set you straight in the scenes. I am ABSOLUTELY devastated to come to the end of this book and leave Gabriella, Zach and the rest of the characters behind. I really cannot wait to get stuck in to even more of Hannah's previous and future books especially the next books in this extremely promising series!! I absolutely adored the gorgeous heart-warming and feel good storyline. As you may, possibly, have been able to work out I absolutely LOVED this captivating, stunning and addictive page turner from the very moment I even looked at the front cover to the very last word and beyond. What an absolutely feel good, heart warming, turn a frown upside down escapism! I absolutely fell in love with Hannah's writing skills after reading 'Until The Next Letter' and I am looking forward to reading more!! This gorgeous storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heart-warming. It is just one of those absolutely beautiful books that promises that the reader gets completely lost in the pages for hours. Hannah truly does transport her readers from their reading spots and transports them to Millbrook and into Gabriella's life where she and Zach go through their bucket lists to try to complete them before Gabriella's 30th birthday and Zach moves to Germany. You will see the emotions, characters, surroundings and loads more come alive! I really did absolutely fell in love with everything about this beautiful book. It is a gorgeous story ram packed with emotions, revelations, warmth, heartbreak, journeys, healing, heart, family, friendship, romance, books, secrets, a hidden library, forgiveness, grief, hope, warmth, humour, new beginnings, resilience, courage, more books, a gorgeous dog and absolutely everything you could ask for and so much more!! It really does tick every single box in everything you could want in an absolutely beautiful and unforgettable read. It will have you feeling like you are on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Hannah's beautiful, vivid fantastic immersive writing skills and gorgeous imagination will keep you sucked in from beginning to end. I completely devoured the book in one sitting of several hours while sunbathing in the garden. It is one of those beauties where regardless if you are reading it in the sun with a cocktail or curled up next to the fire with a hot chocolate Hannah will transport you to Millbrook and next to Gabriella and Zach at the turn of a page! This book is going to live in my mind rent free for an extremely long time. In fact I would be surprised if it ever left!

You need to book the day off whatever you had planned as once you pick up this book and turn the pages I can guarantee you will not want to put it down!! I found myself picking it up every spare second I had and not wanting to put it down and devoured it in a few short hours!! AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS MUST READ!!

I would like to give you a MASSIVE THANK YOU Hannah for this stunner! Not only did I love the characters, location and the storyline but you have inspired me to write my own bucket list which is also inspired by things I have read in books....no skydiving included!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!! The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Hannah's evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. I was completely invested in each and every one of the characters regardless of how I felt about them. I absolute loved Gabby, I mean HELLO she is a librarian, Zach, Dan, Stacey, Mr Cooper, Ange, well, all the characters really! However, I am a HUGE animal lover and even run my own rescue called Golden Oldies Cat Rescue And Hospice (you can find me on FB if you wish). Therefore, any animals are a HUMUNGOUS bonus in books for me so I have got to admit my absolute favourite was the gorgeous Benji!!!! I absolutely LOVE him! Each of the characters all played their own roles perfectly and they all had their own unique and individual personalities with their own flaws, strengths and weaknesses. All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning book exactly how epic it is!!! I just cannot wait to see what characters this amazing author come up with next and meet all of my new friends again in the next book in this series!!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic her writing skills are as they completely brought them all to life for me.

Well done Hannah on another absolutely addictive and stunning page turner, an absolutely GORGEOUS book filled introduction to an extremely promising new series! THIS is the EXACT reason you are on my favourite author list and I cannot wait for your next guaranteed beauty!

Overall an absolutely unforgettable, stunning, book and adventure packed, unique must read!!

#TheBookLoversBucketList #TheMillbrookSeries #HannahClaire #HannahClaireAuthor #DovePeakPress #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

@HannahClaire @HannahClaireAuthor @DovePeakPress @RachelsRandomResources @rararesources

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[Sapphyria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book Lover's Book List is such a sweet romance. I love unrequited love stories with longing, misunderstandings, and sibling's best friend tropes.

Gabby has been trying to get over the crush on her brother's best friend, Zach, her entire life. He doesn't see her as a woman, just a little sister. He's used to glitz and glamour and Gabby is bookish and quiet. When he strolls back into town unexpectedly, the feelings she's been trying to bury, flare back up with a vengeance.

Zach is back home while he's in between jobs and enlists Gabby's help with a project. As they work through the logistics, Gabby finds a bucket list from her teen years. Zach strikes deal to work with Gabby to complete the list before her birthday, and before he leaves the country.

Unforced proximity plays a dangerous game with Gabby's feelings as she and Zach work through the list.

I loved this book so much. Gabby has low self-esteem, self-doubt, and tends to push people away to prevent her from getting hurt. Zach re-entering her life when he does is a breath of fresh air for Gabby. She engages with him and agrees to the bucket list completion as a mechanism to remain close to him before things go back to the way they were.

This story is emotional, funny, and sweet. Gabby and Zach's story made me tear up, laugh out loud, and saw awww. The author wrote a book filled with emotions that can be felt by the reader. I felt Gabby's uncertainties, her fears, her anger, and her triumphs.

The author created wonderful and likable characters. The world-build was well done and the setting perfect for this story. Vivid imagery, flowing conversations (easy one and hard ones, alike), and strong relationships really brought The Book Lover's Bucket list to life. I was pulled in and engaged from the very beginning.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a cute and cosy read. Gabby is a librarian in a small Derbyshire town. She has just moved back in with her brother, Dan, after coming through a messy break-up. When Dan's best friend Zach returns to town, Gabby's old feelings for him resurface. When Gabby finds an old bucket list she wrote for herself at 14, Zach convinces her that they should work through it together.

I loved the idea of the literary inspired bucket list. I also loved that Gabby was a librarian and books were a common theme throughout the story. I didn't like how Gabby felt she was boring and unworthy just because she loved reading. I really felt for her as she struggled with her self-confidence. It was good to see her overcoming this, but also made for some frustrating miscommunications in the story.
There were some great side characters, especially Mr Cooper with his secret library. I loved him!

This is a fairly short book which I finished quickly. A light-hearted, fun small-town romance.

[Natasha Mairs (Serenity You) · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really enjoyed reading this book. It was such a lovely, cosy read and perfect for the summer months. From the very first chapter, it had a warm, comforting feel that made it easy to escape into.

I liked that it was based on where I live, in Derbyshire. But the village they lived in was fictional; I would have liked to read about a real one. The characters were one of the highlights for me. I really liked both Gabby and Zach, and I found myself rooting for them as the story unfolded. Their personalities felt genuine, and I enjoyed following their journey together.

This is the perfect book to pop into your beach bag or read with a cup of tea in the garden on a sunny afternoon. It’s heartwarming, easy to read, and leaves you with that lovely feel-good feeling once you’ve turned the final page.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a cosy, uplifting summer read.

4/5 stars for me

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute. It was the perfect cozy, summer day read to help me escape reality for a little while.

I love Hannah Claire's writing. The pacing was perfect, and there weren't any moments where the story dragged. I loved the bucket list theme, and each plot point brought the story forward.

The cast of characters were excellent. Everyone felt so real. I also loved the way Gabby reacted to some of the things happening toward the end of the book. The communication between her and Zach was very realistic. They felt like real people that I wanted to be friends with!

Overall, awesome read. I look forward to reading more from this author!

(I received a copy of this book from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review (which will be posted on my Instagram account for the tour on the 18th).

[Nicola Malloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love books about books or book people as it is so easy for me to identify with the characters and Gabriella (Gabby) is no exception. I loved following her journey of self discovery, I think challenging yourself outside of just reading and making it happen is such a fun but scary idea. I really resonated with Gabby and her way of shutting down rather than the risk of being hurt she felt really real for me. I also loved the setting, it made me want to visit the Peak District and the dales

[Becca McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adorable book for summer's day! I loved the protagonists and the way they are pulled together for the very reasons they assumed they would never work. The use of books as plot device was so fun for this booklover. Kudos to Hannah Claire for keeping the romance real enough to be believable while still providing all the happy tingles necessary for a good romance. I also loved the setting -consider The Peaks on my travel wish list. I can only hope it will be this charming.

[Mary Metcalfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic cosy read

What an absolutely outstanding book. I absolutely loved Gabby's story from start to finish. If your wanting a book that makes your face ache from smiling then you definitely need this book 📚

[Joan McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely Good Read

A lovely story with very real characters. I loved the evolving communications, the theme around fulfilling a bucket list and the outcome on everyone. A thoroughly good read. Thank you Nicola Hall for introducing me to your sister's books.

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a wonderful uplifting read. A perfect book to escape into. I loved every page.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charming, romantic book.
A must for book lovers and list makers.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Hannah brings her character's to life so well.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book Lovers Bucket List is an uplifting rom com set in the beautiful Peak District. I really liked the characters within the book and felt the communication between Gabby and Zach was realistic. The pacing of the book was perfect as there was no moments where i thought it dragged. I loved the bucket list theme which saw Gabby connecting with her younger self's goals and how she overcame her fears and started taking emotional risks which I'm sure is relatable to most of us. Overall it's a perfect read for summer and at under 300 pages an easy read.

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Gabriella (Gabby) was 14 years old she created a bucket list. Now as an adult she rediscovers this at the same time her childhood crush returns to town. Zach agrees to help Gabby complete her bucket list if she will help him with his.

This was a really cute read. The storyline was about books and romance, included the friends to lovers, brother’s best friend and the small-town romance tropes. As soon as I saw the front cover it made me smile and having read the book, I now know which scene the cover relates to.

Gabby is a character that every bookworm will relate to. She loves books, works in a library and everything about her life is book based, including her bucket list. She'd rather be reading than doing anything else. When Zach, her brother Dan’s best friend and childhood crush makes a reappearance his plan to ask Gabby to help him to organise a surprise birthday for Dan snowballs when Gabby finds her bucket list and Zach offers to help with it. Not all of the bucket list items are achievable so Gabby has to narrow down what she can and can't do. Zach has never created a bucket list but it's something he's always wanted to do so he decides to create one. Comparing the two bucket lists it's clear that Gabby and Zach have planned different things. Gabby’s list includes reading under the stars and attending a ball whereas Zach’s includes skydiving. The more time that Gabby and Zach spend together their friendship turns into something more.

What was clear throughout the story is that Gabby lacks confidence but also thinks that she isn't worthy. She’s had a crush on Zach for years but has got it into her head that he wouldn't look at her twice because she's too nerdy. It doesn't help that her ex-boyfriend also played on her insecurities that she wasn’t good enough. What she doesn’t realise is that Zach has started to see Gabby in a different way and he falls for her first and quickly. I loved following Gabby and Zach’s journey of completing the bucket lists. Some of my favourite scenes were when Zach arranges for Gabby to visit a secret library and when he arranges for them to go to a Regency murder mystery ball.

A cute and romantic bookish read.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby has had her eyes set on her brother’s best friend for years. Zack has come to Derbyshire for the summer. They reconnect after all these years and decide to work on their bucket lists together.
This was a fun book! It was a nice easy book, just perfect to lose yourself in.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute and cosy read. It's the perfect book to read for when you need to escape. The story was beautifully written and had good pacing with a good cast of characters and beautiful place settings in the story. I loved Gabby and Zach's chemistry and I wanted them to have their happy ending. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩷 Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, the author Hannah Claire and the publisher for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t believe how quickly this story pulled me in, it had me hooked from the very first pages. Written in a traditional style, the narrative flows beautifully, creating an atmospheric and engaging read. The characters are well developed, relatable and easy to connect with, making it an accessible story for readers of all ages.

Gabby is such a standout character, completely normal, the kind of person you could meet any day of the week. Her self-doubt and tendency to overthink feel incredibly real and easy to relate to. Then there’s Zach, whose charm adds a lovely romantic layer but this book is so much more than just a love story. At its core is a deeply emotional journey, as Gabby wrestles with the decision to search for her birth mother after being adopted at the age of three. Her back-and-forth over whether to make contact adds a real sense of tension and intrigue.

Of course, the classic “will they, won’t they?” element is there too, building just the right amount of frustration to keep you turning the pages. I found myself constantly rooting for them both and hoping for the happy ending they deserved.

The author mentions wanting to share her love of reading and she’s absolutely succeeded. This is a heartfelt, engaging romcom that I’d happily recommend and one I hope others will fall in love with this, just as much as I did.

#TheBookLoversBucketList - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️