The Bookshop by the Beach

by J.C. Williams

Libby Tebbit had absolutely had her fill of big-city life.

So, when presented with the opportunity to take over her gran’s shop, The Bookshop by the Beach, she’d have been crazy to turn it down, right?

Idyllic notions of lazy days by the ocean shore, shooing away the surplus eligible bachelors circling around her like squawking gulls, filled her head. These things were certain to await her, she felt confident, in this next glorious chapter of her life – this wonderful seaside adventure on the Isle of Man.

Only her business acumen was about as useless as her choice in men. Still, nothing ventured nothing gained. And, besides, what’s the worst that could happen?

Well, quite a lot as she’d soon discover. In a relatively short amount of time, a business that’d operated fairly successfully for forty years was on its knees – and, sadly, Libby’s dance card was also emptier than her bank account.

She wasn’t ready to let go of her dream so easily. Not just yet. All she needed, then, was a plan to turn around the ailing fortunes of The Bookshop by the Beach, and fast!

Genres: Audiobook, Chick Lit, Romance, Humor

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2020

About the author

J C Williams is an author from the Isle of Man.

He's delighted to advise his hilarious new book, the Crafternoon Sewcial Club is now available on Amazon.

His books are for those who don’t take life too seriously and are funny, poignant and ultimately uplifting.

He writes books both for the little ankle-biters and also the older audience. They're written with delightful humour and will leave you with a huge smile on your face.

He presently has seventeen titles and all are available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle with some now also available in Audio format.

He'd love to hear from you!

Email - authorjcwilliams@gmail.com

You can follow him on Facebook at @jcwilliamsauthor

You can also subscribe to his newsletter by visiting his website www.authorjcwilliams.com

Reviews

[Passi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book as my last book for my October reading challenge and it was hell. Libby is an idiot and gullible.

This was very trash and corny. Fat phobia and sexual harassment is taken too lightly for me. We should have been beat James ass.

[Sax · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Scarlett Trotman · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Bookshop by the Beach was a bit of a miss for me, and I gave it 2.5 stars. I really wanted to love it... the setting had so much potential, but I found the main character quite unlikeable, which made it hard to stay invested in the story.

There was also far too much focus on calorie counting, which quickly became repetitive and distracting from what could have been a cosy, heartwarming read.

Overall, a light story with promise, but forgettable.

[Cara Lord · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cozy but terrible really

[Kathryn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is why you should never trust a free book.
I'm not saying it was desperate, but I did have to check the author was actually a real person and not AI ...

3.5/10 - SO HAMMY

[Lauren Sparrow · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars - I'm still not entirely sure what the main story is as there seemed to be so much unnecessary narration/dialogue. Sometimes it felt like Libby, the main character, would talk herself through every action that was doing, or thinking about doing and for me, it took the focus away from the actual storyline. In Chapter 16, there was a whole conversation between Libby & Eric and I honestly lost count of how many times Libby said 'Eric'! It was like every time she responded to him, she had to say his name multiple times!
I don't think this was a bad book, but it was just ok.
Very wordy with not much actually happening in my opinion but overall, a cute little contemporary romance.

[Megan De Marco · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was fine, but dragged on a bit because it focused on too many things that didn't matter. Also, the writing or editing could do with some work...

"Why would I care about anything having to do with Luke at this point?” asked a confused Libby, not understanding why she should care about anything having to do with Luke at this point."

[Rachael Boswell · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF - what drivel and don't care what happens with the characters.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Libby took over the running of her grandmother's bookshop by the beach, its a enjoyable read especially her granddad's diary story but I did find some parts unbelievable but does not put me off reading more from the author.

[Lyndsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and easy read

I giggled a lot at this book, and found myself even surprised at one point! I do think there was a mite of rushing in terms of certain relationships but I did thoroughly enjoy the read.

[Hilary Cockshaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook - the plot was secondary to the 300 ways to say 'said'. Expostulated, grimaced, exclaimed, stated, explained, laughed, the list goes on and it was all I could hear in the end... it was so annoying, I explained!

[Keith Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

As normal a very funny book had me laughing all the way

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isle of Man bookshop owner Libby Tebbit is an attractive klutz who wishes she had a man in her life and a business that didn’t skate so close to bankruptcy. She’s attracted to a hunky Luke, but he seems to be taking his time asking her out and her pretence that she shares his running hobby is looking like being a painful mistake. Libby finds her grandfather’s journal and she enjoys reading about how her grandparents got together and set up the bookshop. But soon the business is under attack from malicious websites and she starts losing money fast. Who would hate her enough to try and destroy her family’s legacy?

I always enjoy JC Williams’ books—they’re fun and playful with a big heart and this was no exception. Libby and her best friend, Freya, are the stars of the story: young empowered women who, nevertheless, have their faults. The Isle of Man is showcased as a convivial small town, with locals supporting each other in a very caring way. The sabotage plotline was absorbing but I couldn’t help but wonder why the police weren’t more involved, this was serious libel as well as theft. 🎧 Melissa Thom did a great job on the audio, capturing the humour and emotion well.

[Bea Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

I was so skeptical with some of the reviews I’ve seen online about it being a childish and boring book but I completely disagree.
There was a great deal of suspense on the ‘enemies to lovers’ part (iykyk), there was plenty of interesting characters, some to be loved and some to be H A T E D, it’s a HEA story (and not only for the main character) and the parallel diary reading keeps throwing us back in time to when things were so different yet some were wonderful.
Multiple love stories, a nail biting deadline and a feel good ending.
NO SPICE | LIGHT CURSE | HEA

[Charlotte · Rating 1 out of 5]

A real disappointment. It’s a weird mix of old fashioned sayings and vocabulary with a modern setting and the odd swear word as an attempt to stay current. The first book I’ve struggled to finish for a long long time. Massive anticlimax and a storyline that seemed jumbled and destined for a long journey around the houses before ending in nothing.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

☑️ Easy to read.
☑️I have enjoyed previous books by this author.

❎Frivolous storyline.
❎Maybe I was too young an audience.
❎Dialogue felt forced.
❎Not sure if some of the trendy and hip words used are more to do with the local dialect... or am I just getting old?! 😂

[Emma Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cosy, summery read. A good concept. I didn't expect the story to change from light heartedness to detective/aggressive shop owners. For me, the FMC was super naive. I did feel like skipping pages at times during the middle of the book. But the ending made the book 3 stars rather than 2.

[RedReads · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have nothing positive to say.
Was this written by AI, or by someone not writing in their first language and without any lived experience of the location and culture they're setting the story within..?
Awful writing of a thoroughly stupid set of characters and a no plot 'story'.
Just, no.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not convinced this writer likes or knows many women. Lots of fat phobia in general and internalised-misogyny from the FMC. I’m going to finish it because I paid for it but I don’t have high hopes…

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle read

A really nice read. A dream come true story. Some great characters whom you’d love to be mates with. Enjoyed it.

[Mesca Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice and relaxing book for cozy afternoons.

[Brianne Hailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cozy read! All vibes no plot.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this book, I found Libby tiring and the events that happened silly

[Lucy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Almost a DNF but persevered, honestly wish I hadn’t.
Rushed tidying of the end, plot holes, unlikeable protagonist etc

[Naomi · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF pile is getting bigger. I couldn’t take to this book at all. So banal. 4 chapters in and no idea what the premise of the story is. Bye

[Sadie P L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this was a cute little read. Thou I listened to it on audiobook. Thought the place sounded just my cuppa tea to relax. Love old bookshops. Love the characters.

[Joanne West · Rating 2 out of 5]

not my cup of tea.
I didn't enjoy the writing style, and although it was a sweet storyline, it was too cheesy for me.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inoffensive, easy to read book. Perfect for the beach.

[Maria P · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started well and was quite funny at times, but I soon found it a bit too silly for my liking. I was after a light hearted listen but this was probably a bit too light hearted for me.

[the slow reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was written terribly. I saw another review saying that it felt like it was written by AI and I agree. Very uninteresting and all the characters were silly and cliché.