The English Bookshop

by Janis Wildy

An inheritance, a bookshop and a promise…
Lucy isn’t ready for a life-changing journey when it comes knocking; she just wants to keep everything the same as the day her stepfather died. Unfortunately, expenses have overtaken her small family business, forcing her to do something quickly to keep it afloat.

When Lucy finds out she has inherited a bookshop in England, she travels to see it, intent on selling the property as soon as possible. But once there she meets a wonderfully kind group of villagers, including a handsome bookseller, who challenge her decision to make a quick sale. What begins as a way to make money for her business in Seattle becomes an experience that uncovers family secrets and reveals the kindness of strangers. In England, Lucy just might rewrite her past in order to follow her heart.

Step into the warm English village of Wakeby and enjoy a savory breakfast at Hollyhock B&B, take a romantic walk in the luscious summer gardens and find yourself among new friends at The English Bookshop.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Books About Books, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, British Literature

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2022

About the author

Hi! I'm Janis-welcome! I'm the author of The English Bookshop. I love comfort-read books, all things Anglophile, along with books about gardens, adventures, and bookshops, of course!

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely book shop story

In a few words, this is a sweet story about Seattle girl connecting with the life and history of her long missing father. It is, of course, more layered than that. This is a great weekend read!

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good grief!! Did it really take 352 pages to choose between inheriting a lovely, cozy bookstore in a charming English village OR sell it off to pour money into a failing 80s era mattress store in Seattle that you manage for your selfish, shallow mother and self absorbed brother?

[Robin Arnold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this book mostly, read to me by Alexa, as I snapped green beans for freezing and sliced cucumbers for pickles, so my hands were too busy to slam this book shut. It took Lucy much too long to get a grip on reality. What business owner acts like this? The ending was rushed however obvious. The frustration for me was the glimpses of the main character being strong and creative that are pushed back for old fashioned plot points that reminded me it's a book. I never got really invested but I wanted too.

[Luanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really loved about this story was Lucy, the main character. She had her own passion for photography but had put it aside to carry on the dream of others. Throughout the course of the story, she struggles to find her way back to what gives her joy. Traveling from the comfort of a life she thinks she loves, Lucy is plunged into a new world where everything and everyone is different. Her loyalties are challenged, and her heart and mind are stretched in new ways. But a promise to the man who raised her keeps tugging at her conscience.

Wildy skillfully creates two settings, each with its own set of both charming and infuriating characters that compete for Lucy's loyalty (and ours). She builds a charming English village, Wakeby, that I wish was really on the map--because I'd leave tomorrow to go there. All the thoughtful Anglophilic details added an authentic and attractive atmosphere.

Wildy was equally skillful at showing a side of Seattle, that while perhaps a bit tarnished in Lucy's eyes, still had its appeal. I thought her writing, characters, and setting were really well done. I can't wait to see what Wildy does next.

This book is perfect to snuggle up to on a chilly spring weekend--or any time of the year. Brew your favorite British tea, bake (or buy!) yourself some scones, put that strawberry jam you made last summer into a Waterford jam jar, whip the butter (with a bit of confectioner sugar), and put on your favorite lounging pajamas. Then cuddle up on the couch in front of a toasty fire with your favorite plaid blankie and read "The English Bookshop". Divine. Oh, and don't forget the vase of pink roses.

[Nursebookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Step into the warm English village of Wakeby and enjoy a savory breakfast at Hollyhock B&B, take a romantic walk in the luscious summer gardens and find yourself among new friends at The English Bookshop.

TITLE: THE ENGLISH BOOKSHOP
AUTHOR: Janis Wildly
PUB DATE: 4.1.2022 Now Available

I enjoy these feel good and cozy escape types of reads, that send me off to a place far away from my stressful life as a nurse. This is the perfect read for days you just need to chill, relax, with a warm cuppa at hand.

Janis Wildly wrote such a heart warming story about a woman going through a life altering journey taking her to an idyllic quaint town in England, a bookshop, and a handsome bookseller. I enjoyed reading and being immersed into Lucy’s life, reading about all the side characters, and imagining the what it’s like to be in the small village of Wakeby and its residents. I was completely immersed and enjoyed this lovely novel.

[Patricia Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as a birthday gift from a friend. I didn't love it, but it wasn't awful. It dragged in several places, and sometimes I wanted to shake the main character, Lucy, for being so naive. Did I mention that romance novels sometimes irritate me? That's because I'm a crabby old woman. I told my friend that it was very sweet, and was a perfect summer read. 2 1/2 stars.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this was a truly wonderful, warm, story about a bookshop whose owner has died. The near and far reaching effects of this man and his family, life and friends and how they all come together is exquisitely done. I could just smell and see this little bookshop in a quaint village setting. This book is the epitome of what I have always intended to read and to feel from the heart of the story of a bookshop/bookstore book! Highly recommend. Loved the happy ending and following your dreams.

[Rachel Crosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book 4 / 5 stars.

I thought this book was interesting in how it uses a double plot line. The same storyline happens in two different physical locations. In other books I have read, a double plot line is typically used to talk about more than one subject, but in this book, we see the same story being told and our main character Lucy, reacting differently.

Lucy has taken over a family mattress store after her stepfather passed away five years ago. Sadly the store is not doing as well as it once had, and Lucy's little brother thinks it is time to merge the store with a big company.

One day everything changes when Lucy gets a letter from her estranged father's lawyer letting her know her father has passed and left her a bookshop in the countryside of England.

This story is about a girl trying to find herself after letting her identity be taken over by her job and forgetting she is allowed to have a life beyond her familiar obligations.

I enjoyed this book, but I could have done with less of Lucy's mother and her birth father's wife. Both women were stereotypically catty women, with little evidence as to why they felt the way they did about Lucy's deceased father.

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of predictable but I had to read this book about a bookshop in England. Wakeby is a beautiful village not far from London, where you will find friendly, down to earth people, and a quaint little bookshop with its entrance surrounded by beautiful roses. Quite different from Seattle, WA where life is hectic and I stuck in the past. Give it a try; you may enjoy it.

[MollyRN · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m baffled at the 4’s and 5’s this book has garnered. Maura-byotch, Celia-ridonculous!, Bruce-yuck, Ada-horrid. Even a cozy little setting much of which revived around books, it was hard for me to like any of it.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seattle, WA. USA. Autumn. Present day. Janis Wiley’s The English Bookshop has protagonist, Lucy Welland, adopted daughter of her mother’s second husband, Paul Welland, thrown into a conundrum when she is notified her biological father and her mother’s first husband, the father Lucy remembers as Daddy, has passed away, but left her ‘something’ in hs estate.which is in England. What should Lucy do? The author refers to her book as a ‘comfort book’, but as the reader reads, one experiences family discoed, business difficulties, various conflicting emotions, and plenty of stress! All those negatives Lucy has to face. It causes great discomfort for Lucy (and for me too!). Ultimately, all appears to even out for now, but I always wonder what happens after the book ends, and the entire situation is not finally great for all the characters. Who does what next or does everything truly become comfortable for all? I believe that is why enjoy reading so much. Reading this book provides food for thought, different perspectives, and strategies to cope. I liked it. A bit too involved in certain areas, but I definitely like this book. 4 stars.
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[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The English Bookshop easily became one of my favorite reads for the year! This book is so heart-warming, it will have you feeling all the feels. The cast of characters were amazing! I felt such a personal connection to Lucy, with having lost my own father and dealing with everyone's opinions afterwards. I'm so proud of how she navigates through the chaos and holds true to herself.

The author did a beautiful job with her descriptions of the town and bookshop. I felt like I was there in England along for the journey. This will be a book I'll never forget, and I can't wait to read more from this author! Go check her out! I highly recommend this book!

[han · Rating 1 out of 5]

we can only find two kind of characters here: either too nice and perfect souls with no flaws at all, or terrible, self-centered and unlikable individuals, and this child-like dicotomy dooms this book from the start. plus, it dragged on for longer than necessary, really.

[Janet Burchett · Rating 2 out of 5]

frustrating read

I should’ve “returned” this book about 20 pages in. This book was entirely predictable and went on way too long with Lucy’s spineless “personality.”

[S.M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Irritating and ridiculous.

[Christie Egan (Riffice) · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 ⭐️

[Sara Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Read the first few chapters and couldn’t get into it. Will try again later.

[April Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Predictable, but who doesn't love a story about bookshops in England??? Really liked it❤

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Warning. This book is about saving a mattress shop. Yes a mattress shop. Did not finish. Maybe it gets better but the opening salvo is all about mattresses. No thanks.

[Francine · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The English Bookshop" came along at the perfect time. I read it during the week of the horrific shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Each night, I'd escape to Wakeby, England, and lose myself in Lucy's life for an hour or two. I loved being swept across the pond and into this charming village of lovable characters, fresh baked goods that practically wafted off the page, dreamy tablescapes, charming dogs, and winding paths with gorgeous flowers. The romantic tension plays nicely with the business/family drama. I found myself race-reading to the end: what will Lucy do? She's a likable character who is on the cusp of change, only she's too overwhelmed to know it. Janis Wildy does an amazing job of taking us by the hand and leading us through Wakeby - and Seattle, but I already live here! "The English Bookshop" was a sweet retreat during a rough week.

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book. So sweet and idyllic.

I understand the reasons that Lucy wants to go sell this bookshop she inherited to help save her family's business, but I love how it all worked out in the end.

The town of Wakeby and (most) of its residents are like a sweet dream. I love that they help Lucy grow even before she realizes it. I love the friendships made for Lucy on the little village. I love the bookshop and can see it in my mind as I read about it. It's just a perfect place.

[Tiffany · Rating 1 out of 5]

As per Tina’s review, 352 pages to decide on a charming bookshop or a failing mattress store. Whine, whine, whine….time to grow up and get a backbone.
Why did I even finish it?

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy Welland’s stepfather Paul asked Lucy to watch over her brother Aaron and her mother. Lucy made that promise to Paul and also said she would protect everything he’d work for. As sales at Wellslept Mattresses have been continually dropping the promise has become harder and harder to keep even with infusions of her own money. In the midst of tough conversations with her family Lucy receives a letter from a solicitor in England requesting she come as an inheritor to sign documents for her father’s estate for a property with a business. Lucy is torn. Does she stay in Seattle keeping a promise to her stepfather or go to England for a father that abandoned her?

I’ve read many books of an individual inheriting a bookshop but this one has several interesting twists. One of my favorites was the use of the setting differences not only between the US and England but between a revitalizing city and quaint small town.

As a reader I find novels about bookstores intrinsically comforting. Change the word to bookshop and it seems as though upon opening the book cover there is a promise of entering a cozy atmosphere that is charming and soothing. Softly tucked in this story are meaningful messages about moving forward after loss. Janis Wildy’s author debut delivered the promise in heartwarming and uplifting ways.

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ultimate cozy read filled with English tea, toast with homemade jam, a darling bookshop and characters you’ll root for from the very start. Lucy is not only fighting to save her family’s mattress business, but also her family to preserve the original integrity of it. Things seem hopeless until she learns that she inherited a bookshop outside of London. Lucy plans to make the trip, sign the papers, sell the estate and save her business back home in Seattle. But when she gets there, she falls in love with the bookshop, the community and the idea of returning to her creative roots. This book was truly warm and cozy, but not without depth. Lucy went through a lovely transformation from beginning to end, a transformation many readers might also wish they could take. I was reminded of how important the little things are (like toast stands and fresh flowers) and how it’s never too late to try something big, too. This is the perfect book to get cozy with this Fall.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like to read books set in England I think you will enjoy this charming book. It is a fast read with delightful characters.

Lucy is president of her stepfather’s mattress factory after his untimely death. She vows to keep his factory alive amid growing competition and budget woes. Suddenly, she receives an email of her own father’s death - a man she doesn’t really know. Astoundingly, she discovers she is owner of a bookshop. Overjoyed she has now found a way to help her failing company, Lucy travels to England to sell the shop. Upon arriving, details emerge that complicate Lucy’s decision to sell.

This is a wonderful glimpse at an English village and the lovely characters that inhabit it. It is a special story to treasure. I hope the author plans to write more books.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 3 out of 5]

As many other reviewers, I would love to go and live in Wakeby, one of the settings of this nicely written romance. The story tells us that it's never to late to follow your dream, and that you may find your dream in another form, in another place, in another time.
Lucy has led a very sheltered life and it's sometimes fun to read how she adapts to the English culture. It's a romance, but it's not a fairytale and it has a certain depth. I enjoyed it!

[Megsbookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

The English Bookshop is one of those books that I knew I wanted to read from the moment I saw it! Lucy inherits a bookshop in England and decides she will fly over from Seattle and just go ahead and sell it. Well you guessed it… she meets all the wonderful people there, the handsome bookseller and realizes there is maybe more to Baslow’s Bookshop than she realized!

Heartwarming! Charming! Romantic! This is the perfect storyline for my next favorite Hallmark movie!

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ENGLISH BOOKSHOP was a very enjoyable accompaniment to this past week – offering a stay-at-home vacation trip to Seattle and the Cotswolds. I was with Lucy all the way as she navigated the challenges of business, family, a new culture, and maybe even a new romance. The story of Lucy’s long-lost and now dead father Brian gave a moving core to the book, especially as it was balanced by her love and grief for her late stepfather, Paul. Coming to terms with both of these men’s life choices becomes essential for Lucy to assess the ones she has made and her future. Of course, I fell for the English bookshop, Barley the dog, and Sam the author/bookshop manager in that order. The resolution to what seems like an unsolvable conflict was perfect – and a surprise.

[MeMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just happened to pick this book up at the right time. The timing couldn't be better. A few of the lessons in life that I needed were learned through this journey. I really took a lot from this read. This book touched me in so many ways. Who knew a book could touch you in a way that really can open your eyes. The ending was definitely one of the most memorable parts of the book. Life can be an uncomfortable place at times, especially for those who do not like to take chances. It seemed to me that Lucy's adult life began in England since it was the only place she was able to live. Life can sometimes be filled with things that we do because the people in our lives or our hearts want it. Occasionally, though, that's not the case. Sometimes, they simply want us to be happy and healthy. So live life to the fullest.

[Elizabeth Siegfried · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lucy needs to get a grip…

I really wanted to like this book and it was a predictable ending. However, (spoilers) how does a so called president of a company allow herself to be deceived by others so instantly without a blink of an eye, easily accepting their word for truth? I found so much of the bulk of the book to be rubbish reading and just wanted it to get to the ending I knew would take place.