The Bookshop on the Corner

"Cute. "

"A mundane easy read. Nothing memorable jumped out at me. I did very much enjoyed the unconventional book shop though. Still, if the story focused more on Nina's customers like they were patients who gave symptoms in which she cured with the right book, that would have bulked the story up a lot more. Also the plot gave me a bit of travel lust which is always a welcome addition. <br/><br/>Honestly it was difficult for me to associate with Nina because she is very timid which only added to the okayness of the story. Like I said it needed more bulk, more memorable characters and happenings. The romance was quite nice with its slow burn which made it more natural but other than that the words didn't brim with their connection.<br/><br/>Also the audiobook narrator Lucy Price-Lewis did a very good job. Of course this appealed to book lovers everywhere. There's nothing like the smell and feel of pages and getting lost in time. Nothing much else to say about this. It was good not great and somewhat forgettable."

"A sweet easy read that makes you long for the simplicity of the countryside. "

"Audio book 9hrs 13min"

"This book is a super cozy read. I loved the descriptions of Scotland, makes me want to move there! I really enjoyed living through the life transition with Nina, moving away and restarting her entire life to do what she loved connecting people with books they needed at the time of their lives. The only part I felt hard to take in was the romance part, not my fav. I really enjoyed the Ainsley storyline as well, spotting and helping an at risk youth, close to my heart."

"I liked it. However it felt like something was missing. Also I didn’t get why it was called the Bookshop on the Corner. "

"This entire book is a love letter. A love letter to Scotland, to every single person who enjoys a good book, to everyone who doubts their own dreams and ambitions, to all the hopeless romantics, as well as to everyone who wonders where in the world their soul mate might be. Without ever stepping foot in the country, I've fallen hopelessly in love with Scotland through Nina! On a not-so-unrelated note, I know where I'm taking my next vacation! We get to witness the sheer beauty-as well as the unfortunate pitfalls-of life in Scotland through Nina's eyes as she herself falls utterly head over heels for all of it. Jenny Colgan, I feel, wrote this book exactly for people like myself. People who much prefer a physical book to a kindle or nook, etc. People who constantly have a "to-read" stack or two or ten scattered about the home. People who carry at least three books with them, just in case. Nina is my new best friend. She is me in another life, if I was ever willing to part with any of my cherished books. This book is also such a beautiful encouragement to go after your dreams, no matter how crazy they may seem. However cliché that may sound, it is a reminder to think of your dreams often, and find a way to make them work. "'I mean, I don't see what's stopping me from just traveling around selling books.' ...Why not her? Why should everyone else get to have dreams and not her?" -pg.17 And then she just goes for it! After arguing with herself for awhile about how crazy it is, but she does it! She makes it work! It is so impressive and inspiring, and even though she had to upend her entire life for it, it all worked out beautifully in the end. It wound up being the greatest decision of her life, BECAUSE it was the HARDEST decision of her life. To all the hopeless romantics, this book is like a warm, reassuring hug. We watch as Nina falls in love with everything from the land to the endless days and bone-chilling nights to the way the people care for one another. She discovers the heartbreak of building up a person in your mind, comparing them to the books you've read, and ultimately discovering they are something entirely different from what your mind had made them into. And then... she feels more hopeless than romantic. She wrestles with the idea that maybe, there are no happily-ever-afters. She falls into that dark, depressing place all of us romantics fall into after a breakup. That place where you look out bitterly at all the other young, happy couples, filled to the brim with resentment and a sadness to rival the great tragedies. Yet after all is said and done, she finds-as many do-that her happily-ever-after was right there in front of her the whole time. Lennox and Nina were made for each other. She softens and inspires him, he guides her through the highlands and their way of life. They are beautiful together, and I was rooting for them from the moment Nina stood defiantly against Lennox. My final note is much more of a personal issue, but I thought I'd include it anyway. For about the first half of the book, I DISLIKED Surinder. I was a bit biased against her, as she reminded me of an old real-life ex-bestie. She seemed very fake in the way she was originally encouraging Nina to get after her dreams, and couldn't really seem to make up her mind if she was even actually encouraging her or just shaking her head in disappointment and telling her to move on and find something else. Also, the book-alanche was ENTIRELY Surinder's fault, you cannot tell me otherwise. She did redeem herself though, later on in the book, when she was ALWAYS available for Nina over the phone, and would listen to her and give advice when appropriate. The way she would wake up in the middle of the night for Nina, and never used "I told you so" to hurt Nina-never did or said ANYTHING to hurt her. All of this redeemed Surinder in my eyes. There is so much more to love about this absolute treasure of a book, I could go on forever about the detail, the emotion, the spicy scenes, the tension, and OH so much more!!! Alas. My hand is cramping and I need to start the next book resting precariously atop the "to-read" pile beside me!!"

"It was hard to get into at first but once it got going, I couldn’t put it down. It was a lovely book. "

"A bit slow to start, but it ended up being an okay read. Way more "finding yourself" than romance. "

"This is a read in one sitting or read through the night book. So easy to read and follow. I loved that the MC was a book lover and struggled with reality. Readers are known to fantasize life and I enjoyed seeing that within the book. A little steamy towards the end. "