Battles of the bookstores by Ali Brady

 

Published by Berkley on June 3^rd, 2025

432 pages

I read the paperback version

Back Cover

Rivalry and romance spark when two bookstore managers who are opposites in every way find themselves competing for the same promotion.

Despite managing bookstores on the same Boston street, Josie Klein and Ryan Lawson have never interacted much—Josie’s store focuses on serious literature, and Ryan’s sells romance only. But when the new owner of both stores decides to combine them, the two are thrust into direct competition. Only one manager will be left standing, decided by who turns the most profit over the summer.

Efficient and detail-oriented Josie instantly clashes with easygoing and disorganized Ryan. Their competing events and contrasting styles lead to more than just frustration—the sparks between them might just set the whole store on fire. Their only solace during this chaos is the friendship they’ve each struck up with an anonymous friend in an online book forum. Little do they know they’re actually chatting with each other.

As their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship grows, and when the walls between their stores come tumbling down, Josie and Ryan realize not all’s fair in love and war. And maybe, if they’re lucky, happily ever afters aren’t just for the books.

My review

I read it for the Indigo Rideau bookclub and I am glad I did. It’s the first time, I read a book from that author and I didn’t know that I will laugh so much. The story was predictable like a hallmark movie, but it’s what I needed to read at this moment.

I give my start to Ryan who is the funniest character in the book. I get attached to him way before Josie. I wish I could meet a bookish guy who likes romance like him in real life. He’s not perfect, but just enough to get me hooked until the end of the book.

Josie is the opposite of Ryan and that’s make the beauty of the story. For once, it’s not the woman who is into romance. Just like her, I like different kinds of books even though, romance is my favorite, especially now you can easily find different genre in romance. I found her cold sometime, but I have to admit just like her I want to be independent and she have a weird relation with her family, so the more I was reading the novel, the more I was able to connect with her.

If you ever saw the movie : You got mail, you might find some point in common with the book, but I like the fact that the story is more actual and make the reader realize that you never know who you are talking online. Bonus point: there is a lot of bookish vibes in the book and not only because of the bookstores.

Before the current events, Boston was one of my favorite cities in the states. It still has a soft spot in my heart and it was cool to read that some part of the book was happening there.

I recommend if you like the trop enemies to lovers, The novel content a few spices, but nothing to make your mom blushes. It’s a two voices story, so the reader can also know Ryan ‘side which make it more special to me.

Excerpts

Managing a bookstore has forced me out of my shell, helping me grow from a shy bookworm into someone who can confidently navigate conversations and recommendations-at lease, in the safety of these shelves. Out in the world, I may be quiet and reserved, but here, I’ve found my voice. (p.26)

About books, I touch my shelf.

It takes me a moment to get it. When I do, the song by the Divinyls starts playing in my head, sparking a memory of my mom, dancing around the kitchen, deep in the throes of another love affair with another man she swore was the One. (p.34)

In real life. People don’t change, not enough to make a difference. (p.69)

Personally, I think the whole thing is random. Publishing companies throw books at the wall like spaghetti to see what sticks. BSG seems to have more faith in the system, believing that publishers look to tastemakers and other literary elite to help predict what readers will like. (p.86)

I will tell her- I just need to figure out the best way to do it, a way that doesn’t make her feel ambushed or cornered. She just started not-hating me; I need to find a way to bridge the gap between the man she thought was her enemy and the guy she knows behind the screen. (p.211)