“Absolutely delightful.” —PeopleThe enchanting story of a bookshop, its grieving owner, a supportive literary community, and the extraordinary power of books to heal the heart Nightingale Books, nestled on the main street in an idyllic little village, is a dream come true for book lovers—a cozy haven and welcoming getaway for the literary-minded locals. But owner Emilia Nightingale is struggling … Emilia Nightingale is struggling to keep the shop open after her beloved father’s death, and the temptation to sell is getting stronger. The property developers are circling, yet Emilia’s loyal customers have become like family, and she can’t imagine breaking the promise she made to her father to keep the store alive.
There’s Sarah, owner of the stately Peasebrook Manor, who has used the bookshop as an escape in the past few years, but it now seems there’s a very specific reason for all those frequent visits. Next is roguish Jackson, who, after making a complete mess of his marriage, now looks to Emilia for advice on books for the son he misses so much. And the forever shy Thomasina, who runs a pop-up restaurant for two in her tiny cottage—she has a crush on a man she met in the cookbook section, but can hardly dream of working up the courage to admit her true feelings.
Enter the world of Nightingale Books for a serving of romance, long-held secrets, and unexpected hopes for the future—and not just within the pages on the shelves. How to Find Love in a Bookshop is the delightful story of Emilia, the unforgettable cast of customers whose lives she has touched, and the books they all cherish.
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Don’t we all, as avid readers, love the notion of living in a bookstore? This story is eminently sigh-worthy, a lovely, lovely tale of the lives changed and loves found in a bookshop founded years before by the man who’s the center of the story, even if he’s passed on, yet he’s so real I miss him, too! The lives he’s touched and the daughter for whom he built it all…the story is beautiful and bittersweet and a treat for any romantic. (And that it’s a British bookshop, well…this Anglophile is thrilled.;)) Give yourself a rich, indulgent pleasure and visit Nightingale Books! PS If you liked the film Love Actually, I’m betting you’d really like this book.
Romantic, utterly heartwarming and a perfect treat for bibliophiles everywhere.
Charming book centered around a bookshop and featuring the lives of the different customers who go in and out. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but they were unique enough as to not confuse them. Any one of them could have had their own novel! I would definitely read more from this author.
Henry’s quirky cast of characters with their heartwarming intertwined tales of loss, love, and community make this a must-read for summer.
HOW TO FIND LOVE IN A BOOKSHOP by Veronica Henry is a story with multiple romances that includes the owner of the bookshop, Julius Nightingale, who has just died as the story opens.
We see Julius’s love story with Rebecca, who died in childbirth, and how he came to raise Emilia, his daughter, on his own after purchasing Nightingale Books in the town of Peasebrook, England.
Besides Julius’s love story, there are seven other love stories, one if which includes Emilia and Marlow. Each love story is tied to the bookshop, and each is sweet and tender. There are married couples that are struggling, first love, forbidden love, and unrequited love, but all were touched by Julius. Even in death, he brings them together.
Emilia has always been attracted to Marlow, but he’s never showed any interest in her. But once her father dies, things change between them, and suddenly their feelings surface. The only catch is Marlow has a girlfriend.
I did get annoyed with Alice and Dillon. Alice is wealthy and engaged to a wealthy playboy, who’s also using drugs. He treats Dillon poorly and takes her FOREVER to figure out that he is a jerk. But as the characters work their way through their romances, each one comes together and has a satisfying happily ever after.
“The whole point of life was you couldn’t ever be sure what would happen next. Sometimes what happened was good, sometimes not, but there were always surprises.”
Nightingale Books has long been a beacon of hope, heart and home for the small community of Peasebrook. When the owner, Julius Nightingale, passes away the entire town feels the pain…and the emptiness.
His daughter Emilia has come home to Peasebrook to take over and run the bookshop. As it was for her father, it is also for Emilia, a place of wonder and warmth. However, she is soon thrust into financial despair as she learns the depths of the bookshop’s debt. With the help of her friends and residents of Peasebrook, Emilia embarks on a heartwarming journey to save the store.
I adore books with well…books lol. Add in a bookshop and it’s love. Add in a small town bookshop that is the heart of that town and it’s absolute heaven. When you journey into this one you will struggle with Emilia, fall in love with Jem & Thomasina, and follow the path of love and acceptance for many more of the residents as they find it themselves.
Loved this so much. I was so invested in these characters and their intertwined stories and even though all of the storylines had closure, I would have happily read an epilogue for each.
This novel was special for me at this moment in my own life. The entire plot revolves around a village bookstore outside of London where several people struggle with what to do next in their lives. The previous owner was well-loved by his customers and made the shop a warm welcoming place for reading and chatting. Upon his death, the shop went to his daughter who developed the same warm relationships. Through this interaction and each helping the others through their own struggles as they work to save the bookstore, love comes.
Emilia is sitting at her father’s hospice bedside, waiting for him to die. She makes a promise to never sell Nightingale Books to the developer who has been badgering Julius, her father. After Julius passes, Emilia is overwhelmed by a combination of grief and uncertainty. This intensifies after Andrea, an accountant reveals just how awful the store’s finances are. This is how the book starts, but then the author begins to insert vignettes about others: the 1983 meeting of Emilia’s parents, Sarah’s grief at Julius’ loss, Jackson’s aimlessness and loss of dreams, Dillon’s dedication to the manor, Marlowe’s dedication to his music, Alice’s engagement to Hugh, Bea’s boredom with the country life, Thomasina’s shyness and love of ciikimg. At first these vignettes were confusing so it took a long time for the pieces to begin to come together. This made the middle of the book rather a swampy read. But in the end the author brought all the pieces together into a cohesive whole, making for a wonderful book.
A heartwarming book where a library in the English country touches many lives. Lots of characters with their own struggles, and one comes to care for each of them. Will they find their happy ending? The book begins by giving the history of the main character’s parents. Not a bad start, but keep reading….the magic begins once other characters are introduced.
At its heart, this story is about the importance of connections within a community. Those connections developed and grew thanks to Julius, the man who owns the bookshop and whose philosophy about books touches many lives. After his death early in the story, his daughter assumes his role and continues to recommend books and have conversations about them. She must deal with a developer who wants the real estate on which the bookshop sits; and she discovers much about her beloved father and who he was through the people of Peasebrook. Of course there are book recommendations given to customers and references to numerous books along the way.
A lot of characters (which occasionally confused me when I couldn’t remember who someone was) and lots of sub plots. A wedding, a film star’s memoir, an old flame, a shy chef …
Entertaining, but best consumed in one sitting so you remember who’s who.
I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a sweet story and I’m so glad I read it. Give yourself a treat a buy it.
Sweet story.. no drama .. no mystery.. just an enjoyable read!
This was a wonderful story about many interesting characters. I love books and bookstores. This was a joy to read.
The characters are wonderful and have depth. The story flows and pulls you in. A worthwhile read.
So lovely a story . . . . *sigh* One you never want to end.
Chick book. Would make a great Hallmark movie.
Loved It !!!!!
Just a fun summer beach read.
Veronica Henry’s *How to Find Love in a Bookshop* is an engaging and very charming tale involving several love stories that take place in a small English town. The characters’ stories all revolve around the love of books and the love of one bookstore in particular, Nightingale Books. A small town, booklovers who know each other, booklovers who fall in love with each other, booklovers who all visit Nightingale Books on a regular basis – these intersecting stories revolve around the bookshop. We first meet Julius, the bookstore founder who has an intense love affair with a visiting American, only to find himself tragically widowed and the father of an infant. He goes on to build a life for himself and his tiny daughter based on the love of books. There’s Marlow who is with the wrong woman and doesn’t realize it until he hears the right woman play her cello. Painfully shy Thomasina and Jem come together in an unexpected cancelled dinner date for two. Alice waits until the very last minute to realize that Dillion, who has always loved her, is the love of her life. There’s Jackson, who finds a path back to his wife and child through books. These are some of the stories. There are more, too, in this well written book noteworthy for its compelling characters. Definitely recommended.