The Bookshop on the Corner

This was a pleasant, light-hearted romance. But it was more than that. It had a generous amount of community kindness, too. Just what I needed to kick off my summer reading.

Favorite Quotes:

Nina felt nervous. In novels, this usually meant that the next person you met was going to try and kill you and the rest of the community was going to cover it up, or everyone would turn into a werewolf.

I looked like the sky had been freshly laundered: a bright TV-studio blue, with fluffy clouds passing across.

I think my van has a death wish… It’s trying to kill itself. Sometimes with me in it, sometimes on its own. Maybe it’s haunted.

I know you’re meant to read to them, but he gets really bored and wobbles off or tries to bite something. Mostly the biting thing… All our books are ripped to shreds… Someone asked me if we had a dog and nearly said yes.

Nina wasn’t exactly sure what they were doing. It didn’t seem to make sense until she started concentrating. The men were hurling the women around at breakneck speed, and it took her a moment to realize that they were dancing. It looked absolutely brutal.

In their buggy, the twins set up a cacophonous roar. Hattie didn’t go anywhere without a halo of crumbs around her, and outside the van was no exception. ‘Are you doing story hour?’ Hattie was constantly trying to persuade Nina to do a story session that involved her leaving all the children there, but Nina strenuously refused, muttering ‘Health and Safety’ as a warding-off spell, to which Hattie had once sadly responded, ‘Well, I don’t mind if you lose one of them, I’ve got loads of others,’ and then laughed it off a little too shrilly.

My Review:

I would imagine Jenny Colgan would be a fun friend to have; I adore her clever wry humor and witty turn of phrase. She is wickedly funny and I frequently laugh aloud while reading her comical yet insightful and touching stories. I could read her books every day and never tire of her word-craft. In The Bookshop On The Corner, Nina is a painfully shy bookworm, who seeks comfort and escape from the noise and stress of daily life by reading – about anything and everything. Her peaceful and quiet existence was rudely interrupted when she lost her perfect job as a librarian due to cut backs. To maintain coexistence with her beloved books and to continue her mission to encourage reading, she bravely strikes out with her own enterprising mobile bookstore from a van she found online, although driving it turns out to be a rather daunting experience for the timid little woman.

I reveled in seeing Nina finding her stride and building in confidence and assertiveness as she ventures out with her van and interacts and quietly touches the lives of others, often filling a deeper need than just a lack of reading material. The writing was refreshingly clever and breezy; the characters were humorously described and endearingly quirky. Ms. Colgan has a lovely way with words that is practically visual and highly amusing. I loved every sentence and felt significantly more than a pinch of regret to have reached the last page.

This was a nice romance and I was really looking forward to it. I was somewhat disappointed in the ending, it felt a little rushed. But it was still a good read.

The Bookshop on the Corner is a modern, British take on the Classic American novel by Christopher Morley, Parnassus on Wheels, one of my very favorite books. A young librarian in Birmingham, England realizes that she’s about to lose her job as libraries are consolidated and moved toward social media. She dreams of opening a mobile bookstore. Trying to find a vehicle to outfit for this bookstore on wheels takes her to Scotland. Along the way, she makes friends and finds a community into which she fits.

This is an interesting story, and like the original, at its heart is both the love of books and a romance. Nina knows that she’s excellent at paring people with books they love to read. She realizes that in the small Scottish town where she finds her van, there’s a real need for a source for affordable books. She finds the people delightful, and decides to make the move. She finds a gorgeous barn apartment to rent from a local farmer, a gruff man who often seems distracted. She also befriends, or is befriended, by a two trainmen, one of whom she has romantic thoughts about. This friendship exhibits in fun and unusual ways. Things change, another man moves forward, and things get a bit steamy, but not specific. Books, however, always remain at the forefront of this book.

I adored this book. I think it’s part of a series, for I see that there’s another called The Bookshop by the Sea by the same author. I hope so. I definitely intend to check that book out once I make a dent in my current to-be-read pile.

This is a mesmerizing read, quick and page turning in the best way. It will leave you feeling happy and satisfied.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had not effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

MC Nina loves her job as a librarian until she lost it. She decides to move to a small village and has a wonderful idea of transforming her van into a bookmobile. Nina has such heart & soul, very likable, you just want good things to happen for her. It’s a fun, entertaining, and easy read! Thank you to Book Club Girl, William Morrow, and NetGalley for this ebook copy. This is my honest review.

Great book to read with a wonderful main character! I loved reading about her adventure and where life took her.

A life lived forward can be a really irritating thing. So Nina thought, at any rate.

When the branch of the library where Nina is employed is shut down, Nina finds that there isn’t much call for librarians in this new social media age. In her search for reinvention, she remembers her dream – a book shop of her own. Following her adventures as she adjusts her expectations to make it happen, you are pulled into her story.

Colgan’s characters quickly become your friends and before long you are just as invested in their lives as Nina becomes. Watch the adventure unfold as Nina moves to a new town and painstakingly makes her dream a reality. You won’t be able to put it down!

I heartily recommend this great read!

[I received a copy of this book from the author, for an honest review of the book. The opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.]

I really enjoyed Jenny Colgan’s writing. Her characters took me on a lovely trip to Scotland and made for a great summer read!

I loved this delightful story. Of course, any book about books is going to be a favorite. But this one goes beyond just a story of books. Nina is a lover of books. And her love carries her to an adventure and the opportunity to meet and interact with people in a new country. Her life in Scotland takes off and you are treated to a delightful cast of characters!

One thing I loved a lot was the author’s acknowledgement before the first chapter in the book. If I didn’t know better, I would think we were twins! Reading at stop lights, at church, getting to events early so you can read before it starts, etc. It was if she was writing about my life!

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and fall in love with Nina and the many individuals who become part of her life.

Really liked it.