Wow another belter from Racheal, it’s taken me a couple of days to read this, the characters are well written and the story has you hooked from the start, no skimming in this nook, no added “padding” it’s all boom and very well written

I enjoyed this book & exploring the village of Little Maudley for a second time. This book can definitely be read as a stand-alone novel, but reading it after the Telephone Box Library introduces some of the characters that feature in this book too.
A really warm, feel-good story that has you rooting for the two main characters from the very beginning.
An interesting storyline and fully formed, likeable characters that had me invested in the story throughout the book.

I loved The Telephone Box Library beyond words, this one seemed to lack the depth of the previous book.

This book is set in the same village as the previous book, and we get to revisit a few of the characters albeit some very briefly. All began well and I was enjoying being back in the village, but found that very little actually happened on this visit.

There is a romance but this seemed more central to the book than the concept of the Bookshop in the Post Office, which is what drew me to the book, as well as having the same setting as the previous book.

A pleasant enough read, but I was just disappointed that it felt like it was slightly rushed and not to the same quality of writing as the first book.

This is the first book that I have read by Rachel Lucas. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Hannah and her son Ben. This was a romantic book which also gives you a feel good factor. I was engrossed from the first page to the end. I was so disappointed as I wanted the book not to end. Maybe Rachel will write a sequel to this book 🤞. I would highly recommend it.

Hannah is a stay – at – home mum to a teenager Ben, who has lately fallen in with the wrong sort and Hannah starts to think if perhaps it’s because the family is always on the move, following her husband’s job. She starts to feel fed up with being all the time alone and having to take the whole responsibility for Ben and his actions. So when a chance to take over a village shop from her cousin Beth appears, she doesn’t think long and jumps at the chance. Her husband is very supportive, promising to tie all the things up and follow her to Cotswolds. Maybe this is the chance to restart the marriage?
But things begin to take different shape when Hannah and Ben meet Jake Lovatt, an ex – footballer and there are also some news that are going to change Hannah’s life significantly.

I haven’t read the first book in the series, „The Telephone Box Library“, and I think I should have, as I had a feeling that I’ve missed too much on the background, especially on Beth – I was thinking she was not the most beloved person in the village, right? And I didn’t know why, and the mentions of her being a „gossip“… Well, my fault. But the setting was lovely, in this lovely village in Cotswolds, where everyone knows everyone’s business, but where the feeling of community is strong and lovingly overwhelming. There were some so typical characters, like Helen, the self – appointed head of everything to do with the village, nothing, literally nothing can happen without Helen knowing about it, and Nicola, desperate for a baby, quickly becoming friends with Hannah. I liked how quickly Hannah found her feet in the village, you could see she feels absolutely well there.

I must admit that I’ve expected much more from this book. I had a feeling that I’ve read hundreds of such books and there was nothing that took me by surprise. It was too flat and too predictable, too obvious, while some things were dragging, others felt much too rushed. I missed heart and depth in this story and I really, really regret that it was so predictable. There was potential at the beginning but then it went downhill as every single box has been ticked off. I wasn’t hooked on Hannah and her life and in the end I found myself skim – reading – the book simply couldn’t keep my attention. The story went according to the principle of action – reaction, without any deeper points in between and many things happened oh so very conveniently.

But altogether, it was a feel – good read about second chances and new beginnings. It also dealt with some tougher subjects, like controlling relationship, problems with teenagers, betrayal, though not digging too deep into any of those. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a cosy, light and heart warming read, this book might be for you.

Yet another great book by Rachael, telling Hannah and Jake's stories. Hannah is persuaded to move south from Manchester to take over her cousins shop, where she sets up a bookshop within the shop.

👩 Frustrated that she spends all her time as either a mum to a football-obsessed teenager or a wife to a workaholic husband, Hannah wants something for herself. When the chance comes to take over the Post Office in a charming Cotswold village and repurpose a part of it into a bookshop, Hannah grabs it with both hands.

❤️ I liked:⁠
🌄 The setting. The book is set in the same village as The Telephone Box Library, and it features some of the same much-loved characters (Bounty, Freya, Sam, Lucy...).
🤩 It's a feel-good read. A tiny shop in a gorgeous village in the Cotswolds, full of welcoming people. A woman looking for happiness and a handsome footballer... The perfect ingredients for a light and big-hearted summer read.
🔝 It's a book of new beginnings. A great reminder that everybody can find happiness. They only have to push the boundaries and get out of their comfort zone a bit.

🤔 I wasn't so sure about:
It's a bit flat and predictable if compared to the previous book. The Telephone Box Library was a comfort read, yes, but also a book about war and history. This felt more focused on the romance than on anything else.

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 The Village Green Bookshop is an uplifting and entertaining read with an incredible set of characters⁠.⁠ Thanks to #netgalley and @panmacmillan for the ARC.⁠

I loved The Village Telephone Box and so when I knew this was about the same village in Oxfordshire and would involve some of the wonderful characters we met last time like Bunty, Helen and Lucy - I jumped straight in. Hannah and Ben are a great mother and son combo and Jake was a nice addition to the village community. This is a light, warm-hearted read and just what I needed on a rainy day in May.

What a delightful book! I hadn't realised until I was part way through that this was a follow up to The Telephone Box Library (this is now on by TBR pile and at the top)..

If you love books and an idyllic village life, then this is a truly lovely book for you pick up and get immersed in. The characters are warm, welcoming and I just want to move to Little Maudley, a delightful Cotswold Village.

Hannah the main character has a workaholic husband, who works away most of the time and leaves the household and the majority of the upbringing of their football obsessed teenage son, Ben to Hannah to sort out! Ben is in with a bit of a bad crowd and his school work is suffering, Hannah is at the end of her tether and so when the opportunity arises to manage her friends village shop and Post Office she accepts readily.

Hannah finds it difficult to fit in at first, the villagers are a tight knit group, her husband is not there to help, but at least Ben is settling in nicely after joining the local football team, coached by an ex professional called Jake. And Jake sees great potential in Ben.

Read to see how things pan out, how does Hannah get to be accepted and how does the bookshop fit in?

It's a delightful book and I look forward to reading more by Rachael Lucas.

I absolutely adored this book. The Telephone Box Library is one of my favourite ever books so I was convinced this book set in the same village would not measure up. How wrong I was! It was a completely magical read, I identified with Hannah so much and found myself sat beaming away at her developing relationship with Jake! Just a gorgeous bit of escapism, I loved it. Hoping there will be more books set in the village, I loved the little glimpses of favourite characters that popped up throughout.

A lovely, feel good read for the summer. Who wouldn't want to run off and run a Post Office in a gorgeous with a little book shop Cotswolds village? My ideal life right there. I loved Hannah and Jake. They were such good people who deserved happiness. I hope that we haven't heard the last of the residents of Little Maudley.

Very predictable, very twee, very far fetched. A lot of convenient plot points. I like the idea of this book, but it felt rushed and I found myself bored.

I loved this book from the minute I started it. I had previously enjoyed The Telephone Box Library so I was optimistic but you never know how a series is going to go.

It was really good to see characters from the previous book popping up along the way but the focus was on Hannah and Jake, two new characters, who I found extremely likeable. I think it would be easy for the character of an ex premiership footballer to be a bit crass and unrealistic but I found Jake was written so lovely I really wanted him & Hannah to get together.

If you are a fan of romance novels then this one is perfect for you. Its set in a lovely Cotswold Village and the characters are all really likeable. After finishing it I felt all cosy and warm - perfect!

The ebook was gifted to me via NetGalley and the publishers.

I absolutely loved The Village Telephone Box book by Rachael Lucas and I was thrilled to see that she had written another book in the series. I would not call this a sequel as such. It is set in the same Cotswolds village and Lucy, Bunty and Sam from the first book do pop up. This can definitely be read as a standalone book though.
The main protagonists in this book are Hannah, her Son Ben, and Jake. The story is told from both Hannah and Jake's perspectives. They are such nice characters, it is impossible not to like them.
Most of the plot revolves around the Village Shop as Hannah takes over it from her cousin Beth. She decides to set up a Village Bookshop which I am very envious of. I would love to have free reign over starting my own Bookshop like she did.
There are a few strong themes, such as an abusive relationship. Overall though this is a book of second chances and new beginnings. It is lovely heart- warming read. I really enjoyed reading it and it would be wonderful if there were more books set in this Village.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Hannah has been a wife and mother for 15 yrs and unappreciated by both her husband and son she yearns for a change from life in the city. Her son is also hanging around with the wrong type of friends and getting into hot water with the police.
Hannah's cousin Beth runs a shop in a small village. She has a teenage daughter and yearns to live in the city. The cousins agree to swap places for at least a year to see how they like the change.
A lovely story of someone changing her life. It has all the characters you would expect to find in a small village including a love interest.
Even in a village setting life doesn't go smooth for Hannah and it's a while before she can start to enjoy a peaceful life.
I really enjoyed this. I haven't read the author's other book set in the same village but I will read it soon.

Once again Rachel Lucas does it..... It was lovely to re visit Little Maudley from Rachel’s previous book The telephone box library.
To hear of a happy update for Lucy and Sam in this novel this story of Hannah and Jake is just as good.
Such a light hearted , easy read to take you off into village life . I honestly feel like I have been there .
Definitely worth a read ❤️

Oh my goodness I loved this book.

If you read Rachael's Telephone Box library you'll definitely enjoy this.

Jake is just adorable and Hannah more than deserves a new start.

Happy reading!

Thanks to Pan McMillan and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Set in the Cotswold village of Little Maudley, like it's predecessor, The Telephone Box Library, this can easily be read as a standalone book.

Hannah feels a fresh start is in order for her family - her son has taken up with the wrong crowd and is getting in to trouble with the police and her workacholic husband needs to slow down so when her cousin offers her the chance to take over at the village shop she jumps at the chance.

Really enjoyed my stay in Little Maudley and I hope there are more visits to come as I'm sure there are more stories just waiting to be told!

Hannah is fed up with being a wife and a mother, what is she doing with her life other than those two things?

When a chance to take over from her cousin in the village shop a little Cotswold Village she jumps at the opportunity to take control and do something to help her son, Ben who has fallen in with the wrong sort and perhaps restart her marriage with her husband.

Trouble is her husband seems reluctant but when her son recognises one of the residents as ex footballer Jake Lovatt, also a newcomer and that he is also coaching the local side, he can’t see that much wrong with this village where nothing goes on. Her husband will follow them both later.

But of course with any village story, there is lots going on. Resident stalwart Helen, self appointed head of everything to do with the village welcomes Hannah and likes the idea of expanding the shop to include a bookshop for all of the residents. Nicola is desperate for a baby and becomes friends with Hannah, as she encourages her to help with the new bookshop to take her mind off things.

Hannah and Jake are the main protagonists in this story and it is clear to see that there is a spark between them, but Hannah is married and Jake appears to have been seen with a mystery woman in his new home. Of course nothing is as it seems to both of these people and when events take a turn they find themselves thrown together and look to each other for support.

This is a story of starting again and realising that perhaps you never have really stated living because you made one choice and accepted it. This book deals with some tough subjects, the coercive controlling relationship, troublesome teenagers, dealing with being famous and marriage problems. Of course there is a happy ever after, but that is what you wanted in this delightful book set in such a picturesque place and where I want to browse the shelves of the Village Green Bookshop at my leisure.

If you are a fan of Rachael Lucas, you will recognise the setting and some of the characters as they feature in a previous novel, The Telephone Box Library but this book can be read quite easily as a standalone. My one hope is that I get to go back to this village again as I am sure it has more stories to tell.

Rachael Lucas is one of my go-to comfort read authors and The Village Green Bookshop was a lovely dose of feelgood. Hannah is stuck in a rut, with a workaholic husband and a teenage son on the verge of derailing his life - so when she gets the chance to take over running a village shop, she takes a leap. She ends up not just with a village shop which expands into a bookshop, but with a whole new life.

Enjoyable and warm reading.