A holiday where you stay above a bookshop in village in Devon and run it for two weeks. Surrounding yourself with brilliant books and amazing stories, oh and did I mention you’ve also got a little cafe where you can sell cake and brownies? The perfect holiday for us bookstagrammers! 😍 This is the trip that Jude and her boyfriend had planned, but after she sees him kissing another girl, she decides to still go, but alone, and what the perfect place to try and get over someone...and maybe meet someone new.

This book was so lovely! It’s my first book of Kiley Dunbar’s but I don’t think it will be my last! It’s the perfect pick me up book for book lovers like us! What I loved about this one was the brilliant descriptions of the village of Clove Lore. The whole way through the book I had imagined it like a beautiful village in Devon, Clovelly, the scenery, those hills, the harbour, it was just like it. So when I read the letter from Kiley at the end that said Clove Lore was inspired by Clovelly it made me so happy! And just shows the brilliance of the writing that I actually pictured the place that inspired it!

And of course, the story itself. I love a plot that shows some character growth, especially in the protagonist, and this one delivered! I loved how Jude had to try and overcome her fear with numbers, and how this holiday was the perfect escape for her to truly get over her ex. Of course Elliot, the other lodger to the bookshop might have helped there too! I loved the mystery behind him, and what came out at the end I didn’t see coming! These characters, and the supporting ones (shout out to Daniel, the ever supportive BFF), were so lovely! I’d love to step into this book for a holiday too!

I enjoy books about fans of books and this sweet book falls in that category. Jude processes information and feelings through books, even when she is acknowledging life is not like a romance book. I can relate to that. I spent more time than I would normally like feeling sorry for Jude, but that made her coming into her own even more rewarding later. The whole story is set in such a picturesque scene, that I feel like I have been there, scene it, and felt it. Combine it with lovable supporting characters to make this book is a great read. All of this in a relatively quick read.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

When Jude graduates from university she finds out Mack her boyfriend and one of the university lecturers isn’t who she thinks he is. While she was with Mack she put herself and Mack on the list for a Borrow-a-bookshop holiday in Devon but forgot all about it. Mack contacts her to tell her she has moved up the list and her dream holiday is about to start. Little does she know Mack has told the owner that she would be happy to share the holiday with someone else who she doesn’t know. That someone turns out to be Elliot who Jude then falls for. But Elliot is hiding something from her, can she find out what it is before it’s too late.

My thoughts






Narrative and Plot



The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday is any book lovers dream setting. Run a bookshop café for  a fortnight. And mind you, it is not completely fictional. The author gives you the name of the real place in the end credits. Anyway, as a book lover you can effortlessly fall behind this idea.  The main character Jude has this calm and longing tone which makes you want this adventure for her. It is an adorable beach read to put things simply.



The plot is your usual bookshop love story with a small town tourist charm and a setting with colorful character. It serves quite as a charming escape read.




Characters and Conflicts



In a way, it is a coming of age story. Jude had put her life on hold as a care taker. The whole book focuses on how she becomes her own person which is always a warm idea. You see Jude as this woman who likes her bubble and comfort zone. But she learns how to get out of it and adapt.


Elliot on the other hand is a mysterious man with things to hide. Even if we get a good read on him via Jude, she is never able to figure him out. The romance felt a bit sudden given we don't get Elliot's perspective. But it develops sweetly and the idea sort of grows on you.


Aldous is one weird dog and it is good to see a change from all the lovely puppies that we read about. Not that Aldous isn't adorable. He has a mind of his own and that is refreshing. The ensemble cast makes the story lively and ensures you have a fun time.



Conclusion



Overall, I enjoyed reading this book. It offers what it says and will make up nicely for a one time read. A quiet and charming holiday at a bookshop. I loved the concept and found my escape in this when everything around me was chaos. So, if you're looking for a sweet escape , go no further and dive into this holiday with Jude.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar is a slightly offbeat romance between a woman who doesn't have the best taste in men and a man facing criminal charges for harming both a man and his horse. Having just graduated from college after attending for six years, part-time, Jude is at the commencement ceremonies when she sees her, supposedly, member of the faculty boyfriend in a decidedly unprofessional embrace with a very young woman. A first year? She watches, aghast, until finally her friend Daniel rescues her. Now, thinking back, all the signs were there. How could she have been so stupid? There were plenty of things going on in her life, not fulfilling, when her ex rang her up to say that the vacation she had requested for them had come through: Borrow a Bookshop for a fortnight: live there in the apartment above, run the bookshop, and tend the small cafe. Of course she was going. She instructed him to respond, letting them know she'd be alone, and then told him to never call her again. He did forward the email with arrival details. It was in Devon, on the sea. Her parents and grandmother and Daniel all encouraged her to go and finally she was off. She was only there for a day before things got complicated.

If this isn't the ideal vacation, I can't think what would be. A small town on the coast. A bookshop. This was the restart she needed. She could adjust to all the changes the family was making and come back ready to pursue a career, as soon as she figured out what it would be. She could have a lovely holiday, get to know the inhabitants of the small town, do some reading, and splash around in the ocean. Things didn't work out as she had hoped, mostly, but it turned out even better. This became an introspective look at a woman's emotions as she examined herself, her feelings, and her reactions to things. It was a terrific read, relentless in its examination, incessant in her need to move forward. It was a lovely story, in many ways a realistic romance, where things don't always move smoothly. The reader got to know Jude so well, and feel her angst. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #theborrowabookshopholiday

Loved this book. What a quaint idea to run a bookshop in the middle of nowhere and what great characters. This is a great debut novel and look forward to reading more from this very talented author.
Highly recommended

The Borrow A Bookshop Holiday

What a charming, cozy read! An absolutely delightful book to curl up with on a winter's night (or chill out with on a summer's afternoon!), with the scent of gingerbread and old books palpable as one reads.
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29yo Jude has never lived. Not really. Instead, she has devoted the majority of her life to being her Gran's full-time carer, fitting in a part-time degree in around bingo and pharmacy runs, and living vicariously through borrowed books she reads in her parent's flat above a bakery. But her world gets turned on it's head when Gran moves into an aged care home, the bakery and flat is sold, and her University academic lover trades her in - on her graduation day, no less - for a first-year student.

In amongst the turmoil and chaos comes an opportunity of a lifetime: renting a bookshop and cafe in the quaint seaside village of Clove Lore for a fortnight with a complete stranger as a business partner. What bibliophile wouldn't jump at the chance to be a bookseller for a couple of weeks?
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I admit, it took a little bit of warming up to this book, but its a fun contemporary romance, exploring the untapped idea of 'what would happen if I packed it all in and ran a second hand bookshop in a tourist town even though I've never run a business before'. It was populated with interesting, quirky characters and I'd love to read more books set in this delightful little village, and learn more about the different people we see on the fringes of Jude's story.

I enjoyed seeing Jude grow and become her own person, gaining confidence in herself, her own baking, and her arithmetic abilities. The scenes were gorgeously described and transported me to the little village as I read. It's not a serious book (although some serious topics were raised),it's a fun, easy read, just right for taking one's mind off the world. I'll look out for more of Ms Dunbar's books.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Hera Books and Kiley Dunbar for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What book lover wouldn’t fantasize about running a bookshop in a lovely seaside village? That’s the premise of this fun romance novel, The Borrow A Bookshop Holiday. For a fee (of course), you can spend your vacation/holiday running an old bookstore in Devon, England. There’s a long waiting list, so you have to be patient!

Kiley Dunbar has written a delightful story, with an enemies-to-lovers-to-enemies-to lovers sort of theme. Jude has been badly used by a young professor at her university, discovering his true character on her graduation day. So the opportunity to spend two weeks at this bookshop comes at a perfect time, with her grandmother, for whom she has been the main caregiver, moving into a new retirement community and her parents selling their family’s bakery business to redevelopers. What Jude finds in the small town of Clove Lore forms the bulk of the book. I fell in love with some of the townspeople and as has often been the case during these pandemic times, I found myself hankering to travel to Devon and especially to the real town the author based this book on!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I just love Jude so much! I can relate to her and she is just so cute. I loved the small town of Clove Lore. I want to visit there. Elliot is a mysterious sweet guy. What bookworm doesn’t want to live in and run a bookstore and possibly fall in love! I loved the story. I recommend this. Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, if predictable, rom-com story about a single woman and a single man who wind up running a rental bookshop and falling in love.

Jude is a late bloomer, just earning her degree at 29 as she has spent most of her teens and 20s taking care of her gran. She has grand visions of what life will be like after her degree with books, romance and adventures. Instead, life is the same. Until her Gran moves out and her parents sell their bakery, leaving her homeless and without a purpose. By chance, Jude has applied to borrow a bookshop, literally, and her name just came up on the list. She thinks this is exactly the adventure she needs to strike out on her own and find her feet.

Except her independence is ruined when she meets Elliot, the other single whose name came up on the waiting list when the owner found out Jude was not part of a couple. At first, she hates him for raining on her independence and finding herself plans but soon they bond over the love of books. Except Elliot has a deep, dark secret he is running from.

Like Jude, I am also an English major. However, unlike Jude, most of the books she gushes about being exposed to, I loathed. She loves Jane Austen and WB Yeats. Hard pass for me. However, the author clearly loves to read and I loved her passionate descriptions of classic novels and Izaak's constant quest to find something in the Borrowed Bookshop with only snippets to go on ("it's orange...there are big screens, it's about that bloke who...).

I found the story compelling and while it is still truly a rom-com, the plot was not so predictable that I did not enjoy the story. I loved all the supporting characters - the nosy woman who runs the ice cream shop, the bookshop owner himself, Aldous the Bedlington Terrier who eats cheese sandwiches and a host of other wonderful characters that are a pleasure to get to know. This book was pleasant to read and I found myself immersed in the story. Bravo!

When Jude decides to go off on her dream holiday minus the man who she was to go with, because he cheated on her, she takes a big step for someone who’s never ventured out of her comfort zone. She comforts herself that she’s going to be surrounded by books and will be able to get lost in them. What she doesn’t bargain for is another person also landing there for a holiday – the handsome, yet somewhat brooding, Eliot. Uncomfortable at first, Jude realizes that he too is a genuine book lover. Will she be able to find out the mystery that seems to surround him? Will their attraction lead to something more?

When a story revolves around books and a main character constantly comparing people and situations to characters in books, it’s impossible not to enjoy it. The book is set in a lovely locale and has very interesting characters besides Jude.

A quick, easy and very enjoyable read.

This is first book I’ve read by this author, but will be looking out for more.

This novel made me so happy! I absolutely loved it! This was a quick and enjoyable read and the most perfect way to spend my Mother's Day! The story takes place in a harbour village called Clove Lore in Devon, England. Jude Crawley is a twenty-nine-year-old woman who still lives at home with mum and dad while caring for her aging grandmother. She has just completed her degree in English Literature when her heart is broken by her boyfriend. As everyone around her seems to be moving forward, Jude finds herself without a purpose. When an opportunity to run a bookshop for two weeks appears Jude decides to go it alone, only to discover that there has been a mix-up and she has to share the experience with a gorgeous, but mysterious man named Elliot. What is Elliot hiding and can the two of them amicably run the bookshop for two weeks? The touristy village and the supporting characters are delightful. I especially loved Daniel, Jude's perfect BFF. This book is every book lover's dream. Two weeks running a bookshop & cafe in a quaint seaside village in England, sign me up! Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar
Publication Date: May 5, 2021
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Description from NetGalley...
“The Borrow-a-Bookshop Bookshop Café invites literature lovers to run their very own bookshop … for a fortnight. Spend your days talking books with customers in your own charming bookshop and serving up delicious cream teas in the cosy café.
Bookworms, what are you waiting for? Your holiday is going to be LIT(erary).
Apply to: The Borrow-a-Bookshop Bookshop Café, Down-a-long, Clove Lore, Devon.”

“Jude Crawley should be on top of the world. She’s just graduated as a mature student, so can finally go public about her relationship with Philosophy professor, Mack. Until she sees Mack kissing another girl, and her dreams crumble. And worse, their dream holiday – running a tiny bookshop in the harbour village of Clove Lore for two weeks – is non-refundable.

Throwing caution to the winds, Jude heads down to Devon, eager to immerse herself in literature and heal her broken heart. But there’s one problem – six foot tall, brooding (but gorgeous) Elliot, who’s also reserved the bookshop holiday for two weeks…

As Jude and Elliot put their differences aside to run the bookshop, it seems that Jude might be falling in love with more than just words. Until she discovers what Elliot is running from – and why he’s hiding out in Clove Lore.”
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Thank you to @netgalley #hera_books for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
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My thoughts...
Sweet summer read. If this type of bookstore/cafe air bnb exists, in a quaint little town, I want to go on this type of holiday. Except I know my husband wouldn’t. It was such a cute concept. I like that Elliot’s secret was dark, which I found interesting and didn’t expect from this book. There was a secondary story here that was “dogorable.” A quick, light summer read just waiting for you.

This book was one that I anticipated giving a five star to, but it just fell short for me. I loved the premise, who wouldn't want to have a holiday looking after a book shop? Unfortunately I think the *romances* really took away from what was such a solid concept. I would have given this a five star if it focused more on the books, the food and the friendships.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and the author for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

I loved the concept of this book and the first half. I would definitely spend my vacation running a bookshop! However, the second half fell flat for me. The reason Elliot was being so shifty was surprisingly dark and it felt like it didn't fit with the rest of the story. Overall, I love the concept, but the execution wasn't for me.

“I know how easy it is to lose yourself when you’re safe and cosy, going along with life with no signs of change or escape on the horizon.”The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar

3.75 stars. It’s a cute story set in a bookshop that you can rent as your vacation, much like The Open Book bookshop in Wigtown, Scotland.

Jude is doing this vacation on her own. And after the changes that are happening in her family, after the vacation, she’ll need to find a job and start her life.

And the Elliot joins her in the bookshop vacation, all tall and interesting and dodging all her personal questions to him. After her recent heartbreak, Jude is wary. But the town is charming and so are the residents and Elliot too becomes much more interesting than scary.

While Jude is nice, her fear (no other way to put it) of the change in her life, her being on her own, nearly paralyzes her. Good thing she got over it, as if she continued, I’d have not liked her at all. Elliot too was behaving oddly too. But they did sort themselves out in the end.

It helped that the village was charming, as were the residents. It made me wish I could visit it today and stay and have a borrow a bookshop vacation. Which is something I’m trying to convince my hubby we got to do... spend 2 weeks in The Open Book. But for now, I’m happy to have visited Clove Lore.

Thank you @netgalley and Hera Books for the arc of this book. It was a fun read.

I really enjoyed this book , i wish i loved in the small town, look forward to reading more books by Kiley Dunbar.

I love love loved this book. Jude was such a relatable character that starts off in heartbreak and slowly begins to heal and build confidence in herself. This book draws you in from the get go and leaves you wanting to escape to your own book haven. This was the first book I have read from this author but I cannot wait to read more.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday is such a lovely and joyful read, that will leave you with a huge smile on your face, It will also make book lovers crave to have their own bookshop. A feel-good read.

Ok, where can I book a holiday to the seaside and run my own bookshop for a week? I have some serious holiday envy going on after reading this lovely heart warming book.

The story kept me interested from the outset and I devoured this book in a day! I was really rooting for all the characters and would love to visit the borrow a bookshop shop in more stories!