I'm sure the vast majority of book lovers agree that to take over a bookshop for a holiday is their idea of heaven! Throw into the mix a hunky stranger turning up to run it with you when you are single and the story begins.
I haven't read any of Kiley Dunbar's work before now but I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the development of Jude and Elliot as main characters..
Elliot is clearly hiding something throughout the book but all is not as Jude thinks. A happy ending is the goal here but I won't reveal if it occurs. You'll have to read it to find out but I don't think that you'll be disappointed!
I highly recommend this book to all romance booklovers out there and I am looking forward to a possible sequel...

Jude Crawley is approaching her thirties, and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. After spending almost all of her time since leaving high school looking after her ailing grandmother, it is only recently that Jude has been able to start looking to what she wants to achieve herself.

When she reaches the end of her English degree and is preparing for her graduation, Jude finally feels as though her life is falling in to place perfectly. She has been dating a professor at the same university she has studied, and is excited to embark on their next adventure together – starting with the holiday that they have planned together to the small seaside town where Borrow A Bookshop is located, a small bookshop that can be rented out for two weeks at a time. This plan comes to a very abrupt end when she discovers the man she believes to be her boyfriend is cheating on her – and she catches him at it, of all days, at her graduation!.

Jude decides to be brave and go on the holiday alone, with the intent of figuring out what to do with the rest of her life, and also to come to terms with her failed relationship. However, she certainly isn’t about to have two weeks of solitude, as upon her arrival Jude learns that the place that had initially been reserved for her boyfriend has been given to someone else – a rather mysterious man who is about to change her life in ways she could never have imagined.

The moment I started this book, I just knew it was going to be one of those stories that I would fall in love with. Kiley Dunbar has such a delightful way with words that you can’t help but feel close to the characters and the world in which she brings to life for you in her novels. I loved the storyline, especially the location of the story!. The small seaside town sounds like a dream, and then the location in which Jude is staying, in the bookshop, sounds like a pretty perfect holiday to me!.

The characters are realistic and relatable, and my heart really went out to Jude. She has always put others before herself, so it was lovely to see her grow as a person as the story progressed and she began to embrace her own happiness. Elliot was one of those characters that at first – being completely honest – I wasn’t too sure what to make of him, however as the story moved forward we get to know him much better as an individual, and he soon captured my heart too.

A wonderfully written story in the most beautiful of places, this book is like a dream come true to all of us booklovers, and those of us who love a slow burner romance!.

The right book at the right moment. I wanted to read something enjoyable and heartwarming, this book met all my expectations.
Well written characters and well developed plot, an engrossing and entertaining story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Quand j'ai vu la couverture et quand j'ai lu le résumé, j'avais envie de découvrir cette romance qui m'avait l'air bien sympathique. J'ai donc lu ce roman et il m'a fait passer un assez bon moment de lecture mais malheureusement il m'a aussi manqué cette petite étincelle qui fait toute la différence.

Jude Crawley vient d'obtenir son diplôme universitaire en littérature et elle a hâte de passer ses vacances en couple dans une librairie du Devon qu'elle a louée deux semaines. Malheureusement la cérémonie de remise des diplômes va mettre en lumière la mauvais foi de Mack, son petit ami secret. Elle pensait qu'il ne voulait pas dévoiler leur relation par peur des règles universitaires mais en fait c'était pour cacher son infidélité. La chute sera rude mais elle partira tout de même dans le Devon réaliser ce rêve. Il est clair que ce roman a été écrit par une amoureuse des livres pour les amoureux des livres. Arrivée dans ce petit village, elle va avoir la mauvaise surprise de découvrir qu'elle a hérité d'un colocataire. Les gens du village seront tous un peu intrusifs mais au final ils ne sont pas méchants. Ils veulent simplement un peu de vie autour de cette librairie qui sera le lieu de réunion de nombreuses personnes. J'ai bien aimé le parcours de Jude car elle saura se relever des épreuves qu'elle va traverser mais qui ne seront au final pas aussi terribles qu'elle le pensait.

Elliott Desvaux est un héros mystérieux qui aura du mal à se livrer et à lever le voile sur sa vie. Vétérinaire , son amour pour les animaux n'est plus à démontrer. Il va arriver dans cette librairie particulière une nuit et sans avoir été attendu. On sent qu'il nous cache des choses et cela va donc éveiller la curiosité de notre héroïne qui n'entend pas se faire de nouveau rouler dans la farine. On a donc plus de mal à s'attacher à ce héros qui ne nous dévoile pas tout. Nous allons émettre des hypothèses à son sujet mais en même temps au fur et à mesure , on voit bien qu'il tisse des liens avec elle. Nous aurons évidemment la révélation à son sujet mais j'ai trouvé que cela tombait comme un cheveux sur la soupe.

Bref, j'ai passé un assez bon moment mais je n'ai pas été convaincue par cette romance dans un univers pourtant que j'adore. Tous les ingrédients étaient réunis pour passer un super moment mais la sauce n'a pas prise et j'ai donc un avis assez mitigé sur cette histoire.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday was the third book I've read by Kiley Dunbar. By now I know to expect humour, romance, a beautiful setting, and a temporary escape from reality when I read one of Kiley's books. Escape from reality is a theme in her books: the heroine needs to get away from something (or someone) or needs a break from life weighing her down, and she finds herself - along with love and friendship - in the place she’s escaped to, all while realizing it's not always easy - or sometimes even possible - to outrun your problems. I love books like that and Kiley does them so well.

In The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday, our heroine, Jude, is in her late twenties and has just graduated from college. She’s also just found out her sexy professor boyfriend is a cheating cad. Added to that is the fact the people who have always needed her - the reasons she’s basically put her life on hold until now - no longer need her in the same way. She doesn’t have a job or a purpose, so when her spot on the waitlist for the Borrow-a-Bookshop bookstore and cafe opens up, she takes it as her sign to get away for two weeks and get her head on straight.

I think it’s safe to say many lifelong book lovers have had the dream of running their own bookshop. I know I certainly have, so I loved the concept of this book. Add in the quaint village, the quirky townspeople, and the mysterious man who turns up to help Jude, and you have a recipe for a sweet, emotional story. I connected with Jude easily and felt the heft of responsibility and then uncertainty that weighed on her. She’d never had a chance to live life for herself, and I enjoyed watching her strike out on her own and learn new things about herself.

With travel still out for many of us this summer, The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday makes for a wonderful virtual vacation.

With a twist on the escape to the West Country theme Jude is spending two weeks holiday working in bookshop / cafe on her own after finding that her boyfriend has been two - timing her. She is surprised to find that she is sharing the two weeks with a stranger, Elliot, and struggles to come to come to terms with this.
Reading the description of the village I immediately thought of Clovelly, a place I haven't been to in years. I'm always looking forward to reading books set in the West Country and this has the bookshop as the twist to set it apart. It certainly sounds like heaven to anyone who loves books as I do. Jude is obviously struggling with her feelings of self - worth and there is an aura of mystery surrounding Elliot and his need for secrecy.
With the writing bringing the village to life for me the twist is enough to tip my score from a solid 4* to 5* and I devoured it almost in one sitting as I dreamed off a life there for me as well.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I’ve been a fan of Kiley Dunbar for a few years now, so I was delighted to receive a review copy of her latest book, The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday.

The concept of working in a bookshop in a lovely location for a holiday is highly appealing, and something I’d love to do if I were healthy. Jude escapes to one for a two week break, when everything in her life is changing. Only she finds she’s sharing the holiday with a complete stranger. Cue hilarious shenanigans, carrying mattresses up and down spiral staircases, etc.

This book was so relaxing and easy to read, right from the start. There is plenty of gentle humour, as well as the difficulties that Jude experiences. The setting comes through really strongly, I want to go there on holiday myself!

If you’re looking for a fun and relaxing escape, look no further. This one will leave you with a warm, happy glow.

I was given a free copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

Tout d'abord je voudrais remercier Netgalley pour ce service presse.

En ce moment je lis beaucoup de romans où l'histoire se passe dans des librairies, suite à un changement de vie.
Et en lisant le résumé, j'étais beaucoup tentée.

Jude est fraichement diplômée, son petit ami est professeur à l'université et ils ont des vacances toutes prévues: tenir une librairie dans un petit village. Mais pour Jude tout ne se passe pas comme prévu, elle découvre que son petit ami est infidèle. Alors elle décide de s'y rendre seule.

Pour elle c'est l'idéal pour se retrouver, pour penser à elle, pour être au milieu des livres. Cependant elle ne s'attendait pas à être secondée par une autre personne.
Elliot est là pour remplacer Mack et on va dire que Jude n'est pas ravie. Or elle va faire avec.

Ils vont apprendre à se connaître, ils vont faire de belles rencontres avec les habitants de l'Ile Balnéaire de Devon. Les habitants vont commencer à faire des paris. Et oui, ceux qui deviennent bénévoles repartent en couple. En sera-t-il de même pour Jude et Elliot?
Jude ne veut pas d'une nouvelle relation, elle n'est pas prête, elle avait confiance en Mack mais il a bafoué cette confiance et elle ne supporte pas qu'on lui cache des choses.

Tous les deux sont différents mais vont s'habituer à cohabiter ensemble, ils vont trouver leur façon de faire dans cette librairie. Or, Elliot n'est pas celui qu'il semble être. Il ne sera pas totalement honnête avec elle et Jude en sera blessée.
Que cache-t-il? Peut-elle lui faire confiance?

Je m'attendais à beaucoup plus. Certes le récit est original. Pour les amoureux des livres, qui n'a pas eu envie de travailler dans une librairie, et en plus avec ce paysage qui vous entoure? La romance se met en place doucement et elle est toute douce.
Le plus: les habitants de la petite île. Et oui il faut bien une nouvelle attraction, il faut bien occuper leur temps libre. Et il semblerait que Jude et Elliot soient leur nouveau terrain de jeu.

Alors laisseriez-vous tenter?

I was excited about the premise of this book - it sounds like my dream vacation, getting to run my own bookstore and live above it for two weeks. I felt like the execution of the book needed work. It took until about 20% into the book before we even got into the bookshop and that first 20% was full of Jude re-hashing all of her life decisions over and over. It drug on and on. If I had not committed to reading it for a review I would have probably abandoned it.

Once it got into the bookshop portion of the book and we meet Elliott it picks up some, but at the end of the day this was a book that is only 225 pages long and I had to break it into several days to read it. I think so much could have been edited out and so much more could have been added to the story. Good premise, but not great execution.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar is a unique romance, that I enjoyed. I did not love this book because of the female lead, Jude Crawley. Jude just graduated from college as a non traditional student, and is ready to come forward with her relationship with her professor. Unfortunately she sees him kissing a younger student at graduation. I understand Jude is unhappy, especially since she has cared for her grandmother for years. Jude is taking a bookshop holiday, and since her boyfriend is not coming, another man is given the space. I really like Elliot, but Jude can be so selfish, it's all about her. I love the idea of this book, how fun would it be, running your own bookstore. I recommend this book for people who enjoy books and romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love and loss, friends and family, new friendships and old ones all come together in this heart warming tale.

Loved it! I really enjoyed the previous book I read from this author and I think I loved this one even more.

When Jude completes her degree as a mature student her life suddenly changes, but not for all the right reasons! She then has the opportunity to take a holiday, to run a book shop! She takes the chance but when she is paired up with Elliot, a mysterious chap, the holiday takes on different twists and turns!

The author develops the characters well and describes the areas so well that you feel like you are there! By the end of the book you are left wondering if a place like this really exists and if you can take a holiday there. I love the sense of community in the book, even with strangers from miles away. Plus everyone will fall in love with Aldous, the surprise guest at the bookshop.

I will certainly be looking out for more titles from this author and be excited to see where the next story leads.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Any story with bookstores or libraries at the center of the story is a win for me. This was a fun, cute, entertaining story about love being found at the most unexpected time.

The story had a lot of potential. The idea that you get to rent a bookstore in this cute little town and then run the shop like your own for 2 weeks... that sounds so fun! The town was adorable and the characters living there was so well done. Loved the nosey neighbors and people who let you in like you are a local. Give you a warm and fuzzy vibe.

The main character, Jude, was only okay for me. I didn't really like her but it was because she read really young and she is supposed to be 30. I actually really liked her story line and her family was sweet and amazing. It was just how she read.

I loved the romance. It felt so right and it was adorable and kind of steamy! The love interest peaked my interest right away. I immediately needed to know everything about him but he is so secretive which keeps you wanting more! I will say that the romance pacing was a little quick. It was like nothing was going on and then all of a sudden everything happens.

Overall, this was a cute story and the bookstore setting was amazing. I would recommend this book to people who like fluffy romances and like bookstore settings like me!

I really enjoyed reading this book, I would absolutely love to have the opportunity to run a bookshop and cafe. I love reading and baking so this would be a dream holiday for me.
This is a very sweet and heartwarming read. There is a great cast of characters who are likeable, interesting and well-developed. The location of Clove Lore reminded me very much of Clovelly in Devon. A unique and quirky place for a novel to be set. I could picture it perfectly in my mind.
I have seen that some reviews have mentioned that Jude seems younger than 30, and also naive. She was a young carer, from the age of 17, and also lived a sheltered life in a small village. I found that it was entirely plausible that she didn't have many life experiences. I was pleased that she was given, and took the chance to try something new.
I have read all of Kiley Dunbar's books and this is definitely one of my favourite ones so far. It would be nice if there was another book that was set in Clove Lore, with a new couple at the bookshop.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this one.
I loved the setting, it sounds amazing! Books and the seaside, what more could you want?
I enjoyed the intrigue in the story, it definitely kept me thinking, which made a change in a romance story.
The author is a new one to me, and I will definitely explore more of her work.

Jude Crawley is nearly thirty years old and doesn’t know what to do with her life. Having had to take care of her ailing grandmother right after high school, she has postponed her own life until recently, when she pushed an English degree at university while in a relationship with a philosophy professor at the same university. On graduation day, she discovers the man she thought was her boyfriend is cheating on her. Soon after that her very much healthier grandmother announces she is moving into a retirement home for active seniors, and Jude’s parents sell the bakery they have operated her whole life so they can retire. Just then, Jude learns that a spot freed up at Borrow a Bookshop, a bookshop located in a small seaside community that can be rented two weeks at a time. Having planned to go to the bookshop with her boyfriend, Jude decides to be brave and go by herself, wishing to test her independence and find out what to do with the rest of her life. Unfortunately, the bookshop has chosen to give the spot reserved for her boyfriend to Elliot, a mysterious stranger.

This romance is completely delightful. Jude’s chatter as first-person narrator takes some getting used to, but as soon as Elliot showed up I was completely engrossed in her point of view. The way the book stuck so close to her made him more mysterious and allowed for his secrets to be revealed only very near the end. The two main characters are charming, but it is the setting and the secondary characters that make this book irresistible.

The novel is set in a charming small town full of singular characters, a dog with every odd habits, and lots of activities planned to punctuate time. The misunderstanding at the core of the conflict is something with real consequences and it ratchets up the tension very nicely.

I recommend this book if you want to read something light that allows you to travel vicariously through its heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for this advanced readers copy. I’m happy to provide my review.
#NetGalley #TheBorrowABookshopHoliday #HeraBooks #KileyDunbar
Jude has just graduated from college at 29 and sees her boyfriend kiss another girl. Reeling from heartbreak, when she gets the opportunity to run a bookshop for two weeks she takes it. There she meets Elliot, who is her partner running the shop. The rest, as they say, is history.
The pros of this book are definitely wrapped up in a general feeling of sweetness. It is a feel good story. I could easily imagine myself in Borrow A Bookshop as well as befriending the colorful locals. They even have a book club that I’d love to join! The characters were realistic and colorful. I loved Aldous, the cheese-loving dog.
There was some trouble with a lot of the portions of the book that involve veterinary medicine. The character of Elliot was a veterinarian and, as such, there were situations written about that involved animal medicine. It appeared to me, as a veterinary professional, that these were not well researched. They were unrealistic. I found this very frustrating. Many of the situations involving Elliot seemed contrived. His trouble with the law seemed anticlimactic given all the build-up. I found the relationship between Jude and Elliot much the same.
In conclusion, this book had many good points, but the overall feeling I got can be summed up as contrived. I will, however, read this author again. There were some fun ideas and good characters here.

What a perfect idea of a holiday - to basically run a book shop for 2 weeks - I think for most book lovers like myself, that sounds perfect, so this book appealed to me on so many levels. I also later found out there actually is a bookshop you can rent out for a holiday, which is based in Scotland.
I have never read a book by the author before so wasn't sure what to expect, but I have to say I really enjoyed it. Such an easy book to read, with a lovely storyline, and very likeable characters.
Definitely very much needed after some of the heavy books I have read recently - a perfect romantic chick lit romance book.

Who wouldn’t want a bookshop for a holiday, this was a book lovers dream and the book about it was really good, there was no unnecessary “filling” characters were very likeable and relatable I would live to go on a holiday like this ...... curl up and enjoy

A heartwarming cosy rom com. It had chemistry, books and Devon. Just perfect. Who hasn't dreamed of having a bookshop holiday. Can you take my reservation now?  Set in picturesque Devon, with a host of loveable characters, Jude and Elliot have both escaped to run the bookshop, sharing their holiday. I loved the mentions of books. I may have added more books to my never ending to read pile. I couldn't help but smile throughout. I'd love to revisit Clove Lore again.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hera Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another gem of a book by Kiley Dunbar. Sounds like a dream holiday running a bookshop for your holiday, which is what Jude sets out to do. She should be there with Mack, who decides he isn't going. However, the mysterious Elliot arrives to run it with her. They have their ups and downs but eventually Jude learns about his past which is then history as their last night of romance happens. At the end of the fortnight, Jude sets off home back to The Borders but stops shortly after, only to see Elliot running after her.