The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday - Kiley Dunbar

A lovely little read to enjoy in a sunny spot out in the garden, whilst dreaming of cosy little beach towns and bookshops! I steamrolled through this charming tale, as the author does a wonderful job of setting the scene and personalities of the characters quickly, allowing the story to get going immediately. This is the first book I have read from this author but will definitely be seeking more out! Thank you so much NetGalley and publishers for allowing me the chance to read and review this book

What an absolutely delightful read - what bookworm doesn't dream of two weeks in a bookshop, with the addition of holiday romance! This book is a joyful escape from the world around us and I will definitely be recommending it to friends and family.

What a fabulous book. Really loved the idea of a bookshop holiday it would be amazing. Great story, great characters. Really would recommend this book.

📚 "The Borrow-a-Bookshop Bookshop Café invites literature lovers to run their very own bookshop … for a fortnight." When Jude sees the advertisement, she immediately decides to book two weeks for herself and her beloved Max. But when things don't work out between the two of them, she decides to go on her own: books and solitude are what she needs to heal her broken heart. There is just one problem, and his name is Elliot.

❤️ I loved:
📚 Can Clove Lore's Borrow a Bookshop. While reading the book, I kept thinking: what if this tiny bookshop was real? I would love to spend a couple of weeks in a lovely British town by the sea, running my own bookshop. It's just the perfect holiday, isn't it?
💌 The love for bookshops. Jude and Elliot mention some of my favourite bookstores while talking to each other. Libreria Acqua Alta in Venice, Shakespeare and Company in Paris, Livraria Lello in Porto... If you've never been, mark them on your Map, they are definitely worth a visit!
🌊 The setting. A lovely little town by the sea, with a pub and a harbour, full of quirky and very peculiar characters. The perfect setting for the perfect story.
🦊 The foxes. I had never seen a fox before moving to Ireland, and now I just love them. That's why I really appreciate the role that they play in this book (no spoilers, though).

🤔 I wasn't so sure about:
🏘️ The villagers. I was really expecting the author to deep dive into these quirky characters to make the book even more funny and enjoyable. But she didn't. The names are all there, but we never really get to know them.
👨 Elliot. Since the beginning, he is a bit shady: you can tell he is hiding something. I don't think that his story is developed very well, though. Of course, what happened to him is revealed at the end of the book, but everything happens too fast.

⭐⭐⭐ 3/5 An enjoyable book about books, easy to read. The characters could have probably been developed a little bit more.

I loved this book. It was about a girl running a bookshop for two weeks my idea of heaven all those new editions to read. This ta sweet story and I enjoyed it. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This book takes place in a bookshop on the coast in England which immediately makes it a must-read for me. And it didn't disappoint. Sooo loved this book. First book by Kiley that I've read and promptly went and bought another one by her.

It's a great contemporary romance that makes you feel like you're right there, in the bookshop, seeing and experiencing what Jude and Elliot are living. Unique characters and a happy ever after, what more could one want? Highly recommend.

The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday - Kiley Dunbar

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review thanks to Hera Books and Netgalley.

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.

I really enjoyed this book! I read the book from start to finish in just one sitting as it is such a light and enjoyable book to read. I was drawn into this book by the title, as a book lover myself running a book shop for two weeks sounds like a fantastic holiday opportunity.

The book starts at Jude’s graduation as a mature student, and follows her story as her request for the borrow a bookshop holiday has been granted. On arrival in Clove Lore; Jude very quickly realises that there has a been a mistake when Elliot has also been granted the same two weeks. Can they work together or will the holiday be ruined?

This is such an enchanting book, with beautiful descriptions of Clove Lore allowing the reader to picture the village as though they are there. The characters are very likeable and you can’t help but wish that Jude will get her happy ending.

Having previously read books by Kiley I already knew when I started this book that I was a fan of her writing, this book just cemented her place a list of authors that do not disappoint.

Rating 5/5

A delightful romance with mystery, coming of age and all sorts of fun. Second chances, mature learning, seaside town, books there’s something for everyone.

Absolutely entertaining romance with a side of good-hearted wisdom. It has a unique premise with well-drawn, interesting characters, and I enjoyed every page.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Brilliant is all I can say. What a great idea, borrow a bookshop for a fortnight, would be my idea of heaven. The ending was a bit obvious but it was great how it got there. Romance with 2 people who are thrown together for a fortnight was inevitable but the stories behind each other’s arrival was really good. Looking forward to more from Kiley Dunbar. Thanks for letting me read and review this. #GoodReads #NetGalley #Bookshop

Life is supposed to open up for you when you graduate isn't it?  At least that's what Jude Crawley was hoping, even if at 29 she would still be living at home, helping to clean the family bakery every evening, and being her gran's main carer. Life, however had other ideas and, as one shock follows another, Jude catches her boyfriend cheating on her and discovers her parents and gran have major changes planned for their immediate future which don't include her.

With nothing stretching out in front of her an unexpected call from her ex reminds Jude of the holiday she had booked for them to run a bookshop together for a fortnight. Deciding to go it alone she has no idea how many things will fall into place while she is away.

Who wouldn't want to run a bookshop in Devon, especially for just a fortnight with no long-term responsibility?  Although the premise, to me, wasn't at all practical, in an honesty driven ideal world I'd definitely be right there near the front of the queue.

This book has just the right amounts of romance, angst and beautiful locations for everything to merge together into an easy to read novel. . To begin with Jude was a definite doormat and really annoying. She did grow on me as the story and her character developed until by the end I was cheering her on.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a delightful summer read for beach and back garden alike.

Not usually a fan of first person narrative but I did enjoy this book. What lets it down though is the unbelievable time scale that everything happens in. It detracts from the enjoyment a little.

Didn't love this at first, not a fan of first person narrative and the characters were a bit flat. However it did improve and if it wasn't for the unbelievable short time scale in which everything happens I would have perhaps enjoyed it more.

The day of Jude's graduation and there should be celebrations all around. However after she catches her secret professor boyfriend with another student and her family life gets turned upside down, can an escape to the bookshop by the sea heal her wounds?
This story was delightful, light and the perfect read for anybody who loves books.
What is an easy and uplifting read is made special by the references to the classics and well loved books and their characters that leave you not just transported to a gorgeous little fishing village in Devon, but also reminiscent about books you may have enjoyed before.
The charming characters make you want to move into the cosy little bookshop and live amongst all the fantastic residents of the village.
I laughed, cringed and smiled ear to ear whilst reading this. The perfect summer read that leaves you wanting to feel the sand beneath your toes before snuggling up with a classic.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Kiley Dunbar for the copy of this book.

Cute little story about a woman whose trying to find herself after life throws her a few curveballs. She takes a vacation at the seashore where you run a bookstore cafe for two weeks-sounds like heaven to me! She meets the people in town and the other person that is sharing the bookstore with her for 2 weeks and of course they fall in love. The setting sounded brilliant-I dream of going there! And the supporting characters of neighbors in the little town of Clove Lore grew on me as they took Jude under their wings and made her feel at home.
Thanks to Hera books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.

Wasn't 100% taken with this novel unfortunately. I like Kiley Dunbar as an author but this one just didn't sit quite right with me which is such a shame as I really wanted to enjoy it as it sounded idyllic.

You had me at bookstore. That’s my jam. I love anything to do with a book store. I was hooked and liked it a lot. Must read.

I really liked the premise this book. Most people who love to read would find running a small bookshop for two weeks a wonderful idea. The book has good moments in it and I am happy with how it ended, but I was not drawn to to sit and read it through like I am with many books.

I received a copy of this book to review through NetGalley.

After a bit of a slow start, this turned into exactly the type of sweet rom com I was hoping I'd picked up!!

We've all heard of the concept of the bookstore that lets you rent the place and experience running a bookshop for a week. Kiley Dunbar turned this idea into an adorable setting for two lost souls to find each other!

After her parents sell their family bakery and her grandmother moves into a retirement village, Jude is left wondering where that leaves her. An unexpected opening at the borrow-a-bookshop she applied to ages ago will at least give her something to do for the next two weeks.

When a man walks into the bookstore and up to her rented apartment her first night, she's shocked to learn he's also been given an invitation for her same two weeks. She reluctantly agrees to let him stay and they decide to stay out of each other's hair. At least for a few days until their attraction takes over...

The setting is undeniably perfect for book lovers. Who wouldn't want to find love in a bookstore!? I appreciated how both main characters acknowledged the quick nature of their relationship and were realistic about how it could continue.

This is an adorable escapist read into a world of books, small towns, misunderstandings, and finding love!

I wanted to like this book so much more than I actually did, which was a real shame.

I enjoyed the set up for the story, with main character Jude only graduating from university at nearly 30, something I did myself. While she thinks she has a relationship to finally tell everyone about, it turns out really badly. Jude finds herself with a 2 week ‘holiday’ looking after a bookshop in Devon alone but is soon joined by the mysterious Elliot, who isn’t too keen on talking about himself.

The idea for the story was great but some things just weren’t believable. Jude started out absolutely adamant that she wasn’t going to let Elliot stay but then backed down and let him sleep downstairs in the bookshop. She knew nothing about him at this point. Elliot also has secrets but it just made him act really strange and annoying a lot of the time. I did like what his secret was though as it was really different and I never could have guesses.

Also, unfortunately the ending of the book was a let down as it felt REALLY rushed and therefore, just not believable.