What's not to love about this book? Set in a bookshop, exploring the kind of books that make readers passionate about stories, not just classics or literary snobbishness (that still very much persists around genres especially romantic fiction), this book has so much soul and quirky chaos that I absolutely adored. Maggie is such an intelligent, vibrant person, loyally dedicated to helping her friend Rochelle by manning her struggling bookshop whilst she's on maternity leave, but early in the book you see that Maggie feels she's drifting without a plan, so many jobs that had aspects where she could apply her gifts, but that lacked meaning for her. I think a lot of people will relate to this, I certainly did. Unintentionally, Maggie brings anarchy to the status quo and unearths secrets that rock the foundations of the town of Bell River. Amongst this a growing friendship and attraction with Malcolm emerges, but as he literally works for the enemy it is certainly complicated.
I felt so emersed in the plot, and utterly adored the other characters too particularly grumpy Vernon and rebellious Abigail. This is more a story of Maggie's journey to finding out exactly what she wants out of life and the relationships she makes at Bell River rather than an all out romance, which I really loved.

This was a fun read. Maggie doesn’t read books but has agreed to look after her friend’s bookshop while she goes on Maternity leave. Obviously things don’t go as planned and Maggie finds that she needs to find some way of increasing sales quickly if she is not to lose her friends entire source of income. However, she is restricted to only selling classic novels so her plans to sell up to date books need to be carried out in secret.
I did love the character of Maggie and I think her problems with not knowing what to do with her life when everyone around her seems to be moving on will resonate with many people. I enjoyed the plot of the story and just kept waiting for all of the plates that she was juggling to come crashing down.
I think that there has to be quite a lot of suspension of belief in this book. I find it very hard to believe that a small town in America could survive by being a shrine to a little known novelist. However the warmth of the characters and the sheer fun of Maggie’s plans carried it through for me.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a great story full of fun and mischief as well as some potential romance. Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book and was routing for Maggie the whole way.

Good book for book lovers looking for a feel-good, cozy story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Secret Bookshop (aka The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks) is the latest, sparkly heartwarming novel from Shauna Robinson. Our protoganist is Maggie Banks, a young woman who is taking on the running of Cobblestone Books, the bookshop of her good friend, Rochelle, while Rochelle is on maternity leave. There is just one problem: Maggie is not a fan of books, and the bookshop's biggest investor takes a serious dislike to her. Maggie soon realises that the best way to protect the bookshop, could be via her dislike of rules ... leading to creation of The Secret Bookclub.
Maggie is a delight with her resolve, humour and allergy to rules. You cannot help but cheer her on, even while laughing at her honesty. I also loved the ".. read what you enjoy.." theme of the novel and the freshing attitudes of the characters.

Sweet and inspirational. Who doesn’t love a small town bookshop romance where the heroine finds not just love but purpose? I enjoyed Must Love Books and this was very much in the same vein.

Covering a friend's maternity leave in her bookshop, restrictions set by the other part owner are constructing. On a financial peripice how to increase sales becomes an underground mission.
Selling books against the restrictions guidelines increases sales and builds a community.
The joy and community comes through loud and clear in the book. It will make you smile. Friendship, community and the possibility of love are the main theme. Enjoy I did.

The Secret Book Club by new to me author S. Robinson, published by Harper Collins UK / One More Chapter is a full-length stand-alone.
Maggie Banks loves books - a woman after my own heart. She wants to open a book shop in Bell River with all the difficulties that come with opening a business.
That's about to change when she meets Malcolm. Then everything changes for quirky Maggie.
A well written story, highly entertaininng with characters I easily could connect with.