OH. MY. HEART. I flew through this one in a single sitting with a huge smile on my face and happy tears threatening to spill over. It’s sweet, funny, emotional, and gave me all the warm-and-fuzzy feelings at a time I desperately need them!

Emma is feeling stuck. Her parents are getting ready to retire, her sister’s about to have a baby, and Emma’s just… there. So she books a six-week retreat to a big, falling-apart house in Amherst, hoping to live like her favorite poet, Emily Dickinson. But her quiet getaway turns into a chaotic adventure—complete with a grumpy (but swoony) architect, wild animals, secret flowers, and a whole lot of unexpected self-discovery. I laughed, I swooned, and I totally rooted for Emma every step of the way.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Julie Hatcher, and Lake Union Publishing for this five start gem of a book in exchange for a review!

A bookshop owner, who is constantly busy, busy, busy, needs to get away for a while to find her own happiness again. Everything and everyone is changing around her while shes stuck in a rut working at the family bookstore. So, she decides to take a page out of Emily Dickinson's book and rents an old manor to pursue the quiet, reclusive lifestyle.

I was glad Emma spoke up for herself and told her family she was taking a much needed break from the store, since her parents and sister have taken a step back and left it all on her shoulders. The communication after a few days away was the answer to healing their relationships. After many trials and errors, we see growth in our main character. Though building a fire and cooking may not be for forte, she goes from giving up on love to possibly finding her happily ever after.

The setting was written so well and sounded so cozy. I loved the scenes in the town, especially the bookshop and letter writing classes. We meet a lot of wonderful side characters that help Emma in her journey.

If you’re a fan of “always the bridesmaid”, You’ve Got Mail, and the poetry element of Carrie and Big’s relationship in the first Sex and the City movie, this book definitely has something for you! The main character is notably sadder/darker than earlier writings by this author. For this reason, it wasn’t the cheery escape that I typically expect from Miss Julie, yet I can’t help thinking how cool it is for her to experiment with new things and expand her already prodigious talent. That on its own makes this worth the read.

I love romance novels, in the whole range from chaste to smutty smut. This is definitely a more chaste one, and very predictable, but sometimes that can be a comforting read. I have always dreamed of being a librarian or bookstore owner, and I love reading books where the main character is one of those. This was predictable but fun to read and I got through it quickly.

Emma is the eldest daughter of bookstore owners who is now shouldering the majority of the burden of running the store. For a necessary escape, she chooses to walk in the footsteps of her favorite poet Emily Dickinson, and decides to unplug and live the 19th century way to clear her head. Of course there is a grumpy caretaker of the property, and she also receives mystery flowers.

The story is relatable with its sibling and family dynamics, feelings of guilt and responsibility. I enjoyed this book very much. Thank you Lake Union Publishing for the ARC.

⭐ 4.5
🌶️ 0
📚 Tropes/Themes: chick lit, mistaken identity, books about books, epistolary, trauma healing, finding yourself
👀 Single POV 1st person
🎙️Single narration
⏰ Approx 8 hours
🛍️ Available: Now

💬 Wow, this was such a satisfyingly good book! It was so heartwarming and emotional.

Originally I was given this as an ebook ARC through NG, but because life got in the way, I ended up listening to the audiobook instead (KU read and listen!) and I really think that made so much difference. If I had just read it I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it so much but the narrator (Mia Hutchinson-Shaw) did an INCREDIBLE job bringing this to life.

It was predictable and a little scattered but I still enjoyed it. That just made it a cozy, easy read which is what I'm looking for sometimes. I'm not a snob about the books I read anymore 😅. And actually, even though I knew the ending, I still got sucked into the will they won't they literally until the very end.

I loved the letter writing class, and the subtle mystery of who is writing Emma letters/sending her flowers.

I also enjoyed watching as Emma figured out who she is and where she's going in her life. I will admit there is a petty Betty part of me that wanted her to be more dramatic and mean about calling out her parents and sister and give them the middle finger but it's probably best that that didn't happen 🤣

And because I'm a sucker for romance I loved Davis, and the whole story line there. I did get a little frustrated with how slowly it moved and I wish there had been more to it overall but it was still enjoyable.

As I said overall I enjoyed this book, but the narrator was the star of the show here. And based on the reviews I think that if people were to listen to it they would have had a better experience 😅

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. It was an easy read. I would have preferred less letters or maybe none at all but I still enjoyed my read

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

I loved this quirky, charming romance so much! I love Emily Dickinson and the references of her in the book. I found the characters quirks to be lovable and just adored watching these two fall in love. Great book! I am looking forward to more from this author!

This was kind of off-putting—especially the love letters… I just couldn’t find them sweet; instead, it was just plain weird.

I’m disappointed; I really thought I could love this at first, and then the romance started. I did not see the connection between Emma and Davis AT ALL. Their relationship was not it. I was cringing more than I ever have, and there wasn’t enough buildup between the two.

Emma was… quirky. I started off really liking her, and then I got super weirded out. I wish that she wasn’t so obsessed with being someone else. There were better ways to go about her situation (I know this is fiction, but still), and I found it kind of strange that she tried so hard to follow in another person's footsteps—doing exactly what they did, learning their hobbies, etc.—that's just weird to me. There’s a difference between looking up to someone and being disturbingly obsessed. In this case, Emma was quite (understatement) obsessed.

The only thing about this book that I liked was the hopeless romantic aspect and the self-discovery.

No hate to the author! This is MY opinion.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾.

I enjoyed this one more that I thought I would as I was never a fan of Emily Dickinson. But I found myself relating to Emma because of the whole parent's expecting her to follow what they wanted for her life, to take over the family bookshop. Not really caring about what she wanted. It's not something I would reread again. But I did enjoy it for a once read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was cozy and delightful!

"Not Quite by the Book" von Julie Hatcher ist ein bezaubernder Roman über Selbstfindung und unerwartete Liebe. Die Protagonistin Emma fühlt sich in der Familienbuchhandlung gefangen und beschliesst, eine Auszeit zu nehmen. Inspiriert von ihrer Lieblingsdichterin Emily Dickinson mietet sie ein altes Herrenhaus in Amherst, um dort die Einsamkeit zu suchen. Doch ihre Pläne werden durch die Begegnung mit dem mürrischen Architekten Davis durchkreuzt, der das Anwesen renoviert. ​

Hatchers flüssiger Schreibstil und die detaillierte Beschreibung Neuenglands im frühen Herbst schaffen eine einladende Atmosphäre. Die Charaktere sind authentisch und vielschichtig dargestellt, wobei Emmas Entwicklung von der zurückgezogenen Buchhändlerin zur selbstbewussten Frau besonders hervorsticht.

Fazit: eine herzerwärmende Geschichte über die Suche nach dem eigenen Weg und die Überraschungen, die das Leben bereithält.

Not Quite by the Book is a delightful and thoughtful exploration of self-discovery, love, and the pressures of family expectations. The story follows Emma Rini, a bookshop owner who finds herself stuck in a monotonous routine, feeling overshadowed by her more dynamic family. The novel paints a humorous and heartfelt portrait of Emma’s attempt to withdraw from the world by embracing a solitary life in a crumbling manor house, inspired by the reclusive Emily Dickinson.

Hatcher does a fantastic job balancing sharp wit with emotional depth. Emma’s journey is relatable to anyone who has ever felt the weight of other people's expectations or questioned whether they are living authentically. As she navigates the challenges of rural life, from battling bunnies in the garden to dealing with the fiery architect renovating the manor, the book explores themes of isolation, self-reliance, and the unexpected ways life forces us to confront our desires.

The dynamic between Emma and the grumpy architect adds an engaging layer of romance and tension, but the real heart of the book lies in Emma’s internal growth. Through her missteps and misunderstandings, she learns that perhaps it’s not about retreating from the world entirely, but about embracing both solitude and connection in a way that feels true to herself.

Hatcher’s writing is clever and warm, making it easy to fall into the world of Emma’s quirky journey. The novel also brings in an intriguing mystery with the secret admirer sending cryptic floral messages, which adds a touch of whimsy without detracting from the core story. The ending is satisfying without being overly predictable, leaving readers with a sense of hope and possibility.

In essence, Not Quite by the Book is a charming read for anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping their routine, found solace in books, or wondered whether they might be missing out on something bigger than the life they know. It’s a reminder that, sometimes, stepping away from the pursuit of love can lead to a deeper understanding of what you truly need.

Julie Hatcher has knocked it out of the park on her first pass at Women’s Fiction. It’s not a genre I typically pick up, but Julie is one of my favorite author’s so I will follow her anywhere (Julie, please don’t ever venture into horror… I don’t think I could follow you down that path).

While I was dying for more romance, I loved the character growth/exploration of the main character: Emma Rini. I related to her character so much! I swear Julie was hiding under my bed and wrote this story based on my life lol J/k, but seriously…*looks under bed* “Julie, are you under here?”

The relationship growth between Emma and her parents, as well as, Emma and her sister was really profound. Not all problems were fixed in a day, but conversations were had and the trip to become her best Emily was a success even if it wasn’t in the ways Emma had intended.

For a full review of my thoughts, watch Birdie and the Books’ discussion with the author here: https://www.youtube.com/live/EqwDC7sYYQw?si=N0yzjAWJMsmRz0Yb

Please Note: I received an advance copy for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley, Julie Hatcher, and Lake Union Publishing 🤓

Oh my! Julie has made the giant leap from cozy mystery to Women’s fiction and I cannot wait for more!!!! This book will have you feeling all the emotions and rooting for Emma to find herself, while also letting the reader know you are never too old to follow your dreams. I love all the hidden gems from other favorite authors to Emily Dickinson to quotes from history. This book was such a joy to read and listen to!

I thought this was a cute romance. I loved that Emma took the time she needed to unwind. It allowed her to really reflect on what she wanted in life and explore some more of her passions. Even though Davis could be grumpy he always seemed to show up when Emma was trying something new causing some funny moments. It was like they had multiple meet cutes and the friendship slowly developed. Some parts were a little predictable but honestly did not bother me at all. It’s just what I needed for a light romance.

Thank you @julieannehatcher @suzyapprovedbooktours netgalley and he publisher for the gifted copy.

I enjoyed reading this book and it’s references to Emily Dickinson. It’s a cute slow burn small down romance with all the charming characters to make it a wonderful romance story.

Take a break from life and fall in love with this like I did.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I am always a sucker for a romance set in or around a bookstore and while this one was primarily outside the bookstore, it was still good and involved a plethora of quotes from famous works of literature. The first half or so was interesting and well-paced, but the second half seemed to drag particularly as one of the core mysteries was constantly played with and the female lead seemed deliberately obtuse regarding the obvious signs of who her online friend was. There were several times I had to pause reading because I was so tired of this plot line. I also did not appreciate the constant lying and outright sabotage we saw from (small spoiler) Davis. I really needed more apology and groveling from him as he did a lot of messed up stuff and essentially got away with it with little to no consequences (she didn’t talk to him for what, a day?). Overall, this had cute moments, but the dragging plot, random side quests (that could have been fun if kept as brief side quests), and a male lead that read more like a bully made it a little hard to fully enjoy.

This bookish romance about a woman who travels to Amherst for an Emily Dickinson-inspired escape ended up falling short for me. The author succeeded in bringing the city to life, and the descriptive writing was enjoyable. From bookstores to historic manors, letter-writing classes to vegetable gardens, the literary vibe worked really well.

But it was hard to get past the characters and their motivations, which came across as aloof and misguided. The romance was also difficult to buy into since it relied on unrealistic miscommunication and a mistaken identity plot that was painfully obvious.

While tempted to DNF this one, I did see it through to the end and was happy that our FMC and her family members experienced growth and acknowledged some poor decisions made earlier in the novel. Despite not being a win for me, I think it will work for other romance readers, especially Emily Dickinson superfans!