This is such an entertaining and enjoyable read. It’s not just a romance but about life choices, following your dreams and ultimately finding yourself and happiness.
Meet Emma. She runs her parents’ bookstore and is obsessed with Emily Dickinson. While her little sister is very pregnant, and her parents are talking retirement, she often feels left out and overwhelmed. She’s not even capable of maintaining a proper relationship. Yet she is a people pleaser and puts everybody before herself. So everyone is shocked when she announces that she has decided to take a 6-week vacation in Amherst, MA. In her favorite poet’s hometown, she wants to live like Emily Dickinson, embrace her solitude, do some writing, baking and gardening just like Emily and give up on love for good. Her plan does not exactly work out as expected, partly due to the handsome handyman, Davis.
I absolutely loved Emma’s energy, outgoing personality and busyness and admired her idea of taking a sabbatical when she felt stuck and needed to find herself and her purpose in life. The cozy town in New England is a perfect setting. I adored all the animal references, the towns people and the little cafes and parks as well as the historical element with 19th century poetry quotes and the old manor Emma rents for her vacation. The book certainly provides plenty food for thought and makes you think about what you really want in your life. I wish we could all be a little like Emma. I loved the writing especially the development and growth of the characters, including Emma’s family. This book calls for a sequel!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ms Julie Hatcher for the opportunity to read the advance copy. I truly enjoyed it and the above is my honest review and own opinion.

This story is so charming.

Books about books is my absolute favourite thing, so right away, we start off strong.

I loved the crumbling manor setting.

I, weirdly, loved that the romance was a big part of Emma’s story, but not the ONLY part.

I loved the self-reflection I did as I made my way through this story.

I loved everything except the bunnies. It’s stew for you furry lot.

The leaning into Emily Dickinson, the Language of Flowers, and all the Grumpy Neighbour Goodness, has me itching to track down more from this author.

Overworked and disconnected from her family, Emma Rini takes a six-week sabbatical in an Amherst mansion to live like Emily Dickinson. Determined to embrace solitude, she struggles with failed baking attempts, a chaotic garden, and an unexpected attraction to grumpy handyman Davis Sommers. As their connection deepens, Emma must decide what she truly wants from life. Julie Hatcher’s novel is a charming, heartfelt story about self-discovery, independence, and unexpected romance, blending humor with emotional depth.

I could have stayed in this book with these characters so much longer! The whole book was satisfying and refreshing to read with the fun of bookish characters, bookish inspiration, book stores, letter writing, and just the perfect small town rom com. There were some areas that made me want to yell at the characters, some that made me clap and cheer for them, others that made me aww and giggle out loud. This was so good and so fun.

#arc
#netgalley
#notquitebythebook

I got sucked into this story, even though there were parts that annoyed me. This was essentially the plot of Youve Got Mail but with a FMC who's unnaturally obsessed with Emily Dickinson and trying to live like she did. The plot felt really predictable and slow moving.

The characters got together so quickly in the last pages, I was like that's it??? The FMC was a bit annoying, especially with all of the forcing herself to do hobbies that she didn;t enjoy, and I didn’t see chemistry with the MMC. There was also so much hemming and hawing about who the letter writer could possibly be, but she never talks to any of the other “contenders” or builds up tension with them. It was a foregone conclusion from the beginning.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for. my honest review.

This was quite a fun read with a lovely setting but it didn’t really hit the spot for me. I liked the idea of Emma being at a crossroads in her life and needing to take some out to think about what she really wanted. Her obsession with Emily Dickinson and trying to create her life style was fun especially as she gradually realised that she wasn’t actually that person. The culinary disasters were amusing.
Sadly, I found the romance part of the book to be fairly pedestrian and far too predictable. I never really got the feeling of chemistry between them and didn’t ever feel that his dishonesty was relatable. I was far more invested in her friend and younger sister than I was any of the possible romances.
While there were parts of the book that I did enjoy, I don’t think that I will be reading any more of the author’s romances.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

* I want to start by thanking the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I was a big fan!

This was a fun romance that included bookshops, letter writing and learning to put yourself first.
Emma decides to take a break from like and find herself. This is a romance that was easy and quick read and it is Emma's way of finding herself and finding happiness again.
Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read so many of this author’s cozy mystery books, and I was very excited to read this one. I really, really loved the story; however, if you are expecting the content to be like her cozy mysteries, be forewarned that it’s got a few F-bombs. That’s the only thing I wasn’t crazy about because my mom loves her cozy mysteries too, but there’s no way she’d read this. Anyway, if you can handle that and you love contemporary romance, I think you’ll love this book.

It did take me a little while to warm up to Emma, but the more I read, the more I liked and understood her. Her quest to become like Emily Dickinson is what drives this novel. As she goes through her list, she begins to realize that though she loves Dickinson’s poetry, her life wasn’t one to emulate. Emma thrives by being around people. I love how her character grows throughout the novel. By being away from her hometown and family, her decision making becomes clearer.

Davis, the “grumpy-hot architect” who’s renovating the manor that Emma is staying in, is very swoon-worthy. I enjoyed watching him interact with Emma and watching their relationship grow. The side characters are well-written, and I really became attached to them. I hope to “see” them again!

There is so much to love about this book! The setting, characters, and plot really kept me turning the pages. I’ve seen several reviews where readers didn’t finish the book. They gave up too soon! Don’t make assumptions about it based on the first several chapters. You’ve got to keep going to get the whole picture! It’s a 5 star read for me!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

🩷This book was so sweet!

📚Emily is fed up with her life and with her family taking advantage of her. She works nonstop at her family's bookstore, while her parents and sister get to enjoy their lives. She decides to take a 6 week trip to Amherst, MA, the home of Emily Dickenson, where she'll spend time embracing her inner Emily and forgetting about her lifelong dream of falling in love. What she doesn't plan on is Davis, the nephew of her online friend Grace, and her temporary landlord. The two of them initially don't get along but develop a sweet friendship. Meanwhile, Emma keeps getting love notes and flowers from a secret admirer.

🩷At first I didn't really feel much chemistry or connection between Emma and Davis. The first 2/3 of the book were more about Emma's personal transformation and her quest to repair her relationship with her family and figure out who she is and what she wants in life. But by that last third, I really bought into the feelings between the two of them. I loved how it wrapped up, although I would have liked a little bit more of them and their interactions. I honestly was planning on rating this 3 stars but the ending was so sweet that I bumped it up to 4!

📚If you enjoy sweet, kisses only romance with main characters who love books, definitely check this one out! Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Press for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Emma is tired of running her parents' bookstore whilst her parents and her younger sister spend time together and ignore her. When her parents announce they're retiring, Emma decides to take a trip to Amherst to learn more about how to be like her favourite poet, Emily Dickinson. She's also sworn off love forever, but when she moves to Amherst for a long holiday, she meets Davis, who might end up ruining her plans...

The premise sounded really interesting to me, but unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. It was enjoyable enough if you just want a light and quick read.

I think the romance between Emma and Davis was unnecessarily complicated for no reason. She wondered why, despite their attraction, he was trying his best to stay away from her when the reason should have been clear. There was no communication between the two main characters, and it just made it a bit slow for me.

There was a twist relating to the romance, which seemed strange, and I'm not sure why it wasn't just revealed sooner. It didn't seem like there was much benefit from it being a secret.

I think this just wasn't for me, but it didn't take me long to get through overall. If you enjoy small town romances and references to literature and letter writing, you might enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh.My.Gosh. I don't even know where to start with this book!! TBR list now!!

Emma is dissatisfied with her busy life and feels left out of her own family. She is *obsessed* with Emily Dickinson and rents a manor straight out of the 19th century to embrace her inner Emily. She does not expect the handsome handyman, Davis when she shows up at the manor.

As Emma goes in a journey of self-discovery, she finds much more than she ever anticipated, but at the same time, everything she's ever dreamed.

This book made me tear up, smile, laugh, and had me on pins and needles to see how it would end. This is not my typical genre, but Julie Hatcher knocked this out of the park.

5*

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

3 Stars
One Liner: Family drama was good, but the romance wasn’t

Emma Rini doesn’t remember the last time she took a break or did what she wanted. Her younger sister is having her first baby and her parents are busy holidaying and planning retirement. Emma is too busy and single, managing the family bookstore with little to no help.
When her parents assume she will take over the shop, Emma decides she needs to get away. She books a six-week vacation at a manor, a place where her favorite poet, Emily Dickson, spent her time. Turns out, she isn’t too great with managing the manor and needs help from the grumbling architect.
What does this vacation have in store for Emma?
The story comes in Emma’s first-person POV.

My Thoughts:
While Emma wants love and HEA, the book focuses more on her growth, which I liked.
The character arc is realistic enough as the FMC tries to copy her role model (Emily Dickson) and realizes that’s not how things are done.
Also, no one is bad or evil. No Reddit stories here though it starts like one (you can tell I’ve been spending too much time on that platform). Everyone is flawed and makes assumptions, something they finally discuss openly. Still, I like that the FMC’s family loved her as much as she loved them.
The setting is lovely as it should be. I like the descriptions of the place and the house. There’s something about old stone buildings, right? Even if you end up freezing in the middle of the night!
There’s quite a bit of detail about Emily Dickson, though at times I felt it got a bit too much. But then, she’s not my favorite as such, so maybe I didn’t feel that interested. Still, it’s not a deal breaker.
The side characters (especially Cecily) were interesting. I wish Grace had a bigger role, though.
So, my main issue is with the love track or the romance. I don’t know what tropes to mention. Grumpy vs. sunshine maybe but I didn’t vibe with it. Heck, I didn’t feel anything except a truckload of annoyance whenever the romantic track appeared.
This leans heavily on miscommunication tropes, lies, secrets, etc. Seeing the FMC excited about some developments feels weird. I still don’t see the connection the lead pair is supposed to have. It was just… all over the place.
The ending is nice enough but I wasn’t interested in HEA by then. I still got it, though!

To summarize, Not Quite by the Book has a worthy premise and some of it is really good. I might have liked it more if the romance had been better handled.
Thank you, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This novel is beautifully written and isn’t a traditional romance novel. This novel focuses on the FMC finding herself and it’s the journey of self discovery. This is a sweet and quick read! I would imagine that a lot of book clubs will pick this as a monthly read. A lot of women will resonate with the main character of this novel.

Julie Hatcher’s Not Quite by the Book is a charming and witty romance that blends humor, heart, and just the right amount of unpredictability. The novel follows Emma, who, despite her best efforts to follow life’s “rules,” finds herself in unexpected situations that challenge her carefully laid plans.

What truly makes Not Quite by the Book shine is its balance between romance and personal growth. Emma’s journey is just as compelling as the love story, making for a satisfying read that offers more than just swoon-worthy moments. However, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven, with certain sections moving more slowly than others. Despite this, the story remains entertaining and heartfelt.

Overall, Not Quite by the Book is an enjoyable read that romance fans will appreciate. If you're looking for a lighthearted yet meaningful story with engaging characters and a sweet romance, this book is definitely worth picking up!

Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: March 1, 2025

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review Not Quite by the Book by Julie Hatcher.

Books, baking, flowers, and a charming, historic town? Sign me up. I’m moving there. Not Quite by the Book follows bookseller Emma Rinni who recently found out that her parents are retiring and giving her the family business. After realizing that she has been too busy to live her own life, Emma runs off to Amherst to find her inner Emily Dickenson.

I thought this book was just adorable and the setting seemed so cozy. I could picture the streets, gardens, people, and historic buildings. One of the things I particularly loved about Not Quite by the Book was that it is also a story of self-discovery in your thirties. Emma goes through trial and error to make herself the “perfect Emily Dickenson.” However, in her quest, she finds that it’s better to just be Emma.

I think I liked the overall message of NQBTB, but the romance really fell flat for me. I couldn’t feel the chemistry between Emma and Davis and felt like they worked better as friends. The chemistry needed to kick off earlier. I also got slightly confused on the timeline. Sometimes Emma says she is staying in Amherst for 6 weeks, but at other times, she says 30 days. So I wasn’t fully sure how long she was actually supposed to be in Amherst.

Overall, it was a quick read with the lesson to be who you are and follow your own dreams. It is great to help other people, but we shouldn’t lose ourselves while doing it.

Such a wonderful story and gave me so much more than i was expecting from it!

I loved reading about Emmas journey and how she grew as a character, her problems felt real and i related to her so much, an absolutely fabulous story that i highly recommend!

I really tried with this one. I love Julie Hatcher’s mysteries and the characters she creates in those. This one is no different. Emma is a fascinating character, as are the friends she makes in hew new town, and her family. But the premise of the book, while cute and a typical coming-of-age story, loses me when she tries to find herself by becoming someone else, particularly someone who is so different who she really is. Maybe she learns this towards the end of the book and embraces her differences. Maybe she resolves the issues with her family. I may not ever know. I couldn’t get through the incessant references to Emily Dickinson and her life. It was overwhelming and I ultimately had to give up on this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy!

A really cute book where I was immediately drawn in and I didnr want to put it down

Not Quite by the Book was a charming and cozy read with a delightful literary touch. Emma’s journey of self-discovery was sweet, and I loved the unique setting of a crumbling manor house, complete with an unexpected (and grumpy-hot!) architect. I enjoyed Emma's journey on how to improve and make her book store her own. While I would have loved a bit more focus on the romance, the story still had plenty of heart and warmth. If you enjoy books about finding yourself, family legacies, and a little bookish charm, this one makes for a lovely escape! P.s. I love Violet!