Love on a Bookshelf by Kiah Thomas is one of those cozy, slow-burn romances that feels like curling up in a familiar armchair, surrounded by books and a warm cup of tea. Set in Clarrie’s grandmother’s charming but slightly chaotic bookshop, the story is filled with warmth, humour, and the kind of atmosphere book lovers dream of. The romance between Clarrie and Declan builds slowly—starting with clashing personalities and gradually blooming into something sweet and sincere. Declan’s quiet, brooding nature paired with Clarrie’s awkward but loveable presence makes for some truly tender moments. The side characters, especially the quirky knitting group and Clarrie’s close-knit circle of friends, bring the story to life and add so much heart.

That said, the romance does take a while to fully develop—it doesn’t really ignite until about 70% into the book, so if you love a good slow burn with al the angst, this one is for you. I also found myself wishing we got more depth into the mysterious book that Declan wrote—it plays such a central role but didn’t feel fully fleshed out. Still, the story shines in its quiet, comforting way. It’s not trying to be dramatic or flashy—it’s a gentle reminder that love often grows in quiet corners and unexpected moments. If you enjoy Emily Henry-style stories or soft romances set in bookish worlds, this one will definitely charm you. I'd give it a warm 3.75 to 4 stars—it left me smiling, and I’d happily read more from Kiah Thomas in the future.

Clarrie was having a very rough day when an up-an-coming author, Declan, comes into her bookstore, offering to sign her stock of his books. When Declan tells her that her lighting needs some work, Clarrie decides to tell him to write a better book. Fast forward a few years, Declan has released a new book that is flying off the shelves with a dedication page written to her advice from a few years earlier. With her bills piling up while she struggles to keep her bookstore open, Clarrie takes up Declan's publisher's offer to follow them on a book tour so they can promote the book together and both can walk away financially better off. But can the two stand to work together long enough?

This was a super cute rivals to lovers romance. I love how the story opens with Clarrie's cozy family bookstore and her challenges of dealing with a senile grandmother and an overbearing mother. My heart also went out to Declan who's trying to honor his father's memory but shy about his writing talents. Their adventures on the book tour were super sweet and reflective. Good for a summer read!

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

I really was enjoying this story, but I found it difficult to navigate due to the formatting error, and how I have vision issues, it felt impossible for me to finish! so unfortunately I'm going to have to DNF.

Thank you to Netgalley & the author for the ARC, this was more of a personal limitation than anything to do with the author and the book!

Love on a Bookshelf by Kiah Thomas is a light, heartwarming read that blends romance, family bonds, and the charm of preserving something meaningful. Set against the cozy backdrop of a small, struggling bookshop, the story unfolds with a comforting pace, making it a perfect pick for readers who enjoy low-stakes, feel-good fiction.

At its core, this is a cute love story with a gentle emotional thread—one that also honors the importance of legacy and family ties. The romance is sweet without being overly dramatic, and the connection between the main characters feels genuine, if a bit predictable at times. What stands out, however, is the strong thread of familial love and the touching portrayal of preserving a family business not just out of obligation, but out of love and respect for what it represents.

Thomas’ writing style is simple and accessible, making it an easy read—ideal for a weekend unwind. While it may not leave a lasting mark or break new ground in the genre, it delivers exactly what it promises: a comforting story about love, memory, and the quiet power of keeping cherished traditions alive.

Perfect for fans of small-town romance and stories that celebrate family heritage with a touch of whimsy.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for access to “Love on a Bookshelf” by Kiah Thomas. I can honestly say that this book had me hooked so early. I could not get over Clarrie’s brash “why don’t you write a better book”. I blast laughed, and I am happy to say that the book kept me cheesing throughout. Small-town romance with a road trip flourish and so much quality dialogue the whole time, I absolutely loved it all. I am not usually a sucker for this level of a slow burn, but the humor and heart in this book kept me enamored till the last page!

I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would! The plot was simple and easy to follow, addictive enough that I read this in one sitting. Classic enemies to lovers with no spice. Clarrie meets famous author Declan in her bookstore and two years later he dedicates his book to her… she ends up going on a two week book tour with Declan and things go from there…!
This was a lovely little romcom, some good banter (I wanted more and more) and a great read for summer.

Clarrie Brooks is down on her luck—her boyfriend's gone, her apartment's falling apart, and her beloved bookshop is barely hanging on. When snarky banter with a visiting author turns into unexpected inspiration, she never expects it to change her life. Two years later, his hit book is dedicated to the mystery bookseller who pushed him to do better—Clarrie. Now, with the spotlight suddenly on her, Clarrie might just get a second chance at love…and happily ever after.

This was a sweet, cozy read with a very slow burn and no steam. I found myself wishing for a bit more grit and heat to really pull me in. There were definitely moments where I felt for Clarrie—honestly, inheriting a bookshop from your grandparents is the dream, so props to her. At times she was super relatable, and at other times, wildly frustrating (girl, try something new for a change!).

If you're in the mood for a light, quick read with charming banter and a breezy romp through Australia, this will hit the spot. Thank you to NetGalley & Headline for the ARC.
2.5 stars

It took me a while to finish this one, and by the final chapters, I found myself skimming just to reach the end. All the ingredients for a great romance were here: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, a brooding male lead (always wearing a baseball cap and hiding from his adoring fans), and a struggling book store. Unfortunately, the final product was just ok to start and then dragged towards the end.
The initial encounter between the main characters, which was supposed to set the stage for their rivalry, felt surprisingly underwhelming. She insulted his book and he insulted her broken lights at her store. It didn’t seem strong enough to justify the depth of animosity that followed. I think if we had seen more consistent clashes or tension-filled moments over time, the enemies-to-lovers arc would’ve felt more earned.

Clarrie, the FMC, came off as emotionally immature and frustratingly stubborn, which made it hard for me to root for her or stay invested in her growth.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Books about books and bookshops are one of my favourite genres so I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it.
Definitely recommend this book if you want a sweet romance.

This book was a really pleasant surprise. From the cover, title, and description I admit I was expecting a fairly generic romance - but while there are many common tropes peppered throughout Love on a Book Shelf (grumpy sunshine, enemies to lovers, sort of only one bed), it also has weight and depth.
The characters are all fairly fleshed out and likeable - the side characters in particular I found myself wanting to spend more time with, although Clarrie and Declan were warm enough that I was invested in their burgeoning romance. Honestly though, Clarrie's other relationships - with her mum, her friend Yumi, and her Gran - were the real highlight of the book.
I think I came to this book at a particularly resonant moment, as my own Gran is getting on a bit and when I saw her recently she was quite frail and seemed a little lost. Reading the first scene where Clarrie goes to visit her Gran, who has dementia, was quite emotional.
There's no villain here - everyone is nuanced and complex and imperfect in their own unique way. Clarrie's mum in particular, who from early mentions you might expect to become the villain of the piece and doesn't even appear directly in the text that much, was a really interesting character and showed Clarrie that sometimes your perspective is very different to those around you.
Overall this was a lovely book and one I'd happily recommend even to non=romance readers.

The second half of this book was infinitely better than the first and drew me back in when I was about to lose interest. My main issue with the beginning was I don’t think the reason for Declan and Clarrie to be “enemies” was much of anything so their hatred of each other just seemed random and annoying. I found it hard to connect with the FMC and MMC so by the time we got to know them more later in the story it didn’t have too much of an impact. That being said, I loved Yumi as well as the other side characters and the emotional storyline about Clarrie’s grandmother was done well. Bonus points for the bookish setting, I am always drawn to books about books.

This is a sweet, cosy bookseller/author romance with fairly loveable characters. The writing is good and the plot was generally well paced. Fans of forced proximity, dislike to lovers, workplace (ish) romance, only one bed/tent, and no spice will enjoy this.

Thanks to Netgalley and Headline for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was going to DNF this book at 30% because of how slow and lame the plot was. But then I decided to give it a second chance, and it low-key grew upon me until I finished it and honestly the second half of the book is why I gave it three stars in the first place. It was quite refreshing and easy to follow, without much rushing to the end. So, if you want to read a cozy book, especially in winter, then this should be on your TBR.

What a cute and cozy read! Love on a Bookshelf was such an easy book to fall into, perfect for a relaxing weekend escape. I loved the dynamic between Clarrie and Declan—he starts off as this grumpy, closed-off author, but slowly opens up in a really heartwarming way.

Clarrie was instantly lovable, and her relationship with her grandmother added such a special, emotional layer to the story. Their bond really grounded the book and gave it so much heart.

The whole bookshop setting was a dream for book lovers, and the second-chance romance mixed with the grumpy/ sunshine vibe made it extra charming.

It's definitely a feel-good story that reminds you how sometimes, love (and inspiration) shows up in the most unexpected places.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Love on a Bookshelf in exchange for my honest review.

Such a gorgeously fun read! Perfect for those who always love to be surrounded by books evening whilst reading a book!

Clarrie Brooks isn't just having a bad day - her life seems to be falling apart. She's struggling to keep her beloved grandmother's bookshop afloat, her boyfriend has just dumped her and now it's, quite literally, raining inside her run-down apartment.

To top it off, the bookshop loses power for the tenth time this week, just as new author Declan Archer walks in to sign stock. Declan advises Clarrie to invest in better lighting. Clarrie suggests to him that he write a better book. Two years later, Declan's new book is on its way to becoming a bestselling cult classic - and he's dedicated it to the bookseller who told him to write a better one. As speculation builds over the identity of the bookseller, Clarrie finds herself thrown into the spotlight.

This was a fun read. I love any enemies to lovers, and books about books are my jam! Honestly, not super memorable (especially when you read a ton), but a fun way to spend the afternoon! 3.5⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars for me! At first I wasn’t sure about this book because, heads up, it starts quite slow and you definitely need to like the characters to want to continue reading it. But honestly it was a refreshing romance in a way because this didn’t feel like rushed love and the books feels more realistic. It includes a lot of struggles you see people facing in reality and showcases that someone might be completely different than they appear to the public. The romance builds up slowly over time but in my opinion the back and forth between the main characters makes it fun plus it has side characters that feel like they bring sunshine to the book when it fits well.

This book was so charming! I may be a bit biased, but this bookseller loves books about books & bookshops. 🥹

Both of the MCs were so sweet and with the messiest meet cute. I absolutely ate this book up! ALSO, I have not had a book surprise me in so long! Let me tell you the way I gasped at the end. Ughh, more books like this please.

I normally prefer my books to have spice, but sometimes a change is nice and this was such a needed change of pace. If you are looking for a short & sweet bookish romcom, look no further.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for this ARC and for the opportunity to give my candid feedback.

When Clarrie is left her grandparents bookshop she is suffering from heartbreak with trying to do her grandparents proud by keeping the popularity of the bookshop alive but with neverending expenses of repairs and upgrades occurring, her mother starts to look at selling the bookstore from under Clarries feet so she can go back to her previous life and career prospect.

The latest bestselling author book is released into her store and unbeknownst to Clarrie the author has dedicated the book to her (albeit cryptic). When the author asks if she will come along on his book tour to be the book seller she isn’t sure if it’s the right thing to do but after talking it over with her friend and assistant Yumi, she decides to join the team for 2 weeks touring alongside the author and his team.

What will happen on the book tour? you will have to read this story to find out….. just remember if you ever speak your mind make sure you are alone

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This was a very cute and light read! An enemies to lovers story set in a bookstore and a slow burn romance. You can’t help but root for the characters and it was a feel good book to read.