Fun, romantic and perfect for jane austen fan. Lovely reading.

A heart-warming, comical love-story but with a lot of predictability thrown in.

While romantic fiction isn't my normal cup of tea, I was drawn to this book due to the blurb. Jane Austen, imaginary boyfriends and mistaken identity all sound like perfect ingredients for blissful escapism. However, the main character Verity struck me as rather flat and and dull, and the rest of the characters never really lift themselves off the page. I admit I didn't realise this book is the second in a series and perhaps I would have enjoyed it more had I read the first one and understood their backstory. I unfortunately gave up slightly over half way through this book. Perhaps romantic fiction just isn't for me.

Predictable? Yes. Enjoyable? Yes! A light read, ideal for a sunny beach or pool side, with characters whose fate is clear from the start, but the telling of the tale was deft and the book was fun.

A lovely light hearted easy read with a heartwarming story; wanted to keep on reading this. A real 'feel good' story.

When Verity, who works in a bookshop, devoted to raomantic fiction, gets fed up with her friends trying to set her up with a date, she invents a boyfirend - Peter Hardy, Oceanographer! this helps to get her out of endless parties etc. However, her friends become suspicious and are keen to meet this mysterious boyfriend, and one of them follows her to a restaurant she frequents to get away from it all, and impetuously Verity sits next to a young man sitting alone, and introduces him to her friend as her new boyfriend, as she has split up with Peter! This leads to hilarious episodes and a fun read. Verity is a real fan of Jane Austen, and her favourite book is Pride & Prejudice, she can quote it off by heart! This is where the fun begins and of course the romance. I really enjoyed this book and I will now read the first book, as I hadn't come ocross Annie Darling before. I am hoping it is as much fun as this one. Proper characters, a great plot with parallells to Pride & Prejudice, verity often asks 'What would Elizabeth Bennet do? I rather liked the idea of living my life like that to see what would happen! I say read this book.

I have never identified with a heroine as I have identified with Verity, and I absolutely loved her. Johnny, however, was almost despicable - he was pathetic, cowardly, and dashedly immature. It was disappointing to have to see Verity grovelling to him in the end, when it should have been the other way round.

So I chose to read this book based entirely on it's sweet cover, the Jane Austen references and the fact that it has a bookshop in it - what more do you need!

Verity Love is one of five daughters to a Vicar, and as such she is quite the introvert.  Obviously, she absolutely does not need a man in her life, despite what her match-making friends think.  In social situations she often finds her asking what Elizabeth Bennet would do (and who wouldn't - Elizabeth Bennet knew everything!). Verity is more than happy with her fake Oceanographer boyfriend Peter Hardy, however with it becoming increasingly difficult to come up with reasons for his absence she finds herself thrown into an unusual social situation with Johnny.

Johnny is becoming increasingly irritated with his friends attempts at matchmaking.  He is more than happy, particularly given the fact that he is already in love.  So when he finds himself cornered with Verity, he grabs the opportunity to create a mutually beneficial fake relationship that will cover them both for the entire summer, keeping both of their friends at bay with their matchmaking schemes.  There is only one rule in this arrangement - they must not fall in love with each other.  Which will be easy.  Right?

This novel is not one to read if you are looking for surprises.  You begin reading it and automatically know how it will end.  That is not the reason that I chose to read this novel though.  It is light-hearted, funny with some romance thrown in for good measure.  It's a great novel to curl up with on the sofa with a cheeky glass of wine on a Sunday afternoon.  I'm aware that this is the second novel in the Lonely Hearts Bookshop series, so I look forward to reading the first one!  As the nights draw in and the temperature drops, light a fire, grab a blanket and enjoy this lovely feel-good novel.

Rating: 📖 📖 📖 📖

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishers for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, it was slightly predictable but that is not a problem.

The story is feel good and warms the cockles of your heart without being to sickly sweet.

Verity has sworn off love and romance forever, she likes peace and quiet, no drama. She then meets Johnny whose hear belongs to someone else, both Verity and Johnny have friends that want th both to find there perfect match, so decide they will pretend they are dating over the summer so they have a plus one for social engagements. S laugh out loud moving romance, I thoroughly enjoyed the book

Verity Love, our titular heroine, is a vicar's daughter. We know this because we are told it repeatedly, in lieu of providing her with an actual personality. She's also an introvert, something that we're again repeatedly told - with introversion presented here as a pathological condition unique to our heroine, instead of a way of being for approximately 50% of the population, Seriously, there's even a whole scene where she solemnly sits the hero down and explains this terrible affliction called introversion. She has a cat, likes Jane Austen, and is so much a romantic fiction cliche that I wanted to scream.

Anyway, one day she has a meet-cute with handsome architect Johnny which leads to a summer of being each other's dates at various weddings, baptisms, bar mitzvahs, etc. Love, of course, ensues. As does boredom, on the part of this reader at least. Romance is not a genre I know particularly well but one author I do like and respect is Sarra Manning, so it was on her recommendation that I decided to read True Love At The Lonely Hearts Bookshop. After this experience, I think I'll accept that romance isn't my genre and move on.

I'm not generally a reader of "romance" novels (well, modern romances that is - I adore the classics). However, in search of a light, relaxing read, I happened upon this book. To my surprise, I really enjoyed reading it, though a few of the characters are a little on the annoying side.

The book has a good plot, references to "Pride and Prejudice", and some nicely-drawn characters.

One to pop in your suitcase (or on your Kindle!) for an enjoyable holiday read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this in return for my honest review.

This is the sequel/companion novel to The Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts, this time following the story of Verity, the extremely introverted but none the less lovely manager at the bookshop. It has long been Verity's practice to have a made-up boyfriend to get friends and family off her back, but when Verity's sister and friend follow her, expecting to see the fictional Peter, Verity panics and grabs Johnny.

Over the course of the summer, Verity and Johnny act as each other's plus-ones to social events, being introduced as friends but letting people think what they may - and thus getting them off their backs about sending them on blind dates.

It was so much fun getting to know Verity - all we really saw of her in book one was the shy, quiet and sweet woman who didn't like to get drunk and make out with random guys. But here, we could see how her past influenced her decisions, especially in her social and love life.

Then there was Johnny. He told Verity right off not to fall in love with him because he was in love with someone else. Bit presumptuous but whatever, consider Verity warned. But what Verity didn't know was who he was in love with and why they couldn't be together, and boy was it dramatic! I won't spoil anything but who it turned out to be was clever and hilarious and allowed for some funny and cringey moments.

Never the less, it was sweet and heart warming to see Verity and Johnny grow closer and begin to trust each other, not just with awkward social situations, but like when Johnny wanted to get out of his unhealthy relationship.

The whole story was equal parts hilarious and adorable, it was the perfect British summer romp and even though they hit several bumps along the way, I'm very glad Verity and Johnny could get over themselves and learn to love again.

I really enjoyed this book. Fast paced and although you could guess the ending there were a few twists along the way.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. What a great feel good read and was just what I needed at that time. Highly recommend.

An uplifting intriguing read, perfect for book fans and those who love a happy ending

This is the perfect light romance novel. The characters are unique and engaging and the developing relationship between Verity and Johnny is explored well. I enjoyed this greatly

One of the sweetest, funniest books I have read for a while. Perfect for a rainy afternoon.

I really enjoyed the Little Bookshop of Lonely Hearts when I read it last year, so it was delightful to go back for another visit - particularly as this features one of the other workers at the shop rather than being a sequel based around the same couple*.

It's always slightly weird (or at least it is for me) to read a story where the heroine has your name, but Verity is an engaging character and I enjoyed watching her find love. Relationships of convience/fake relationships are one of my favourite tropes too so this was right up my street.

My only gripe was with Johnny's back story - without giving too much away, I wasn't a massive fan of his reasons for needing a fake partner, and although it was written well, I'm not sure he quite saw the error of his ways enough and for long enough for me to be completely happy with the happily ever after. But lots of fun.

Oh - and it's chock full of Pride and Prejudice references - Lambton, Meryton, quotes, the whole shebang. Lovely.

*I have a troubled history with these because they so often involve splitting up the couple that you loved so much from the first book and then getting them back together again.

I honestly didn't think I'd like this book but I loved it. As someone who loves reading thrillers I do love a good heartwarming story to come along every now and again and knock me off my socks.

Verity (Very) Love is happy with her non-eventful and somewhat quiet life. Having grown up in a house full of extroverted sisters she wants nothing more than peace, quiet and to remain an introvert. However, this introverted life has left her as the only one not in a relationship and she has had enough of those pitying looks so she invents a boyfriend. This backfires however when she meets Johnny who also needs a fictional girlfriend and Very finds herself having her arm twisted into becoming his 'girlfriend'. Johnny's lifestyle is anything but introverted and Very finds herself having to adapt to many awkward situations including Johnny's ex girlfriend who he is hoping to make jealous in order to force a reunion between the two. The only problem is she is married.

Can Very help Johnny reunited with his lost love? Will she be able to leave her introverted life behind? Will she catch feelings?

I loved this book. The characters were extremely likeable and I could easily identify with Very. Now I live in hope of finding my own real life Johnny! Someone help a girl out here!